A software developer from Paris has won Pablo Picasso's 1941 painting "Head of a Woman" valued at €850,000 after purchasing a €100 lottery ticket in a charity raffle that raised €12 million for Alzheimer's research.
Ari Hodara, 58, was one of 120,000 participants who bought tickets in the "1 Picasso for €100" lottery, with buyers from 52 countries taking part. The drawing was conducted via livestream from Christie's auction house in Paris, where organizers called the winner directly.
How do I know for sure this isn't a joke?
Ari Hodara — NOS Nieuws
Hodara had purchased two tickets to increase his chances of winning, telling Dutch broadcaster NOS that he bought them "because it's for a good cause." The engineer plans to keep the painting initially, meaning the artwork will remain in the same city where Picasso created it during World War II.
The Opera Gallery, which owned the painting, received €1 million from the proceeds while the remaining €11 million will fund Alzheimer's research. This marks the first time all lottery tickets were sold since the initiative began in 2013.
Frames the story as a positive human interest piece emphasizing the charitable aspect and the winner's good fortune. Highlights the "good cause" element and presents the lottery as a feel-good story that combines art appreciation with philanthropy, reflecting French cultural pride in both artistic heritage and social solidarity.
Takes a straightforward factual approach, emphasizing the financial value and lottery mechanics while noting the tradition of such events. Presents the story as an interesting cultural phenomenon without editorial commentary, reflecting German media's tendency toward objective reporting on international cultural events.