Parisian Engineer Wins $1 Million Picasso Painting with $117 Raffle Ticket

The winning ticket was part of a charity lottery that has raised millions for global causes.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:18pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of the textured, vibrant brushstrokes and colors of a Picasso painting, abstractly capturing the luxurious, glamorous nature of the artwork.The lucky winner's $118 raffle ticket turned into a million-dollar Picasso portrait, highlighting the continued public fascination with the artist's iconic works.Today in Pittsburgh

A 58-year-old Paris-based engineer named Ari Hodara bought a $118 raffle ticket and won a Picasso painting worth $1.2 million. The 1941 gouache-on-paper portrait of Picasso's lover and muse Dora Maar was previously owned by Opera Gallery, which sold 120,000 tickets for 100 euros each to raise money for a French Alzheimer's research foundation.

Why it matters

The Picasso raffle, called '1 Picasso for 100 Euros,' is an innovative charity initiative that has raised millions for global causes over multiple editions, allowing art enthusiasts around the world to own a piece of Picasso's legacy while supporting important philanthropic efforts.

The details

Before Hodara, the Picasso portrait was owned by Opera Gallery, an international art operation. The gallery sold 120,000 tickets for 100 euros (about $110) each, with the first 1 million euros ($1.2 million) going to Opera Gallery and the rest donated to the Fondation Recherche Alzheimer, a French Alzheimer's research organization. This is the third edition of the '1 Picasso for 100 Euros' raffle, with previous winners hailing from the U.S. and Italy.

  • The raffle was launched in 2013 by French journalist Péri Cochin.
  • The first edition in 2013 was won by a 25-year-old man from a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • The second edition in 2021 was won by a young Italian man (or rather, his mother).

The players

Ari Hodara

A 58-year-old Paris-based engineer who won the $1.2 million Picasso painting in the latest '1 Picasso for 100 Euros' raffle.

Péri Cochin

A Beirut-born French journalist who launched the '1 Picasso for 100 Euros' charity raffle in 2013.

Olivier Widmaier Picasso

Picasso's grandson, who co-manages the artist's estate and says Picasso would approve of the charitable raffles.

Opera Gallery

An international art gallery operation that owned the Picasso painting before it was raffled off.

Fondation Recherche Alzheimer

A French organization that received the proceeds from the latest '1 Picasso for 100 Euros' raffle to fund Alzheimer's research.

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What they’re saying

“He was a very generous man. He was very discreet, but he loved to help his siblings, his family and friends, and also people who were in need. For me, acting as a partner for the promotion is like continuing his path, continuing his generosity.”

— Olivier Widmaier Picasso, Picasso's grandson

What’s next

The organizers of the '1 Picasso for 100 Euros' raffle plan to continue the charitable initiative, with future editions likely to feature other valuable Picasso artworks to be won by lucky ticket holders around the world.

The takeaway

The Picasso raffle demonstrates how innovative charity initiatives can make high-value art accessible to the general public while also raising significant funds for important causes. The program's success highlights the enduring appeal of Picasso's work and the public's enthusiasm for owning a piece of the artist's legacy.