Milken Global Conference Draws 5000 Attendees in Beverly Hills

The Milken Global Conference convened this week in Beverly Hills, drawing about 5,000 attendees from nearly 100 countries. Tickets cost upward of $75,000 with varying levels of access, according to a report by Insider. The event featured panels on policy, artificial intelligence, niche financial topics and guided meditations accompanied by a sound bath.

Milken Institute CEO Richard Ditizio opened the conference by discussing wealth inequality and what he described as a "deficit of hope" among young people. Puppies were available in an outdoor pavilion for attendee stress relief. The program also included celebrity sightings in the hallways.

Many attendees wore similar blue suits and focused on networking, fundraising and sharing meals such as boxed lunches of cold chicken and tomato chutney. The opening panel featured speakers from Blackstone and Apollo and drew long lines of participants seeking seats.

A board member from Kalshi spoke on a panel about the future of decision intelligence hours after Ditizio addressed prediction markets.

The conference has long centered on finance since its origins with Michael Milken. Attendees included executives from firms such as Eldridge Industries, Third Point and Bridgewater. " Brotman noted that major pension and endowment funds have historically allocated only a small portion of their capital to venture funds.

He said that is changing as managers observe rising valuations at companies like Anthropic and Anduril. Brotman added that "if you're an investor and you're not in private tech, you're dust" amid what he called an AI super cycle.

Despite frequent discussions of artificial intelligence and the conference slogan "Leading in a new era," few top executives from leading AI companies attended. A non-profit executive told Insider that rising prices for tickets and speaking slots, which now reach $75,000, have deterred some industries that see limited immediate value.

The executive said they expected this to be their last year attending. The Milken Institute, a non-profit, uses proceeds from the conference to support its charitable activities. That person later moved to the bar to order tea after learning of a $100 lunch minimum, citing a hoarse voice from prior parties.

Much of the substantive activity took place away from the main venue at hillside mansions in Bel Air and restaurants in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Investment firms including Apollo and Blue Owl hosted dinners and parties. m. at a private estate previously owned by Rihanna and offered free admission to selected investors and founders.