The gown lowdown

Save the date for Dallas' 15 grandest galas and luncheons of spring 2024

Mavs Ball is a can't-miss spring gala.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Mavericks

Glittery galas, posh parties, and lavish luncheons pop up like wildflowers on the spring social calendar in Dallas. This season's bounty of fundraising events brings to town two acclaimed TV journalists with the last name Roberts - Robin and Deborah - who will headline two different benefits. Mad Hatter's goes Greek, House of DIFFA "untames" royalty, and the Rangers continue their World Series celebration with a home-run gala headlined by Brooks & Dunn.

Beyond being fun, fabulous parties, these events raise critical funds for local nonprofits, from arts groups to health initiatives. Here are 15 dates to circle in your social diary this spring.

Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon, February 8
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will mark the 40th anniversary of its beloved Saint Valentine’s Day Fashion Show & Luncheon at the Meyerson Symphony Center. The afternoon - chaired by Brooke Shelby and Samantha Wortley - will include a champagne reception, recognition of 2024 award recipients, and a runway show with fashions provided by Highland Park Village, all followed by a seated luncheon. The Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show has raised more than $15 million in its 40 years. More information and tickets are here.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball, February 10
The DSOL will present 44 new debutantes in a spectacular night of pomp and pageantry at the Meyerson Symphony Center. The 38th ball, chaired by Kristin Cordiak with honorary chairs Margaret and Barry Hancock, is the culmination of nearly a year of parties, training, and philanthropy for the young women. The opulent evening will include a cocktail reception, presentation of debutantes, multicourse dinner, and dancing to Limelight. Funds raised support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Education and Community Outreach Programs.

DSOL debutante ball The DSOL Presentation Ball always includes a sweet father-daughter dance. Photo by Gittings

Go Red for Women Luncheon, March 8
Happening on International Woman's Day, the popular luncheon that supports American Heart Association's efforts toward women's cardiovascular health marks its 20th year in 2024. The event, which also includes a reception with health screenings and demonstrations, will take place at the Omni Dallas Hotel under the guidance of co-chairs Stacy Nahas and Susan Wetzel; tickets are available here. Then save the date for AHA's fancier Côtes du Coeur celebrity-chef wine dinner and auction, April 27 at the Omni. Expect the biggest event yet to celebrate AHA's 100th anniversary.

Mavs Ball, March 22
Dallas Mavericks fans won't want to miss the ninth annual Mavs Ball, featuring appearances from favorite players, CEO Cynt Marshall, and Governor Mark Cuban. The star-studded night at the Hilton Anatole includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live and silent auctions, and live entertainment. The gala is the premier fundraising event for the Mavs Foundation and celebrates the year's grantees and charitable work of the Dallas Mavericks during this season. Information and tickets are available here.

Junior League Milestones Luncheon featuring Robin Roberts, April 5
Known for snagging high-profile celebrity speakers, this year's Junior League power lunch will be headlined by Robin Roberts, co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America. Kathleen Gibson will be honored as Sustainer of the Year at the event, taking place at Omni Dallas Hotel and co-chaired by Sally Pretorius Hodge and Linda Secrest. The luncheon benefits the Junior League of Dallas Community Service Fund, which supports the organization's many civic causes throughout greater Dallas. For more information, tables, and tickets, go here.

Bruce Wood Dance Performance & Gala, April 6
Bruce Wood Dance's 14th anniversary Performance & Gala will feature special guest artist and Broadway star NaTasha Yvette Williams on stage at the Moody Performance Hall. Nine Sinatra Songs by Twyla Tharp and Anything Goes by Bruce Wood will be performed under the guidance of artistic director Joy Bollinger, and the evening will recognize 2024 BRUCE Award honorees Dabney and Ric Abel. Ticket options range from the performance only to a full VIP experience that includes cocktail reception, performance, live auction, dinner, and dancing.

Genesis Annual Luncheon featuring Sheryl Lee Ralph, April 12
The 31st annual edition of this cherished Dallas luncheon will feature acclaimed actress Sheryl Lee Ralph as its keynote speakers. It will take place, per usual, at the Hilton Anatole. The luncheon raises funds for the organization's mission to provide safety, shelter, and support for women who have experienced domestic violence. Tickets and more information are here.

Art Ball, April 13
Considered the most glittering gala of spring, this beautiful black-tie ball at the Dallas Museum of Art is now in its 62nd year. Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld will chair the ball, which supports the museum's mission to offer free admission, present diverse exhibitions, and care for a collection of 25,000 objects. Tickets will be coveted and limited. (Can’t snag a ticket? Try for a seat at the DMA’s annual Art in Bloom Luncheon on March 4.)

