Honorees include Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Megan Thee Stallion, Ang Lee, Jon M. Chu, Laufey, Pokémon CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, Prabal Gurung, Min Jin Lee, Anderson .Paak, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas, the cast and creators of Moana 2, Olympians and Paralympian Suni Lee, Chuck Aoki, and Lee Kiefer, Wildfire Heroes, and more
Billboard x Gold House Founders Party, headlined by DJ Pee. Wee (Anderson .Paak), to follow the Gala
Gold House, the leading platform uniting collective cultural power to drive inclusive prosperity, will host its highly anticipated fourth annual Gold Gala on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the iconic Music Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Known as the premier and most-watched celebration of Asian Pacific and multicultural excellence, the Gold Gala will bring together more than 600 influential guests to spotlight the 2025 A100 List—a curated selection of the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders in culture (to be revealed on May 1, 2025). The event will feature on-stage presentations to celebrated honorees including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jon M. Chu, Laufey, Min Jin Lee, Prabal Gurung, Pokémon CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara (alongside Pikachu), Ang Lee, Anderson .Paak, Megan Thee Stallion, and the cast and creators of Moana 2. Olympians and Paralympians Suni Lee, Chuck Aoki, and Lee Kiefer will also be honored. Singer-songwriter Laufey will perform a special rendition of her upcoming single, Silver Lining.
This year’s theme, First Light, represents the hopeful rays that cut through adversity, honoring pioneers who have illuminated paths for others—being the first not only for themselves but for generations to come.
The evening will feature a specially curated dinner by OpenTable, highlighting Filipino cuisine. The menu will be created by James Beard Award-winning chef Lord Maynard Llera, known for his acclaimed LA restaurant Kuya Lord.
Guests will enjoy thoughtfully crafted experiences throughout the night—from signature cocktails courtesy of Hennessy and hydration by Smartwater, to brand activations from partners such as L’Oréal Groupe, Genesis Motor America, and Maybelline. The Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation will also sponsor the media room for the Gold Carpet.
Attendees will depart with exclusive gift bags including The Whoo’s Imperial Youth Skin Cream, an Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack, a custom “24K Gold” Gap hoodie, Prabal Gurung’s memoir Walk Like a Girl (provided by GoldenTV), and more.
The celebration continues with the Billboard x Gold House Founders Party, headlined by Grammy-winning artist DJ Pee. Wee (Anderson .Paak). The after-party will feature a vibrant arcade corner by Rakuten Viki, delicious bites from Panda Express®️, and the return of the crowd-favorite Celebrity Karaoke Room.
*Priyanka Chopra Jonas, award-winning actor and producer and New York Times bestselling author, will receive the inaugural Global Vanguard Honor for her unprecedented 25-year career bridging Asian Pacific and Western cultures through acclaimed work across Hindi cinema and Hollywood, her continual elevation of underrepresented voices, and her unparalleled global platform—recognized by Time 100 and Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women.”*
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*Special honors to be presented at the Gold Gala include:*
• Priyanka Chopra Jonas, award-winning actor and producer and New York Times bestselling author, will receive the inaugural Global Vanguard Honor for her unprecedented 25-year career bridging Asian Pacific and Western cultures through acclaimed work across Hindi cinema and Hollywood, her continual elevation of underrepresented voices, and her unparalleled global platform—recognized by Time 100 and Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women.”
• In recognition of their lifetime achievements, the Gold Legend Honor will be presented to Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee in a special celebration of the 25th anniversary of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; CEO of the Pokémon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara alongside Pikachu; and Min Jin Lee, New York Times best-selling author of Pachinko.
• Grammy Award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion, will receive the One House Honor for her unwavering uplifting of Asian Pacific culture across music, fashion, and anime.
• The cast and creators of Moana 2, including Auli’i Cravalho, Dana Ledoux Miller, and Dave Derrick Jr., will receive the Gold Ensemble Honor for their record-breaking representation of Pasifika stories.
• Laufey will receive the Billboard Gold Record Honor for her profound artistic impact in contemporary music and in anticipation of her forthcoming album.
• Anderson .Paak will receive the Gold Mogul Honor for his multi-hyphenated success in music, film, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.
• Aravind Srinivas will receive the A1 in Business and Technology for Perplexity AI’s groundbreaking leadership in accelerating access to the world’s information.
• Jon M. Chu, Gold House co-founder and progenitor of the history-making #GoldOpen movement, will receive the A1 in Entertainment and Media for his historic directorial accomplishments in Wicked and to celebrate its forthcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good. Cynthia Erivo was honored at last year’s Gold Gala by Chu and Michelle Yeoh.
• Prabal Gurung will receive the A1 in Fashion, Lifestyle, and Fine Arts for his visionary creativity and commitment to inclusivity and sustainability.
• Team USA athletes and medalists Suni Lee (artistic gymnastics), Lee Kiefer (fencing), and Chuck Aoki (wheelchair rugby) will receive the A1 in Sports and Gaming for their historic achievements at The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad held in Paris this past summer.
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The Gala will feature notable presenters such as H.E.R., Guillermo Del Toro, Ming-Na Wen, Kelly Marie Tran, and Debby Soo (CEO of OpenTable). A tribute moment led by K-pop legends will highlight the genre’s global cultural impact, including a special preview of Prime Video’s “Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop.” Comedian JR De Guzman will deliver a lively tribute to the event’s partners.
The celebration is made possible with generous support from HYBE, Invisalign, Pop Culture Collaborative, and TikTok.
On the morning of the Gold Gala, influential Asian Pacific women will gather for the Gold Women Breakfast at the Four Seasons Los Angeles—a space for connection and empowerment. Attendees will enjoy curated wellness and beauty activations from partners like Nordstrom, L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty, essie, and Rare Beauty, along with contributions from Victoria’s Secret, William Morris Endeavor, and Coffee Meets Bagel.
*About Gold House:*
Gold House is the leading cultural ecosystem that unites, invests in, and champions Asian Pacific creators and companies to power tomorrow for all. Our innovative programs and platforms include membership systems and events to fortify relationships among the Asian Pacific community and with other marginalized communities (#StopAsianHate); first-of-its-kind investment vehicles and accelerators to propel the next generation of top Asian Pacific founders, creatives, and leaders (Gold House Ventures, Creative Equity Fund); and industry-leading research, consulting, and marketing to promote authentic and affirming portrayals (Gold Story Consultation, Gold Open, Gold List, A100 List). To learn more, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouseCo on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, and LinkedIn.
