4 of the best looks that billionaires have worn to the Met Gala and 4 that missed the mark
The Met Gala always welcomes billionaires like Kim Kardashian, Jeff Bezos, and Rihanna.
Some of those wealthy attendees have worn iconic, fashionable looks on the red carpet.
But others have missed the mark with their simple outfits.
What would the Met Gala be without billionaires?
Each year, celebrities, athletes, business people, and more convene on the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps to enter the glamorous ball and raise money for the Costume Institute.
And many of those attendees also happen to have fortunes totaling billions of dollars. Think Kim Kardashian, Jeff Bezos, and Rihanna.
Here's a look at some of the best looks those wealthy Met Gala guests have worn over the years and a few that could have been better.
Kim Kardashian wore a jaw-dropping minidress in 2019 that remains one of her best Met Gala looks to date.
Thierry Mugler designed the button-up piece, which matched her skin tone to create a nude effect.
Clear crystals that resembled water droplets worked with the garment's cinched bodice fabric, see-through long sleeves, and Kardashian's slick hairstyle to create the illusion she had just taken a plunge in water.
But in typical Kardashian fashion, the outfit wasn't without controversy.
The TV star and businesswoman, who Forbes estimates is worth $1.7 billion, revealed she took corset breathing lessons to wear it and didn't go to the bathroom during the event.
Jeff Bezos ignored the 2019 "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme entirely.
The Amazon founder, who has an estimated $200 billion fortune, walked the red carpet that year in a classic Tom Ford tuxedo. It featured a black jacket with satin lapels, straight trousers, a white button-up shirt, and a black bow tie.
The suit was sharp and elegant but failed to embody the out-of-the-box, playful styles of camp fashion.
It was especially apparent when the businessman stood next to stars like Kendall Jenner and Jared Leto who wore dramatic, almost surreal pieces.
Rihanna's papal-inspired ensemble in 2018 has become one of the most iconic Met Gala looks in history.
The musician and Fenty makeup mogul, who is worth $1.4 billion, stepped onto the carpet in a beaded set designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela.
It was comprised of a massive coat that matched its pearl-encrusted minidress, a wrap skirt with pleats, and a pointed headdress that resembled those worn by the Pope.
The designer pieces were not only works of art but also perfectly complemented the night's theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
Elon Musk failed to stand out that year in a black-and-white suit.
The Tesla CEO has an estimated fortune of $200 billion, as of May 2024, so it would have made sense to see him walk the Met Gala red carpet in an extravagant designer outfit.
But instead, he sported an understated cream-colored blazer over a white top with a black neckline. He also wore plain trousers and shining dress shoes.
There was one interesting feature of his outfit: the phrase "novus ordo seclorum," which translates from Latin to "new world order," written across the back of his jacket.
But because it was stitched in white, the words were barely noticeable.
Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia nailed the 2023 theme.
Guests of the 2023 Met Gala were instructed to dress "in honor of Karl" — Karl Lagerfeld, the longtime fashion creative who worked for Fendi, Balmain, Chloé, and most famously, Chanel, before his death in 2019.
And Gebbia did just that. Mirroring Lagerfeld's signature black-and-white aesthetic, the Airbnb cofounder — who Forbes estimates is worth $9.6 billion — sported a black tuxedo embellished from top to bottom with crystal flowers.
The ensemble stood out from other menswear on the red carpet and was the ideal complement to Isabelle Boemeke's black Bode dress.
Norwegian shareholder Gustav Witzøe took a fashion risk that missed the mark.
At 31, Witzøe, whose net worth sits around $3.8 billion, is one of the world's youngest billionaires. He's also one of the most stylish.
But the black-and-white striped Palomo suit he wore to the 2023 Met Gala wasn't his best fashion choice. Its structured jacket had a unique bodice that bubbled at the hips.
But because it was paired with pants that were just a bit too long, the outfit looked more clunky than stylish.
Jay-Z looked dapper at the 2014 Met Gala alongside Beyoncé.
The 2014 Met Gala honored designer Charles James and his impact on women's fashion. So it made sense that year for the rapper and businessman, whose net worth is $2.5 billion, to take a step back with his look.
He wore black dress pants, shining shoes, and a white jacket that was the exact same shade as his undershirt. He completed the outfit with a black bow tie.
Not only was his suit sharp, but it also allowed Beyoncé to shine in her Givenchy gown.
Tiger Woods kept things too simple in 2013.
The golf legend is now a billionaire — according to Forbes, his net worth is $1.3 billion in May 2024. But years before reaching that status, he walked the Met Gala red carpet with his then-girlfriend and Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn.
Unfortunately, the outfit he wore that year hasn't stood the test of time. Plain suits aren't exactly memorable when it comes to Met Gala fashion, and Wood's version almost looked too big on him.
A similar suit in a different color and with better tailoring could have made all the difference.
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