Sarah Paulson divided social media when she arrived at the 2026 Met Gala wearing a one-dollar bill as a mask. The bizarre accessory, along with the actress's billowing gray tulle gown, comes from the indie fashion label Matieres Fecales's fall 2026 ready-to-wear collection.
A Statement on Wealth Inequality
During her time on the red carpet, Paulson, 51, revealed that the name of her Met Gala look is 'the one percent,' an apparent jab at the United States' ultra-wealthy. While some called Paulson's money mask 'bold,' many felt it was a tone-deaf move to make such a critique at an event that's only accessible to rich elites.
This year, it cost attendees a whopping $100,000 just to attend the fundraising gala, which has been marred by controversy due to billionaire couple Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's involvement as co-chairs. Paulson herself is reportedly worth $12 million, which only added to the online criticism directed at her Met Gala display.
Social Media Reacts
'Great another millionaire telling us that we are blinded by wealth while also being wealthy,' one frustrated fan tweeted on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, 'Bold choice to wear this to a gala chaired by one of the richest men on earth.'
Along with calling out the hypocrisy of her look's message, several fans accused Paulson of straying from the 2026 theme, which is 'Fashion Is Art.' The dress code calls on attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas. 'Sarah Paulson said "Met Gala theme?" and then confidently ignored the question like it was optional homework,' one X user wrote.
Defenders Speak Out
Meanwhile, many Paulson superfans came to the star's defense as they insisted her outfit was 'very Met Gala' and they applauded her for 'leaning into the concept.'
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, falls on the first Monday in May every year. The theme of this year's event - widely considered the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets - is 'Costume Art,' while the dress code is 'Fashion Is Art.'
Co-Chairs and Sponsors
Leading the charge is a powerhouse trio of co-chairs, with Beyonce, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams joining forces with Vogue's global editorial director Anna Wintour to oversee fashion's biggest night. It's the first time tennis superstar Williams has co-chaired the gala. Kidman previously co-chaired the star-studded event in 2003 as well as 2005, and Beyonce was an honorary chair in 2013.
The New York City museum will pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for the exhibition, which will be loosely divided into three categories, including the classical and the nude body, aging and pregnant bodies, and the anatomical body. The exhibit - set to unveil the Met's sprawling new Conde M. Nast Galleries - has been made possible by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez, who are the lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs.
'The title "Costume Art" refers to the history of the costume institute,' Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute's curator, said at a press conference. Bolton, who selects the theme, said fashion has 'the status of art because of, and not in spite of, its relation to the body.' French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is also sponsoring the exhibit.
Host Committee and Exhibition Dates
The 2026 Met Gala will also have a host committee that includes committee co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz, along with members Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Angela Bassett, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and more. Costume Art will run from May 10, 2026 through January 10, 2027, following the Met Gala on May 4.
Paulson's entire Met Gala look was from indie fashion label Matieres Fecales's fall 2026 ready-to-wear collection. Along with her mask, Paulson accessorized her outfit with white arm-length gloves and a glitzy diamond choker necklace. She was first seen without her money mask as she left her NYC hotel en route to the star-studded gala.
The Met Gala's Significance
The Met Gala is a huge money-maker for the museum and provides the Costume Institute with its main source of funding. The 2026 Met Gala marks a major moment because it's the first one since Wintour technically stepped back from one of her famed roles at Vogue. In June 2025, Wintour announced she was stepping down as the editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years. The global director for Vogue and global chief content officer at Conde Nast hired Chloe Malle as the new head of editorial content at Vogue.
Wintour has famously been incredibly hands-on with the Met Gala over the years and is credited with making it the splashy A-list affair it has become, beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Zendaya and more. Last year, many stars did not attend the Met Gala, and some people thought it was to avoid making a faux pas because of the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which was centered around the political and aesthetic constructs of Black dandyism.
