The 2025 Louvre Heist

Written by: Sitara Nair

On Sunday, October 19, 2025, thieves entered the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and stole eight pieces of jewelry valued at $102 million, sparking outrage and concern across France and on social media. Taking just 7 minutes, this heist has shaken the world, so let’s learn more about what happened and what the Louvre is!

Background on the Louvre

Opening on August 10, 1793, during the French Revolution, the Louvre Museum has become one of the largest and most esteemed museums on Earth. It's nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the present that have captivated audiences worldwide, making it the world’s most visited museum. Before becoming a museum, the Louvre was a 12th-century fortress built by Philip Augustus, and was later rebuilt as a royal palace. The Louvre is home to many famous works, like the Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci), the Venus de Milo (150-125 BCE), and the Winged Victory of Samothrace (200-175 BCE). 

In 1546, King Francis I ordered the fortress replaced by a Renaissance palace, by the architect Pierre Lescot. By the 17th century, it was expanded by Louis XIII and Louis XIV, with contributions from Claude Perrault and Charles Le Brun. After Louis XIV moved to Versailles, the fortress was no longer considered a royal residence and in 1793 was opened to the public as the Musée Central des Arts. Later, Napoleon I and Napoleon III began major expansions, and slowly helped turn it into the incredible museum we know today! 

There are two different Louvre locations. The first, Louvre-Lens (France 2012), which was designed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (the buidling we have been talking about). However, there is also Louvre Abu Dhabi (UAE 2017), designed by Jean Nouvel, and was opened under a 30-year cultural partnership leasing the Louvre’s name and expertise. 

As mentioned earlier, the Louvre houses some of the world's finest art collections, holding the richest collection up to 1848, with later works transferred to the Musee d’Orsay in 1986. Masterpieces by French, Italian, Flemish, and Dutch artists fill the museum, like Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with St. Anne, and St. John the Baptist. There are a couple of departments, like Decorative Arts (royal treasures, jewelry, furniture), Greek, Etruscan & Roman Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities (founded 1826), and Near Eastern Antiquities.  

The 2025 Louvre Jewel Heist

On October 19th, 2025, during the morning (9:34 AM),  Robbers entered the Louvre via a monte-meubles (a truck ladder), and cut glass to access the Galerie d’Apollon. These robbers stole nine royal and imperial jewels, like crowns, necklaces, and earrings. These items were treasured, belonging to Empress Eugénie, Marie-Louise, Marie-Amélie, and Hortense. On the thieves’ escape from the museum, Empress Eugenie’s gold and emerald crown was dropped. There is currently an investigation ongoing, and the Louvre director offered resignation as of October 22nd. Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first theft France had seen, as the Paris prosecutor’s office also revealed that an arrest had been made the month before for a burglary at the Paris Natural History Museum, with the theft costing $1.7 million in gold nuggets.

This robbery has taken France by surprise, with many distressed and concerned by the lack of security at the Louvre, granted that is one of the most esteemed museums of all time. Social media has also taken the event by storm, with many talking about how mind-blowing it is to experience an art heist in 2025.   

Despite the tragedy, the Louvre continues to stand as a symbol of art, history, and human creativity. Millions still visit, and the museum reopened to the public after three days of closure. While police investigate the robbery, it’s important to remember the Louvre’s role as a testament to human achievement and to remain positive and supportive of the French people while the thieves are sought.