In exclusive events like the MET Gala, guests are sponsored. This means they don't pay a cent and, for the luckiest ones, they might even get paid. However, in other cases, things change drastically.
Coming from India, as soon as Sudha Reddy (47), a billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist from Hyderabad (the capital of the state of Telangana), appeared, all eyes were on her neckline. Hanging on it was an astonishing 550-carat blue-violet tanzanite named Reina Merelani from the Merelani hills in Tanzania.
The gold necklace is set with pear-shaped pink diamonds and triangular-shaped diamonds surrounding the stone in floral clusters. The piece is valued at 15 million dollars. She also wore two impressive rings featuring a 23-carat yellow diamond and a 30-carat pink diamond. All the jewelry is from her personal collection.
The dress is a true work of art, in line with the MET Gala's leitmotif, Fashion is Art.
With the help of Mariel Haenn, a stylist for numerous stars, they opted for an exclusive design by Indian designer Manish Malhotra.
According to a press release, they were inspired by the rich artistic and architectural heritage of the Indian city of Hyderabad and created the design using techniques dating back over 3,000 years. The final result was an ensemble that evokes both cultural legacy and contemporary grandeur, acknowledging the creative spirit of India.
Over 90 artisans were involved in its creation, investing more than 3,450 hours of work.
With this look, Sudha Reddy outshone Georgina Rodríguez (32) in impact and jewelry value, as her white gold rosary with diamonds and natural pearls 'only' cost seven million dollars.
The origins of the Indian businesswoman are very humble as she grew up in the same home with her peasant grandparents, parents, and older sister. Her father was the only one who prospered by working at the State Bank of India, allowing him to provide his daughters with a good education.
Sudha studied Microbiology at Gulbarga Public University but did not pursue further specialization as she opted for fashion, where she obtained a degree from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Delhi. At 19, she married the mega-millionaire Krishna Reddy (56), co-founder of MEIL, a conglomerate with interests in drinking water, energy, hydrocarbons, and real estate. According to Forbes, her fortune amounts to 2 billion dollars. The couple has two children, Pranav (22) and Manas (22), with whom they live in a Greco-Roman style mansion on Millionaires' Street, Jubilee Hills, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Hyderabad.
Despite her immense wealth, the philanthropist has not forgotten the less fortunate as she collaborates with various social causes. Several years ago, she founded the Sudha Reddy Foundation, which has collaborated with Unicef, Eva Longoria's Global Gift Gala, and Action Contre la Faim, among others.