Private jets have begun buzzing above the cattle and potato farms of Sun Valley, Idaho, for the annual Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference.
For more than four decades, the Tuesday after July 4 has marked the kickoff of the annual summit, which has become known as billionaire summer camp. What started out as a media-focused conference for a few dozen guests has since expanded to include hundreds from all corners of the business world.
Between 160 and 190 aircraft — more than double the number of an average Tuesday — typically arrive at the Sun Valley Friedman Memorial Airport, shuttling CEOs and billionaires in from places like Aspen, Colorado, and Bozeman, Montana.
“That day — the entire week, for that matter, based on holiday travel, tourism season being in full swing, and the conference — makes it the busiest week of the year here in the Wood River Valley,” Tim Burke, the director of the airport, told Business Insider over email.
This morning, after dozens of private jets touched down, the FAA said the airport was experiencing delays. The planes included one owned by investment firm Invemed Securities, likely carrying its founder, billionaire Ken Langone, a regular attendee of the conference.
Numerous other heavy hitters may be taking a page out of Apple CEO Tim Cook’s book and opting for a charter plane to avoid jet-tracking websites. Over the past 24 hours, dozens of planes linked to private plane operators like NetJets and Flexjet have arrived at the Sun Valley airport.
Other guests expected to arrive include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google chief Sundar Pichai, and Disney top brass Bob Iger, Variety reported. Some regular attendees including Oprah Winfrey and Warren Buffett, who announced his retirement plans in May, are reportedly not expected to attend this year.
The conference, which is entirely off-the-record and has a relaxed atmosphere, has become known for the dealmaking that takes place during power lunches behind lodge doors and rounds of golf. It’s where the seeds for Disney’s acquisition of ABC were planted, and it was pivotal in Comcast buying NBC Universal.
This year, AI talent wars, the state of the energy and defense industries, and Disney’s succession plan will likely be among the most talked-about topics.
The current political climate, including tariffs and the Big Beautiful Bill, could also inspire plenty of discussion, especially with the politicians in attendance. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore are reportedly on the guest list.
The event is organized by the boutique investment firm Allen & Company. Guests stay at the Sun Valley Lodge, where rooms run upward of $500 a night during peak summer months.
While there are several panels, there are many unstructured hours during which the masters of the universe can trade their sports coats in for activewear and play tennis, stroll through the woods, or hang out at local coffee shops.
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