At TechCrunch Disrupt, our team sat in the front row, furiously typing away on their laptops, and was joined by impressive speakers like NFL quarterback-turned-founder Colin Kaepernick, Perplexity AI founder Aravind Srinivas, and Ashton Kutcher. We publish real-time news from top speakers. We are a well-oiled machine. Some writers have been covering disruption since before it was meta, before Silicon Valley gave us the free marketing of a lifetime (thank you, HBO). Still, this year, even TechCrunch's longest-serving editor was a little distracted by the dazzling jewelry adorning the stage. So if you've been paying more attention to the actual content of conversations with influential technology companies, don't worry. Check out our scintillating roundup of the best bling from TechCrunch Disrupt.
Matt Mullenweg, Automattic Founder and CEO
Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images
Google, if you're listening, we have a suggestion for the next Google Lens commercial. So imagine a group of TechCrunch writers watching as our editor-in-chief hosts a thoughtful and informative conversation with WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg, who is in the news for his battle with WP Engine. But almost as interesting as Mullenweg's comments on stage is his watch, a $240,000 fashion statement. According to designer Maximilian Büsser's website, the watch's sapphire details alone took more than 185 hours to make. How did you pinpoint all the glitter Mullenweg was wearing? That's right, Google. I used circle search.
Why is this watch inspired by the Kitty Hawk aircraft design so expensive? As the designer's website states: “Every component and form has a technical purpose. Nothing is superfluous and every line and curve is in poetic harmony. The three-dimensional lugs ensure maximum comfort. An added benefit is that the time is very readable.
Yes, buying a bracelet at home costs is stupid. However, we all spend money impulsively from time to time. For example, I spent an extra $2 at the grocery store this weekend buying pre-sliced mangoes. This is definitely the same kind of frivolity.
Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO of General Motors
Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images for TechCrunch) / Getty Images
TechCrunch's Matt Rosoff and GM Mary Barra, Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images for TechCrunch / Getty Images
The appeal of Mary Barra's brilliance is its practicality. She wears a diamond ring on each hand, and her Apple Watch peeks out from under the sleeve of her fancy houndstooth blazer (is this it?). Barra's jewelry choices illustrate the duality of the modern CEO's role. Although outwardly you need to act polished and elegant, you still need to be efficient and reliable when no one is looking. And like my own Apple Watch SE and its disappointing battery life, I can't live without charging the battery every night.
Dennis Dresser, Slack CEO, former Salesforce
Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images
Brian Heater from Techcrunch and Denise Dresser from Slack
Slack CEO Dennis Dresser is scoring some style points. Her rings don't just sparkle for show, like her giant wedding ring, which can rival Mullenweg's aviation watch in price. The flashiness of the dresser is a bit courageous. One of the rings is a large golden square with a maroon band or what appears to be a reflection of light. We may never know. The other ring…I'd like to say it looks like an octopus sigil, but I don't get it.
Tony Fadell, Founder of Nest
Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images
Nest founder Tony Fadell's interview with Disrupt was shocking. While he was attacking Sam Altman, we also couldn't take our eyes off his big ruby ring. Unfortunately, Google Lens is blank here, even though the source image is pretty clear. This ring could be an $8,400 designer ring. It could also be costume jewelry for $10 on Amazon. The truth is probably somewhere closer to the middle.
Erin Foster, Favorite Daughter Co-Founder
Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images
Erin Foster was already well-known for her various endeavors, including a hit podcast, clothing line, and business ventures with her sister Sarah. She and her sister were also co-heads of creative at Bumble. But now Erin Foster has reached a new level of fame. She is the creator of the Netflix show “Nobody Wants This,” which has been topping the Netflix charts since its premiere in September.
What does Foster's TV writing success have to do with her brilliance? It's not just a ring, it's a wedding ring. The romance at the heart of 'Nobody Wants This', between a sex podcaster and a rabbi, was partially inspired by her own experience of falling in love with a Jewish man and navigating cultural differences. If there's a wedding in “Nobody Wants This,” we can only hope that Kristen Bell's character's ring is just as amazing.
Jingna Zhang, Founder and CEO of Cara
Jingna Zhang is more than just the founder of social platform Cara. she is an artist. And as an artist, she knows a thing or two about style. Best of all, her photos have appeared in international fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar. For Disrupt, she chooses looks that highlight her jewelry. All black from head to toe except for a large sparkling jewel on the left hand.
Brandie Nonnecke, Director, CITRIS Policy Lab
Brandie Nonnecke may be an academic, but her brilliance is on point, which has earned her tenure. Her gold crinkle effect earrings could be sourced from anywhere. This style is extremely popular and ranges from inexpensive Shein camouflage to mid-priced gold-plated studs to more expensive looks from designers I wish I had never discovered. , because I wish I had $400 to spare to buy these earrings.
Nonnecke researches and teaches AI policy. If you're reading this, Brandi, I have good news for you. Google Lens has no idea where your ring came from. With the exception of Mullenweg's watch and Barra's jacket, it proves to be extremely useless. I'm writing this post. Perhaps the robot overlords are not upon us as quickly as we imagined.