In the world of the ultra-wealthy, spending millions on private performances by Hollywood A-listers is nothing out of the ordinary. But just how deep would you have to dig into your pockets to book your favorite performer for your next function?
Justin Bieber recently received millions of dollars to perform at a private party for an Indian billionaire, a long-running norm for some of Hollywood’s A-listers. The “Baby” crooner reportedly hit the stage at a pre-wedding ceremony for Anant Ambani, the son of Reliance Industries managing director Mukesh Ambani, and his bride Radhika Merchant. The shindig took place in Mumbai, India, on Friday, July 5th, with the private performance only lasting a little over an hour. Several outlets, including Page Six and the Toronto Sun, have reported that Bieber was paid a staggering USD 10 million, and it wasn’t the first time the famous family had spent one of music’s biggest names for their events.
Back in March, billionaire Mukesh Ambani paid to have Rihanna perform for the couple during a previous three-day prenuptial celebration with roughly 1,200 people in attendance. According to Forbes, Rihanna was paid USD $6 million for the night of work, which was filled with wealthy tech and oil tycoons.
Notably, in 2023, Beyonce was reportedly paid $24 million to perform at a private, invite-only event for the opening of the Atlantis The Royal Resort in Dubai.
In 2007, Billboard reported that Jennifer Lopez was paid $2.8 million by Russian billionaire Andrei Melnichenko for his and his wife’s birthday party. Approximately $800,000 of the fee was for her travel expenses. Just two years later, Mariah Carey earned $1 million by belting out just four songs at the birthday bash of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in St. Barts, a figure also verified by Billboard.
Big payouts for celebrities to sing their biggest hits at private parties may appear drastic to the average fan. However, for the world’s ultra-rich, a few million to curate an exclusive night of entertainment is a drop in the bucket.
