Sun Valley, Idaho
#1 Business & Financial Industry Event
The beyond-exclusive media and finance gathering includes many of the nation’s leading voices in technology, media, and business. Hosted and funded entirely by private investment firm Allen & Company, the 33rd version of the five-day conference included guests such as Apple C.E.O. Tim Cook, Miramax co-founder Harvey Weinstein, Snap chairman Michael Lynton, Facebook C.E.O. Mark Zuckerberg, Berkshire Hathaway chairman and C.E.O. Warren Buffett, and senior White House advisors Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Next: Summer 2018
Washington
#2 Business & Financial Industry Event
Addressing the theme of “Rising Debt in a Changing Economy,” speakers at this year’s event included high-ranking members of Congress, including Nancy Pelosi and John McCain, as well as former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu, Harvard professor Atul Gawande, and more. It took place in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Next: May 2018
New York
#3 Business & Financial Industry Event
Established to fund innovative initiatives to treat and cure pediatric cancers, the Sohn Conference Foundation, in conjunction with CNBC, brings together Wall Street’s elite investors to hear investment ideas. Held at Lincoln Center, this year’s speaker roster included hedge fund managers Bill Ackman of Pershing Square, Debra Fine of Fine Capital Partners, and other money movers. Since its inception in 1995, the conference’s foundation has raised more than $75 million. Next: April 23, 2018
Los Angeles
#4 Business & Financial Industry Event
Providing a staggering army of 750 speakers, the Milken Institute’s 20th annual gathering brought together 4,000 attendees from 20 countries to work on solving some of the world’s most complex problems. Under the theme “Building Meaningful Lives,” talks were provided by a diverse roster of influential people, including former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Joe Biden, N.B.A. legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and actress and producer Reese Witherspoon. The event takes places at the institute’s headquarters. Next: Spring 2018
Los Angeles
#5 Business & Financial Industry Event (up from #7)
The invitation-only gathering of financial professionals, held at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, is known for top-shelf entertainment during evening events after the daytime sessions wrap. The two evening events were re-designed, a third was added, and the event area was expanded to more than 100,000 square feet. The changes doubled attendance at the nighttime gatherings to a combined 8,000 guests, who took in concerts from Wiz Khalifa, the Offspring, and the Chainsmokers. Next: March 11-14, 2018
