Using Getty photos of the event, we tracked and categorized the last 10 years of Met Gala attendees. (The 2020 Met Gala was canceled because of the covid-19 pandemic, so we also included 2013.) Actors, musicians and models are standard fare. But some names might surprise you.
Even though the Met Gala is a major fashion industry event, actors like Sarah Jessica Parker and Zendaya consistently form the largest percentage of guests, averaging about 34 percent over the past 10 galas. Fashion house members land a distant second place with 14 percent, and musicians and models compete for third with 11.9 percent each. (Fashion house members include designers, executives/directors and founder relatives, like Delfina Delettrez Fendi, a fourth-generation Fendi heiress who founded Delfina Delettrez Jewelry, or David Lauren, son of Ralph Lauren, the Chief Branding and Innovation Officer at the titular house.)
A smattering of political figures have also gone over the years. Former mayor of New York City Mike Bloomberg, for example, has attended every gala with his wife and daughter since 2014.
Notable political figures at the Met Gala over the years
Hillary Clinton Former U.S. secretary of state
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
Her “Tax the Rich” dress drew
heavy attention.
Bill de Blasio
Former NYC mayor
Mitt Romney
The former governor of Massachusetts attended with his wife,
Ann Romney.
Anthony Weiner
The disgraced former congressman attended just months before his third sexting scandal broke out, this time with a 15-year-old. His seized laptop accidentally prompted an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server.
Henry Kissinger
The former U.S. secretary of state attended 2015’s gala, themed “China: Through the Looking Glass.”
Source: Data from Getty
Images, Post reporting
Notable political figures at the Met Gala over the years
Hillary Clinton Former U.S. secretary of state
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
Her “Tax the Rich” dress drew
heavy attention.
Bill de Blasio
Former NYC mayor
Mitt Romney
The former governor of Massachusetts attended with his wife,
Ann Romney.
Anthony Weiner
The disgraced former congressman attended just months before his third sexting scandal broke out, this time with a 15-year-old. His seized laptop accidentally prompted an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server.
Henry Kissinger
The former U.S. secretary of state attended 2015’s gala, themed “China: Through the Looking Glass.”
Source: Data from Getty Images,
Post reporting
Notable political figures at the Met Gala over the years
Hillary Clinton Former U.S. secretary of state
Henry Kissinger
The former U.S. secretary of state attended 2015’s gala, themed “China: Through the Looking Glass.”
Anthony Weiner
The disgraced former congressman attended just months before his third sexting scandal broke out, this time with a 15-year-old. His seized laptop accidentally prompted an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server.
Mitt Romney
The former governor of Massachusetts attended with his wife,
Ann Romney.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
Her “Tax the Rich” dress drew
heavy attention.
Bill de Blasio
Former NYC mayor
Data from Getty Images, Post reporting
Notable political figures at the Met Gala over the years
Henry Kissinger
The former U.S. secretary of state attended 2015’s gala, themed “China: Through the Looking Glass.”
Anthony Weiner
The disgraced former congressman attended just months before his third sexting scandal broke out, this time with a 15-year-old. His seized laptop accidentally prompted an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server.
Mitt Romney
The former governor of Massachusetts attended with his wife, Ann Romney.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
Her “Tax the Rich” dress drew widespread attention.
Hillary Clinton Former U.S. secretary of state
Bill de Blasio
Former NYC mayor
Data from Getty Images, Post reporting
Besides the usual names, some of these guests might come as a surprise to those who don’t keep up with the fashion industry. Sure, you’d expect a few billionaire heirs to show up. But did you know Lauren Remington Platt, a descendant of the Remington Arms family (yes, that Remington Arms), has been a Vogue mainstay and Met Gala attendee for years?
Some of the unexpected Met Gala guests since 2013
Jeff Bezos
Amazon founder
(Attended in ’19)
Les Moonves Former
CBS CEO
(’13, ’14, ’15, ’17)
David Koch
Former co-owner of Koch Industries
(’14, ’15)
Katie Couric
Journalist,
TV anchor
(’13, ’14, ’15)
Ronan Farrow
Investigative reporter at the New Yorker
(’14)
Megyn Kelly
Talk show host, journalist
(’16, ’17)
Ronald Reagan
Former U.S. president
(’13)
Queen Rania of Jordan
(’16)
Princess Beatrice of York
(’18)
James Charles
YouTuber, influencer
(’19)
Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of
New York
(’18)
Jeff Koons
Artist,
sculptor
(’13, ’17)
Data from Getty Images, Post reporting
Some of the unexpected Met Gala guests since 2013
Jeff Bezos
Amazon founder
(Attended in ’19)
Les Moonves Former
CBS CEO
(’13, ’14, ’15, ’17)
David Koch
Former co-owner of Koch Industries
(’14, ’15)
Katie Couric
Journalist,
TV anchor
(’13, ’14, ’15)
Ronan Farrow
Investigative reporter at the New Yorker
(’14)
Megyn Kelly
Talk show host, journalist
(’16, ’17)
Ronald Reagan
Former U.S. president
(’13)
Queen Rania of Jordan
(’16)
Princess Beatrice of York
(’18)
James Charles
YouTuber, influencer
(’19)
Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of
New York
(’18)
Jeff Koons
Artist,
sculptor
(’13, ’17)
Data from Getty Images, Post reporting
Some of the unexpected Met Gala guests since 2013
Jeff Bezos
Amazon founder
(Attended in ’19)
Les Moonves Former
CBS CEO
(’13, ’14, ’15, ’17)
Katie Couric
Journalist,
TV anchor
(’13, ’14, ’15)
Ronan Farrow
Investigative reporter at the New Yorker
(’14)
David Koch
Former co-owner of Koch Industries
(’14, ’15)
Megyn Kelly
Talk show host, journalist
(’16, ’17)
James Charles
YouTuber, influencer
(’19)
Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of
New York
(’18)
Jeff Koons
Artist,
sculptor
(’13, ’17)
Ronald Reagan
Former U.S. president
(’13)
Queen Rania of Jordan
(’16)
Princess Beatrice of York
(’18)
Data from Getty Images, Post reporting
Some of the unexpected Met Gala guests since 2013
Jeff Bezos
Amazon founder, exec. chairman
(Attended in ’19)
Les Moonves Former
CBS CEO
(’13, ’14, ’15, ’17)
Katie Couric
Journalist,
TV anchor
(’13, ’14, ’15)
Ronan Farrow
Investigative reporter
(’14)
David Koch
Former co-owner of Koch Industries
(’14, ’15)
Megyn Kelly
Talk show host, journalist
(’16, ’17)
James Charles
YouTuber, influencer
(’19)
Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of
New York
(’18)
Jeff Koons
Artist,
sculptor
(’13, ’17)
Queen Rania of Jordan
(’16)
Ronald Reagan
Former U.S. president
(’13)
Princess Beatrice of York
(’18)
Data from Getty Images, Post reporting
You can even look out for controversial figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has recently been subject to lawsuits alleging abuse, sexual violence and sex trafficking, or Georgina Chapman, Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife and co-founder of fashion label Marchesa, who remains a close pal of Anna Wintour and still attends almost every year.
The guest list for this year’s Met Gala won’t be released until the night of, but a few celebs have already confirmed their attendance.
This year’s co-chairs — Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth and Bad Bunny — will obviously be there. Rihanna has confirmed, making this her 11th appearance since 2007. High-profile partners like Ben Affleck, Tom Holland and A$AP Rocky will probably also appear.
As for the outfits? We’ll have to wait and see if the guests will bring their A-game too.
