More than two weeks after the spectacular burglary of eight imperial jewels at the Louvre, a damning report from the Cour des comptes highlights financial and security failures. Covering 2018-2024, the document questions the museum's management and its ambitious renovation project launched by Emmanuel Macron. Experts ponder the fate of the loot estimated at 88 million euros.
On November 6, 2025, the Cour des comptes released a report on the Louvre's management from 2018 to 2024, revealing financial degradation, oversized art acquisitions, and underinvestment in maintenance and security standards. Written before the burglary nearly three weeks ago, this document arrives at a critical time for the museum, visited by 9 million people annually. It sharply criticizes the 'Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance' project, launched by President Emmanuel Macron last January, which plans a new entrance, new galleries, and a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa by 2031. According to the report, this ambitious operation was undertaken without prior feasibility studies—technical, architectural, financial, or on visitor flows.
The theft of eight Crown jewels of France from the Galerie d'Apollon exposed glaring security flaws. The thieves did not touch the most precious display case containing the Regent diamond and Louis XV's crown. The damage is estimated at 88 million euros. Experts consider several scenarios for disposing of the loot: a ransom demand, acquisition by an eccentric collector, or, most likely, resale at low prices on parallel markets abroad after dismantling and recutting the gems.
Jean-Norbert Salit, a specialist and member of the Syndicat français des experts professionnels en œuvres d’art et objets de collection since 1984, explains: 'If the criminals recut the colored stones, which is not difficult, they will never be found, as they will be traded on the opaque second-hand market.' This report bolsters calls for better governance and prioritized security investments over grandiose projects.
