A man who spent $117 on a raffle ticket has walked away with a Pablo Picasso painting valued at $1 million. According to the Associated Press, 58-year-old Ari Hodara purchased the ticket after learning about the Christie’s auction house lottery at a restaurant in Paris.
The raffle, titled “1 Picasso for 100 euros,” gave participants the chance to win Picasso’s 1941 painting “Head of a Woman,” a portrait of his partner, Dora Maar. The artwork was originally owned by Opera Gallery.
“I Think I’ll Take Advantage of It and Keep It”
After learning he had won, Hodara told reporters, “First, I will tell the news to my wife, who has yet to return from work.” He added, “And at first, I think I’ll take advantage of it and keep it.”
The painting, created in 1941, reflects Pablo Picasso’s wartime artistic period and is considered a significant work from that era. Pablo Picasso remains one of the most influential artists in modern art history, and his works regularly sell for millions at auction.
Charity Raffle Raises Millions for Alzheimer’s Research
The lottery was organized as a charity fundraiser supporting Alzheimer’s research. More than 120,000 tickets were reportedly sold worldwide. The raffle generated approximately 12 million euros, or roughly $14 million. From that total, 1 million euros will be paid to Opera Gallery, which provided the painting for the drawing.
The remaining proceeds are designated for Alzheimer’s research initiatives.
For Hodara, what started as a casual ticket purchase has turned into ownership of a museum-worthy masterpiece.