It took more than thirty years after the death of Serge Gainsbourg for 5 bis rue de Verneuil, the place where he lived during his last years and his final hours, to be open to the public. This lifelong project was that of his daughter Charlotte. Originally, the 53-year-old actress did not want to make this symbolic house the museum we know today. Then the idea took hold, after years of keeping all of her father’s secrets to herself: “In the first ten years, when I was most sure of the project, it was very complicated to bring to fruition. And then I went back because it was a bit of what I had left of him, so I kept him like a treasure, she declared in 2021. I left for New York – now I’m back in Paris – I took some distance and understood that it had to be done.“
It was in September 2023 that the public had the honor of being at the most intimate of what Serge Gainsbourg was. And the discoveries did not disappoint! In any case, they left no one indifferent. One world-famous article even cried during the entire visit when others were struck by a particular detail. If on paper, everything runs like clockwork, the accounts unfortunately do not follow despite the success encountered by the museum (tickets are snapped up and the price has even been increased.)
Maison Gainsbourg riddled with debt
To bring this project to fruition, Charlotte Gainsbourg wanted to surround herself with the best. In her team, she called on Dominique Dutreix, a real estate developer with whom a deal had been made. “According to their agreement sealed in writing in 2019, she brought the building where her father had lived, and he was responsible, alone, for assuming the financing. It was up to him to find the necessary loans or to provide his own funds, which he would obtain reimbursement once Maison Gainsbourg became a beneficiary.” we learned in The informed. More his part of the bargain, Dominique Dutreix would not have respected it a prioripushing the establishment’s accounts into the red.
We learned just a few months after opening that Maison Gainsbourg was riddled with debt: “In total, according to a statement made at the end of October 2023, Maison Gainsbourg has accumulated 1.65 million euros in debts with its various suppliers. And this, while she already has to repay several bank loans: she borrowed a total of 3.5 million euros to set up the establishment.“Nearly 800,000 euros have still not been paid to the various suppliers such as EDF or the security company, essential to the proper functioning of the museum.
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Dominique Dutreix confronted in court
As the dispute could not be resolved privately between Charlotte Gainsbourg and her partner Dominique Dutreix, the case was brought before the court: “The break between the two is complete. An ad hoc agent has been appointed, and the situation of the establishment is being discussed before the Paris commercial court. According to an interim order issued at the end of March, consulted by L’Informé, Dominique Dutreix was ordered to replenish the establishment’s coffers to the tune of 1.5 million euros..”
The confrontation has indeed begun. Le Figaro recalled in mid-November that Charlotte Gainsbourg had initiated three separate procedures: “The liability trials and the criminal trial are scheduled in a year. The third, a procedure was judged in first instance by the Paris commercial court in March. In his order, the president completely agreed with Charlotte Gainsbourg. Dominique Dutreix was ordered, with fines, to pay debts of 1.5 million euros and to bail out their company to the tune of nearly 500,000 euros.“
While he is accused of not having fulfilled his role, Dominique Dutreix defended himself: “I spent 400,000 euros to restore his father’s house to how it was. I had the facade renovated, put in new carpets, had it repainted, built a glass roof above the passage to the kitchen… In return, Charlotte Gainsbourg was not to receive rent for her father’s house for three years . She has obviously changed her mind since she is asking for 20,000 euros. In addition, she appointed her son co-director with a comfortable salary.” Both parties pass the buck.
Charlotte Gainsbourg wins her case but the fight is not over
On December 19, a major breakthrough in the case took place. Justice condemned “Dominique Dutreix to pay nearly a million euros into the establishment’s coffers. It thus confirms an order made by the commercial court in March, however revising the amount downwards, revealed L’informé. In detail, the businessman must reimburse 482,000 euros for irregular withdrawals made from the Maison Gainsbourg accounts, and add 505,000 euros for the advances he had promised in the partnership agreement with Charlotte Gainsbourg. established in 2019.“But this decision is contested by the main interested party who intended to appeal to the Court of Cassation as his lawyers made it known at the time of the verdict!
For her part, Charlotte Gainsbourg, whose lawyer was satisfied with the court decision, does not intend to stop there either. She has indicated that she intends to take the case to criminal court. “Charlotte Gainsbourg initiated proceedings on behalf of her company against Dominique Dutreix for misuse of corporate assets, as we learned The Parisian on December 20, 2024. A first hearing is scheduled for the beginning of 2025. As Maison Gainsbourg is now placed in receivership, the legal representative has also launched civil proceedings.”
