PARIS, France — A Paris resident won a Head of a Woman by Pablo Picasso valued at about $1 million after purchasing a €100 ($117) raffle ticket, organizers announced Tuesday following a draw at Christie’s.
The winner, Ari Hodara, 58, said he bought the ticket over the weekend after learning about the charity raffle during a restaurant visit. He said he initially questioned whether the result was legitimate and planned to inform his family.
The raffle, titled “1 Picasso for 100 euros,” marked its third edition and featured the 1941 gouache-on-paper portrait of Dora Maar, a longtime partner and muse of Picasso.
Organizers said 120,000 tickets were sold worldwide, raising about €12 million ($14 million). Of the total, €1 million will go to Opera Gallery, which owned the painting.
Proceeds from the raffle will support Alzheimer’s research through the Alzheimer Research Foundation.
Organizers said previous raffles featuring Picasso works raised more than €10 million for cultural and humanitarian projects, including initiatives in Lebanon and water and sanitation programs in Africa.