The ultra-wealthy in the United States have a penchant for throwing elaborate, opulent parties with price tags running into the millions. From celebrity-studded birthday bashes to over-the-top weddings and corporate events, money is no object when it comes to celebration and spectacle.
These parties often take place in luxurious venues and feature extravagant decor, live entertainment, gourmet cuisine, and rare liquors. Invite lists read like a who’s who of A-list celebrities, elite businessmen, and politicians.
Event planning bills can spiral into the stratosphere, but for the uber-rich hosts, the opportunity to flaunt their affluence and social connections makes it worthwhile. Read on for a look into some of the most expensive and excessive parties ever held in the US.
Most Expensive Celebrity Birthday Parties
Celebrities spare no expense when it comes to their birthday festivities. Over-the-top venues, entertainment, food, and drink provide the backdrop for star-studded guest lists to mix and mingle.
Beyoncé’s Birthday Bash
One of the priciest celebrity birthday parties ever was Beyoncé’s 35th birthday celebration in 2017. She rented out Airbnb’s entire Los Angeles location – a sprawling ten-acre estate – for the event at a cost of $100,000. The guest list included Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kendrick Lamar. The party featured a champagne tower, a live orchestra, and a lavish dinner. Total cost? An estimated $2 million.
JLo’s 50th Birthday Party Extravaganza
Not to be outdone, Jennifer Lopez celebrated her 50th birthday in 2019 with a lavish Miami soirée estimated at $2.5 million. The venue alone, Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s sprawling Star Island estate, carried a price tag of $1 million to rent for the night. With a guest list of 250 people, Alex Rodriguez gifted JLo a $140,000 Porsche. A VIP after-party continued the celebrations.
Kylie Jenner’s ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Party
Makeup mogul Kylie Jenner marked her 22nd birthday in 2019 with an over-the-top ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ themed party. She transformed a $35 million mansion in Los Angeles into Gilead for the occasion. Staff dressed as handmaids, greeting guests including Scott Disick, Sofia Richie and her billionaire boyfriend Travis Scott. Flown in Piation caviar bumped the party’s price tag to an estimated $100,000.
Most Extravagant Wedding Events
Weddings provide the perfect opportunity for wealthy couples to host an incredibly lavish event to mark the start of their lives together. Multi-day destination parties, couture dresses, and gourmet menus pump up the costs for these one-of-a-kind, fairytale ceremonies.
Isha Ambani’s Wedding Extravaganza
In 2018, the daughter of India’s richest man tied the knot in a jaw-dropping multi-day event estimated at $100 million. Isha Ambani, 27, married Anand Piramal, 33, in Mumbai over several days of celebrations. US pop star Beyonce sang at one event that featured a private concert from global stars. Guests like Hillary Clinton and Bollywood stars mingled at various events. The bride wore custom couture looks from Valentino.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Royal Wedding
In 2018, the U.K.’s Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle in a lavish ceremony at St George’s Chapel in England. Markle’s custom Givenchy wedding gown cost over $265,000 alone. Florals cost an estimated $150,000 and the lemon elderflower cake rang in around $71,600. While the royal family paid for most expenses, the special day still carried a price tag up to $45.6 million.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Florentine Festivities
In 2014, reality TV queen Kim Kardashian wed rapper Kanye West in a luxurious Florence, Italy venue at an estimated cost of $12 million. A custom Givenchy lace wedding gown, Andrea Bocelli serenading the couple, and a marble table at the reception for just the 20 guests upped the extravagance. The celebrations lasted four days across Paris and Florence. At $3 million per day, no expense was spared.
Priciest Quinceañera Celebrations
The traditional coming-of-age party for girls in Latin culture has skyrocketed in opulence in recent years. Wealthy families throw lavish, glamorous celebrations with ballgowns, entertainment, multi-tier cakes and swag bags that drive up costs to dizzying heights.
$6 Million Quinceañera with Nick Jonas Performance
The most expensive quinceañera on record belongs to Elizabeth Anne Vargas whose 2016 party cost a staggering $6 million. Held at the Lecapelaine estate in Beverly Hills, the guest list exceeded 600, including members of Mexican royalty. Nick Jonas performed while Elizabeth changed into three different designer dresses throughout the evening.
$4 Million Quinceañera for Rubi Ibarra
16-year-old Rubi Ibarra’s quinceañera in rural Mexico went viral after her parent’s video invite on Facebook racked up over 1 million RSVPs. Sponsors stepped in to fund a $4 million quince that was essentially a massive festival. Korean boy band Exo performed for Rubi in a fuchsia taffeta ballgown. The event had swag bags, a Chambord fountain and more.
$2 Million Sweet 15 for Elizabeth Brooks
Elizabeth Brooks’ quinceañera in New York broke records with a price tag estimated at $2 million in 2017. Held at the Mandarin Oriental, the birthday girl wore a $7,000 custom gown from Kleinfeld’s. Jason Derulo performed and 600 guests enjoyed filet mignon and Chilean sea bass. Her entrance featured elaborate choreography and pyrotechnics.
