May6,2025
The Met Gala was started by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert as a fundraising event to benefit the Costume Institute at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The first gala tickets were priced at just $50, aimed mainly at New York high society rather than global celebrities.
It began as a simple midnight supper rather than the extravagant red-carpet spectacle it is today.
All proceeds from the gala go toward the Costume Institute's exhibitions, acquisitions, and operations, making it a key fundraiser.
Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour took over in 1995, transforming it into an international celebrity-studded phenomenon.
Themed galas started becoming prominent in the 1970s to align with the Costume Institute’s exhibitions.
Attendance is tightly controlled, with Anna Wintour personally approving every guest on the list.
Over time, it evolved into the most anticipated fashion event of the year, often called the "Super Bowl of fashion."
What started as a small charity event now raises millions of dollars each year, with the 2023 gala reportedly raising over $20 million