Paris software salesman Ari Hodara entered a charity raffle for a modest €118 ticket and walked away with Pablo Picasso’s 1941 portrait “Tête de femme”. The work, depicting Dora Maar, is valued at more than $1.2 million. Hodara, 58, first thought the winning call was a scam before confirming the prize.

The raffle, organized by French nonprofit 1 Picasso for 100 Euros, raised €12 million, allocating €1 million to purchase the painting and the balance to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Partners included Opera Gallery, the Picasso Estate and Christie’s. Funds will support clinical studies, doctoral fellowships and broader data‑sharing initiatives in Alzheimer’s research.

Hodara says the win aligns with his lifelong interest in art, adding his modest collection already holds ten pieces. Security concerns keep the Picasso in storage for now, a common practice among private owners wary of light damage and theft. The episode underscores how charitable raffles can mobilize high‑value assets for philanthropy while offering rare entry points to blue‑chip art.

Industry observers note that the €118 ticket price translates to a sub‑cent‑per‑dollar cost for a masterpiece, a stark contrast to recent auction sales topping $150 million, highlighting the appeal of alternative acquisition channels. Collectors and fundraisers alike watch the model closely, as it demonstrates that even modest contributions can unlock access to works that normally circulate only in institutional auctions.