Mad Hatter’s Luncheon, April 18
Call it “the big fat Greek” event of the season. The 36th Mad Hatter’s Luncheon is themed “Gardens of Greece” and chaired by Allison Brodnax, with Barbara Bigham as honorary chair and Karen Sargent serving as president of the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum. The afternoon will include a champagne reception, luncheon, hat contest, and fashion show presented by NorthPark. Funds raised benefit A Woman’s Garden. Information and tickets here.

Mad Hatter's Tea 2021 Time to start making those over-the-top hats for Mad Hatter's. Photo by Ashley Gongora

Children’s Cancer Fund Gala, April 19
Dallas Cowboys greats Troy Aikman and Dak Prescott once again will team up as honorary chairs for the Children’s Cancer Fund Gala, themed “A Knight to Remember,” at the Hilton Anatole Dallas. Besides being an epic evening that includes dinner, auctions, and a VIP reception, the black-tie ball always tugs at the heartstrings because the highlight is seeing pediatric cancer patients rocking the runway in a fashion show, alongside their idols and favorite superheroes. Author Emberli Pridham is the gala chair, and tickets and information are available here.

TEX Gala, April 22
Expect a sell-out crowd for the 2024 gala benefiting the World Series-champion Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, which improves the lives of children, the military, and first responders' families in the community. Attendees will experience a red-carpet arrival, cocktail hour and dinner on the playing surface of Globe Life Field, auctions featuring exclusive Rangers experiences and Hollywood memorabilia, and a live performance from country superstar duo Brooks & Dunn. There are always some surprise sports hero and celeb appearances, too; last year’s TEX Gala, headlined by Kenny Chesney, saw Matthew McConaughey drop by for a few words and raised a record $2 million. For information and tickets, visit the website.

House of DIFFA: Royalty Untamed, April 27
Happening at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel this year, spring's most colorful black-tie gala features a one-of-a-kind runway show and killer silent auction for a whopping 1,500 guests. The 2024 theme, "At House of DIFFA: Royalty Untamed," will celebrate "not just the grandeur of monarchs and icons, but every form of regality that touches our existence," they say, "from pop icons that dominate our playlists ... even the majestic king of the jungle." Tim Garippa and Jacob Samson co-chair the gala, which benefits organizations that help raise awareness, advocate for individuals, and fight HIV/AIDS in the Dallas community. More information and tickets are available here.

House of DIFFA is one of the most colorful events of spring. Photo by Jerry McClure

Equest Blue Ribbon Gala, April 27
Typically held outdoors during the summer, Equest's 43rd annual gala - themed "Hope Unbridled" - moves up on the calendar, to April 27, and indoors to the Hilton Anatole. Calvert Collins-Bratton and Melissa Oates serve as co-chairs, with Kristy and Patrick Sands as honorary chairs. The Texas-chic event will include cocktails, a seated dinner, auction, entertainment by The Manhattan Orchestra, and recognition of honorees Pamela Dealey Petty (Founder’s Award recipient) and Carolyn Anderson (Citation Award recipient). Equest provides equine-assisted learning, therapies, and counseling to children, adults, and veterans. More information and tickets are here.

Texas Women's Foundation Awards Celebration featuring Deborah Roberts, April 30
This day-long event at the Omni Dallas Hotel starts with #BESTSELF, a half-day empowerment program for teen girls. Then there are Leadership Forums featuring the 2024 Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader recipients. The evening concludes with the Awards Celebration and dinner, led by Deborah Roberts, senior national affairs correspondent, ABC News, and anchor of ABC's 20/20. Co-chairs are Sakina Rasheed Foster and Veronica Torres Hazley, and the event benefits Texas Women’s Foundation, which advances economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls. For more information and tickets, visit www.txwf.org

CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards, May 16
Save the date for the most delicious foodie event of the season (not that we're biased) and get ready to raise a glass to Dallas' restaurant and bar stars. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is a spring tradition — and tickets will be on sale soon. Join us May 16 at Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G.) for an evening honoring the very best of Dallas' culinary scene, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a nonprofit partner, Harvest Project Food Rescue. More details and ticket info will be revealed soon.

celebrities charity culturemap dallas tastemaker awards fundraisers luncheons galas

the rich get richer

28 Dallas billionaires make new Forbes list of world's richest people

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

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According to Forbes, there has “never been a better time to be a billionaire” than in 2026, and the publication's newest World’s Billionaires List has revealed the 28 Dallas billionaires that have risen among the wealthiest worldwide.

Koch Inc. stakeholder Elaine Marshall and her family are the richest Dallas residents, ranking No. 71 on the global list with an estimated net worth of $30.9 billion. Her net worth has grown by $2.6 billion since last year.

Oil magnate Lyndal Stephens Greth and her family are the second richest Dallasites in 2026, ranking only six spots behind Marshall with an estimated net worth of $30 billion. Greth was the former chair of major oil production company Endeavor Energy Resources, which she sold to Diamondback Energy in 2024.

