‘Many billionaires are not happy people’: Michelle Obama talks politics and going ‘a little low’ in first Australian event

Former first lady delivered veiled but sharp remarks on US politics during speaking tour that began in Melbourne

It was a curious question: who was going to pay $895 (US$640, 476) to see Michelle Obama speak at 12.30pm on a Tuesday in Melbourne? While she is an indisputably excellent public speaker, the ticket prices for Obama's first-ever speaking event in Australia raised a few eyebrows, ranging from the $895 platinum" package (which promised a priority seat, an exclusive" brunch, and a commemorative lanyard and tote bag") to the cheapest seats at $195 a pop.

A sign that expectations may have been bigger than our wallets in a cost-of-living crisis: two weeks ago, my cheap" seat at the back was suddenly upgraded to a much better spot due to a recent change in production requirements" that was left unexplained. Another: the visibly empty patches at the front of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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