The Allen & Co. Sun Valley conference entered a second day on Thursday with more famous faces spotted flocking to the annual event.
Now in its 36th year, the invite-only summit in Idaho – which has become known as Billionaire Summer Camp – allows the rich and powerful of the media and tech worlds the rare opportunity to all meet in person at once.
The event will run through the end of the week and is held at the Sun Valley Resort, a luxury retreat that’s walls are lined with photographs of presidents, athletes and other esteemed guests playing golf on the grounds in years gone by.
CNN host Anderson Cooper was spotted entering the fold early Thursday morning, while Microsoft Executive VP Peggy Johnson enjoyed a leisurely jog around the resort’s grounds, sporting floral leggings.
CNN host Anderson Cooper was spotted entering the fold early Thursday morning
While Microsoft Executive VP Peggy Johnson enjoyed a leisurely jog around the resort’s grounds, sporting floral leggings
Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi also utilized the early morning sunshine to squeeze in some cardio with a spin on his bicycle – but business didn’t seem to be far from his mind as he was pictured periodically glancing down at an iPad that was strapped to his handlebars.
Slated to attend the event is e-commerce giant and world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, but day two of the conference failed to yield any sighting of him.
In a tweet, Fox Business Network correspondent Charles Gasparino claimed to have enjoyed the morning speaking with the billionaire’s beau, Lauren Sanchez, at a near-by café.
Though Gasparino said Sanchez was alone, she allegedly confirmed that Bezos was already in Sun Valley, prompting speculation that he may finally emerge on Friday.
While in previous years the event has source of a number of high profile deals – including the AOL-Time Warner merger in 2000 – its primary function is to serve as a platform for industry leaders to discuss dynamics and looming changes to their respective fields.
Details of specific ongoings behind the doors of the exclusive summit are notorious scant, but predicted to be on the agenda this year is Apple’s upcoming streaming service and the increasing pressure US Lawmakers are exerting on Silicon Valley.
Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi also utilized the early morning sunshine to squeeze in some cardio with a spin on his bicycle – but business didn’t seem to be far from his mind as he was pictured periodically glancing down at an iPad that was strapped to his handlebars
Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and Expedia, Inc made their appearances known on Thursday morning
Zander Lurie, chief executive officer of SurveyMonkey, was all smiles strolling the grounds of the Sun Valley Inn
Kitty Hawk Corporation CFO and co-founder of Udacity, Sebastian Thrun (left) appeared to be enjoying day two of the conference, issuing the camera a thumbs-up. Charles Rivikin (right), CEO of Motion Picture Association of America opted for a more stern expression
The so-called ‘Billionaire Summer Camp’ also welcome the arrival of Ahmet Muhtar Kent, the former CEO of Coca-Cola
Donald Graham – former publisher of the Washington Post and chairman of Graham Holdings Company – and Amanda Bennett, director of The Voice of America appeared ecstatic on their way into the first conference of the day
Monday saw Colorado governor and 2020 presidential candidate John Hickenlooper and his wife Robin among those spotted traversing the grounds of the Sun Valley Inn, where the dress code oscillated from polar fleece vests and hoodies to a $5500 lurex jacquard blazer and pants from Dolce & Gabbana.
That latter was worn by Felicia Horowitz, who was back in Sun Valley for another year with her husband Ben, the CEO of of Opsware and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz.
Far more dressed down were film and TV producer Brian Grazer and his wife Veronica, along with investor Michael Ovitz and the always stylish fashion entrepreneur Tamara Mellon.
Those four instead let their accessories shine, with the Grazers and Ovitz all opting for fancy footwear, while Mellon finished off her perfectly tailored jeans and sweater with a leather jacket and five-figure Hermes Birkin.
She also sported her very chic engagement ring, which has been estimated to be worth somewhere in the high six to low seven-figure range.
