The actress herself has also expressed her devastation by news of the fire as she writes on Instagram, 'As many others I'm in deep shock and sadness to witness the beauty of Notre-Dame turn into smoke.'
- April 16, 2019
AceShowbiz - News of the Notre Dame Cathedral getting destroyed by a huge fire is surely devastating to many people, including Salma Hayek and her husband Francois-Henri Pinault. In order to bring back the iconic cathedral to its glory once again, the French billionaire has even pledged nearly $113 million to help rebuild the building after the devastating fire.
In a statement obtained by French newspaper Le Figaro, Pinaul stated, "My father (Francois Pinault) and myself have decided to release a sum of €100 million from our Artemis funds (the family holding company) to participate in the effort that will be necessary for the complete reconstruction of Notre-Dame."
The family's contribution is the first major donation to reconstruction efforts after the fire destroyed the historical building. Pinault is the current CEO of Kering, a Paris-based group which owns luxury brands such as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga. Meanwhile, his father has an estimated net worth of $37.3 billion, according to Bloomberg's "Billionaires Index".
Hayek herself has also expressed her devastation by the news. Taking to Instagram to share a picture of the burning cathedral, the "From Dusk Till Dawn" star wrote, "As many others I'm in deep shock and sadness to witness the beauty of Notre-Dame turn into smoke. I love you Paris."
Fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday, April 15, destroying the 850-year-old cathedral's iconic spire and roof before firefighters were able to get the fire under control within four hours. Paris fire brigade chief Jean-Claude Gallet and Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed the main structure of the building, including its main bell towers and northern belfry, had been "saved and preserved" as the fire had been lowered in intensity.
An international fundraising campaign to raise money for the repairs was announced on Tuesday. French President Emmanuel Macron addressed a sorrowful crowd at the site, vowing to rebuild the cathedral for the French people. Calling it the "epicenter" of their lives, he said, "It is what our history deserves. It is, in the deepest sense, our destiny."
