$117 Raffle Ticket Wins Picasso Painting
A recent raffle held in Paris generated excitement when a ticket priced at $117 won a valuable Pablo Picasso painting. The lucky winner, 58-year-old Ari Hodara from Paris, was shocked to learn he had acquired the artwork, valued at approximately $1 million, during the draw on April 14, 2026, at Christie’s auction house.
$117 Raffle Ticket Wins Picasso Painting
The raffle, known as “1 Picasso for 100 euros,” supports Alzheimer’s research. Hodara, who describes himself as an amateur art enthusiast, purchased his ticket after hearing about the event while dining in a restaurant. His first reaction was to verify the legitimacy of the win.
Details of the Winning Artwork
- Painting Title: Head of a Woman
- Artist: Pablo Picasso
- Year Created: 1941
- Medium: Gouache on paper
- Value: $1 million
Ari plans to share the news with his wife and is contemplating keeping the painting for himself. This marking the third iteration of the raffle, featured a portrait of Dora Maar, who was Picasso’s muse and partner.
Impact of the Raffle
Organizers reported that all 120,000 raffle tickets sold globally, raising 12 million euros (about $14 million). From this amount, 1 million euros will reimburse the Opera Gallery for the painting. The gallery’s founder, Gilles Dyan, offered the piece at a preferential price, while its public value was estimated at 1.45 million euros.
Previous Raffles and Charity Work
The “1 Picasso for 100 euros” initiative has a history of successful fundraising. Notably, the first raffle in 2013 saw a Pennsylvania man win the painting “Man in the Opera Hat,” from Picasso’s Cubist period. Subsequent raffles included an artwork won by Claudia Borgogno, an accountant in Italy, in 2020.
The Alzheimer Research Foundation, which organizes the raffle, is associated with one of Paris’ leading public hospitals. Since its establishment in 2004, it has become a key contributor to Alzheimer-related medical research in France. Previous raffles have collectively raised over 10 million euros for various charitable efforts.
