Over five years after a devastating fire ravaged its iconic spire, Notre Dame Cathedral reopened its doors on Saturday, welcoming over 1,500 guests, including actress Salma Hayek and her billionaire husband, François-Henri Pinault.
The esteemed guest list for the Paris ceremony boasted a multitude of international figures, such as President-elect Donald Trump, First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In 2019, following the fire, the Pinault family's company, Kering – a French luxury group housing renowned fashion brands like Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga – committed a substantial $113 million towards the cathedral's restoration. The Pinault family, along with LVMH Group and L'Oreal, ultimately pledged a combined $565 million for the rebuilding effort.
Hayek expressed her awe and reverence for the occasion on social media, stating, "Honored and standing in awe at the reopening of Notre-Dame—a true moment in history and a symbol of resilience and hope." She reiterated this sentiment in French for her diverse following.
François-Henri Pinault's father founded the $22 billion Kering brand, which also owns Alexander McQueen and Christie's auction house. Pinault himself boasts an estimated net worth of $7 billion. The family notably declined to utilize French tax credits for their generous donation, a decision Hayek praised on Instagram in 2019, emphasizing her pride in their commitment to the cathedral's restoration.
Hayek, who comes from a wealthy background herself with an oil executive father and opera singer mother, married Pinault in 2009. They share a daughter, Valentina, and Hayek is also stepmother to Pinault's children from previous relationships.
