This charity event, in the form of a banquet, was held at the New York Metropolitan Museum. Aside from the hosts' invitations, tickets were sold to the public to raise funds. After passing the initial screening by the organizers, one could purchase a ticket for around $30,000, and if you wanted to book an entire table, $250,000 would suffice.
As usual, Matthew attended alone, never bringing a female companion to formal events like this.
Unlike a movie premiere, appearing with a woman at such a gathering typically signals to everyone that she is either your girlfriend, fiancée, or wife.
No such person had yet appeared by Matthew's side.
Upon entering the temporarily transformed banquet hall, Matthew was led by the hosts to a table where many Hollywood figures were seated. For example, Leonardo DiCaprio was already sitting at the same table.
"Hey, Leo." Matthew greeted Leonardo DiCaprio.
Leonardo noticed Matthew as well, stood up, and warmly embraced him with a smile. "Long time no see, Matthew."
No one else had arrived at the table yet, so Matthew and Leonardo sat beside each other, chatting while scanning the crowd in the banquet hall.
At that point, the hall was only about one-third full, but there were many celebrities in attendance, including business moguls Matthew recognized by name, like the founder of Facebook, Netflix's CEO, with whom he had worked before, the future leader of Twitter and his stout daughter, and Rupert Murdoch, the core and soul of the Murdoch Group.
He even spotted Amanda.
Amanda noticed him as well, and the two simply exchanged glances.
Then, Matthew saw something even more intriguing. A number of well-known business figures, including Rupert Murdoch, were gathered around a young woman, treating her as the center of attention.
The woman was very young, appearing to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with striking long blonde hair. Sitting among a group of business elites, she stood out, not quite as beautiful as Amanda but still quite remarkable.
It was unusual for such a tall, attractive woman to become the focus of so many business leaders.
It was worth noting that beautiful female executives and entrepreneurs in the business world were rare, and finding someone as striking as her was even rarer.
Beautiful women often gain more advantages simply by capitalizing on their natural gifts. The more challenging paths are naturally taken by fewer people.
Leonardo DiCaprio seemed to notice Matthew's interest in the woman and said, "She's the new darling of the American business world, the latest sensation on Wall Street."
"Who is she?" Matthew didn't hide his curiosity.
"Elizabeth Holmes," Leonardo DiCaprio responded, seeing Matthew still puzzled. He smiled and added, "To be precise, she's God's favorite."
Matthew withdrew his gaze and looked at Leonardo. "Leo, stop teasing me. Who is she really?"
Leonardo put on a more serious expression and explained, "Around 2003, Elizabeth Holmes was a sophomore at Stanford when she dropped out and used the money she saved during college to start a blood-testing company called Theranos."
He took a sip from his glass and continued, "Holmes developed a new technology that only requires a needle prick and a single drop of blood to run hundreds of tests, all at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. Typically, you'd need to draw a whole vial of blood and pay hefty fees for each individual test. Her innovation is faster, cheaper, and allegedly more accurate. It's a groundbreaking technology, and Theranos is currently seeking venture capital. A lot of people are eager to invest."
Matthew was somewhat taken aback. "That sounds pretty impressive."
Leonardo nodded enthusiastically. "If I had more liquid assets, I'd invest in her company myself."
Matthew stroked his chin thoughtfully, then subtly shook his head. He had always been cautious about unfamiliar fields.
After discussing Elizabeth Holmes for a bit, the conversation shifted to their mutual hobbies.
"I heard you had a private party with a bunch of Victoria's Secret Angels in Rio?" Leonardo asked with a hint of envy. "Is that true?"
Matthew didn't deny it. "Word travels fast, huh?"
That response was essentially an admission. Leonardo pointed a finger at Matthew and said, "You're too quick, man. Some of those girls were on my radar, but you beat me to it."
"What could I do?" Matthew spread his hands in mock helplessness. "They invited me. I couldn't exactly refuse, could I?"
