Pa. man wins $1M Picasso in raffle

AP

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A western Pennsylvania man looking for art for his new home has won a $1 million Picasso painting with a $138 raffle ticket.

Wexford resident Jeffrey Gonano tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review he's not sure he'll ever hang the masterpiece in his home, given its value.

The 25-year-old Gonano works for his family's fire sprinkler business. He learned Wednesday his ticket had won the Paris raffle.

Organizers say nearly 50,000 tickets were sold worldwide for 100 euros apiece to benefit a Lebanese charity.

The 1914 work is called Man in the Opera Hat. It dates from Spanish master Pablo Picasso's cubist period. Picasso died in 1973.

Charity spokeswoman Reem Chalabi says the raffle raised about $3.5 million for the International Association for the Safeguard of Tyr, a UNESCO heritage site.