Lauren Sánchez, wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is set to attend the Met Gala after Bezos purchased an honorary chairmanship for the couple. The event, known for its exclusivity, has seen a surge in tech industry presence, with companies like Meta, Open AI, Amazon, Snapchat, and ShopMy buying tables costing $350,000 each. This marks a shift in the gala's traditional fashion industry focus, as Silicon Valley billionaires increasingly dominate the guest list.
Sánchez, described as 'a force,' has been on a whirlwind tour of glamorous locations. Her recent activities include a bachelorette party in Paris and a wedding in Venice, both of which drew protests. Now, New York is bracing for similar demonstrations, with posters urging a boycott of the 'Bezos Met Gala.' However, critics note that such calls are unlikely to affect attendees who can afford $75,000 tickets or the general public, who were never invited.
In a recent New York Times interview, Sánchez detailed her morning routine with Bezos at their $230 million Miami compound. They start the day by listing ten things they are grateful for, using mugs bought from Amazon. His mug reads 'HUNK' in periodic table symbols, while hers says 'Woke Up Sexy as Hell Again.' The couple avoids their phones, focusing on gratitude, though observers question the depth of such exercises given their vast wealth.
The Met Gala, traditionally a fundraiser for the Costume Institute, has become a symbol of tech money's cultural influence. As Vogue's cultural power wanes, editor Anna Wintour has seemingly embraced the new patrons. The event highlights a broader trend where Silicon Valley billionaires, once disrupters, now occupy the establishment's highest echelons, leaving little room for meaningful dissent.
