Winning Bid Revealed for “A Seat at the Table” Charity Lunch Auction with Warren Buffett, Stephen Curry & Ayesha Curry
Historic Auction Raises $9,000,100 for GLIDE and Eat. Learn. Play., with Warren Buffett to Match Winning Bid for Both Organizations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco, CA – May 14, 2026
The winning bid has been revealed for “A Seat at the Table,” the historic 2026 charity auction offering the opportunity to dine with American business icon Warren Buffett, four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry, and actress, New York Times bestselling author, and lifestyle entrepreneur Ayesha Curry.
The winning bid of $9,000,100 was placed by an anonymous bidder, securing an exclusive lunch for the winner and seven guests with Buffett and the Currys in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 24, 2026.
In addition, Warren Buffett announced he will personally match the winning bid for beneficiaries GLIDE and the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, doubling the impact for both organizations.
The auction, hosted through eBay for Charity, closed on May 14 following a week of competitive bidding. Proceeds will be split equally between GLIDE and Eat. Learn. Play, the Oakland-based foundation founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry.
“I’m thrilled with the response to this auction and honored to support the important work being done by GLIDE and the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation,” said Warren Buffett. “I look forward to sharing a meal with Stephen, Ayesha, and the winning bidder and their guests in Omaha, and I appreciate everyone who participated in making this effort such a success.”
“It's been an honor to join GLIDE and Warren Buffett for this incredible legacy and help bring the next chapter of the auction to life,” said Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry, Co-Founders of Eat. Learn. Play. “Every child deserves access to nutritious meals, quality education and safe places to play and grow. Through Eat. Learn. Play., we’ve seen firsthand how investing in kids and families can strengthen entire communities. We're overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity, which reflects a shared belief that when different generations and institutions come together with purpose, we can create deeper and more lasting impact for the people who need it most.”
“We are absolutely delighted by the success of this year’s auction and so deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible,” said Dr. Gina Fromer, President and CEO of GLIDE. “Our heartfelt thanks to Warren Buffett, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, and the incredible winning bidder for coming together in such a meaningful way. We are also proud to stand alongside Eat. Learn. Play. in celebrating what this partnership has made possible for our communities.”
“Over the past two decades, this auction has demonstrated what’s possible when influence is used in service of others,” said Chris Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. “What began as a bold idea to support GLIDE’s mission has evolved into one of philanthropy’s most meaningful platforms for impact. We’re proud to help usher in this next chapter alongside Stephen and Ayesha Curry and Eat. Learn. Play., expanding the reach of this initiative to support tens of thousands of kids and students across the Bay Area. This is about more than access—it’s about creating tangible opportunities for young people, advancing equity and investing in lasting change now and into the moments of continued need.
Inspired by the legacy of the original Buffett charity lunch auctions, “A Seat at the Table” marked the first time Buffett joined forces with Stephen and Ayesha Curry for a philanthropic experience of this scale. This unique collaboration bridges generations and industries, uniting leaders from business, sports, entrepreneurship, and culture in support of transformative community impact.
In addition to the flagship lunch auction, a curated set of personal items signed by Buffett and the Currys was released in short, sequential bidding windows through mid-May, generating additional support for both organizations.
Launched in 2000, the original charity lunch auction demonstrated how a single shared meal could become a powerful force for social good. Over more than two decades, the concept captured global attention and raised more than $50 million to support GLIDE’s work, helping lift people out of poverty, hunger, and homelessness while advancing equity through systems change.
The 2026 auction draws inspiration from that spirit while standing on its own as a new collaboration for a new moment.
About GLIDE:
GLIDE is a nationally recognized nonprofit, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, inspiring hope, and transforming lives. Through our integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, we empower individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and thrive. GLIDE is at the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing, homelessness, and racial and social justice.
Contact: Denise Lamott | Denise@DeniseLamottPR.com | C: 415-235-6458
About the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation:
Eat. Learn. Play. was founded in 2019 by Stephen and Ayesha Curry with the belief that every kid deserves more and should be given the opportunity and support to reach their full potential. That’s why we’re on an indelible mission to uplift an entire generation of youth. Eat. Learn. Play. takes a “Whole Child, Whole School” approach, designed to foster student success by addressing both their individual well-being and the environments where they learn and grow—working to ensure that every child in Oakland has access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy and thrive; resources to learn and love to read; and safe places and equitable opportunities to play. Follow Eat. Learn. Play. on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Contact: Tom Dietz | tom@midnight-dawn.com | C: 303-506-2228