The Arnault family donates 200 million euros for the restoration of Notre-Dame

Paris - The Arnault family and its LVMH luxury goods conglomerate are donating 200 million euros (over five billion crowns) for the restoration of the fire-damaged Notre-Dame Cathedral. This was reported today by AFP. On Monday, French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, head of the international luxury group Kering, announced that he would contribute 100 million euros (2.6 billion crowns) for the repair of the cathedral.

LVMH owner Bernard Arnault is among the five richest people in the world according to Forbes magazine. LVMH operates in many sectors of luxury goods sales and owns about 70 brands, including fashion houses Fendi, Givenchy, and Louis Vuitton, champagne Dom Pérignon, jewelry and watches Bvlgari and Hublot, as well as the Sephora chain of perfumeries.

Financial donations for the repair of one of Paris's symbols, which was severely damaged by a massive fire, began to accumulate even while the blaze was raging. The New York-based non-profit organization French Heritage Society, which focuses on protecting French architectural and cultural treasures, launched a website on Monday to raise funds for the restoration of the cathedral.

On the GoFundMe platform for organizing aid from voluntary donors, more than 50 campaigns related to the cathedral fire were launched on Monday, said website operator spokesperson John Coventry.