Man Wins Million-Dollar Picasso Painting in Raffle

A Parisian man has acquired a Pablo Picasso painting valued at $1 million after winning a charity lottery with a ticket costing $117.

Ari Hodara, a 58-year-old sales engineer and art enthusiast, was notified of his win following a draw held on April 14, 2026, at Christie’s auction house in Paris.

The winning piece is titled Head of a Woman, a gouache-on-paper portrait painted by Picasso in 1941. The artwork depicts Dora Maar, who was Picasso’s longtime partner and muse.

The “1 Picasso for 100 Euros” Lottery

The event was the third iteration of a nonprofit raffle known as 1 Picasso for 100 euros. The lottery was designed to raise funds specifically for Alzheimer’s research.

Peri Cochin, the co-founder of the initiative, oversaw the proceedings at Christie’s. While raffle tickets were available for purchase internationally, the Picasso Foundation and organizers noted that having a Paris resident win simplifies the delivery of the artwork.

Hodara reported that he discovered the charity raffle by chance while dining at a restaurant and purchased his ticket over the weekend preceding the draw.

Winner’s Reaction

Upon receiving the call from organizers, Hodara expressed disbelief, questioning if the news was a hoax.

The sales engineer indicated his immediate plan was to share the news with his wife after she returned from work. He also stated his intention to keep the painting rather than sell it immediately.

The painting had been presented in Paris on April 10, 2026, ahead of the lottery to showcase the prize for the fundraising effort.