Latest news with #SunValleyConference
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
What happened at Sun Valley 2025?A roundup of the biggest news and deals
This weekend, dozens of CEOs, tech tycoons, and billionaires packed their bags and jetted out of Sun Valley, Idaho, after the annual four-day Sun Valley conference (nicknamed ' summer camp for billionaires ') came to a close. Hosted by the investment banking firm Allen & Co., the conference is essentially a yearly opportunity for some of the world's most influential businesspeople to rub elbows and talk shop over scenic mountain views. Aside from giving its attendees a chance to break out their best polos and khakis for an expectant clutch of paparazzi, the secretive retreat has also served as the site of some of the most significant deals in the past four decades. Those include Disney's acquisition of ABC in 1995, Google's acquisition of YouTube in 2006, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's purchase of The Washington Post in 2013. This year's star-studded cast included OpenAI's Sam Altman, Apple's Tim Cook, and Microsoft's Satya Nadella, to name a few. Here's everything we know about the 2025 conference so far: Skydance discusses purchase of 'The Free Press' According to a report from The New York Times, one potential deal on the table at this year's gathering was an acquisition of the online publication The Free Press by the media company Skydance. David Ellison, Skydance's CEO, attended the conference alongside Bari Weiss, cofounder of The Free Press. Sources close to the discussion told The Times that Ellison has previously offered Weiss a 'wide variety of options' in terms of potential working arrangements were Skydance to purchase The Free Press —including one scenario in which Weiss would take a major role in shaping the editorial direction of CBS News. Still, no official agreement has been announced, and The Times did not learn the terms of any potential deals. Fast Company reached out to Skydance and The Free Press for comment. In the meantime, Ellison is also in the midst of attempting to close a proposed merger with Paramount. Disney looking to sell A&E Global Media On July 8, just before the start of this year's Sun Valley conference, Disney and Hearst, co-owners of the cable network A&E Global Media, announced that they were looking to sell the network. The news follows a larger trend of media companies like Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery spinning off their respective cable networks in an attempt to purge underperforming arms of the business, as traditional pay TV continues down a path of rapid decline. It's quite a turn from just a few years ago, when media companies were opting to acquire their rivals in what Variety has called an 'arms race' to compete with streaming competitors. In the wake of the news that A&E is seeking a new buyer, Disney CEO Bob Iger attended Sun Valley alongside media moguls including Comcast head Brian Roberts, Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Ravi Ahuja, and Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav. One topic was top of mind At the end of the conference, Business Insider caught up with Flowcode CEO Tim Armstrong, who has attended Sun Valley annually for more than a decade. Armstrong shared that, unsurprisingly, this year's hottest topic of discussion was AI. It was the '1,000-pound gorilla' in 'every conversation, every meeting,' Armstrong told the publication, adding that executives spent a good chunk of the retreat sharing their ideas on how to implement new AI tools. The year of weird sunglasses and Western cosplay While the general public waits to hear more details about deals made behind closed doors at this year's conference, there is one element of the retreat that the average American had full access to: the fashion. This year, like the years before it, saw an excess of bland polo shirts, jeans, ball caps, and button-downs. In an interview with Fast Company, L.A.-based personal stylist Mary Komick explained that 'quiet luxury' is the generally accepted dress code at Sun Valley, with execs opting for neutral shades and understated cuts. 'They're showing off to each other, with their stealth luxe style noticeably recognized by those in these circles,' Komick noted. Still, there were a couple of new trends to emerge this year. Ivanka Trump and Spanx founder Sara Blakley both opted for Western-inspired accessories, while several other attendees stepped out in simple outfits accented with over-the-top sunglasses, including Altman (who donned a $400 pair of sunnies inspired by '70s ski masks) and Ferrari chairman John Elkann (who wore a vintage pair of Tom Fords that were chunky enough to resemble an Apple Vision Pro).
