Wealthy benefactor bequeaths $10 million to small French town he never knew for unexpected reasons

In an extraordinary turn of events, the small town of Thiberville in Normandy has received an unexpected €10 million ($10.2 million) inheritance from Roger Thiberville, a Parisian meteorologist who never visited the community. This astonishing bequest has left the town of fewer than 2,000 residents both surprised and deeply grateful. According to Euronews, Thiberville passed away in August 2024 at the age of 91. Born into a winemaking family in Mantes-la-Jolie, west of Paris, he amassed his wealth through inheritances from his parents and later his sister, who died without heirs.

Despite spending his entire life in Paris and having no personal connection to the town, Thiberville left his wealth to the municipality simply because it shares his last name. In addition, he requested that his ashes be interred in the town’s cemetery, along with a plaque commemorating him. Mayor Guy Paris, who has served the town for nearly three decades, described the community’s shock upon receiving the news. “We all thought it was a practical joke to begin with,” he told The Times. “Then the notary said that he wanted to meet us, so I realized it was true. It’s exceptional for a small community.”

The inheritance represents five times the town’s annual budget, a sum that Mayor Paris called “beyond imagination.” He emphasized that the town intends to manage the windfall with caution and responsibility. “We’re not going to spend it all. We’re going to manage this dowry as we’ve always done with our municipal budget – with prudence and responsibility,” he said in an interview with France Bleu. Meetings with regional officials are underway to determine the best uses for the funds. The priority for the town is to clear its €400,000 ($416,136) debt incurred through a loan to build a new school.

Beyond that, Thiberville plans to create a public park, renovate the primary school and church roof, and build a football pitch. Mayor Paris added that other potential projects include constructing a new fire station and a care home for elderly residents. “We want to create a better quality of life for our residents and ensure the money benefits future generations,” he said. Despite the generosity of the bequest, not everyone will share in its benefits. Two neighboring villages, Le Planquay and La Chapelle-Hareng, which previously declined a merger with Thiberville, will not receive any portion of the inheritance, as reported by the New York Post. The decision to remain separate now excludes them from participating in the windfall.

Interestingly, Thiberville lived a quiet life in Paris and owned four apartments in the city’s south-western 15th arrondissement. No photographs of him are known to exist, adding an air of mystery to his extraordinary generosity. As for Thiberville, the town remains deeply grateful for Roger Thiberville’s extraordinary act of kindness. Although he never visited the town, his legacy will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on its residents. Plans to erect a memorial in his honor are underway. “Monsieur Thiberville did not demand anything in return for his legacy, but we owe him at least that,” Mayor Paris said.