The wealthiest group of people in the world surrounded Trump.
Author: Jin Shi Data
When Trump was sworn in, the wealthiest group of people in the world surrounded him— their total wealth exceeded $1.3 trillion.
At the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, prominently seated behind the Trump family were the top three individuals on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. Also attending the inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda were LVMH CEO and France's richest man Bernard Arnault, Alphabet co-founder Sergey Brin, and major shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, Miriam Adelson.
In a meaningful seating arrangement, the tech billionaires were placed in front of the cabinet members nominated by Trump. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth had to look over Musk and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to see the inauguration ceremony.
When asked about the presence of tech billionaires at the awards ceremony, Donald Trump Jr. said, "It's important to bring together some of the smartest minds in the world."
The lineup of wealthy attendees from Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and other industries highlighted the surge in support from these sectors after Trump's comeback victory in the November election.
For many businesses, their interests lie in breaking free from the constraints of U.S. regulations and hoping to boost corporate profits through Trump's promised investment stimulus.
Others hope to avoid the worst impacts of Trump's tariff policies.
Embracing Trump marks a shift in attitude for some business leaders, who four years ago, after the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by hundreds of Trump supporters, were hesitant about him.
However, as Trump's chances of election increased, his isolation gradually faded, as he sent a business-friendly message, including extending the tax cuts implemented during his first term in 2017.
Among all those present, Musk may have invested the most in Trump's return to the White House. The Tesla CEO used over $200 million of his personal wealth to support the presidential campaign, quickly becoming an influential advisor to Trump and leading a government efficiency initiative.
Musk also has many stakes in the new government, as reducing government regulation and increasing opportunities for space contracts are crucial for his business. Upon hearing Trump mention plans to send American astronauts to Mars in his inaugural address, the SpaceX CEO celebrated by pumping his fists. Colonizing Mars has long been Musk's aspiration.
Also in the crowd were hedge fund billionaire John Paulson, conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, who maintained a friendly relationship with the president during Trump's first term. Last Sunday, on the eve of Trump's inauguration, Cook received public praise from Trump at a rally held at Capital One Arena, where Trump stated that Apple plans to make an investment in the U.S.
The billionaires lined up with lawmakers and other senior officials, ready to attend a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol following the inauguration ceremony. Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez made an appearance at one point.
When asked about his thoughts on Trump's speech, Bezos replied, "Oh, I don't know, I'm looking for the restroom."
At the luncheon, Cook was seen sitting with incoming Attorney General Pam Bondi, while Bezos sat next to Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune. West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito took a photo with Meta's Zuckerberg.
Since the election, Zuckerberg has publicly adjusted the direction of the social media giant to align more closely with Trump and the new Republican majority in Congress. After conservative complaints about censorship, he abandoned the third-party fact-checking system in the U.S. and dropped many of the company's diversity and inclusion efforts.
Another notable guest was TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whose company's fate rests in Trump's hands. Trump has promised to sign an executive order exempting the app from a ban that was set to take effect last Sunday. Initially, Trump attempted to ban TikTok during his first term but later realized that the social media platform was an effective way to reach young voters and vowed to find a way to reach an agreement to keep it operational.
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