How the Eiffel Tower Was Sold Twice in History by a Master Con Artist

Con artist secretly selling the Eiffel Tower in 1920s. 

 In the spring of 1925, Paris was buzzing with tourists, innovation, and opportunity. The Eiffel Tower, once criticized by Parisians as an eyesore, had become a symbol of France’s modern age. But beneath that glory, a shadowy figure emerged with a scheme so daring it would later be called one of the most outrageous cons in history.

This is not just a story about a conman. It's a glimpse into a moment when charm, confidence, and timing could outwit even the sharpest businessmen. And yes the Eiffel Tower was “sold” not once, but twice.

The Man Behind the Scam: Victor Lustig

Victor Lustig wasn’t your average swindler. Born in Austria-Hungary in 1890, he was fluent in five languages and had an education that rivaled nobles of his time. But Lustig used his skills not for diplomacy, but for deception.

By the 1920s, he had already fooled many across Europe and America with his smooth talk and professional looks. But nothing he had done before came close to what he planned in Paris.

A Fake Government Auction

Lustig arrived in Paris in 1925 and read about the Eiffel Tower’s maintenance issues. The city was struggling to afford repairs, and the tower was considered temporary when it was first built in 1889.

Sensing an opportunity, Lustig forged government documents and posed as a high-ranking French official from the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs. He invited several scrap metal dealers to a confidential meeting at a luxury hotel.

There, he announced that the Eiffel Tower was to be secretly sold for scrap. According to him, the government didn’t want public backlash, so the deal had to be kept quiet.

The First Buyer Falls for the Trap

Among the invited businessmen, one stood out: André Poisson, an ambitious dealer looking to rise in Paris’s business circles. Lustig zeroed in on Poisson, playing on his insecurities and desire for prestige.

Eventually, Poisson took the bait. He paid Lustig a large sum in cash both as a “bribe” to secure the contract and for the supposed purchase itself.

By the time Poisson realized the truth, Lustig had already fled to Austria with the money.

Interestingly, Poisson never reported the crime. Out of embarrassment, he chose to remain silent allowing Lustig to go unnoticed.

Selling It Again: The Second Attempt

What makes this story even more unbelievable is that Lustig returned to Paris just weeks later. Confident in his plan, he tried the scam again targeting a new group of scrap metal dealers with the same fake documents and secretive presentation.

This time, though, one of the dealers grew suspicious and contacted the police. Lustig escaped arrest again, but his luck was starting to run thin.

Life After the Eiffel Tower Scam

Lustig eventually made his way to the United States, where he became involved in counterfeit money operations. His most famous product was a “money-printing machine” that he claimed could create real bills another scam that duped many.

In 1935, Lustig was finally caught by U.S. authorities and sentenced to prison. He died in 1947 at Alcatraz. Even in his final years, he was remembered not just as a criminal, but as an artist of deception.

Why It Worked: Charm, Context, and Confidence

Victor Lustig’s Eiffel Tower scam worked because he understood human psychology. He targeted people’s ambition, their fear of missing out, and their trust in government authority.

The timing helped too. Post-war France was still rebuilding, and rumors about government mismanagement were easy to believe. Lustig wrapped all of this into a believable lie one that people wanted to believe.

The Tower That Could Have Disappeared

It’s strange to think that the Eiffel Tower now a global icon was once seen as temporary and even unwanted. That’s what made Lustig’s plan so believable.

This story reminds us how quickly public opinion and history can shift. A monument once at risk of demolition became one of the most visited sites in the world. And along the way, it almost became the prize in one of history’s most unbelievable cons.

What Does This Tell Us About History?

History isn’t just about wars and kings. Sometimes, it’s about conmen with a good suit, a fake document, and the boldness to try the impossible.

The Eiffel Tower wasn’t really sold, but the fact that it could have been twice is a reminder of how powerful stories, lies, and ambition can be.

If anything, Victor Lustig’s tale teaches us that in every era, truth can be stranger than fiction and history is full of people willing to bet on that idea.