The Most Surprising Stars Who Have Been to the Met Gala — from Princess Diana to Elon Musk

From athletes and TikTokers to tech bros and British royalty, these are the red carpet appearances we didn't see coming

When the first Monday in May rolls around, we know one thing’s about to go down: the Met Gala.

As the biggest night in fashion, the annual event guarantees one heck of a show, as celebrities from all walks of life flock to New York City to mingle among the who's who of the world — like the regularly invited supermodels, musicians, actors — you name it. But sometimes, there are a few attendees whose arrivals are just as unexpected as the looks themselves.

Ahead of the 2024 Met Gala on May 6, we're looking back at the most surprising guests to have walked the famous steps in years past.

Related: All About the 2024 Met Gala, from the Co-Chairs to the Theme

Princess Diana

Fashion royalty met actual royalty when Princess Diana graced the carpet back in 1996. For her first and only time at the Met Gala, Princess Diana wore a Dior navy lace slip by John Galliano. On her neck lay a sapphire brooch, a wedding gift from the Queen Mother, transformed into a dazzling necklace pendant strung with pearls.

3LW

No matter where they were, you could count on 3LW's Naturi Naughton, Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton to bust out their highlights, crop tops and abs, which they did in 2001. What more could you ask for with an early aughts Met Gala?

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton, a two-time attendee, made her debut in a gold ballgown to support fellow former first lady, the late Jacqueline Kennedy, who was the honoree of the 2001 "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years" exhibit.

Marilyn Manson

Don't be fooled, this photo of Marilyn Manson and his now ex-wife Dita von Teese wasn't taken at a Halloween party. It was actually snapped at the 2007 Met Gala, where the rock musician wore his signature makeup with von Teese in a matching red lip.

The Jonas Brothers

The 2012 Met Gala was burnin' up extra hot when all three of the Jonas Brothers — yes, Nick, Joe and Kevin — showed face in coordinating tuxedos. This was the first and last time Kevin attended.

Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn

Before Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn broke up in 2015 after three years of dating, they were able to experience one date night at the Met Gala in 2013. They ditched their golf polos and ski suits in exchange for black-tie style.

Derek and Hannah Davis Jeter

Derek Jeter and his wife, Hannah Davis, at the Met Gala is as unexpected as catching a flying baseball from the stadium stands. However, their debut in 2015 earned them a second invite the following year.

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss

There's a small group of twins who've walked the red carpet: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Jared Leto and Alessandro Michele (they're not related, but passed as fraternal siblings once) and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who've been three times. Fun fact: the brothers — who once claimed Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook — bumped into actor Armie Hammer, who played both Tyler and Cameron in The Social Network, at the 2017 Met Gala.

Related: Can You Guess How Many of These Celebs Have (or Haven't!) Attended the Met Gala?

Megyn Kelly

Controversial news correspondent turned podcaster Megyn Kelly attended twice in 2016 and 2017. She hasn't been back since — and described last year's Met Gala affair as "trashy."

Mitt and Ann Romney

Every so often politicians make an appearance on the carpet, but Mitt Romney's night out on the town was the most surprising — especially since he bought his tux on Amazon instead of going designer.

James Charles

James Charles provided an eye-catching amount of influencer style to the Met Gala in 2019.

Addison Rae

There wasn't any dancing involved, but Addison Rae's debut in 2021 still made a mark since she became one of the only TikTokers to attend. She returned the year after wearing Michael Kors.

Jackie Aina

YouTuber Jackie Aina is considered one of the OG social media influencers of our time. But she didn't make her Met Gala debut until 2021.

Dixie D’Amelio

Another TikToker who ruffled some feathers was Dixie D'Amelio. Although a newbie to the scene, she channeled a timeless look reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's when she arrived on the Met steps in 2021. She said on The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show that the ensemble wasn't the one she originally planned on wearing.

Pete Davidson

Pete Davidson's got jokes — and style too, so much in fact that he's attended three Met Galas in a row! He made his debut in 2021 solo, then was accompanied by his now-ex Kim Kardashian (who can forget their Marilyn Monroe and her bodyguard moment), and then attended by himself again in 2023. That year, he reunited with the SKIMS mogul inside the fête.

Elon and Maye Musk

On a rare occasion a parent will tag along as their kid's Met Gala date, such as when Elon Musk brought his mom, Maye Musk, in 2022. What also added to the shock factor: the tech titan flashing a duck face for the cameras.

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes

In 2023, Patrick and Brittany Mahomes made their debut in coordinating black-and-white looks inspired by Karl Lagerfeld. Now that he's a three-time Super Bowl champ and she's Taylor Swift's BFF, will they be gracing the carpet once again?

Related: Met Gala Co-Chairs Through the Years

Brittney and Cherelle Griner

The same year the Mahomeses went, WNBA star Brittney Griner made her debut with her wife, Cherelle, just months after returning home from Russian imprisonment in December 2022. "It's everything just to be here with my wife," Brittney told Vogue.

Roger and Mirka Federer

Okay, so athletes at the Met Gala isn't groundbreaking, but having a sports star helm as co-chair with Anna Wintour is a rare occasion. Tennis champion Roger Federer took on the role alongside Dua Lipa, Penélope Cruz and Michaela Coel in 2022, making him the only sportsman to do so besides Tom Brady, who co-chaired in 2017.

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