"This week, thousands of the world's biggest names in business, economics, and politics have ascended upon Davos, a small town in the Swiss Alps. But this isn't any regular old ski trip: They're gathering for a World Economic Forum conference, an invite-only, annual retreat for the most influential people in the world. It's exclusive not only because it's confined to WEF members, but also because it comes with a hefty price tag."
"Annual membership fees for companies typically start around $75,000 and climb to $758,000 for "strategic partners, according to previous WEF disclosures and academic analyses of Davos participation. Those tiers will generally buy the company the right to send a limited number of executives to Davos, but each delegate also has a separate badge fee. As of 2025, those reportedly cost up to $35,000 a pop for elite badges."
"Those tiers will generally buy the company the right to send a limited number of executives to Davos, but each delegate also has a separate badge fee. As of 2025, those reportedly cost up to $35,000 a pop for elite badges. And these costs just get you in the door and don't account for flights, accommodation, drinks, and food (even just a hot dog reportedly costs more than $40 there)."
Thousands of top business, economic, and political leaders travel to Davos, a small Swiss-Alps town, for the World Economic Forum's invite-only annual conference. Access requires WEF corporate packages, with annual membership fees typically ranging from about $75,000 up to $758,000 for strategic partners. Companies can also pay up to $1 million for major sponsorships, with examples including Microsoft and McKinsey sponsoring U.S. venues ahead of a presidential visit. Each delegate faces separate badge fees reportedly up to $35,000 as of 2025. Additional expenses include flights, accommodation, and food, with on-site prices often extremely high.
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