Jeff Bezos Named Met Gala Honorary Chair and Funder

Chairs include Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, while Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos serve as honorary chairs. Jeff Bezos provides the main funding for the exhibition and gala, a role that has sparked controversy amid rumors that he might acquire Condé Nast, Vogue's parent company.

The Guardian reported these rumors revived speculation from last year, when some suggested Bezos could buy the company as a wedding gift. The couple attended their wedding in Venice in 2025, missing that year's gala.

Bezos's involvement has led to boycotts and protests. New York mayor Zohran Mamdani is skipping the event, breaking a decades-long tradition of mayors attending, with his wife Rama Duwaji also not participating. Posters criticizing Bezos have appeared across parts of New York, organized by the activist group Everyone Hates Elon, which raised £15,000 for the campaign and plans to protest on the night.

A spokesperson for Everyone Hates Elon stated that Bezos's role makes Vogue seem irrelevant and questioned whether his involvement stems from fashion expertise. The New York Times noted protesters view Bezos, Amazon's founder and the gala's lead sponsor, as a foil for their criticisms.

Forbes reported on unrelated rumors linking a character in the upcoming Devil Wears Prada sequel to Bezos, which the film's writer denied.

“I love celebrity culture and fashion as much as anyone, but [Bezos’s involvement] makes Vogue seem irrelevant. Highlights include a contorted corset by Michaela Stark paired with Niki de Saint Phalle’s Nana and Serpent sculpture, and a dress with strategically placed human hair by Dilara Findikoglu alongside a late Roman Venus Pudica sculpture. Other items on display include a Burberry trench belonging to disability activist Sinéad Burke, Batsheva Hay’s Hag jumper, Rei Kawakubo gowns, and Vivienne Westwood’s Martyr to Love jacket. The Guardian quoted Bolton saying recent progress in fashion diversity has eroded, with less representation on runways. Associate lecturer Cally Blackman at Central St Martins hopes the theme counters criticism of fashion's value, noting it draws large museum crowds.”

The gala's dress code, titled “fashion is art,” draws from the exhibition's theme, though interpretations on the red carpet may vary. Bolton anticipated some guests might arrive in goddess gowns or literal art representations, such as Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup can.

The event typically generates 1 billion global video views on Vogue’s site and raises funds for the museum. Blackman described the gala as self-defeating, prioritizing publicity over fashion, and suggested its cachet has diminished due to Bezos's funding.

The Costume Institute is preparing to open its new permanent home, the Condé Nast Galleries, which Bolton sees as symbolic of fashion's cultural importance. The Guardian highlighted the growing ties between fashion, celebrity, and power, with tech billionaires like Bezos now prominent.

“The focus is on bodies marginalised in fashion, and ones that haven’t been valorised in either fashion or western culture.”