Trump's inauguration resembled a billionaire's banquet, with attendees' total net worth exceeding $1.3 trillion
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Trump's inauguration resembled a billionaire's banquet, with attendees' total net worth exceeding $1.3 trillion
The world's wealthiest people are gathering around Trump.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: Xiao Yanyan, Jinshi Data
As Trump took the oath of office, a group of the world’s wealthiest individuals surrounded him—collectively amassing over $1.3 trillion in wealth.
Seated prominently behind the Trump family during Monday’s inauguration ceremony were the top three individuals on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. Also attending the swearing-in at the Capitol Rotunda were Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH and France’s richest person, Sergey Brin, co-founder of Alphabet, and Miriam Adelson, major shareholder of Las Vegas Sands.
In a telling seating arrangement, tech billionaires were placed directly in front of cabinet nominees selected by Trump. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth had to look past Musk and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to view the ceremony.
When asked about the presence of tech billionaires at the event, Donald Trump Jr. said, “It's important to bring together some of the smartest minds in the world.”
The high-powered lineup from Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and other industries underscored the surge in support from these sectors following Trump’s electoral comeback in November.
For many businesses, their interests lie in rolling back U.S. regulations and boosting corporate profits through investment incentives promised by Trump.
Others aim to avoid the harshest impacts of Trump’s tariff policies.
This embrace of Trump marks a shift in attitude among some business leaders, who distanced themselves from him four years ago after hundreds of his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
However, as Trump’s chances of winning increased, his isolation faded, fueled by his messaging that was increasingly friendly toward business, including promises to extend the tax cuts implemented during his first term in 2017.
Of all those present, Musk may have the most at stake in Trump’s return to the White House. The Tesla CEO has spent over $200 million of his personal fortune supporting the presidential campaign, quickly becoming an influential adviser to Trump and leading a government efficiency initiative.
Musk also stands to benefit significantly from the new administration, as reduced government regulation and greater access to space contracts are crucial for his businesses. Upon hearing Trump mention plans to send American astronauts to Mars during the inaugural address, the SpaceX CEO celebrated by raising both fists. Colonizing Mars has long been Musk’s ambition.
Also in attendance were hedge fund billionaire John Paulson, conservative media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, who maintained a cordial relationship with the president during Trump’s first term. On Sunday, just before Trump’s swearing-in at a rally held at Capital One Arena, Cook received public praise from Trump, who highlighted Apple’s planned investments in the United States.
Billionaires joined lawmakers and other senior officials lining up for the celebratory luncheon hosted at the Capitol following the inauguration. Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez made a brief appearance.
When asked about Trump’s speech, Bezos replied, “Oh, I don’t know—I was looking for the bathroom.”
At the luncheon, Cook was seen sitting with incoming Attorney General Pam Bondi, while Bezos shared a table with Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune. West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito was photographed alongside Meta’s Zuckerberg.
Since the election, Zuckerberg has publicly realigned the social media giant more closely with Trump and the new Republican majority in Congress. After conservative critics complained about content moderation, he eliminated third-party fact-checking in the U.S. and scaled back many of the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Another high-profile guest was TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whose company’s future rests in Trump’s hands. Trump has pledged to sign an executive order exempting the app from a ban that was set to take effect last Sunday. During his first term, Trump initially sought to ban TikTok but later recognized its effectiveness in reaching young voters and vowed to find a way to keep it operational.
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