Software engineer wins Picasso painting in charity raffle

On April 14, 2026, Ari Hodara, a 58-year-old software engineer from Paris, won an original Pablo Picasso painting titled 'Tête de Femme' through a charity raffle. The painting, created in 1941, depicts the artist's muse and partner, Dora Maar, and is valued at approximately $1.18 million. The draw took place at the Christie's auction house in Paris, overseen by a bailiff and broadcast live online. Organizers stated that over 120,000 tickets were sold at 100 euros each, raising roughly 11 million euros for Alzheimer's disease research. This event marked the third iteration of the 'A Picasso for 100 Euros' initiative, which was first established in 2013. Hodara, who participated primarily to support the charitable cause, initially suspected the notification of his win might be a prank. He has expressed his intention to keep the artwork for the time being.