Logo

French billionaire pledges more than $100M to help rebuild Notre Dame cathedral

NypChrisPerez@RoundtableIO profile imagefeatured creator badge
Chris Perez
featured
Apr 16, 2019

François-Henri Pinault — chairman and CEO of Kering, the French-based luxury group behind Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent and other world-renowned brands — has pledged over $110 million towards the rebuilding of the Notre Dame cathedral.

Pinault, who is married to actress Salma Hayek, said in a statement that he plans to pay through his family’s investment firm, Artemis, for any work that needs to be done following Monday’s catastrophic fire, according to AFP.

The billionaire reportedly pledged 100 million euros, or $113 million. He hopes that the money will help church officials “completely rebuild Notre Dame.” French president Emmanuel Macron had vowed to do so earlier in the day.

“We will rebuild Notre Dame because it is what the French expect,” Macron said, calling it “the epicenter” of their lives.

“It is what our history deserves,” he added. “It is, in the deepest sense, our destiny.”

With Post wires

1 of 38
Smoke rises around the alter in front of the cross inside the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Smoke rises around the alter in front of the cross inside the Notre Dame Cathedral.Reuters
Flames and smoke are seen as the interior continues to burn
Reuters
Advertisement
Paris Fire brigade members are seen at an entrance that looks into the cathedral.
Paris Fire brigade members are seen at an entrance that looks into the cathedral.Reuters
Firefighters assemble their hoses as they gather at the River Seine near the cathedral.
AFP/Getty Images
An aerial view of the fire
AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
Firefighters work to extinguish the fire at the Notre Dame cathedral.
Getty Images
Firefighters douse flames billowing from the roof of the cathedral.
AFP/Getty Images
A fire fighter uses a hose as the cathedral burns.
AP
Advertisement
People pray as Notre-Dame continues to burn in Paris.
AP
Flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns.
AP
Flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns.
AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the front entrance of the cathedral.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the front entrance of the cathedral.AFP/Getty Images
Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral.AFP/Getty Images
Firefighters douse flames rising from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Firefighters douse flames rising from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
People look at smoke and flames rising.
AFP/Getty Images
This general view taken from Montparnasse Tower shows flames and smoke as they billow from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
AFP/Getty Images
Getty Images
Advertisement
People look at smoke and flames rising.
People look at smoke and flames rising.AFP/Getty Images
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral.Getty Images
A firefighter is seen fighting the flames.
A firefighter is seen fighting the flames.Getty Images
Advertisement
AFP/Getty Images
The steeple collapses.
The steeple collapses as smoke and flames engulf the Notre-Dame Cathedral.AFP/Getty Images
Bystanders look on from a bridge.
AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
Firefighters douse flames rising from the roof.
AFP/Getty Images
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral.
AFP/Getty Images
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral.
AP
Advertisement
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral.
AFP/Getty Images
Flames burn the roof of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral.
AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy