French fashion tycoons donate €300 million to the restoration of Notre-Dame
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A number of French fashion tycoons have made major donations to the fund that will help to rebuild Notre-Dame following a devastating fire that took place yesterday.

François Pinault, the art collector, CEO of Kering and husband of actress Salma Hayek announced that his family would be pledging €100 million (about £86 million) to the cause. Meanwhile Bernard Arnault, the owner of the group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (and the richest man in France) declared that he would be donating €200 million (about £172 million).

Pinault's son revealed that the funds would come from the family's investment firm, Artemis. Pinault is the CEO of Kering, which owns fashion brands including Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Saint Laurent.

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"My father [François Pinault] and I have decided to release as of now from the funds of Artemis a sum of 100 million euros to participate in the effort that will be necessary for the complete reconstruction of Notre-Dame," his son said in a statement that was reported by a journalist for French newspaper Le Figaro on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Arnault announced the news via a statement through LVMH.

"The Arnault family and the LVMH group, in solidarity with this national tragedy, are associated with the reconstruction of this extraordinary cathedral, symbol of France, its heritage and its unity. In the meantime, the LVMH Group puts at the disposal of the state and the concerned authorities all its teams, creative, architectural, financial, to help the long work of reconstruction on the one hand, and of fundraising on the other hand."

The fire, which broke out just before 7pm yesterday, destroyed the spire and the roof of the cathedral but the main structure of the building survived.

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, spoke at the scene of the fire on Monday evening, pledging that the iconic landmark would be restored: "We will rebuild this Cathedral together."