Since 1634, only 32 people have held the position of perpetual secretary of the French Academy. On September 28, 2023, it was the Franco-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf, member since 2011, who took over as head of the Institution, taking over from Hélène Carrère d’Encausse, elected in 1999 and died on August 5 2023, leaving the position vacant. Nicknamed the “Immortals”, these Academicians must pay a certain amount to prepare their entry with the two essential accessories, as revealed The Parisian Weekend Friday October 13, 2023. Indeed, you have to break the bank for the famous green coat, the regalia of the Immortals. “The green coat (bicorne, vest and pants embroidered with olive branches, white gloves, cape) would cost around 30,000 euros, and the sword, 20,000,” our colleagues detail. You really have to put your hands in your wallet to prepare for your entry into the Academy! “A subscription, called the ‘sword committee’, is generally open to admitted friends of the future in order to finance them. A welcome helping hand.” And yes, it is up to the new entrant to finance his outfit.
The advantages of being members of the French Academy
Being Immortal also means having the right to certain (small) advantages. The 38 academicians receive barely 3,180 euros per year, or around 114 euros per month of public funds. “The four oldest members of the family and the four oldest members of the electorate benefit from the doubling of this compensation, while the permanent secretary enjoys a staff apartment within the grounds of the Institut de France”, explain The Parisian. Added to this is a special bonus for the 11 members of the “dictionary commission”, responsible for writing the Dictionary of the French Academy. “Its members must attend using attendance fees which, according to sources, would bring in 120 or 228 euros per session”can we read on the website ofEurope 1. The Court of Auditors denounced in 2021 “an unbalanced financial situation” within the institution. There is a certain opacity around the finances of the French Academy. In April 2014, Europe 1 asked Daniel Garcia, journalist and author of the book Dome and Outbuildingon this subject. “For example, it is impossible to obtain even a general budget for the institution, despite requests,” he then explained.