Salma Hayek's billionaire husband pledged $113 million to save 863-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral after fire destruction. 5 years later, the historic monument rose from the ashes and welcomed visitors

When a major fire broke through Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral back in April 2019, it destroyed the monument's iconic spire and damaged parts of the 863-year-old structure. The world had to watch as one of France’s major historical landmarks was burning up in flames. Among those who stepped forward to help out for its restoration was French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, husband of Hollywood actress Salma Hayek. He pledged €100 million (approximately $113 million at the time) towards rebuilding the iconic monument after this burning incident.

More than five years later, Notre-Dame reopened its doors to worshippers and visitors in December 2024. Hayek and Pinault attended the reopening ceremony, which was attended by more than 1,500 guests, including political leaders, royalty and prominent business figures.

The Pinault family pledge for Notre-Dame

François-Henri Pinault announced the family’s contribution shortly after the April 15, 2019, fire. At the time, he made the commitment alongside his father, François Pinault, founder of the luxury group behind brands including Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga.


His father, François Pinault, founded the business in 1963, which developed from a timber and building materials company into a major player in the luxury industry. According to Forbes, François Pinault and his family had an estimated net worth of $24.1 billion as of October, 2026.

In a statement to French newspaper Le Figaro, François-Henri Pinault said: “My father, François Pinault, and I decided to release €100 million from our Artemis funds to contribute to the complete reconstruction of Notre Dame.”

Other major contributors included the families behind luxury conglomerate LVMH and cosmetics company L’Oréal, whose donations helped bring the total amount pledged by prominent French business families to hundreds of millions of euros.

Hayek also expressed her grief over the fire on social media. Sharing an image of the burning cathedral, the actress wrote that she was in deep shock and saddened to see the Paris landmark engulfed in flames. She later also praised her husband and father-in-law for supporting the reconstruction.

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About Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame’s restoration was significant because of the place that the cathedral holds in French history. Construction work for it began in the 12th century, and the building then underwent several changes and restorations over the next few centuries.

The cathedral became internationally recognised for its Gothic architecture and historical importance. It was also closely associated with Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, which helped renew public interest in the building during the 19th century.

The 2019 fire destroyed the roof’s medieval timber framework and the 19th-century spire.

How did Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault meet?

Hayek and Pinault’s connection began years before the cathedral fire. According to the New York Post, the couple met in 2006 at a gala held at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, Italy.

Hayek, who rose to international fame through films including Desperado and Frida, married the French businessman in 2009 in a civil ceremony in Paris. The couple later held a celebration in Venice and have a daughter, Valentina Paloma.

Pinault leads the luxury group Kering, whose portfolio includes some of the world’s best-known fashion houses.