The church service, typically a low-key event, quickly became a gathering of some of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Tech executives’ close ties with Trump, notably including billionaires like Elon Musk, have been a key theme of his transition into power, drawing attention from political figures such as former President Joe Biden.
Here’s a snapshot of some notable Inauguration Day attendees:
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX
Musk, the world’s richest man, spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to support Trump’s election campaign. The billionaire entrepreneur has also been tapped by Trump to lead efforts to improve U.S. government efficiency. Musk arrived at the church service alone.
Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok
Ahead of the inauguration, TikTok praised Trump for his role in restoring access to the app in the U.S. Trump had promised to revive TikTok’s American presence after it faced a potential ban. The app is used by 170 million Americans, and Trump expressed interest in forming a joint venture to continue its operation.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta
Zuckerberg, who has worked to smooth relations with Trump’s administration, arrived at the church with his wife, Priscilla Chan. Meta Platforms, Zuckerberg’s company, reversed several content moderation policies under Trump’s pressure, including scrapping its U.S. fact-checking program.
Miriam Adelson, Casino Billionaire and Mega-Donor
Adelson, who played a key role in backing Trump’s campaign through the Preserve America super PAC, is a significant Republican donor. Along with her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, Miriam helped propel Trump to victory in 2016.
Mukesh Ambani, Indian Billionaire and Reliance Industries CEO
Ambani, India’s richest man, heads the diversified conglomerate Reliance Industries. He was also present at Trump’s pre-inauguration ceremony and continues to foster connections between India and the U.S.
Bernard Arnault and the Arnault Family
LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault attended with his wife, Helene Mercier, and their children. Arnault, France’s wealthiest person, leads the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which holds a value of around $200 billion. His children hold key positions within the company, including at Dior and Tiffany & Co.
Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the space company Blue Origin, attended with his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez. Bezos’s company streamed the inauguration on Prime Video, and the Washington Post, which he owns, notably refrained from endorsing a U.S. presidential candidate.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google
Pichai, along with other tech giants like Amazon and Meta, donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Experts believe Trump’s administration may ease antitrust pressures on companies like Google, which has faced scrutiny under the Biden administration.
Boris Johnson, Former Prime Minister of the UK
Johnson, once dubbed “Britain’s Trump” by the U.S. president, met with Trump in 2023 to discuss Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Johnson had positioned himself as a strong advocate for Ukraine, and his relationship with Trump has remained a key point of diplomatic dialogue.
The presence of these influential figures at Trump’s inauguration highlighted the strong ties between the U.S. president and the world’s wealthiest individuals, further cementing the intersection of politics and business at this pivotal moment in U.S. history.