He then asked, "Leo, would you have turned them down?"
Leonardo shook his head. "Why wasn't I invited?"
Matthew feigned seriousness. "Probably because I'm better looking and more charming."
Leonardo glanced down at his own slightly heavier frame and sighed. "Fine, I won't argue with you." Then he asked with curiosity, "How was it?"
"Exhausting!" Matthew whispered, "Absolutely exhausting. I didn't recover for three days. Never doing that again."
Leonardo looked at him with mock disdain. "You're just bragging."
Matthew spread his hands again, acting innocent. After all, it was Leonardo who asked and brought up the topic. He was merely answering truthfully.
As more guests arrived, many came over to greet Matthew, including people from outside the entertainment industry, like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the president of the Women and Children's Foundation.
Matthew wasn't being arrogant, but his influence now extended far beyond Hollywood. Even Leonardo DiCaprio couldn't compete with his stature in this context.
Several more prominent Hollywood figures soon joined their table, including Jerry Bruckheimer, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and Sandra Bullock.
While they might have personal rivalries, Hollywood stars always appeared as best friends in public.
Matthew exchanged hugs with Jerry Bruckheimer, reminisced about their past collaborations, inquired about Emma Roberts from Julia, and chatted with Matt Damon about the possibility of another Bourne film.
Finally, he congratulated Sandra Bullock on her Oscar win for Best Actress.
To his surprise, Sandra Bullock subtly hinted at her interest in him.
"I hear you've been investing in movies." Looking at Matthew's handsome face, Sandra Bullock leaned in and said meaningfully, "I've got a project that's quite good. How about we discuss it in my room after the banquet?"
Matthew understood the implication. He glanced at Sandra Bullock, thinking she must be nearly fifty.
"I'm busy tonight." Matthew had no interest in an Oscar-winning actress of her age, and he politely declined. "I already have another business meeting."
Sandra Bullock, known for her fondness for younger men in Hollywood, didn't give up easily. "We can do it another day. I'll be in New York for about a week."
Matthew looked at her almost expressionless face and calmly replied, "I'm not currently looking to invest in new projects."
His refusal was clear, yet he said it in a way that didn't offend Sandra Bullock.
She smiled and said, "Alright then."
Although she felt a bit displeased by the rejection, Matthew's tactful way of speaking and acting made it hard to hold a grudge.
In fact, his demeanor only made her more intrigued.
Matthew simply nodded at Sandra Bullock, then used the opportunity to continue his conversation with Leonardo DiCaprio, effectively distancing himself from her.
To be honest, Sandra Bullock's face, which could barely move due to cosmetic procedures, made her forced smile look far from attractive.
It was hard to believe that this frozen face had earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. One had to wonder whether the Oscars were mocking actresses who didn't get cosmetic work done or if they were mocking themselves.
It seemed the Academy Awards were increasingly moving away from judging acting skills and becoming harder to predict.
At this rate, Hollywood would soon have a whole crop of actresses with zombie-like faces.
Since cosmetic procedures could freeze time without affecting one's chances of winning an Oscar, why not go under the knife?
Of course, Matthew would never accept an invitation from such an "ageless goddess." He could tolerate a partner being five or six, even seven or eight years older than him, but ten or twenty years was just too much for him. He didn't have such extreme tastes.
The banquet soon officially began. As expected, the program was fairly standardized, with the two main focuses being charity donations and providing a high-end social platform.
Most of the guests, whether celebrities or wealthy elites, would donate money, with the amount usually matching their social status.
Even Julia Roberts, notoriously stingy in Hollywood, donated $200,000.
Matthew, now a top-tier Hollywood star, had come prepared. He pledged $500,000 and later spent $300,000 in the auction to purchase the original Pirates of the Caribbean script, offered by Jerry Bruckheimer.
After the charity portion ended, the banquet hall turned into a social arena, with people moving about, trying to strengthen connections. Even Matthew left his seat to mingle with people who piqued his interest.
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