The iconic Met Gala, a cornerstone of fashion’s elite calendar, confronts uncertainty as major celebrities consider skipping the event due to Jeff Bezos’ sponsorship, while the supported charity reveals plans for financial self-sufficiency.
Costume Institute’s Path to Autonomy
Established in 1948 to fund the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Met Gala now charges up to $100,000 per ticket. Andrew Bolton, the institute’s curator in charge, discloses that for the past decade, proceeds have been directed into a quasi-endowment. This strategy positions the institute to cover its basic operations independently by 2030 or earlier, regardless of gala earnings.
Last year’s event generated a record $31 million over its 77-year history. Bolton emphasizes the need for reduced reliance: “I, and the museum, always wanted the department to be not as reliant on the gala every year. The Met Gala is extraordinary, but sometimes it dwarfs everything.”
Cancellations in 2002 after September 11 and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted this shift. Bolton describes them as a wake-up call, noting a long-term endowment ensures the upkeep of over 33,000 objects, salaries for curators and conservators, exhibitions, and the Irene Lewisohn Costume Reference Library.
The institute’s annual $5 million budget requires a $100 million to $130 million endowment. A formal Costume Institute Fund launched in 2016, managed by the museum’s investment and development teams. Anna Wintour, a Met trustee, affirms: “I have always felt strongly that the Costume Institute must stand on a solid footing.” A museum spokesperson confirms the fund’s existence but declines to detail finances.
Bezos Sponsorship Sparks Celebrity Backlash
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos co-chair this year’s gala alongside Wintour, Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman. Their reported $10 million-plus contribution has ignited controversy, with their names on invitations fueling criticism.
Amazon’s contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Amazon Web Services hosting data for Palantir, which aids immigrant tracking, draw ire amid expanded deportations under the current administration. Worker treatment issues amplify discontent, with activists posting New York billboards: “The Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by worker exploitation.”
Bella Hadid, a five-time attendee, liked an Instagram video by Meredith Lynch stating: “You cannot wear the ICE out pin to the Jeff Bezos backed MET Gala. Jeff Bezos is part of the reason we’re in this mess.” Fans interpret this as her skipping the event. Taraji P. Henson commented: “I am so confused by some ppl that are going. I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!”
Zendaya opts out of the fashion pinnacle, and Meryl Streep reportedly withdrew as co-chair over the sponsorship. A fashion insider calls it “very hurtful and very disturbing,” highlighting the liberal leanings of the industry and past Met attendees. Internal planning dissent brews, with some viewing the Bezoses’ political donations—$1 million to inaugurate a president—as clashing with progressive values on DEI, Roe v. Wade, voting rights, and immigration.
Ongoing Controversies and Event Details
The Bezoses face prior scrutiny, including protests at their June 2025 Venice wedding and criticism of Lauren Sánchez Bezos’ April 2025 Blue Origin spaceflight as extravagant. Critics argue the gala prioritizes celebrity over charity.
This year’s theme, “Costume Art,” pairs with a “Fashion Is Art” dress code, set for Monday.
