In a remarkable turn of events, Ari Hodara, an engineer and avid art admirer, has emerged as the lucky winner of an original Pablo Picasso painting valued at over €1 million (£870,000; $1.2m) during a charity raffle held in Paris. Hodara was informed of his win via a video call from Christie's auction house, leaving him initially questioning the authenticity of the news with a playful, 'How do I know this isn't a prank?' His winning ticket, number 94,715, was purchased over the weekend after he stumbled upon information about the raffle.

The raffle, which is a part of the 1 Picasso for 100 euros initiative established in 2013, saw over 120,000 tickets sold at €100 (£87; $118) each, successfully raising approximately €11 million (£10 million; $13 million) to support Alzheimer's research. This year's featured artwork was 'Tête de Femme' (Head of a Woman), a 1941 gouache-on-paper portrait that captures the essence of Picasso's style and depicts his muse, French surrealist artist Dora Maar.

Upon discovering his win, Hodara expressed his genuine surprise and elation, stating, 'When you bet on this, you don't expect to win... But I'm very happy because I'm very interested in painting, and it's great news for me.'

Organized by French journalist Peri Cochin with support from Picasso's family and foundation, the event promises to facilitate a smooth delivery of the artwork, especially since the winner resides in Paris, where the legendary artist spent much of his life. Of the total funds raised, €1 million will go to Opera Gallery, the painting's owner, while the rest will be directed to France's Alzheimer's Research Foundation.

Olivier de Ladoucette, the foundation's head, expressed hope that such initiatives will contribute towards a future where Alzheimer's is merely a bad memory. Previous iterations of the raffle have garnered significant attention and raised funds for various charitable causes, showcasing the potential for art to make a difference.