On Monday, April 15th, the world watched with shock as the famed Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire and burned, causing catastrophic damage to the 850-year-old structure. Residents of Paris lined the Seine to witness the tragic event unfold, as the beautiful "Lady of Paris" was engulfed in flames. The crowd gasped in despair as the iconic spire of the cathedral collapsed, marking a somber moment in history. Thankfully, firefighters reported that while the structure was severely damaged, it was not a total loss. French President Emmanuel Macron quickly arrived at the scene, expressing his commitment to restoring Notre Dame to its former glory. In a remarkable gesture, François-Henri Pinault, husband of actress Salma Hayek, pledged a substantial $113 million toward the cathedral's reconstruction.
The French newspaper Le Monde shared a heartfelt statement from the billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, who proclaimed, "My father (François Pinault) and I have decided to release a sum of €100 million from our Artemis funds to participate in the effort that will be necessary for the complete reconstruction of Notre-Dame." This significant donation translates to about $113 million in USD and marks the first major contribution announced for the restoration efforts. The Pinault family is known for controlling a vast portfolio of luxury fashion brands, including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, and Balenciaga.
Francois Pinault boasts a net worth of $34 billion, while his son is valued at $7 billion. Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault married in 2009, and the actress shared her sorrow over the fire on social media, stating, "As many others, I'm in deep shock and sadness to witness the beauty of Notre-Dame turn into smoke. I love you, Paris. Comme beaucoup d'autres, c'est avec effroi et tristesse que je regarde la beauté de Notre-Dame partir en fumée…Paris, je t'aime!" The couple resides near Notre Dame and were married on Valentine's Day 2009, just a short distance from the iconic structure.
- Notre Dame caught fire on April 15, 2019, causing massive destruction.
- François-Henri Pinault pledged $113 million for its reconstruction.
- President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of restoring the cathedral.
The fire broke out at 6:30 PM local Paris time, shortly after the cathedral had closed to tourists for the day. Notre Dame attracts around 30,000 visitors daily, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Following the disaster, Pinault's generous donation came in response to President Macron's announcement of a public fundraising campaign aimed at restoring the beloved symbol of Paris and France.
In a moving address, Macron stated, "It is with pride I tell you tonight we will rebuild this cathedral…we will rebuild Notre Dame because it is what the French expect of us, it is what our history deserves, it is, in the deepest sense, our destiny."
