Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair by the engineering firm of Gustave Eiffel. The city of Paris owned the structure from the start, and private parties never held clear title to sell it.
Gustave Eiffel's Role and Early Control
Gustave Eiffel financed much of the tower's construction and operated it for about 20 years. In exchange, he recouped costs through visitor fees and scientific use of the tower, while the city retained ownership.
Attempts to Sell or Dismantle the Tower
In the early 1900s, the tower was nearly dismantled, and some businessmen explored buying or relocating it. However, the city of Paris kept the structure because of its value for communications and tourism.
Why the Tower Remains in Paris
Today the Eiffel Tower is owned by the city of Paris and managed by the public company Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel. It is not for sale and remains one of the most visited paid monuments in the world.
