Two Suspects Reveal How the Louvre Heist Was Planned and How Much They Were Promised for the Theft

Several months after one of the most high-profile museum heists in recent years, new details about the crime have emerged. French newspaper Le Monde has published excerpts from the interrogations of two suspects, who claim they acted on the instructions of a mysterious mastermind.

The case concerns the brazen robbery at the Louvre Museum on October 19, 2025, when thieves stole priceless jewels from the Galerie d'Apollon, including pieces from the collection of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Joséphine. Among the stolen items were a necklace, a brooch, and a tiara adorned with thousands of precious stones.

According to Le Monde, the suspects said they were approached only a few days before the robbery. One of them, a 40-year-old taxi driver, admitted he agreed to take part because of financial hardship. He said he had been promised between €15,000 and €20,000 for his role in the operation. The second suspect claimed he believed until the very last moment that they were planning to rob a jewelry store.

On the day of the heist, the men met up with their accomplices, disguised themselves as construction workers, arrived at the museum in a truck equipped with a hydraulic lift, and entered the Louvre through a balcony.

"We were told to take as many jewels as possible," one of the suspects said.

Investigators say the thieves made off with jewelry containing 8,482 diamonds, 35 emeralds, 34 sapphires, and 212 pearls. After escaping, they allegedly handed the loot over to an unidentified client.

However, according to one of the detainees, the person who organized the operation was dissatisfied with the outcome.

"The client wasn't happy. He thought we could have taken more. We lost too much time climbing through the window," the interrogation transcript states.

Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the alleged mastermind actually exists, but they have not ruled out that possibility. The investigation remains ongoing.