Video•Apr 23, 2026
Met Gala 2026 + Evil Billionaires = a GOOD Thing...?
The video explores the Met Gala’s evolution from a modest industry fundraiser to a global fashion spectacle, focusing on the upcoming 2026 event and the controversy surrounding billionaire involvement.
It traces the gala’s roots to post‑World War I America, when the Costume Institute needed self‑funding and leaders like Dorothy Shaver and Eleanor Lambert organized the first “party of the year.” Ticket prices climbed from $50 in the late 1940s to $900 by the early 1990s, reflecting a shift from industry camaraderie to celebrity‑driven extravagance.
Notable moments include the 1957 $100 plate raising the equivalent of $1.1 million today, Anna Wintour’s modern stewardship of the guest list, and the 2026 exhibition’s focus on historic costume with a strict dress‑code. The video also highlights criticism of Jeff Bezos’s financial ties, questioning the ethics of billionaire sponsorship.
Understanding this history reveals how the gala finances the Costume Institute, shapes cultural narratives, and raises broader questions about wealth, philanthropy, and the commercialization of art and fashion.
