The husband of the well-known actress, the French billionaire fashion magnate François-Henri Pinault, contributed more than 113 million dollars (HUF 40 billion) to the restoration of the Paris cathedral after the historic building was destroyed by a serious fire in 2019.
The couple were among more than 1,500 invited guests, including 50 world leaders, along with US First Lady Jill Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, who attended the grand reopening of Notre-Dame.
On April 15, 2019, Notre-Dame became a victim of flames. The fire, which started in the late afternoon, quickly spread through the building's iconic roof structure, and then the 93-meter-high central tower collapsed as well.
The disaster shocked the whole world: the more than 850-year-old Gothic masterpiece was one of the best-known symbols of Paris and Christian culture. After the tragedy, donations started immediately for the restoration.
The magnificently restored interior of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. pic.twitter.com/aGrXcWWIFn
— Architecture & Tradition (@archi_tradition) December 5, 2024
Francois-Henri Pinault is currently the CEO of the $22 billion (HUF 7.8 trillion) French luxury conglomerate Kering, which owns such big fashion brands as Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Gucci. The company is also the owner of the famous Christie's auction house.
The news of the donation hit the headlines in 2019, when the Pinault family - as one of the three richest families in France - offered 100 million euros (approx. HUF 40 billion) for the reconstruction works. Pinault told Le Figaro newspaper at the time: "My father (Francois Pinault) and I have decided to provide one hundred million euros from the Artemis family fund to help with the complete reconstruction of Notre-Dame."
Salma Hayek, who witnessed the destruction of the cathedral, reacted to the tragedy with deep sympathy.
On the day of the fire, she shared a photo of the burning building and wrote: “Like many, I was deeply shaken and saddened by the sight of the beauty of Notre-Dame going up in smoke. I love you Paris.”
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He was also present at the reopening of the cathedral, as evidenced by his photos posted on social media.
The Mexican-born actress, 58, and Pinault, 62, met in 2006 at a gala in Venice at the Palazzo Grassi and married in 2009. They have one daughter, 17-year-old Valentina Paloma.
Cover photo: Salma Hayek with her husband at the reopening of Notre-Dame
Source: Facebook/Salma Hayek
