He spent ₹10,000 on a random raffle ticket - what did he win next? A $1 million Picasso

A raffle ticket worth just over $100 has turned into one of the most talked-about stories right now. In Paris, a man who made a simple and unplanned purchase is now the owner of a painting valued at $1 million.

This is the kind of story that stands out because it connects everyday life with something extraordinary. It also shows how a small decision can sometimes lead to something much bigger.

Winner left questioning the news

Ari Hodara, 58, who works as a sales engineer, received a call informing him that he had won a painting by Pablo Picasso, as reported by The Associated Press.

Instead of celebrating immediately, he was unsure if the news was even real.

“How do I check that it’s not a hoax?”

The winning draw was conducted at Christie’s auction house in Paris, where his ticket was selected.

Bought a ticket without planning

As mentioned in the report, Hodara shared that he came across the raffle by chance while he was out for a meal at a restaurant over the weekend.

He sees himself as someone who enjoys art and likes Picasso’s work, but buying the ticket was not a serious plan. It was a casual decision. The ticket cost him 100 euros, around $117.

After finding out about the win, he spoke about what he would do next.

“First, I will tell the news to my wife, who has yet to return from work.”

“And at first, I think I’ll take advantage of it and keep it.”

The painting that became the prize

The artwork he won is called “Head of a Woman.” It was painted in 1941 and shows Dora Maar, who was Picasso’s muse and partner.

This raffle was part of the third edition of the “1 Picasso for 100 euros” campaign.

A raffle with a social goal

The initiative was organized to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. A total of 120,000 tickets were sold worldwide, bringing in 12 million euros.

Out of the proceeds, 1 million euros will go to Opera Gallery, which owns the painting.

Gilles Dyan, the gallery’s founder, said the artwork was offered at a lower price than its public value.

Funds used for wider causes

The raffle is run by the Alzheimer Research Foundation, based in a major public hospital in Paris. Since 2004, it has become one of the leading private contributors to Alzheimer-related research in France.

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