During a dinner at Batista’s home Thursday, the tycoon asked the singer how much money she collected and how much more she needed. When she answered that she had $3 million and needed to raise $10 million, the billionaire announced his readiness to complete the sum.

It was at that moment that Madonna was moved to tears, the Folha de Sao Paulo daily reported.

At the dinner were Rio de Janeiro State Governor Sergio Cabral and Mayor Eduardo Paes.

Eike Batista

The singer left Brazil Friday after a five-day visit seeking investments for a number of social projects that she wants to launch.

On Thursday before the dinner, the artist made a quick trip to Sao Paulo to meet a group of poor women, with whom she spoke about the positive values contained in the Hebrew doctrine of the Kabbalah, of which she herself is a follower.

The mayor told the media that the singer had accepted his offer for her to perform at the next New Year’s festival, for which some two million people would gather on the Copacabana beach.