On April 15, 2019, the world was saddened by the images of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral engulfed in flames. Five years later, the iconic church has reopened its doors, fully restored to its former glory after years of renovation and restoration work.
The milestone came with a beautiful celebration, attended by an array of personalities. Business leaders, heads of state, royalty, and celebrities like Elon Musk and Donald Trump were among those on the guest list. One notable couple was Salma Hayek and her husband, François-Henri Pinault, who are closely tied to the cathedral and its reconstruction process, because without his €100 million donation, it may have never reopened.
The event was led by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, who personally welcomed guests at the cathedral’s entrance. Salma and her husband were spotted among the attendees, smiling and visibly thrilled to witness the outcome of the restoration. They paid close attention during the formal reopening ceremony.
It appeared to be a chilly night in Paris, as Salma was seen wearing an elegant green coat paired with a stole around her neck. She styled her hair in a high bun, allowing her pearl earrings to take center stage.
Pinault’s Multimillion-Dollar Donation for Notre Dame’s Reconstruction
The exact cause of the Notre Dame fire on April 15, 2019, is still unknown, but investigators believe it was accidental. One theory is an electrical issue, possibly from the wiring for the electric bells on the roof, which could have caused a short circuit. Authorities ruled out arson, but the investigation couldn’t confirm the exact cause because so much of the evidence was destroyed in the fire.
Following the event, François-Henri Pinault expressed a desire to contribute to the reconstruction of the iconic landmark. He announced a generous donation to this effort, saying, “My father (François Pinault) and I have decided to allocate €100 million from Artémis immediately to participate in the work needed to completely rebuild Notre Dame,” he stated in a public announcement.
At the time, Hayek also shared her deep concern on social media, expressing her sorrow over the tragic event. “As many others, I am deeply shocked and saddened to see the beauty of Notre-Dame turn to smoke,” she wrote. “I love you, Paris. Comme beaucoup d’autres, avec effroi et tristesse, je regarde la beauté de Notre-Dame partir en fumée... Paris, je t’aime! #Notredame #paris.”