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung chief vows to 'work hard' after returning from exclusive Sun Valley conference
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to South Korea on Monday after attending the exclusive Sun Valley conference in Idaho, joining some of the world's most powerful business leaders for a week of closed-door discussions and networking. Arriving in the morning at Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center, Lee said, 'I will work hard,' when asked about Samsung's performance outlook for the second half of the year. He also noted that he felt tired after a packed schedule. Hosted by US boutique investment bank Allen & Co, the annual Sun Valley Conference is dubbed the 'summer camp for billionaires' and has been a must-attend for media moguls, tech and finance executives since 1983. This year's attendees reportedly included Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, among others. Lee was a regular attendee since 2002, when he was a vice president of Samsung, but had not attended the event since 2017 due to legal disputes related to the political scandal that impeached President Park Geun-hye. In court testimony in 2017, Lee said Sun Vally is 'the busiest and most important business trip of the year.' Lee Won-jin, president and head of the global marketing office, was also spotted attending the event. Samsung chief's attendance at the meeting comes as the tech giant faces a significant challenge in its key chip business. The company projected its operating profit for the second quarter to be around 4.6 trillion won ($3.33 billion), a 55.9 percent drop from a year earlier. Analysts attributed it to the sluggish chip businesses, especially amid delays in the supply of AI-critical high bandwidth memory, or HBM, as well as the fallout from US tariff policies. Lee also awaits a final ruling from South Korea's Supreme Court on Thursday over charges including stock manipulation, breach of trust, accounting fraud and other irregularities in connection with a contentious 2015 merger of Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T. Lee was acquitted in both his first and second trials.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sex And The City star looks UNRECOGNIZABLE as she attends Sun Valley 'billionaires' summer camp'
A beloved star of Sex And The City looked unrecognizable as she attended the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference - which has been dubbed as the 'summer camp for billionaires - this week. The actress joined other celebrities at the exclusive event as well as those involved in the media and business sector, such as Disney CEO Bob Iger and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. The 79-yearold was seen arriving to the venue on Wednesday while being escorted on a golf cart. The Hollywood icon - who is also known for her leading role in the series Murphy Brown - kept it casual in a pair of denim jeans as well as a black jacket. Can you guess who she is? She is Candice Bergen. The Hollywood veteran completed the look for the day by slipping into a pair of comfy sneakers and sported fashionable shades. Bergen's blonde locks were parted to the side and flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. Candice is no stranger to the annual media finance conference which takes place in the resort city of Sun Valley in Idaho. The conference is held each year during the month of July - and was first launched back in 1983. The actress has previously made appearances at the star-studded event, such as last year in 2024. Others that were seen on Wednesday included Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Bergen was born to parents who were also heavily involved in the media industry - with her late father Edgar a comedian and ventriloquist and mother Frances an actress. While talking to Interview Magazine back in 2015, the star reflected on her childhood and recalled celebrities often visiting her parents at home while growing up. 'It was completely normal,' she said at the time. 'Walt Disney was a friend of the family, and he had, I remember, a miniature train set built in his garden...' Bergen later added, 'My parents would have a party...I remember Rex Harrison singing at the piano, Fred Astaire dancing with all the ladies. 'The Reagans were very old and close friends. It was a great community then because it was very relaxed, and people really had fun. Nobody took it seriously the way they take it now.' Candice followed in her parents' footsteps and kicked off her own acting career in the late 60s, such as starring in the epic war film The Sand Pebbles (1966). She continued to make a number of appearance in projects throughout the 70s, and took on a role in the movie Starting Over (1979) - which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Beginning in 1988, Bergen portrayed the titular character in the series Murphy Brown which also earned the actress five Emmys and two Golden Globe Awards. During an interview with Glamour, she talked about how she had declined to be nominated for another Emmy after her fifth win for her role on the show. 'Yeah. I could feel it in the house when I won for the fifth time. I could feel the audience going...I sort of felt them pulling back and I thought, "This is enough."' Candice returned to the television screen with a guest role in the hit series Sex And The City where she played Vogue editor Enid Frick. While also talking to the outlet, the star admitted that she never watched an episode of the HBO show - even the episodes that she appeared in. Candice returned to the television screen with a guest role in the hit series Sex And The City where she played Vogue editor Enid Frick 'I've never watched one,' Candice revealed, and when asked to confirm if that was true, she simply added, 'Yeah.' She also starred in another show called Boston Legal while taking on roles in films including Miss Congeniality, Sweet Home Alabama, Bride Wars and Book Club. Earlier this year in February, Candice's husband Marshall Rose passed away at the age of 88 due to complications from Parkinson's disease. She tied the knot with the real estate magnate in 2000 during a ceremony in the state of New York. He 'died peacefully at home in the early hours of February 15, surrounded by loved ones,' according to a New York Times obituary. The obit also read, 'His family carries on his legacy of fierce compassion, stubborn persistence, and commitment to cheering on the Knicks. 'His wisdom, strength and generosity of spirit will be remembered by the countless people whose lives he touched.' During her past conversation with Interview Magazine, she offered insight into her marriage with Rose. 'I'm not that ambitious. I'm always grateful when I get offered something that engages me, it's for the right amount of time, and I don't have to leave my husband for more than a week or two. That's really all I ask.' Bergen was also married to French film director Louis Malle from 1980 until his death at age 63 in 1995 following a battle with cancer. The pair welcomed a daughter named Chloe in 1985.
