CEO Dennis Kozlowski
flew guests to Sardinia to
celebrate his wife’s 40th birthday.
The weeklong
do cost €1.5 million and featured
an ice sculpture in the shape of Michelangelo’s
David, with vodka flowing from parts of its body.
And then there’s
American Idol
judge Simon
Cowell. He
threw himself a €1.9 million 50th
birthday party at an 18th century English mansion.
Decorations included a 20-metre-high photo of
Simon, and video screens in the toilets showing clips
of celebrities wishing him “Happy Birthday”. One
English newspaper called it “
vulgar ” and “
tacky ”.
But what’s the most expensive birthday party ever?
Probably the Sultan of Brunei’s 50th birthday bash
in 1996. He invited
60,000 people
(including Prince
Charles), served them all caviar and
champagne and
hired Michael Jackson to give
three concerts. Total cost? Just over €20 million.
Of course, extravagant celebrations are nothing new.
In 1520 King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I
of France wanted to improve relations between their
two countries. So, they threw a three-week mega
party in the countryside near Calais, France. There
were massive
banquets , two fountains flowing with
red wine,
jousting tournaments and
wrestling competitions. And King Henry slept in an enormous
tent that was in the shape of a palace.
But that’s nothing
compared to the parties
of Ancient Rome.
When the Colosseum
was finished in 80
AD ,
Emperor Titus threw
what is probably the
biggest opening party
in history. Everyday, for
three months, Romans
enjoyed free spectacles
inside the new
amphitheatre. Gladiators
fought to the death,
prisoners were thrown
in with wild animals
and the Colosseum
was filled with water so
boats could
