A French engineer, Ari Hodara, has won an original Pablo Picasso painting valued at over € 1 million through the third edition of the “1 Picasso for 100 Euros” charity raffle. The event, supported by Opera Gallery, concluded on April 14, 2026, successfully raising 12 million euros (approximately US$14 million) for Alzheimer’s research and international social projects.
Organizers confirmed that Hodara acquired his ticket for just 100 euros, granting him ownership of the 1941 gouache Tête de Femme, a masterpiece that highlights the democratisation of high-end art for humanitarian causes.
The initiative is led by Péri Cochin and the 1 Picasso for 100 Euros association. Its financial model is transparent: Opera Gallery sold the painting to the organizers for 1 million euros (US$1.2 million), which is lower than its market value of 1.45 million euros (US$1.7 million). Because Opera Gallery founder Gilles Dyan waived any additional profit, 11 million euros of the total funds raised will go directly to Alzheimer’s research at Fondation Recherche Alzheimer, supporting five major projects focused on genetics and new treatments for neurodegenerative conditions.
A legacy of philanthropy: from 2013 to the present
The success of the 2026 edition follows a prestigious history that began over a decade ago with a focus on heritage conservation. In 2013, the association launched the project by raffling Picasso’s L’Homme au Gibus, an early 20th-century masterpiece. The winner of that inaugural edition was Jeffrey Gonano, a young man from Pennsylvania, United States. Unlike current medical initiatives, the funds from this first draw were dedicated to cultural preservation in Tyre, Lebanon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, helping to protect its ancient ruins and promote local development.
The second edition, held in 2020, shifted the focus toward global health and sustainability. On that occasion, the prize was the 1921 oil painting Nature Morte, a work reflecting Picasso’s cubist transition. The draw favored Claudia Borgogno, a citizen of Italy. That edition raised €5.1 million for CARE International, funding vital clean water projects in Madagascar, Morocco, and Cameroon, demonstrating the initiative’s commitment to diverse humanitarian needs before pivoting to neurodegenerative research for its latest chapter.
The artistic significance of Tête de Femme
The 1941 gouache on paper Tête de Femme represents a somber yet crucial period in Picasso’s career during the Nazi occupation of Paris. As a portrait of his muse Dora Maar, the work features muted tones of brown, black, and grey that reflect the heavy atmosphere of the era. Art historians consider it a museum-quality piece that showcases Picasso’s enduring influence on 20th-century art.
Notably, the 120,000 tickets available for this year’s draw sold out days before the event, with participants from over 100 countries. This global participation underscores a shared human interest in supporting medical research through innovative formats.
Following the official announcement at Christie’s in Paris, the organizers have already begun preliminary discussions for a future fourth edition, as the “1 Picasso for 100 Euros” model continues to provide a sustainable and engaging alternative to traditional high-society gala auctions.
Meanwhile, the new owner of the Picasso masterpiece faces the unique challenge of securing and insuring a million-euro asset in a private home. Experts suggest that such winners often choose to loan their newly acquired works to local museums, allowing the public to continue enjoying the piece while the owner manages the responsibilities of private stewardship. Ultimately, the story of a 117-dollar ticket turning into a world-class treasure remains a powerful narrative of hope, both for the winner and for the millions who will benefit from the healthcare research funded by the project.