PARIS -- The billionaires behind many of France's top luxury brands have pledged €300 million ($339 million) to help reconstruct Paris' Notre Dame cathedral following a devastating fire.
LVMH Group, which owns Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Givenchy, said Tuesday that the company, along with the family of CEO Bernard Arnault, would put up €200 million ($226 million).
The company said in a statement that the donation showed "solidarity with this national tragedy" and that funds would be used to rebuild this "extraordinary cathedral" and symbol of French heritage and unity.
LVMH will also make its creative and financial teams available to help with rebuilding and soliciting donations.
The family of François Pinault, which controls brands including Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, has pledged an additional €100 million ($113 million).
Pinault's son, François-Henri Pinault, who is chief executive of luxury group Kering, called the massive blaze at Notre Dame a tragedy.
"This tragedy is striking all the French people, and beyond that, all those attached to spiritual values," he said in a statement.
"Faced with this tragedy, everyone wishes to give life back to this jewel of our heritage as soon as possible," he added.
The blaze at Notre Dame on Monday devastated large parts of the 850-year-old church, including its iconic spire. The fire was extinguished after nine hours.
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to rebuild the site, saying Monday that France will launch an international fundraising campaign to assist with the effort.
Early pledges from some of the richest families in the world could help.
Arnault is the third richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His net worth comes in at $90.4 billion, more than that of Warren Buffett or Mark Zuckerberg.
The Pinault family is worth an estimated $37.3 billion, per Bloomberg. François-Henri Pinault, who manages the family's businesses, is married to actress Salma Hayek.
