In any event, nearly all of the leaders acknowledged that far more money would be needed down the line, especially when the time comes to manufacture and distribute a vaccine.
And the precise location of the event's metaphorical finish-line was less of a question than the overall approach to counting the biggest pledges.
At a briefing last week, senior Commission officials announced that they had decided that national government expenditures going back to January would qualify toward the overall goal.
Von der Leyen singled out Macron as a particular force in pushing for the international effort.
And the French president, who announced a €500 million pledge, said leaders would not be able to justify anything but a coordinated push to fight the disease.
Norwegian Prime Minster Erna Solberg came forward with the single biggest national pledge of the day, totaling $1.2 billion for vaccine efforts.
At the very end, von der Leyen also announced a $1 million pledge from Madonna. »
