A charity raffle winner initially dismissed news of his €1 million Pablo Picasso painting as an elaborate scam, requiring a video call from Christie's auction house to confirm the life-changing prize, organizers revealed.
Péri Cochin, who organized the fundraising initiative, told BBC Radio 4's Front Row that Ari Hodara was completely skeptical when first informed of his win. "He thought it was a scam," Cochin explained. "We had to show him the actual artwork during a video call from Christie's in Paris before he would believe us."
The innovative fundraising effort sold over 120,000 tickets at €100 each to participants worldwide, generating an impressive €11 million for Alzheimer's research. The substantial sum highlights both the appeal of the Picasso masterpiece and global support for medical research.
"We had to show him the actual artwork during a video call from Christie's in Paris before he would believe us."
Hodara now faces the enviable dilemma of deciding whether to keep the valuable painting or sell it. The artwork represents not just a financial windfall but a connection to one of the 20th century's most influential artists.
This unusual story underscores how extraordinary news can sometimes be too good to believe, even when it involves genuine life-changing opportunities. The successful fundraiser demonstrates creative approaches to supporting vital medical research while offering participants the chance to win extraordinary prizes.