Topline
On Tuesday night, an exclusive black-tie dinner hosted by former President Donald Trump saw a gathering of notable figures, including billionaire Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo. The event was held in honor of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This marked Musk’s first visit to the White House since stepping down in May from his position as a “special government employee” leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk’s relationship with Trump had soured following a public disagreement, making his presence at the dinner a potential sign of renewed cordiality, especially as his proposed “America Party” initiative appears to have waned.
In a move reflecting strengthening business ties, Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Lisa Su of AMD were also present. Earlier this year, their companies secured agreements to provide advanced semiconductor technology to Humain, an AI firm backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, PIF.
David Ellison, head of Paramount Skydance Corporation, attended amid speculation that the Saudi fund might help finance his company’s ambitions to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
Rounding out the list of distinguished guests were Apple’s Tim Cook and Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, showcasing the diverse array of industry leaders at the gathering.
David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance Corporation, was also present at the dinner amid reports that the Saudi sovereign fund could partly fund his company’s bid to acquire rival Warner Bros. Discovery.
Other high-profile attendees included Apple CEO Tim Cook and billionaire and Dell CEO Michael Dell.
What Do We Know About Ronaldo’s Ties To Saudi Arabia?
Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary soccer star who tops the list of all-time goal scorers, was also in attendance at the White House event. In 2023, Ronaldo joined Saudi soccer club Al-Nassr on a record €200 million ($231 million) per year deal, amid Riyadh’s push to become a global sporting hub. Al-Nassr is primarily owned by PIF, and the Saudi Crown Prince serves as the fund’s chairman. Earlier this year, Ronaldo signed an extension deal that will keep the 40-year-old at the club till 2027. He ranked number one on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest Paid Athletes of 2025, and he is projected to earn an estimated $275 million this year.
