The growing overlap between Hollywood and Silicon Valley was on full display Saturday night at the 2026 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony—where actors like Ed Norton and Robert Downey Jr. doubled as serious tech investors. Often called the Oscars of science, the event—hosted by the awards’ eponymous foundation—pulled A-listers, founders, and researchers into the same orbit at a time when AI anxiety is rising and federal research funding is dwindling.
Yuri Milner and Elon Musk at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Barker Hangar on April 18, 2026.
Photographer German Larkin
The vibe at the ceremony in Santa Monica was celebratory, but the undercurrent was less so. The guest list included a constellation of power players—Ben Affleck, who recently sold his AI company to Netflix; Kering chairman François-Henri Pinault; and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky—who found themselves navigating quiet political and business frictions. Producer Brian Grazer and the singer-songwriter Jewel, both of whom have lent public support to the current Trump administration (Jewel has since apologized for any pain she might’ve caused after performing at one of Trump’s inauguration balls), were also in attendance. Meanwhile, Norton walked the red carpet wearing an “ICE Out” pin. Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Paris Hilton, Adam Levine, Lionel Richie, Zoe Saldaña, Michelle Yeoh, and Gigi Hadid were also at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.