(FILES) This aerial file photo taken on June 12, 2019 in the French capital Paris shows the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral under repair after it was badly damaged by a huge fire. - Local authorities in Paris have ordered a "deep clean" at schools around the fire-damaged Notre-Dame cathedral, a city official said on July 18, 2019, following a media report claiming the extent of contamination has been covered up. Paris health official Arnaud Gauthier said that the cleaning had been ordered "to reassure us that the risk is minimal," adding that the levels of lead pollution caused by the April fire at Notre-Dame were not a cause for alarm. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images
Not ‘a cent’ of the money being used to restore the cathedral has come from the billionaires, said a senior press official (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

French billionaires who pledged to pay for repairs after the Notre Dame fire are still yet to pay ‘a cent’, a senior press official has said.

The huge fire broke out at the cathedral on April 15 earlier this year, destroying the building’s spire and most of the roof.

In the weeks after, several high-profile billionaires came forward and vowed to contribute vast sums of money towards the restoring the landmark.

But while some money has already been put forward for the repairs, it appears the generous tycoons are still yet to make good on their promises.

Andre Finot, senior press official at Notre-Dame, said: ‘The big donors haven’t paid. Not a cent.

FILE - Flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. The city of Paris has ordered a deep cleaning of schools nearest Notre Dame, whose lead roof melted away in the fire last April. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
The cathedral went up in flames in April (Picture: AP)
French Culture Minister Franck Riester (R) speaks with French chief architect of historical sites Philippe Villeneuve (L) as they visit the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral during preliminary work three months after a major fire on July 17, 2019 in Paris. - French MPs on July 16 approved a law on the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, three months after flames ravaged the great Paris cathedral, but with the rebuilding process still mired in controversy. The April 15 fire destroyed the roof and steeple of the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral. Images of the ancient cathedral going up in flames sparked shock and dismay across the globe as well as in France, where it is considered one of the nation's most beloved landmarks. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / POOL / AFP)STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images
Friends of Notre Dame has funded the work (Picture: AFP)

‘They want to know what exactly their money is being spent on and if they agree to it before they hand it over, and not just to pay employees’ salaries.’

Instead, the majority of the funding has come from American and French individuals, who have donated through the cathedral’s Friends of Notre Dame charity.

This month, the charity will issue its first payment of 3.6 million euros, which will be used to pay the salaries of up to 150 workers.

The charity’s president Andre Picaud told the AP: ‘Americans are very generous toward Notre Dame and the monument is very loved in America. Six out of our 11 board members are residents in the US.’

François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of the luxury conglomerate Kering, and his wife, Salma Hayek were among the first to pledge money towards Notre Dame, promising a whopping 100 million euros.

epa07722569 Workers are seen during preliminary work during preliminary work in the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral three months after a major fire in Paris, France, 17 July 2019. The April 15, fire destroyed the roof and steeple of the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral. Images of the ancient cathedral going up in flames sparked shock and dismay across the globe as well as in France, where it is considered one of the nation's most beloved landmarks. EPA/STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT
The billionaires say they still intend to donate (Picture: EPA)
Scaffolding is seen during preliminary work on top of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral three months after a major fire on July 17, 2019 in Paris. - French MPs on July 16 approved a law on the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, three months after flames ravaged the great Paris cathedral, but with the rebuilding process still mired in controversy. The April 15 fire destroyed the roof and steeple of the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral. Images of the ancient cathedral going up in flames sparked shock and dismay across the globe as well as in France, where it is considered one of the nation's most beloved landmarks. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images
Many of them do not want their money just paying employee’s salaries (Picture: AFP/ Getty Images)

Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of French energy firm Total, also stated that his company would match the same figure.

But both were soon topped by Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH and estimated richest man in France, who upped the ante and pledged 200 million euros.

When contacted by AP, the billionaires said they still intended to donate their money to Notre Dame’s restoration.

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