The once-sacred pilgrimage of tech elites to Burning Man appears to be waning, with notable absences from figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin at this year’s desert gathering. This shift comes as the event faces criticism for becoming increasingly commercialized and less authentic, with luxury camps and private chefs replacing the self-reliance ethos that originally defined the counterculture festival. The exodus of tech billionaires from Black Rock City may signal a broader transformation in Silicon Valley culture, as the industry’s focus intensifies on AI development and practical innovation rather than the psychedelic-inspired creativity that once characterized tech’s relationship with Burning Man.
This cultural pivot mirrors the evolution of technology itself - from the open, experimental ethos of early internet days to today’s more structured, commercially-driven AI landscape. While some tech leaders like former Google CEO Eric Schmidt still attend, many have moved on to more exclusive gatherings or are simply too consumed with the AI arms race to participate. As one tech worker noted, ‘The vibe has changed.’ This transition raises fascinating questions about how the values shaping our AI future are evolving, as the tech industry’s philosophical foundations shift from Burning Man’s radical self-expression toward more pragmatic, profit-oriented approaches to innovation.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/are-tech-billionaires-ditching-burning-man-2025-8