The Elton John AIDS Foundation raises nearly $11 million at the annual Academy Awards party

While many musicians made headlines at the Academy Awards on Sunday night (March 10), one star managed to make a big difference.

During the annual Academy Awards watch party on Sunday, the Elton John AIDS Foundation raised $10.8 million for AIDS research. Funds from the event will go to the organization Rocket funda fundraising initiative that aims to “redouble the fight against AIDS everywhere,” according to the organization's website.

“So far, this has been a great year beyond my wildest dreams, including the honor of achieving the EGOT, but tonight's gathering is the absolute highlight,” John said in a statement after the event. “I'm so grateful to everyone who comes out every year to have so much fun and do so much good together. We were strong and proud to show compassion and end the horrible stigma that follows HIV, and we will not stop until we achieve our mission.”

The annual party – hosted this year by John, David Furnish, Tiffany Haddish, David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris – featured a star-studded guest list that included Sharon Stone, Donatella Versace, Danny DeVito and many more. During the evening, a multi-million dollar live auction saw the organization sell a number of luxury items, including a blacked-out Yamaha piano signed by John, two pinball machines, two pairs of Chopard earrings and a custom-made Rolex for John's Farewell Yellow Brick. Road trip.

At the end of the evening, John performed alongside the evening's musical guests, the R&B-pop trio Gabriels, on their 1989 hit “Are You Ready for Love”, recreating an iconic moment from Glastonbury 2023 when Gabriels singer Jacob Lusk joined John on stage for the track.

“Each year, our iconic Oscar Party gets better and better, a testament to the unwavering support of our passionate supporters,” Furnish said in a statement. “In such troubling times with the rise of discriminatory laws against the LGBTQ+ community in the US, it is so important to stand up and raise awareness for the people who need our support the most. The funds raised tonight help us improve access to vital health resources such as HIV tests and medicines, making a tangible difference to countless lives. We couldn't have done it without such great support.”