Latest news with #US10
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
With his $15m nuptials, Bezos is the latest to say ‘I do' to loving a massive wedding
This story is part of the June 21 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories. Amazon gazillionaire Jeff Bezos is reportedly dropping $US10 million ($15.5 million) to marry his second wife, former TV presenter and amateur astronaut Lauren Sánchez, on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore next week. Last month, Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry partied at Sanchez's Paris hen night as an army of lawyers finalised the pre-nup. Such big-ticket wedding extravaganzas are much more than a celebration of love, of course: beyond the spectacle, they are highly choreographed PR offensives that the media lap up, giving the rest of us a glimpse into the rarefied orbits of the world's rich, famous and powerful. In 2007, I spent a week clinging to a rocky outcrop, fighting off the French paparazzi under the searing Mediterranean sun, while watching Tom Cruise, his then-wife Katie Holmes, Eddie McGuire, Shane Warne and most of the Murdoch family live the good life aboard superyachts during James Packer's six-day, $6 million wedding to Erica Packer. The bride wore a $150,000 dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior while Sarah Murdoch dazzled in a bikini on the deck of a $50 million Mangusta. At James' big sister Gretel Packer's lavish 1991 wedding in West Sussex, waiters were doused in Chanel No. 5 before being unleashed among the VIP guests gathered in a mock-Cotswold stone marquee fashioned out of polystyrene; Kerry Packer was clearly out to impress the Brits. In 2006, my lips turned blue hiding behind a pot plant as I listened to Keith Urban serenade his new bride, Nicole Kidman, on a freezing Sydney winter's night, while the wreck of the Hesperus had nothing on me after I'd chased Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's 2005 wedding flotilla across a choppy Sydney Harbour aboard a clapped-out fishing tinnie. Brynne Edelsten admitted she'd never met most of the guests at her extravagant 2009 Melbourne wedding to the late, disgraced medico Geoffrey Edelsten, who'd paid Jason Alexander and Fran Drescher to attend. Kyle Sandilands gave away tickets on air to his first wedding, to Tamara Jaber in 2008 and, in 2023, raised eyebrows by inviting PM Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns – along with underworld figure John Ibrahim and convicted drug trafficker Simon Maine – to his second wedding to Tegan Kynaston. Meanwhile, Australia's richest human, Gina Rinehart, caused a scandal when she flew then-deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce to the sumptuous, three-day wedding of the granddaughter of a prominent business associate in Hyderabad in 2011. According to industry statistics, the cost of the average wedding in Oz is $33,810. For the amount he's paying, Bezos could say 'I do' 458 times.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
With his $15m nuptials, Bezos is the latest to say ‘I do' to loving a massive wedding
This story is part of the June 21 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories. Amazon gazillionaire Jeff Bezos is reportedly dropping $US10 million ($15.5 million) to marry his second wife, former TV presenter and amateur astronaut Lauren Sánchez, on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore next week. Last month, Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry partied at Sanchez's Paris hen night as an army of lawyers finalised the pre-nup. Such big-ticket wedding extravaganzas are much more than a celebration of love, of course: beyond the spectacle, they are highly choreographed PR offensives that the media lap up, giving the rest of us a glimpse into the rarefied orbits of the world's rich, famous and powerful. In 2007, I spent a week clinging to a rocky outcrop, fighting off the French paparazzi under the searing Mediterranean sun, while watching Tom Cruise, his then-wife Katie Holmes, Eddie McGuire, Shane Warne and most of the Murdoch family live the good life aboard superyachts during James Packer's six-day, $6 million wedding to Erica Packer. The bride wore a $150,000 dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior while Sarah Murdoch dazzled in a bikini on the deck of a $50 million Mangusta. At James' big sister Gretel Packer's lavish 1991 wedding in West Sussex, waiters were doused in Chanel No. 5 before being unleashed among the VIP guests gathered in a mock-Cotswold stone marquee fashioned out of polystyrene; Kerry Packer was clearly out to impress the Brits. In 2006, my lips turned blue hiding behind a pot plant as I listened to Keith Urban serenade his new bride, Nicole Kidman, on a freezing Sydney winter's night, while the wreck of the Hesperus had nothing on me after I'd chased Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's 2005 wedding flotilla across a choppy Sydney Harbour aboard a clapped-out fishing tinnie. Brynne Edelsten admitted she'd never met most of the guests at her extravagant 