Mystery surrounds megabash on Strip
An extravagant mystery party had Las Vegas buzzing on Sunday.
Somebody outdid themselves with one of the biggest concerts ever staged here.
Held on the former Wet 'n' Wild site that fronts the Strip, the celebration included a massive tent that featured an indoor Ferris wheel, a 12:45 a.m. fireworks display and a jaw-dropping lineup of A-list celebrities topped off by birthday serenades from Britney Spears.
The 300-plus VIPs included: Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jamie Foxx, Benicio del Toro, along with Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Olympic swimming great Michael Phelps and Korean pop sensation Psy of "Gangnam Style" fame.
One report had Di Caprio rapping onstage with Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes. LMFAO'S Redfoo and the Party Rock Crew also performed during the two-hour concert.
A source close to the event organizers described it as a launch party for the song "Everyday It's Your Birthday," a collaboration by hip hop producer Swizz Beatz, Ludacris and Chris Brown.
Who picked up the tab for the megabash was also something of a mystery.
Attendees had to sign nondisclosure agreements and were met with layers of extra security.
It's fairly safe to say, in this era of six-figure appearance fees being paid to celebrities, that the all-in cost of the party may have approached double-digit millions.
One of the guests who got special attention from Spears was Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, known as Jay Low.
According to a party account that appeared on the website of Los Angeles radio giant KROQ, a friend presented the 30-something Jho with a $2.5 million, 1,000-horsepower Bugatti Veyron.
He's a regular in gossip columns for champagne-fueled party tabs in excess of $100,000 and for flying celebrity pals like Paris Hilton around the world to join him.
Hilton, who attended Saturday's soiree, has denied reports he paid her $1 million to party with him.
He is no stranger to the Las Vegas high-roller scene.
One of his previous over-the-top birthday parties in recent years was held at Gardens of the Gods pools at Caesars Palace.
One of the most infamous parties with which he was associated reportedly involved a $2 million champagne tab run up by his brother.
Jho explained that was a case of just "40-50 of us friends who ordered some drinks and had a good relaxing night.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Confirmed: At a management meeting about a week ago, casino mogul Steve Wynn announced he was gifting them with 100 shares of Wynn Resorts stock, currently worth about $120 per share. The offer was good for a year, he said. He expressed hope the estimated 400 managers and above would help him take value to $200 per share. At the beginning of his address, Wynn said everybody knew where he stood politically. He's been vehemently opposed to the re-election of President Barack Obama. He encouraged the group to exercise their vote for their candidate. ...
Penn Jillette of the Rio headliner duo Penn and Teller was in midtown Manhattan last Monday when Superstorm Sandy battered New York City. He was there with publicist Glenn Alai to tape NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" All-Star season.
SIGHTINGS
Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, having lunch Sunday at Todd English's P.U.B. He won a first-round knockout Saturday in the debut of the World Series of Fighting at Planet Hollywood Resort.
THE PUNCH LINE
"It took hurricane-force winds to blow a Democrat and a Republican together." - Conan O'Brien
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
