Charity meal auctions with Warren Buffett and other famed U.S. investors are well known. Singapore is now joining the trend with a recent auction for a dinner with one of its most prominent bankers, highlighting the city-state’s growing appetite for luxury experiences.
The winning bidder paid S$18,900 ($14,790) for the chance to dine with Tan Su Shan, chief executive officer of DBS Group Holdings Ltd., in an auction conducted by Sotheby’s last week. The event, part of National Gallery Singapore’s 2025 auction, is a rare instance of a fundraising in Asia featuring a leading corporate executive.
Besides the six-person meal, the successful bidder will also join Tan and her husband on a private tour at the National Gallery, an art museum housed in two national monuments. Sotheby’s promotion material on its website described the dinner as one that “promises stimulating conversation and exceptional company,” ideal for someone “seeking inspiration, connection, and a seat at the table with one of Singapore’s most esteemed figures.”
The winning bid—more than double the pre-sale estimate of S$6,000 to S$8,000—underscores how experiences are increasingly prized alongside traditional art and collectibles in Singapore’s luxury market. The nation is a key financial hub in Asia, where wealth management is an important engine of growth.
