High-End Attendees Skip Burning Man: Inapparent Departure of Tech Magnates from the annual counterculture event?
In a noticeable change from previous years, several tech billionaires have either not announced their attendance or have been absent from this year's Burning Man festival.
Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, is one of the notable absentees. He has taken on a new role as the first Chief Design Officer in the Trump administration, which has kept him away from the playa. Larry Page, another Google co-founder, has been a regular no-show in recent years, and as of now, there are no credible reports confirming his presence at this year's event.
Elon Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has been a long-time Burning Man enthusiast, having attended since the early 1980s. However, as of the article's publication, he has not publicly announced his plans for this year. Similarly, Sergey Brin, another Google co-founder, visited Burning Man as recently as 2023, but his attendance for this year remains uncertain.
Kimbal Musk, Elon's brother, sat on the board of Burning Man until 2023. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a self-proclaimed Burning Man fan, is also missing this year due to his commitments at home, including a six-month-old baby and ongoing battles for AI talent. Risk capital billionaire Josh Kushner is also absent, with Thrive Capital's involvement in two ongoing funding rounds and his wife, Karlie Kloss, being in her third trimester of pregnancy.
The absence of these billionaires may not be due to a waning cultural appeal or harsh conditions, but rather other commitments. In the past, these tech titans were known for their luxurious RV camps and the private jet airport of Black Rock City. However, in recent years, many of these billionaires have stopped attending Burning Man.
Burning Man, a festival that rejects materialism, commercialization, and capitalism, has always been a unique gathering for these billionaires. Many attendees adopt pseudonyms and elaborate costumes to blend in. This year, a sculpture has been erected that appears to be in honor of Elon Musk, adding a touch of nostalgia for the festival's past attendees.
While some tech billionaires may still be attending Burning Man incognito, the decrease in their presence is noticeable. Whether this is a temporary shift or a more permanent change remains to be seen.
