Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars has resigned following intense scrutiny over a high-profile €88 million crown jewels heist dubbed the “Heist of the Century,” alongside multiple operational crises at the world’s most visited museum.
French President Emmanuel Macron accepted her resignation on February 24, describing it as “an act of responsibility” amid needs for security upgrades, modernization, and stability.
Heist Background
The October 2025 daylight robbery from the Apollo Gallery saw thieves escape with French crown jewels valued at €88 million ($100+ million), exposing critical security lapses including outdated cameras and infrastructure.
Des Cars, who offered to resign immediately after the heist, faced mounting pressure from labor strikes, a pipe burst near the Mona Lisa, water damage to rare books, overcrowding protests, and a €10 million ticket fraud scheme.
Leadership Transition
Macron praised her tenure since 2021 but emphasized the museum’s urgent need for “calm and robust new drive” on security and reforms, planning to reassign her to a G7 museum cooperation role.
The resignation ends months of criticism over why no top official had fallen after what many called France’s most humiliating heritage security breach in living memory.
A successor, potentially Sébastien Leribault, is expected to prioritize infrastructure fixes and crowd management.