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
See the Sun Valley swag that billionaires and CEOs got this year
If the outfits at Sun Valley offer any indication, the answer ispretty similar to what the average Joe or finance guy would get. The annual Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference is taking place this week, offering power brokers in tech and media fertile ground to hobnob, make deals, and play a few rounds of golf. Many are sporting looks befitting of the conference nicknamed "summer camp for billionaires." Some also appear to be going around with swag that attendees presumably receive. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, for example, were spotted wearing a conference hat. All of the conference swag appears to carry the SV25 logo, referring to Sun Valley 2025. Spanx founder Sara Blakely wore an SV25 jacket while walking around Sun Valley. It appears to be made by Cutter & Buck, which makes upscale athletic wear for golf and other sports. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel appeared on CNBC in a similar jacket. Jeff Boyd, former CEO of travel company Booking Holdings, was seen in a red puffer vest with the SV25 logo. Former Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang wore a blue conference polo, which appeared to be made by The North Face. Besides clothing, many attendees were also seen toting around a large branded binder, presumably with a notepad or a schedule of events and sessions inside. Of course, attendees at the invite-only retreat could be getting a lot more swag than we can tell. (Allen & Co. did not immediately respond to our request for comment.) If they don't want to hold on to all of it, it seems some guests have sold swag from years past. eBay, for example, has plenty of listings of puffer vests from prior Sun Valley conferences. So if you can't score an invite, you might still be able to get your hands on one.
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
See the Sun Valley swag that billionaires and CEOs got this year
The annual "summer camp for billionaires" in Sun Valley is in full swing. And just what freebies do these CEOs and other power players get from their so-called summer camp? Here is some of the swag they were seen in, from "SV25" puffer vests to polos, binders, and hats. What do you put in a swag bag for a billionaire CEO? If the outfits at Sun Valley offer any indication, the answer is…pretty similar to what the average Joe or finance guy would get. The annual Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference is taking place this week, offering power brokers in tech and media fertile ground to hobnob, make deals, and play a few rounds of golf. Many are sporting looks befitting of the conference nicknamed "summer camp for billionaires." Some also appear to be going around with swag that attendees presumably receive. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, for example, were spotted wearing a conference hat. All of the conference swag appears to carry the SV25 logo, referring to Sun Valley 2025. Spanx founder Sara Blakely wore an SV25 jacket while walking around Sun Valley. It appears to be made by Cutter & Buck, which makes upscale athletic wear for golf and other sports. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel appeared on CNBC in a similar jacket. Jeff Boyd, former CEO of travel company Booking Holdings, was seen in a red puffer vest with the SV25 logo. Former Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang wore a blue conference polo, which appeared to be made by The North Face. Besides clothing, many attendees were also seen toting around a large branded binder, presumably with a notepad or a schedule of events and sessions inside. Of course, attendees at the invite-only retreat could be getting a lot more swag than we can tell. (Allen & Co. did not immediately respond to our request for comment.) If they don't want to hold on to all of it, it seems some guests have sold swag from years past. eBay, for example, has plenty of listings of puffer vests from prior Sun Valley conferences. So if you can't score an invite, you might still be able to get your hands on one.
