The Powers That Be: Daily The Met Gala’s Venture Capitalist Couture
May 5, 2026
Lauren Sherman, fashion journalist and commentator who tracks luxury and cultural trends, breaks down last night’s Met Gala and its marriage to tech money. She maps how billionaire checks reshape fundraising and seating. They also chat about why so many brands raced to appear in The Devil Wears Prada sequel and which designers showed up on screen.
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Met Gala Is A Global Fundraiser Not Just Fashion
- The Met Gala is primarily a fundraising event for the Costume Institute, not a pure fashion show.
- Anna Wintour shifted it from a local Upper East Side socialite fundraiser to a global cultural spectacle fueled by tech and international wealth.
Tech Money Has Reshaped Met Gala Attendance
- Tech companies and billionaires now visibly finance the Met Gala, changing who attends and how it's perceived.
- Jeff Bezos reportedly paid $10 million to be co-chair, and groups like OpenAI and Meta bought tables, making tech money central.
Anna Wintour Controls The Gala And Leverages Pop Culture
- Anna Wintour exerts full control over guest lists and outfits, blending commerce and culture.
- She historically embraced celebrities on covers and uses pop culture moments to drive Vogue and Conde Nast's commercial interests.