Some of Hollywood’s biggest names packed the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Saturday night, but the event wasn’t an awards ceremony or entertainment industry event. Instead, President Joe Biden took the stage, for a fundraiser that generated a record-setting figure for his presidential campaign.
Unlike most events that attract the likes of Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and Barbra Streisand, there was no photographer-laden red carpet, nor was there a logoed step-and-repeat. This time, the stars ceded much of the spotlight to the president and former president Barack Obama, who took the stage for a 40-minute chat with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who’s arguably been more vocally critical of Joe Biden opponent Donald Trump than the other two men, combined.
The presidents’ opening acts included Oceans-famous couple Clooney and Roberts, who kicked off the night. After that, Streisand introduced First Lady Jill Biden; Jack Black and Sheryl Lee Ralph provided musical performances; and Jason Bateman and Kathryn Hahn ushered in Kimmel, the night’s moderator.
After jokingly griping “I was told I was getting introduced by Batman, not Bateman,” Kimmel brought Obama and Biden onstage to wild cheers from the audience, who—per the LA Times—purchased tickets ranging from $250 (for the nosebleed section) to $500,000 (“for a ticket package that includes prime seats, photos with both presidents and a VIP after-party”).
Mindy Kaling, Jeff Ross, and Jordan Peele were some of those ticket holders, for an event that raised a landmark $30 million for Biden’s campaign.