Riyadh’s Royal Court turned into the ultimate power lunch spot on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, hosting a who’s-who of American business titans alongside President Donald Trump and Saudi officials. Picture this: a room dripping with gold, platters piled high with desert delicacies, and enough brainpower to reboot the Matrix.
The guest list read like a Forbes magazine fever dream, with execs from tech giants, banks, and consumer brands rubbing elbows with Saudi investors who’ve got more cash than a Monopoly champion. From Amazon’s Andy Jassy to Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, these folks weren’t just there for the hummus—they were pitching for a slice of Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar investment pie.
Why the frenzy? Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is on a mission to turn the oil-soaked kingdom into an AI and tech utopia, part of his Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy. With $600 billion already pledged to U.S. industries—and Trump nudging for a cool trillion—it’s no wonder the room was buzzing like a server farm.
Elon Musk, the man who seems to run half the universe, was there, juggling his roles at Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI while advising Trump on shrinking the federal government. Rumor has it he pitched Starlink for Saudi skies and maybe even a Martian vacation package.
Then there was Sam Altman, OpenAI’s head honcho, whose ChatGPT could write this article faster than me. He was joined by Alphabet’s Ruth Porat and IBM’s Arvind Krishna, all eager to plug Saudi Arabia into the AI revolution.
Not to be outdone, financial heavyweights like BlackRock’s Larry Fink and Citigroup’s Jane Fraser were on hand, likely whispering sweet nothings about investment funds and infrastructure deals. These folks know Saudi’s Public Investment Fund is a money-printing machine, and they want in.
The lunch wasn’t just about tech and cash, though—there was a trade policy subplot worthy of a Netflix drama. With Trump’s tariffs hitting U.S. trading partners like a rogue asteroid, execs were cozying up to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, hoping to nudge policy in their favor.
Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg and Northrop Grumman’s Kathy Warden were there, probably eyeing the $142 billion defense deal Trump inked with the Saudis. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola’s James Quincey and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi added some consumer flair, proving even soda and rideshares get a seat at the big table.
And let’s not forget the wild cards: FIFA’s Gianni Infantino, dreaming of soccer stadiums in the desert, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who might’ve pitched a Saudi sister city with neon palm trees. Even Travis Kalanick, Uber’s former chief, showed up, perhaps cooking up something spicy with his Cloud Kitchens venture.
The vibe? Think TED Talk meets Arabian Nights, with a side of deal-making so intense it could power a small nation. Saudi Arabia’s push to become an AI powerhouse has everyone inspired, from Silicon Valley to Wall Street.
What’s inspiring about this global gabfest is the sheer audacity of it all. A nation once known for oil is now betting big on brainpower, inviting the world’s brightest to dream up a future where robots and humans share shawarma.
For the execs, it’s a chance to shape that future while dodging tariff turbulence back home. For Saudi Arabia, it’s a bold leap toward a world where innovation, not crude, calls the shots.
Trump, ever the showman, worked the room like a Vegas headliner, introducing Musk to the Crown Prince and sealing deals with a handshake and a grin. His push for a trillion-dollar investment shows he’s playing chess, not checkers, on the global stage.
The lunch wasn’t without its quirks—imagine Musk explaining Dogecoin to a Saudi minister or Altman debating AI ethics over baklava. Yet, these lighthearted moments underscored a deeper truth: collaboration can spark magic, even in a world of tariffs and trade wars.
As the execs boarded their jets, they left Riyadh with more than full stomachs—they carried hope for partnerships that could redefine industries. Saudi Arabia’s gamble on tech is a reminder that bold visions, backed by bold wallets, can move mountains.
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