On Monday, May 4th, celebrities and creators will gather at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to showcase their sense of style at one of the most iconic and costly fashion events: the Met Gala. So, who pays for what? Let’s break it down by the numbers.
Between the after-parties, ultra-exclusive tables, and the red carpet appearance, this event has become a true avant-garde spectacle. And every year, one question arises: how much do the Hailey Biebers and Kylie Jenners of the world actually shell out to attend? Unsurprisingly, unless they receive a fully paid invitation, the bill is staggering – with an increase of around 19,000 Swiss francs per year.
How much does a ticket to the Met Gala cost? Participating in the Met Gala was not always so expensive. The event originated around 1948, and for several decades, ticket prices were around 800 francs – a trivial amount compared to current rates.
Everything changed in 1995 when Anna Wintour, then editor-in-chief of Vogue and now the true architect of the event, transformed this modest charity gala for New York high society into a grand gathering of fashion and celebrities. Since then, the prices of invitations – accessible only through selection – have skyrocketed.
In 2018, the New York Times revealed that an individual ticket cost about 25,000 francs, while a table reached 220,000 francs. In 2023, ticket prices had already risen to around 40,000 francs. Today, in 2026, a new milestone is reached: according to the BBC, an individual ticket would now cost 80,000 francs, with tables starting at around 275,000 francs. An astronomical amount, reflecting the growing cultural prestige of the event – and, of course, American inflation.
The revenues generated by ticket sales, combined with sponsor donations, help finance the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which raised a record amount of 24 million francs last year. But since celebrities are the true stars of the evening, do they actually pay out of pocket?
Do celebrities have to pay to attend the Met Gala? Stars like Zendaya or Rihanna are among the most anticipated guests at the Met Gala. Every year, their looks generate thousands of searches on Google and social media. So why should they pay? In reality, very often they don’t. Prominent celebrities generally attend the event as guests of major fashion houses, dressed in custom creations by Chanel, Dior, or Louis Vuitton. In these cases, the cost of the ticket and the outfit are covered by the brand. However, this is not always the case.
With estimated fortunes in the hundreds of millions, these celebrities can also finance their presence without much concern about a six-figure ticket.
Historically, designers or sponsors purchase the tables and select the guests who will accompany them. But each name must be approved by Anna Wintour, and Vogue entirely controls the seating plan. In the documentary “First Monday in May” (2016) dedicated to the Met Gala 2016, Sylvana Ward Durrett, former director of special projects at Vogue, even mentioned a specific rule during the seating arrangement: “Never seat spouses side by side.” The purpose of these events is to meet new people and take an interest in what others do. What’s the point of coming here to spend the evening with your husband?
It is for this reason that one often sees co-stars, families, or friends assigned to different tables, mingling with designers, actors, musicians, models, and now influencers.
Who pays for the celebrities’ outfits? Although these creations are almost never “purchased” in the traditional sense, their design and production generally cost between 54,000 and 400,000 francs. And some looks reach even greater heights. In 2015, the spectacular yellow Guo Pei dress worn by Rihanna – dubbed “the omelette dress” on the internet – was said to cost nearly 3 million francs to produce.
In most cases, haute couture houses absorb these costs, considering that the media visibility and the opportunity to enter the pantheon of the best Met Gala looks outweigh the investment. Some celebrities also fund their own hair and makeup team, while others – under contract with beauty brands – also benefit from these services for free.
Author: ELLE Editorial This article was translated and adapted for Switzerland after initially being published on elle.com.au. Find all other articles of this edition on the official website.