Out of the 390 billionaire newbies that made their debut onto the list this year, these two call Dallas-Fort Worth home: financial services investor Thomas Dundon, and oil and gas investor and data center businessman Toby Neugebauer and his family.

Dundon made his debut on the 2026 list with a $2.3 billion net worth. Dundon founded subprime auto lender Drive Financial in 1997, sold the company to global banker Santander in 2015, and came away with $700 million out of the deal, Forbes said in his profile. He currently serves as the chairman and managing partner of Dallas-based private investment firm Dundon Capital Partners. Most recently, Dundon sold his minority stake in the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, and is in the process of buying NBA team the Portland Trail Blazers.

According to Forbes, Neugebauer was the CEO and executive chairman of the short-lived controversial "anti-woke" fintech startup GloriFi, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Neugebauer has since been embroiled in what Bloomberg Law described as a "complex legal back and forth" with the investors "related to the control and eventual closure of the banking and financial services company he founded." But his $2 billion current net worth was enough to land him in a multi-person tie for the No. 2052 spot on the list.

Here's how the rest of Dallas' billionaires fared on this year's list:

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and family: ranked No. 128 with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion, up from $16.6 billion in 2025
Banking and real estate mogul Andy Beal: No. 238, $12.6 billion, up from $12 billion
Money manager Ken Fisher: No. 226, $13.2 billion, up from $11.2 billion
Hotel and investment guru Robert Rowling: No. 402, $8.8 billion, up from $8.5 billion
Oil and gas tycoon Kelcy Warren: No. 477, $7.8 billion, up from $7.1 billion
Oil and real estate titan Ray Lee Hunt: No. 623, $6.6 billion, down from $6.8 billion
Real estate bigwig H. Ross Perot Jr.: No. 649, $6.5 billion, up from $4.6 billion
Media magnate Mark Cuban: No. 694, $6 billion, up from $5.7 billion
Margot Birmingham Perot, widow of tech and real estate entrepreneur H. Ross Perot Sr.: No. 720, $5.8 billion, up from $5.3 billion
Oil and gas honcho Trevor Rees-Jones: No. 694, $6 billion, up from $5.2 billion
Private equity firm co-founder Carl Thoma: No. 730, $5.7 billion, up from $4.4 billion
Oil and gas magnate Ray Davis: No. 1108, $3.9 billion, up from $3.6 billion
Biotech entrepreneur Ben Lamm: No. 1108, $3.9 billion, up from $3.7 billion
H-E-B executive Stephen Butt & family: No. 1325, $3.2 billion, up from $3.1 billion
Real estate mogul Fernando De Leon: No. 1376, $3.1 billion, up from $2.8 billion
Banking businessman Gerald Ford: No. 1376, $3.1 billion, up from $2.7 billion
Media entrepreneur Todd Wagner: No. 1834, $2.3 billion, up from $1.9 billion
Kansas City Chiefs owners Clark Hunt and family, Daniel Hunt and family, and Sharron Hunt and family: tied for No. 2052, $2 billion, up from $1.6 billion
Telecommunications founder Kenny Troutt: No. 2386, $1.7 billion, flat since 2024
Online auction CEO A. Jayson Adair: No. 2481, $1.6 billion, down from $2 billion
RealPage founder Stephen Winn: No. 2600, $1.5 billion, flat since 2024
Oil tycoon and film producer Timothy Headington: No. 3017, $1.2 billion, flat since 2024

Missing from the 2026 list is tech entrepreneur Darwin Deason, who died in December 2025. Deason, 85, founded Dallas-based information technology company Affiliated Computer Services in 1988 and later sold it to Xerox in 2010.

Elsewhere in Dallas-Fort Worth, Walmart heiress Alice Walton has maintained her elite status as the world’s richest woman for the third year in a row. Walton knocked French L’Oreal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers down to second place in 2024, and has remained at the top ever since. Walton is the 14th richest person on the planet, moving up one spot on the list from last year.

Walton’s current net worth is estimated at $134 billion, an eye-catching $33 billion higher than her 2025 net worth of $101 billion. She is the first American woman worth $100 billion, and one of only 20 “centi-billionaires” worldwide claiming 12-figure fortunes, also known as the "$100 Billion Club."

Elsewhere in Texas, Austin billionaire Elon Musk was declared the world's richest person for the second consecutive year, and Forbes said his “grip on the top spot is as strong as it’s ever been.”

“Musk became the first person to hit $500 billion in wealth, in October,” Forbes said. “Then $600 billion and $700 billion, within four days in December. Then $800 billion, in February.”

The Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI founder’s current net worth has skyrocketed to $839 billion — a shocking $497 billion more than his 2025 net worth.

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