2009 Melbourne wedding to the late, disgraced medico Geoffrey Edelsten, who'd paid Jason Alexander and Fran Drescher to attend. Kyle Sandilands gave away tickets on air to his first wedding, to Tamara Jaber in 2008 and, in 2023, raised eyebrows by inviting PM Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns – along with underworld figure John Ibrahim and convicted drug trafficker Simon Maine – to his second wedding to Tegan Kynaston. Meanwhile, Australia's richest human, Gina Rinehart, caused a scandal when she flew then-deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce to the sumptuous, three-day wedding of the granddaughter of a prominent business associate in Hyderabad in 2011. According to industry statistics, the cost of the average wedding in Oz is $33,810. For the amount he's paying, Bezos could say 'I do' 458 times.
AU Financial Review
3 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
LA Lakers owner sells majority stake in record sports deal
New York | The family that owns the Los Angeles Lakers is closing in on a deal to sell its majority stake in the National Basketball Association team to Guggenheim Partners chief executive Mark Walter at a valuation of about $US10 billion ($15.4 billion), which would be the largest-ever sale of a sports team. The sale would mark the end of an era at one of the sporting world's most fabled brands, which the Buss family, who originally made their money in real estate, has owned since 1979. Jeanie Buss, the Lakers' controlling owner, would continue to control the team as its governor after the deal closes, said a person close to the matter.
Courier-Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
The most epic celebrity hotel trashing stories
In the glittering world of celebrity, where opulence and extravagance are often the norm, the homes and rentals of the rich and famous are expected to be nothing short of spectacular. Yet, behind the closed doors of these luxurious abodes, tales of excess and mayhem sometimes unfold, leaving a trail of destruction that even the most seasoned property managers struggle to contain. From rock stars to pop icons, the list of celebrities who have left their mark – quite literally –on their residences is as intriguing as it is infamous. Here are some of the world's biggest names who have turned their temporary homes into scenes of chaos. Johnny Depp Known for his extravagant lifestyle, Depp has faced a number of legal battles over damages to properties, including a well-publicised incident involving a rented mansion on the Gold Coast. The Pirates of the Caribbean actor 'accidentally' headbutted his ex-wife Amber Heard and painted the words 'I love U' in blood with his severed finger on a mirror a bombshell trial in London's High Court revealed. The total damage to the Coomera, Gold Coast mansion he'd rented off motorcycle champ Mick Doohan during the three-day 'ordeal of assaults' on Heard in March 2015 was $150,000, the court heard. MORE NEWS Insane amount celebs spend on Aussie homes Australia's secretive religious groups exposed Hugh Jackman lists penthouse amid messy divorce He stayed at the property while filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales which was filmed on the Gold Coast. In 1994, Depp reportedly got into a fight with then-girlfriend Kate Moss and caused $US10,000 in room damages at The Mark hotel in New York. Depp attributed the wreckage to an armadillo that popped out of the closet. Said armadillo was never found. Depp was arrested on felony criminal-mischief charges, and billed $9767 for the damages. Justin Bieber The pop star has been involved in several controversies over the years. In 2014, Bieber was forced to pay a neighbour US$80,000 after he was proved to have thrown eggs from his own home in Calabasas. A year later, Bieber found himself in trouble again after the Beverly Hills home he'd rented was trashed during a party. The 23-year-old star's bash was attended by a host of big-name musicians, including Nicki Minaj, French Montana and Chris Brown, but it was the damage caused to the property which ultimately stole the headlines and further damaged Bieber's reputation among local residents. MORE NEWS: Aus's worst neighbours exposed Britney Spears Female musicians have also had an appetite for destruction. Britney Spears was temporarily booted from the usually tolerant Chateau Marmont in 2007. Her crime? Reportedly smearing food on her face and grossing out other patrons in the hotel's restaurant. That same year, she was reportedly deemed persona non grata at the Los Angeles Four Seasons after smoking cigarettes indoors and, way worse, allowing her pooping puppies to foul one of the hotel's posh suites. While her status in LA is unclear, Four Seasons branches in Budapest and Buenos Aires have since welcomed the pop star. MORE NEWS: Scottish island listed for fraction of Aus home Courtney Love Love left an equally not-so-nice surprise for the clean-up staff after a brief stay at the genteel Inn on Irving Place in Manhattan in 2009. Commenting on the dirty needles and used feminine-hygiene products littering her vacated room, a source told The Post, 'She caused so much damage in eight hours and wreaked so much havoc. It was actually kind of funny.' Florence Welch A few years later, Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence and the Machine, accidentally set her New York City hotel room on fire after a night of drinking with Kanye West and Lykke Li. She chipped a front tooth, and woke up to find her Bowery Hotel room singed and blackened from an errant 'cinnamon tea light.' The reason? 