Sun Valley draws business, tech moguls for annual Allen & Co. conference

Each year, investment bank Allen & Co. holds a retreat in rustic Sun Valley, Idaho, that brings together executives and visionaries from a broad spectrum of industries to talk strategy and make deals.

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Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Netflix's Reed Hastings chat with Donald E. Graham of The Washington Post Co. at Allen & Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. Zuckerberg reportedly said that his company's biggest challenge was adapting its popular social network to mobile platforms.

David Paul Morris / BLOOMBERG

Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google walks the ground with Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Schmidt reportedly said that demand for his company's new tablet computer, the Nexus 7, is "immense."

David Paul Morris / BLOOMBERG

Bill Gates, chairman and founder of Microsoft, shares a laugh with Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.

David Paul Morris / BLOOMBERG

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg arrives at the conference. The Idaho Mountain Express and Guide described the secrecy surrounding this event this way: "Typically, Wood River Valley residents — many of whom have been screened and hired by Allen & Co. to serve the guests as drivers, babysitters, caterers and tour guides — oblige in the company's requests to keep the event as low-profile as possible. In return, local employees earn steep hourly wages and generous end-of-the-week tips. All the local employees are screened to ensure they will not be a security risk, and even babysitters are asked to sign confidentiality agreements assuring they will not divulge information on conferees."

Paul Sakuma / AP

Clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg and her husband, media executive Barry Diller, arrive at the Allen & Co. annual conference in Idaho. The Los Angeles Times reported that this year's conference will have a heavy emphasis on foreign affairs.

Paul Sakuma / AP

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his girlfriend Diana Taylor appear at the conference. In the past, conversations at this event have been a catalyst for major mergers and other business deals.

David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

Hewlett Packard Chief Executive Meg Whitman flashes a smile in Sun Valley. The New York Times reported that weather conditions delayed or diverted many attendees' flights.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Chief executive Kazuo Hirai was not the only leader from electronics maker Sony to travel to Idaho for the Allen & Co. conference. Chairman Howard Stringer attended the conference as well.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Newark Mayor Cory Booker arrives at the event. The Los Angeles Times reports that other politicians slated to appear at the retreat included New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corp., and his wife Wendi Deng, are pictured here. The Wall Street Journal reported that News Corp.'s recent decision to split into two businesses may be a topic of conversation at the Allen & Co. conference.

Scott Eells / Bloomberg

An aerial view of Sun Valley as seen from the top of the Sun Valley Ski resort. Activities reportedly scheduled to take place during the conference include "golf, tennis, hiking, fly fishing, yoga, knitting and whitewater rafting."

David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

The Sun Valley Inn, part of Sun Valley Resort, is where many of the Allen & Co. conference's events are held.

David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

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