Did a man manage to sell the Eiffel Tower twice?

He died on March 11, 1947, after contracting pneumonia. His death certificate labelled him, ironically, as an apprentice salesman. Victor Lustig was a master of deception and a true con artist, who managed to sell the Eiffel Tower twice and swindle countless others out of their money.



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His name probably doesn't speak to you, and yet Victor Lustig was one of the greatest crooks of his time. His biggest scam? Having successfully sold the Eiffel Tower to a scrap dealer. At what price ?

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City of Paris ownership Today, the City of Paris owns the Tower and has entrusted its management to a development company (SETE: Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel) of which it owns 99% of the capital. Bertrand Lemoine is an architect, engineer and historian.

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It is made of lattice-shaped wrought iron with 20,000 lights. The Eiffel Tower was built for $1.5M in 1889. If we inflation adjust this original cost using CPI, we get $44M. According to a 2012 study by the Chamber of Commerce of Monza and Brianza in northern Italy, it is worth $510 billion.

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In 1944, Hitler ordered the military governor of Paris to destroy the tower, he refused. In addition, during the German occupation, the tower was closed to the public and Nazis attempted to attach a large swastika to the top, but it blew away.

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The third and final floor, accessible only by lift, welcomes visitors at an altitude of 276 metres. Again, telescopes are available to appreciate the stunning views of Paris. On this floor, don't miss the reconstitution of the office of Gustave Eiffel.

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The Eiffel Tower's Illuminations. Every evening, the Eiffel Tower is adorned with its golden covering and sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour, while its beacon shines over Paris.

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The Eiffel Tower also sells stairs + lift ticket which will allow you to take the stairs until the second floor, then the lift to the top of the Tower. Such tickets are mainly sold at the ticket offices at the Tower at the individual rate and for use immediately.

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In fact, the Tower has been repainted for over 130 years, about once every 7 years. So if it is repainted, the Eiffel Tower can last... forever.

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It cost $1.5 million (USD) to build the tower in 1889. Adjusting for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), this comes to $44 million.

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Since 2011, the annual turnover generated by the sales of admissions for the Eiffel Tower in Paris has increased gradually. In 2019, the turnover related to ticket sales to access to the most famous monument in Paris amounted to approximately 87 million euros, compared to 53.03 million in 2012.

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The baby version came to life on April 1, 2023 and will remain on display until April 10. Its creator says this has been a dream of his, and he believes the larger Eiffel Tower is happy to have a counterpart. The attraction is made up of nearly 13,000 pieces. It also plays the sound of a crying baby every 10 minutes.

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As is the case each year, renovation and maintenance work is being done on the top floor of the Eiffel Tower, resulting in its temporary closure to the public from January 3rd to February 3rd, 2023.

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The Eiffel Tower Rental for Parties is perfect for you if you are looking to set a romantic tonal prop for your wedding day, adding an Instagram wall to your business gala, or celebrating a European themed Christmas!

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