The number on the wire is $2.7 million. That’s the total haul from Selena Gomez’s fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit, held in Los Angeles on October 14. It’s a jump from the $2 million+ raised in 2024, proving that the celebrity gala model still works when the host is genuinely committed to the cause. For a pop star who has been open about her own battles with lupus and anxiety, the money isn’t just a vanity metric. It’s fuel for the 30 non-profit partners across five continents that the fund supports.
But the night wasn’t all somber speeches. There were moments that felt less like a charity event and more like a couple’s night out. The highlight, naturally, was the live auction. Benny Blanco, 38, raised his paddle repeatedly until he won the night’s most talked-about lot: a “Session with Selena Gomez’s Official ‘Glam Team’.” He paid $25,000 for the privilege of sitting in the chair with hairstylist Renato Campora, make-up artist Jenna Nicole, and nail artist Tom Bachik. Gomez was seen leaning on him as the gavel fell. It’s a small, human detail that cuts through the PR gloss.
The benefit also carried a heavy emotional weight with the introduction of the Katherine Short Legacy Award. It honors Katherine Short, the daughter of Martin Short—Gomez’s co-star in Only Murders in the Building—who passed away in February at age 42. Short was a social worker dedicated to helping people through their hardest times. Gomez, who has spent years building the Rare Beauty brand with a portion of its sales going directly to mental health causes, used the platform to keep her name in the spotlight. It’s a legacy that feels more poignant than any red carpet walk.
Gomez, dressed in a red Prada gown, kept the tone light when asked about married life. “Can’t complain, man! Highly suggest it,” she said. The initiative has now raised over $30 million since 2020, aiming for a $100 million mark in contributions. Whether the glam team session was worth the $25,000 tag is up to Benny, but the $2.7 million raised is a concrete win for the 3.5 million young people the fund reaches annually.