'I think I must have had about 17 dirty martinis,' she told Q Magazine in 2012. MORE NEWS: 'It's a choice': Buyer shock over bathroom feature Charlie Sheen Known for his tumultuous lifestyle, Sheen has been reported to have caused significant damage to hotel rooms and rental properties during his more turbulent years. In late October 2010, Charlie Sheen was reportedly hospitalised after allegedly trashing his hotel room at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Reports indicated he was intoxicated and possibly had an adverse allergic reaction to medication. There were claims of furniture being thrown, a chandelier damaged, and a prostitute hiding in the closet. Sheen's representatives stated the incident was overblown and attributed it to an allergic reaction. The hotel reportedly sustained $7000 in damages but did not press charges. Lindsay Lohan Judging by her Rolling Stones-worthy hotel destruction, Lindsay Lohan might be more of a rocker than the pair of albums she released in 2004 and 2005 would lead one to believe. In 2012, she threw a birthday bash at the W Hotel in Union Square. The party allegedly resulted in $US50,000 worth of damage. Hotel employees reportedly spent months getting the room back to habitable condition. Rod Stewart It took 40 years, but Rod Stewart was eventually allowed back into a Holiday Inn. Back in Stewart's 1970s heyday as a hellraising rocker, the rooster-haired vocalist had a habit of throwing wild, groupie-populated parties. After what must have been a particularly debauched bash, or else the result of multiple destructive visits, the hotel chain slapped Stewart with a lifetime ban in 1976. 'We'd empty rooms, stick furniture in the lift and send it to the lobby,' Stewart told The Sun newspaper in London. 'I once got a 7000-pound bill.' Amanda Bynes In 2014, word spread that Bynes and her parents were asked to pay for property damages after the actress' roommates alleged that they 'trashed' the apartment. The then 28-year-old actress, who was living with three girls in West Hollywood, including one of her hair stylist, went wild at times and burnt cigarette holes in the carpets, splashed blue hair dye on the carpets and porcelain sinks among other things. The mother of one of the girls signed the lease, and she contacted the American actress' parents and demanded $1500 dollars to repair the damage. However, Rick and Lynn Bynes reportedly refused to pay, saying the women knew their daughter was unstable when they allowed her to stay against their wishes, so they felt they had taken on the risk. Only a year earlier, the actress reportedly left pools of grime, rubbish and ash behind after she was asked to leave the Ritz Carlton following a nine day stay at the New York venue. According to TMZ, guests had complained about her smoking and alleged drug use and for being rude to staff. Pictures emerged shortly afterwards of the room's poor state with food, beauty products, linen and cigarette ash strewn about. Chris Brown In 2016, Chris Brown was accused of causing significant damage to a rented luxury apartment in Ibiza, including vomit, urine and knife marks. The landlord claimed the singer caused $80,000 worth of damage, but Brown denied the accusations, posting video evidence of a seemingly clean apartment. During a tour of the house, which Chris claims was recorded 10 minutes before they left for the airport, he states: 'They doing some janky business', before showing the clean rooms. One shot shows some dents in a wall from a chair, which he says will just need 'a little sheet rock, at most $60.' He concluded the rant with: 'I don't have the benefit of the doubt… we didn't tear the house up, f**k you.' Axl Rose The Guns N' Roses frontman has been known for his rockstar antics, which have occasionally resulted in damage to hotel rooms and rental properties. In June 2006, Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns N' Roses, was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden, for allegedly damaging a hotel room and assaulting a security guard. He was reportedly intoxicated at the time and was detained until he sobered up. The incident involved an argument with a hotel employee, a scuffle with a security guard, and minor damage to the hotel's interior. Sam and Lara Worthington A NYC landlord has accused Aussie power couple Sam and Lara Worthington of trashing their sublet and wrecking a $115K Charles Gwathmey table — for the second time. It's a precious table, designed by the late Modernist architect Charles Gwathmey, valued at Gwathmey's stepson, Eric Steel, who rents