How to rock billionaire style from the Sun Valley conference: ‘stealth wealth’ fashion popularised by HBO’s Succession was worn by the business elite, from Warren Buffett to Warner Bros’ boss
By Grace Evans
Many attendees stayed committed to the colour and texture choices long favoured by tech and finance titans. Read: plenty of shades of blue shirts and outer layers were on display, as were vest-centred looks.
Jesse Itzler (left), co-founder of Marquis Jet, Sara Blakely and Paul Salem walk together wearing casual looks. Photo: AFP
Here’s what the “who’s who in the business world” wore at the Sun Valley conference this week. After all, it’s not called “summer camp for billionaires” for nothing.
Billionaire fashion straight out of Succession
Bing Gordon, CEO for Kleiner Perkins, and his wife Debra Gordon talk to the media as they walk to a morning session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, US, on July 12. Photo: AFP
Here, Bing Gordon, CEO for venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, wore a classic navy blazer while his wife Debra Gordon donned an equally understated look.
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Neutrals, neutrals, neutrals
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Inc. obviously got the neutrals memo. Photo: Bloomberg
The ChatGPT leader’s neutral-tone crew-neck shirt at the Sun Valley Lodge does seem like the kind of basic tee look that Alexander Skarsgard’s Succession character, the casual sweats-loving tech CEO Lukas Matsson, would wear.
Quarter-zip jumpers
Robert Kraft, CEO of Kraft Group (left) and Roger Goodell, commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), walk to lunch during the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, US, on July 12. Photo: Bloomberg
Quarter-zip jumpers are a staple of the rich and preppy set on their days off.
Guests like New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft epitomised a partial-zip sweatshirt look that was popular at the conference.
Steven Swartz, president and CEO of the media company Hearst, arrives at the Sun Valley Lodge for the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, US, on July 11. Photo: AFP
Hearst CEO Steven Swartz donned a periwinkle quarter-zip, perhaps tapping into a popular notion in business fashion that the colour blue can signal stability.
Let the accessories do the talking
Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com Inc., attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, US, on July 11. Photo: Bloomberg
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff appeared to be pretty committed to the Western atmosphere of the conference venue, keeping a cowboy hat on.
John Elkann, chairman of Stellantis, rides a bike at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 14. Photo: AFPMeanwhile, John Elkann, chairman at the vehicle company Stellantis, went for futuristic-looking oversized sunglasses and a textured turtleneck sweater.
Justin Kelly, CEO of Winslow Capital, arrives at the Sun Valley Lodge for the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, on July 11. Photo: AFP
Many guests eschewed looks displaying brand names, but one label that was popular was On. The Swiss brand of athletic and running shoes has become popular among the tech elite.
Some classics never get old
Ted Leonsis, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, arrives for the morning session in the classic vest-over-shirt look. Photo: Bloomberg
Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, donned the classic vest-over-shirt look, a reliable casual ‘fit for the business set.
Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube Inc. (left) and Hema Screen Mohan rocked up to the conference wearing matching outfits. Photo: Bloomberg
YouTube head Neal Mohan took things down to Silicon Valley brass tacks, rocking the quintessential tech bro grey zip-sweatshirt look.
Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, makes his way to a morning session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, US, on July 14. Photo: AFPBut, of course, let’s not forget the company hosting the conference and the Oracle of Omaha himself. Legendary investor Warren Buffett wore multiple Allen & Co. outer layers with Sun Valley 2023 insignia.
Casual textures entered the mix
David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros Discovery Inc., attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, US, on July 11. Photo: Bloomberg
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav chose a classic Canadian tuxedo – a denim-on-denim look – and a megawatt smile. Hollywood media chiefs are contending with a strike by writers and now actors seeking better pay as residuals decline and more protections amid the rise of generative AI.
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Some guests got a little creative
Tim Ellis, CEO of Relativity Space and wife Richelle Ellis arrive at the Sun Valley conference looking a little out of place. since they’re not wearing the usual casual ‘fit look of the business set. Photo: AFP
Relativity Space CEO Tim Ellis and his wife, the artist Richelle Ellis, wore printed, geometric looks.
Diane von Furstenberg, fashion designer, leaves a morning session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, US, on July 13. Photo: AFPFashion designer Diane von Furstenberg paired what appeared to be a shark-tooth necklace with a colourful striped look. But DVF’s husband, the media mogul Barry Diller, kept a more casual cut underlining the spirit of the event.Barry Diller, chairperson of IAC, and his wife Diane von Furstenberg, look miles apart in terms of the styles they wear. Photo: AFP
Barry Diller, chairman and executive of IAC, which owns a suite of media and internet-focused companies, cut a casual figure as he walked around in Sun Valley next to his wife.