Met Gala Cost Revealed: Inside the Pricey Production and High-Fashion Costs

The Met Gala is a unique event held once a year and orchestrated by fashion icon Anna Wintour. Everything from the guest list down to laying out a strict set of rules, Wintour carries out the bulk of the responsibilities that go along with setting up the event. So, how much does it cost to throw the Met Gala and what do individual tickets cost?

The Met Gala is one of the most coveted events to attend. In 2022, many notable people graced the red carpet at the black-tie event including Elon Musk, Megan Thee Stallion, and Beyoncé.

Want the scoop on how much goes in to hosting the event and how much Met Gala tickets cost? Keep reading!

While its tradition for the Met Gala to be held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute on the first Monday in May, the theme for the event changes. While the event had to be postponed from May to September in 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns, it was able to resume its regular schedule in 2022.

In 2022, the Met Gala was held on May 2, 2022, and the theme for the event was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion." It was hosted by Regina King, Ryan Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively, as well as LinManuel Miranda. Various celebrities and socialites attended the event, showcasing some of the wildest and most lavish outfits that exist.

As for the cost to throw such an extravagant event many designers utilize to show off their latest creations, it’s estimated to be somewhere around $3.5 million, although we speculate that figure could be higher.

Sure, it might sound a bit costly just to gather hundreds of celebrities and people of high status and wealth for one evening, but let’s not forget that the event is an annual fundraising gala used to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute generally invites anywhere between 500 and 600 guests to attend the Met Gala. Although fewer people were expected to attend in 2022 due to the threat of the COVID-19 virus, the Met Gala still raised millions of dollars just as it has done in the past.

The Cut reported that in 2018 and 2019, the Met Gala raised over $13 million. In 2021, that figure jumped to $16.75 million. Despite the smaller head count, the Met Gala still managed to raise a whopping $17.4 million in 2022. It’s estimated that Wintour has helped raise $200 million in total through running the event.

The Met Gala, once viewed as an “elite gathering of Manhattan socialites,” has become a head-turning red carpet event for celebrities and people alike. Attending the Met Gala is a privilege many aren’t afforded perhaps because of their lack of social status. Ticket prices might also have something to do with it.

If you’re lucky enough to be invited to the Met Gala, you’re likely paying anywhere between $30,000 and $50,000 per ticket, reports Business Insider. If you want to reserve a table, those are said to sell for “$275,000 to $500,000.” While plenty of attendees pay their own way, others are sponsored by brands.

In 2015, Yahoo reportedly paid $3 million to secure two tables at the Gala. Brands that reserve tables typically invite guests of their own, although Wintour has the final say in who makes the list.

If you're not lucky enough to make it onto Wintour's Met Gala guest list, no worries as you can still livestream the event at home. You can generally tune in to watch the Met Gala on the website or social media page of the media outlet that has been tasked with providing live coverage. This usually includes Vogue, E!, NBC News, and more.

The 2023 Met Gala can be streamed from any of Vogue's social media pages, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Alternatively, you can watch the 2023 Met Gala event play out beginning at 5:30 p.m. EST on TeenVogue.com.

Should you run into trouble streaming the event through those media outlets, NBC and E! will also be providing live coverage of the event, likely beginning around 6:00 p.m. EST.