out the unit for around $30,000 a month is allegedly refusing to return the security deposit to his most recent subletters, claiming the Worthingtons wrecked the trophy table and trashed the loft. He is demanding payment of $300,000. The dispute is oddly similar to one from a decade ago, when Steel sued a previous high-profile subtenant, media mogul Arianna Huffington, whom he accused of wrecking the very same table and trashing the place. Tori Spelling Vagabond Tori Spelling has also been accused of trashing her latest $15,000-a-month rental home on the way out. Neighbours were outraged by the mess the Beverly Hills 90210 alum left in her wake, after she moved out the contemporary 3000 square-foot, two-story, five-bedroom, three-bath home with pool and spa that she had rented for seven months in the upscale Woodland Hills suburb of Los Angeles in 2024. The remodelled rental home came fully furnished when Spelling and her five children took residence in the beginning of last year. But exclusive photos show piles of discarded furniture, cushions, other household items from the property strewn across the otherwise well-kept residential street later that year. Some of the furnishings, such as a taupe sectional sofa that had been pictured in real estate images of the property could be seen ripped and soiled out on the street ready for pick up by waste management. There were also pet carriers, a random DVD video, kids toys, and more.
The Advertiser
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Trump met with cheers and boos as he attends Les Mis
US President Donald Trump has been greeted with a high-volume mix of boos and cheers as he took his seat for his first production at the Kennedy Center, the performing arts facility he has subjected to a conservative takeover. The mixed reception for Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box before a performance of Les Miserables on Wednesday reflected the heightened emotions that have been unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural centre. Trump has pushed out its former chairman, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution that he criticised as too liberal. The centre, a leading US arts facility, had long enjoyed bipartisan support. Ticket sales have fallen since and some shows, including the hit Hamilton, have cancelled their appearances at the 2300-capacity theatre. At Wednesday's performance, several drag queens in full regalia sat in the audience, likely in response to Trump's criticism of the venue for hosting drag shows. One person shouted "Viva Los Angeles" as Trump stepped out of the presidential box at the intermission. Trump has sent military troops to quell protests against his immigration raids in that city. Trump's appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and he said donors raised more than $US10 million ($A15 million). "We're going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we'll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level," a tuxedo-clad Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet. Still, overall year-on-year subscription revenue was down 36 per cent to $US2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to a person briefed on the data. The centre is now under the leadership of Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany. He has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Trump said he particularly enjoyed Les Miserables, a musical about citizens rising up against their government. "I've seen it many times, it's one of my favourites," he said. Along with the first lady, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney-General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr also attended. US President Donald Trump has been greeted with a high-volume mix of boos and cheers as he took his seat for his first production at the Kennedy Center, the performing arts facility he has subjected to a conservative takeover. The mixed reception for Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box before a performance of Les Miserables on Wednesday reflected the heightened emotions that have been unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural centre. Trump has pushed out its former chairman, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution that he criticised as too liberal. The centre, a leading US arts facility, had long enjoyed bipartisan support. Ticket sales have fallen since and some shows, including the hit Hamilton, have cancelled their appearances at the 2300-capacity theatre. At Wednesday's performance, several drag queens in full regalia sat in the audience, likely in response to Trump's criticism of the venue for hosting drag shows. One person shouted "Viva Los Angeles" as Trump stepped out of the presidential box at the intermission. Trump has sent military troops to quell protests against his immigration raids in that city. Trump's appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and he said donors raised more than $US10 million ($A15 million). "We're