JR's Pont-Neuf project funding questioned

At the Pont-Neuf, JR pays tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, marking 40 years since their 1985 installation. While he asserts a model without public funding, the situation is more complex. Christo's preparatory sketches have sold for between €50,000 and €300,000, with a top sale reaching $2 million at Sotheby's. JR's lithographs range from €1,500 to €4,000, and unique pieces can go for €20,000 to €50,000, with a maximum public sale of $110,000. Funding from JR's previous works helps offset expenses, but sponsorship has become crucial, as acknowledged by Julien Neutres. The legal framework allows donors to receive a 60% corporate tax deduction and a 66% income tax deduction. The 1985 wrapping cost $2.5 million, while the 2021 Arc de Triomphe project was €14 million, and JR's initiative is projected at €10 million. Sponsors include Snap, Bloomberg Connects, Paris Aéroport, and Salesforce, with La Samaritaine providing space for a souvenir shop under a commercial agreement.