Since its inception, the Met Gala has established itself as one of the most glamorous events in the entertainment calendar, with celebrities eagerly competing for a coveted spot on the guest list. However, amid concerns that some prominent figures might boycott this year's event due to Jeff Bezos' sponsorship, it has emerged that the charity the gala was created to support may no longer require its financial contributions.
Financial Independence on the Horizon
The Met Gala, originally established in 1948 as a benefit for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, now sees attendees paying up to $100,000 per ticket. But Andrew Bolton, the Institute's curator, has revealed that over the past decade, the organisation has been quietly setting aside funds from the gala into a 'quasi endowment.' This strategic move means that by 2030, or potentially even sooner, the Institute will have accumulated enough savings to sustain its basic operations independently, regardless of the gala's future fundraising success.
Last year's Met Gala raised a record-breaking $31 million, the highest total in the event's 77-year history. Bolton explained: '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.'
A Wake-Up Call from Past Cancellations
Speaking to the New York Times, Bolton shared that the drive for financial security was partly motivated by the gala's cancellations in 2002 following the September 11 attacks and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He described these events as wake-up calls, adding that while Anna Wintour takes immense pride in organising the occasion, there may come a time when it is 'no longer sustainable.' A long-term solution, he noted, 'would be safe in terms of the upkeep and the care of our collection and have enough money to take care of ourselves indefinitely.'
A museum spokesperson declined to discuss specific finances but confirmed that the Costume Institute Fund was formally established in 2016 and is managed by the Met's investment and development teams. The costs covered include salaries for curators, researchers, and conservators, storage and conservation of over 33,000 objects, exhibition expenses, and support for the Irene Lewisohn Costume Reference Library. With an annual budget of $5 million, the Institute would require an endowment of $100 million to $130 million to achieve full independence.
Controversy Over Bezos Sponsorship
The Met Gala has recently faced multiple controversies, with critics arguing that its charitable roots have been overshadowed by celebrity spectacle. The involvement of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez as co-chairs has sparked particular backlash. Reports suggest the couple paid over $10 million for the role, leading some to view this as a quid pro quo arrangement. A campaign has emerged against their participation, with fears that some celebrities might snub the event.
Bella Hadid, a five-time attendee, has publicly criticised the gala by liking a video that stated: '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.' The comment referred to Amazon's contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its data hosting for Palantir, which provides tracking software for immigration enforcement. Other stars, including Zendaya and Meryl Streep, have reportedly chosen not to attend or have withdrawn as co-chairs.
Actress Taraji P. Henson also expressed confusion, commenting: 'I am so confused by some ppl that are going. I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!' Activist group Everyone Hates Elon displayed posters in New York reading: 'The Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by worker exploitation,' highlighting concerns over Amazon's labour practices.
Internal and External Criticism
A fashion industry insider told Daily Mail: 'It's, quite frankly, very hurtful and very disturbing for [the Bezoses] to be the face of this year's Met Gala... Something that is really meaningful to a lot of people and to such a highly regarded and highly respected institution. It feels like a real slap in the face to a lot of people.' The insider added that Meryl Streep was rumoured to have been a co-chair but declined due to the Bezoses' involvement.
Internal dissent has also been brewing among those involved in planning the event. The insider noted: 'The fashion industry and the people who work in it are by and large, very liberal. Anna has always publicly supported Democratic candidates... To have a couple that aligns themselves with and have contributed a million dollars to inaugurating a president who has sought to eviscerate DEI, dismantle Roe v Wade, disenfranchise Black voters and crack down on immigration in a way that is so inhumane and horrific, rubs a lot of people the wrong way.'
The Bezoses are no strangers to controversy. Their lavish June 2025 Venice wedding was met with protests, and Bezos' Blue Origin space venture, which saw Sanchez Bezos travel to space with an all-female crew in April 2025, was derided as 'gluttonous.'
This Year's Gala Details
This year's Met Gala theme is 'Costume Art,' with a dress code of 'Fashion Is Art.' The co-chairs include Beyonce, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour, alongside the Bezoses. Despite the controversies, the event remains a major fixture on the fashion calendar, though its long-term future may be in question as the Costume Institute moves toward financial self-sufficiency.
