Designer Tom Ford might have been the guest of honor at the Inspiration Gala Los Angeles, a benefit for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. But the risqué fashions of Rihanna and Miley Cyrus also captured the spotlight, Variety reports.

Cleavage couture aside, the two pop stars did not shy away from baring their checkbooks. During the night’s auction, RiRi picked up a pair of Harry Winston earrings for $35,000 and a photo of Elizabeth Taylor for $100,000. Miley shelled out $300,000 for a print from photographer Ryan McGinley. Both singers also pledged an additional $200,000, as did Ford. All told, the fifth annual gala raised more than $3 million.

Wednesday’s event included a surprise performance by Diana Ross, who sang “I’m Coming Out.” And Gwyneth Paltrow introduced her “consciously uncoupled” ex-husband, Chris Martin, who sang two songs with Coldplay bandmate Johnny Buckland.

Ford was honored with the Award for Inspiration. At the gala, he recalled the early days of the epidemic. “I moved to New York in 1979 just before my 18th birthday,” he said, according to E! online. “Of my close friends at NYU, more than half of them had died from AIDS by 1990.

“Today’s generation of young adults have never known the ravages of AIDS as some of us have, and for that reason, in some cases, they have let down their guard,” he said. “We cannot let down our guard.”