going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we'll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level," a tuxedo-clad Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet. Still, overall year-on-year subscription revenue was down 36 per cent to $US2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to a person briefed on the data. The centre is now under the leadership of Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany. He has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Trump said he particularly enjoyed Les Miserables, a musical about citizens rising up against their government. "I've seen it many times, it's one of my favourites," he said. Along with the first lady, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney-General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr also attended. US President Donald Trump has been greeted with a high-volume mix of boos and cheers as he took his seat for his first production at the Kennedy Center, the performing arts facility he has subjected to a conservative takeover. The mixed reception for Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box before a performance of Les Miserables on Wednesday reflected the heightened emotions that have been unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural centre. Trump has pushed out its former chairman, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution that he criticised as too liberal. The centre, a leading US arts facility, had long enjoyed bipartisan support. Ticket sales have fallen since and some shows, including the hit Hamilton, have cancelled their appearances at the 2300-capacity theatre. At Wednesday's performance, several drag queens in full regalia sat in the audience, likely in response to Trump's criticism of the venue for hosting drag shows. One person shouted "Viva Los Angeles" as Trump stepped out of the presidential box at the intermission. Trump has sent military troops to quell protests against his immigration raids in that city. Trump's appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and he said donors raised more than $US10 million ($A15 million). "We're going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we'll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level," a tuxedo-clad Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet. Still, overall year-on-year subscription revenue was down 36 per cent to $US2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to a person briefed on the data. The centre is now under the leadership of Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany. He has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Trump said he particularly enjoyed Les Miserables, a musical about citizens rising up against their government. "I've seen it many times, it's one of my favourites," he said. Along with the first lady, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney-General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr also attended. US President Donald Trump has been greeted with a high-volume mix of boos and cheers as he took his seat for his first production at the Kennedy Center, the performing arts facility he has subjected to a conservative takeover. The mixed reception for Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box before a performance of Les Miserables on Wednesday reflected the heightened emotions that have been unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural centre. Trump has pushed out its former chairman, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution that he criticised as too liberal. The centre, a leading US arts facility, had long enjoyed bipartisan support. Ticket sales have fallen since and some shows, including the hit Hamilton, have cancelled their appearances at the 2300-capacity theatre. At Wednesday's performance, several drag queens in full regalia sat in the audience, likely in response to Trump's criticism of the venue for hosting drag shows. One person shouted "Viva Los Angeles" as Trump stepped out of the presidential box at the intermission. Trump has sent military troops to quell protests against his immigration raids in that city. Trump's appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and he said donors raised more than $US10 million ($A15 million). "We're going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we'll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level," a tuxedo-clad Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet. Still, overall year-on-year subscription revenue was down 36 per cent to $US2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to a person briefed on the data. The centre is now under the leadership of Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany. He has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Trump said he particularly enjoyed Les Miserables, a musical about citizens rising up against their government. "I've seen it many times, it's one of my favourites," he said. Along with the first lady, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney-General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr also attended.
