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Quick Read: Billionaires with a combined net worth of $1.2 trillion—including four of the world’s five richest men—gathered at President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, seeking to bolster ties with the pro-business leader as he assumed office.
Billionaires Gather at Trump’s Inauguration, Representing $1.2 Trillion in Wealth
The world’s three richest people— Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, and —attended multiple inauguration events on Monday morning. Bezos, Amazon’s founder, is worth $239.4 billion, while Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, holds a net worth of $211.8 billion. Musk, the Tesla CEO and the wealthiest person in the world with $433.9 billion, has been a close confidant of President Trump and reportedly contributed over $250 million to support his election campaign.
Other notable attendees included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman ($1.1 billion) and Apple CEO Tim Cook ($2.2 billion), both of whom donated to the inauguration. Billionaire backer Miriam Adelson ($31.9 billion) and former Fox News Chairman Rupert Murdoch ($22.2 billion) were also present in the Capitol Rotunda.
France’s richest man, Bernard Arnault ($179.6 billion), head of the LVMH luxury empire, attended with his son Alexandre. India’s wealthiest individual, Mukesh Ambani ($98.1 billion), was reportedly at the events as well. Las Vegas casino executive and Trump ally Phil Ruffin ($4.7 billion) was seen at the Capitol, according to The New York Times.
Several billionaires and their spouses have been offered roles in the Trump administration. Howard Lutnick ($1.5 billion) and Vivek Ramaswamy ($1 billion) were among those spotted at the inauguration. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong ($12.8 billion) was invited to inauguration-related events, though his attendance was unconfirmed as of the swearing-in.
Other high-profile figures offered administration roles include Stephen Feinberg ($5 billion), Warren Stephens ($3.4 billion), Jared Isaacman ($1.9 billion), Steve Witkoff ($1 billion), Linda McMahon (whose husband Vince McMahon is worth $3 billion), and Kelly Loeffler (whose husband Jeff Sprecher is worth $1.1 billion).
Mark Zuckerberg co-hosted a pre-inaugural ball reception for President Trump alongside Miriam Adelson, Tilman Fertitta ($10.2 billion), and Todd Ricketts. The Ricketts family, led by J. Joe Ricketts, has an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion.
This high-profile attendance underscores the alignment between Trump’s pro-business administration and the wealthiest individuals in the world.
How Much Is Trump Worth?
Donald Trump’s estimated net worth is $6.7 billion, bolstered by his stake in Truth Social’s parent company, real estate holdings, and other assets.
Which Other Billionaires Might Attend?
Several billionaires who supported Trump’s re-election campaign were not confirmed as attendees at the inauguration. These include Robert “Woody” Johnson ($3.3 billion), Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein (each worth $5.9 billion), Roger Penske ($6.5 billion), and Timothy Mellon, whose family wealth is estimated at $14.1 billion.
Did Billionaires Like Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg Support Trump?
Some billionaires supported Trump’s campaign, while others kept their distance or were initially opposed.
- Mark Zuckerberg: Once at odds with Trump—Meta banned Trump from Instagram and Facebook, and Trump threatened legal action—Zuckerberg later shifted his stance. He donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, met with him at Mar-A-Lago, and adjusted Meta’s fact-checking policies. Despite not endorsing any candidate, Zuckerberg praised Trump’s reaction to an assassination attempt as “badass.”
- Jeff Bezos: Bezos clashed with Trump in the past, with Amazon citing Trump’s “personal dislike” of Bezos for losing a Pentagon cloud contract. Though Bezos didn’t endorse Trump, he praised his courage during an assassination attempt and donated $1 million to the inaugural fund.
- Elon Musk: Musk was a staunch Trump supporter and a major donor. Alongside Miriam Adelson, who contributed $100 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Preserve America, Musk remains one of Trump’s key backers.
Other notable supporters include Tilman Fertitta, who hosted a fundraiser for Trump and was nominated as U.S. ambassador to Italy, and Todd Ricketts, who transitioned from opposing Trump’s first campaign to leading pro-Trump fundraising efforts.
Corporate Leaders and Major Donors
Corporate leaders also joined the inauguration:
- Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon were reportedly in attendance.
- TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew attended following a nationwide ban on the app, which was delayed after Trump took office.
- Companies like Microsoft, Ford, Google, and AI startup Perplexity donated $1 million each to the inaugural fund. Ripple contributed $5 million worth of cryptocurrency, while other donors included Goldman Sachs, Toyota, Bank of America, and AT&T.
Events surrounding the inauguration featured high-profile celebrations, such as an “Inaugural Crypto Ball” with Snoop Dogg and a party hosted by Uber and its CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.
Big Number
Trump’s inaugural fund raised over $170 million, nearly three times Biden’s 2020 total of $62 million and well above the $107 million record set during Trump’s 2016 inauguration. High-level donors who contributed $1 million or raised $2 million were rewarded with exclusive perks, including tickets to events like a black-tie ball and a candlelight dinner with Trump and Melania Trump.