Top Corporate Event Spends
From product launches to media events, companies invest serious money into corporate events to generate buzz. Tech giants like Apple and Google as well as media conglomerates push budgets into the multi-million territory regularly.
Tencent’s $13 Million Event in China
In 2018, Chinese tech giant Tencent celebrated 20 years with a corporate anniversary event in Beijing costing $13 million. The elaborate futuristic venue hosted 800 VIPs like Justin Timberlake and Nicole Kidman. Acrobatics, dancing, projections, and music created an immersive experience that highlighted Tencent’s growth and vision.
Salesforce’s $7 Million Conference Party
Cloud computing giant Salesforce hosted a lavish party at its annual Dreamforce conference in San Francisco in 2018. The over-the-top, year-round theme celebration saw the entire Moscone Center transformed into an elaborate forest, sprawling over two city blocks. The dollar spent added up to an estimated $7 million to entertain the company’s 171,000 attendees.
Apple’s $6.7 Million Product Launch Event
When Apple launches a new product, no expense is spared. Their 2007 unveiling of the iPhone cost over $6.7 million by some estimates. Held in San Francisco’s Moscone Center, the event build-out was lavish and featured demos of the revolutionary new product set to change the tech landscape. From lighting and A/V to Tim Cook’s rehearsal time, costs added up.
Most Expensive Hotel Event Spaces
Luxury hotels house some of the most expensive event spaces and regularly host elaborate weddings, mitzvahs, and corporate gatherings that run up serious bills.
The Plaza – $750,000 Wedding
Iconic New York hotel The Plaza is famed for its lavish events. In 2018, one couple spent over $750,000 on their nuptials here. Using all three ballrooms for their wedding and reception for 500 people, details like a 10-foot cake and aerial performers pumped up the price tag. The hotel’s epic views provide an incomparable backdrop.
Breakers Palm Beach – $500,000 Bat Mitzvah
This historic Florida resort hosted a bat mitzvah in 2019 that cost a cool $500,000. A custom carnival with aerial acrobats, contortionists, and dancers entertained 350 guests. The two-day party also featured fireworks, after-parties, and luxury hotel rooms for guests. The Breakers have hosted royalty and presidents.
Rosewood London – $380,000 Holiday Party
UK media firm Sky held their annual holiday bash at 5-star London hotspot Rosewood London. Taking over multiple spaces and suites, including the Manor House wing, the event for 2,800 guests featured dessert tables, casino tables, photo booths, VR experiences and more. The final bill landed at over $380,000.
Conclusion
The lavish party lifestyle of the rich and famous underscores the drastic income inequality in the United States. While everyday Americans carefully budget personal celebrations like birthdays and weddings, the uber-wealthy drop millions without blinking an eye.
Corporations also join in the excess, spending serious cash on product launches, conferences and media events as both internal morale boosters and external marketing plays. Price tags hitting eight or nine figures draw headlines and top celebrity guests.
Yet these types of extravagant bashes remain out of reach for nearly all people. $100,000 birthday parties and $500,000 weddings are not relatable for the 99% who will never experience that level of excess. Still, peeking into the luxury lifestyles of the rich and famous provides entertainment and aspirational fantasy.
Luxury hotels with ornate ballrooms, celebrity performers and lavish amenities provide the backdrop for these ultra-expensive events to unfold. The bills quickly escalate with gourmet cuisine, expensive liquors, décor and entertainment. But for the upper crust, being talked about and having the best party is well worth the investment.
Faqs
How much do celebrities spend on birthday parties?
The most extravagant celebrity birthday parties have ranged from $2 million to over $100 million. Beyonce’s 35th birthday party cost $2 million for the venue rental, entertainment, food and drink for A-list guests. Meanwhile, Kylie Jenner threw an elaborate $100,000 party for her 22nd birthday.
What was the most expensive wedding ever?
The current record for the most expensive wedding belongs to Indian heiress Isha Ambani, whose multi-day celebration cost an estimated $100 million. Her wedding to Anand Piramal included private concerts from Beyonce and other stars.
How much do expensive quinceañeras cost?
The most expensive quinceañeras have ranged from $2 million to $6 million. A Beverly Hills party for Elizabeth Anne Vargas featured Nick Jonas performing and cost $6 million. Meanwhile, a rural Mexican girl’s viral video invitation resulted in a $4 million birthday bash.
What’s the most companies have spent on corporate events?
Big brands spare no expense on corporate events to make an impact. Tencent celebrated their anniversary with an elaborate $13 million futuristic venue in Beijing. Apple spent $6.7 million on their product launch for the first iPhone. Salesforce’s elaborate $7 million party transformed a convention center.
How much do luxury hotels charge for event spaces?
Iconic hotels can charge hundreds of thousands per event for their ornate ballrooms and meeting spaces. A wedding at The Plaza in New York cost over $750,000. The Breakers Palm Beach hosted a $500,000 bat mitzvah. And a British company held a lavish $380,000 holiday party at Rosewood London.