French billionaire Bernard Arnault, owner of LVMH, announced that the company will donate the funds in a statement after seeing the damage inflicted on the 800-year-old cathedral.
“The Arnault family and the LVMH group would like to show their solidarity at this time of national tragedy, and are joining up to help rebuild this extraordinary cathedral, which is a symbol of France, of its heritage and of French unity,” the statement read.
Notre-Dame cathedral is the one of the biggest tourist attractions in Europe, bringing millions of visitors every year.
The cathedral was under renovation when it set alight on Monday evening, causing the collaps of its iconic spire and destruction of its roof and interior. Despite the damage, many of the ancient artifacts are thought to have been saved from the wreckage.
French president Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter last night to vow to rebuild the cathedral to its former glory.
Notre-Dame is aflame. Great emotion for the whole nation. Our thoughts go out to all Catholics and to the French people. Like all of my fellow citizens, I am sad to see this part of us burn tonight. https://t.co/27CrJgJkJb
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 15, 2019