The event’s primary function is to serve as a platform for industry leaders to discuss dynamics and looming changes to their respective fields (pictured: Yahoo founder Jerry Yang)
Owner of Liverpool Football Club, the Boston Red Sox and The Boston Globe, John Henry is shown with his wife Linda
News Corp chief Murdoch has been laying low ever since contracting pneumonia earlier this year. But Murdoch’s sons Lachlan(above) and James were both on hand, both with their spouses
Alex Von Furstenberg (left), founder and chief investment officer of Ranger Global Advisors LLC and his wife Ali Kay (right)
Mike Cannon-Brookes, chief executive officer of Atlassian (left) and John Noseworthy, retired CEO of The Mayo Clinic (right)
Roberto Mignone, managing partner at Bridger Management LLC
The annual conference also reunited Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and businessman Bobby Kotick, with Variety catching the pair ‘deep in conversation.
And lifelong partners media tycoon Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg made then scene once again.
Media exec Shari Redstone was all smiles on Tuesday as she arrived at conference, almost one year after she successfully led the charge to oust former CBS Chairman and CEO Les Moonves.
It was a far cry from last year’s gathering, where tensions ran high as both Redstone and Moonves attended the event.
Moonves was not the only poobah to skip this year’s meeting, with longtime guests Robert Kraft and Rupert Murdoch also no-shows this year.
New England Patriots owner Kraft’s absence comes as he is beleaguered by his own sex scandal.
And News Corp chief Murdoch has been laying low ever since contracting pneumonia earlier this year.
But Murdoch’s sons Lachlan and James were both on hand, both with their spouses.
George Tenet (left), managing director of Allen and Co. LLC and former director of the CIA and Hank Crumpton (right), who is now president of the Crumpton Group
Alex Karp, chief executive officer of Palantir Technologies (left) sports cycling gear as Stewart Butterfield (right), Slack CEO and co-founder opts for casual wear
Jon Oringer, chief executive officer of Shutterstock, and his Talia walk arm-in-arm on Thursday morning
Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (left) walks in just behind Mark Dankberg (right), chief executive officer of Viasat, and his wife Cindy
Douglas Leone, venture capitalist with Sequoia Capital emerged at the summit in an all-blue ensemble
Wendell Brooks, president at Intel Capital and corporate vice president for mergers and acquisitions at Intel Corporation (left) and Attorney Bob Werbel (right)
Colorado governor and 2020 presidential candidate John Hickenlooper and his wife Robin
Film and TV producer Brian Grazer and his wife Veronica (together, left) and Investor Michael Ovitz and fashion entrepreneur Tamara Mellon (together, right)
Singer, actor and producer Wang Leehom walks with his wife Lee Jinglei
Felicia Horowitz and Ben Horowitz, chief executive officer of Opsware and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz (left) and Canadian businesswoman Marie-Josee Kravis with her husband, investor Henry Kravis (right)
Stockbroker David Rubulotta and his wife, CNN news anchor Erin Burnett (left) and innovator Sebastian Thrun and Doreen Xia (right)
James Quincey, chief executive officer of the Coca-Cola Company and his wife Jacqui
Walt Disney Chairman Bob Iger will be in Idaho this week but opted to spend the first night of the conference in Los Angeles with Beyonce and the cast of The Lion King at the premiere of the studio’s new live-action film.
The guests on hand at that premiere – where Beyonce walked the red carpet alongside co-stars Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard and Marsai Martin – stood in stark contrast to the scene in Sun Valley, where the powers-that-be at Allen & Co. once again cultivated a guest list with a startling lack of diversity.
Bryan Lourd and Tim Cook also made appearances this year.
The whitewashed conference offered only a handful of its female guests invites on their own accord, with most instead coming as guests of their husbands and partners.
David Wehner, CFO of Facebook, and his wife Cathy
Mexican TV mogul Alfonso de Angoiti with his wife Concha (left) and Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar with her husband
The few who did manage to lean their way included General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Fidelity Investments CEO Abigail Johnson, 23 & Me founder Anne Wojcicki and two Facebook employees – Vice President of Global Partnerships, Business and Corporate Development Marne Levine and COO Sheryl Sandberg.
Nasdaq, Inc. Adena Friedman was also on hand as was EVP and Executive Creative Director of Energy BBDO Susan Treacy.
Among the accomplished plus ones at the event were the stylish and business savvy Tamara Mellon and Stacey Bendet, who arrived with fiance Michael Ovitz and husband Michael Eisner respectively.
LGBTQ representation did not fare better, and like the rest of the guest list was dominated by white men.