Ever Wondered How Much the Most Famous Performers Charge for Private Functions?
When artists reach heights of fame that transcend international borders, they start to develop an extra layer of mystique that makes them seem unreachable all of a sudden. That said, they are still musicians who are on the job at the end of the day. Those with means can have the brightest stars of our time performing their greatest hits and unsung favorites in close quarters.
Of course, with greater fame also comes a higher price. In an age where fans are already outraged at Blink-182 for bumping up their ticket fees, it’s fascinating to see just how much the cream of the crop charges for a private performance.
Christina Aguilera at the Melnichenko-Koktovic Wedding
What ceremony is complete without a heart wrenching rendition of a classic love song performed by a skilled wedding singer? Naturally, this experience becomes even more impactful when the role is taken by a powerful sensation like Christina Aguilera.
She performed two songs for the wedding of EuroChem Group founder Andrey Melnichenko and model Aleksandra Koktovic. The most memorable number in the France nuptials was her emotional performance of Beautiful. This brief stint earned her $2 million, which is definitely a far cry from the average bands you pay to play at your standard wedding. Just taking a look at booking platform Function Central you can see that the majority of bands – wherever you are in the world – usually set married couples back a couple of thousand dollars, however that’s just not the case when you’re dealing with some of the richest people on the planet. Even getting Christina Aguilera to play at their wedding could be seen as a relatively small investment when you consider how Melnichenko’s net worth is well into the billions of dollars.
Beyoncé at the Atlantis The Royal Launch
Few artists have as devoted and far-reaching a fanbase as Beyoncé. Her current worldwide tour, The Renaissance Tour has already seen a phenomenon that Yelp has coined “the Beyoncé bump”, which is the sudden jump in supercharged spending from fans getting ready to attend her concert. Even hotels across every venue she has stopped by have seen inflated economies and tourism. With the European leg alone earning $154 million, the entirety of Renaissance is expected to net $2.1 billion in her bank.
With those kinds of numbers, it only makes sense that a more exclusive setting would demand an equally grandiose price. Although not necessarily an “intimate” gathering, the opening of Atlantis The Royal in Dubai saw Beyoncé performing for a private crowd in custom Dolce Gabbana and her established full-production design. The resplendent performance came at the ever-reasonable fee of $24 million.
The Rolling Stones at David Bonderman’s 60th Birthday
The Rolling Stones have long hit legendary status, so it’s really no surprise that they are actually the most expensive band to hire for weddings in the world. These rock stars are still touring to this day, celebrating six decades of incomparable music and front-man Mick Jagger turning 80. With all of their accolades and busy schedules, they really don’t just turn up to any old party without a reasonable price.
In fact, that price sits nicely at $13 million. Who else but Boston Celtics and Seattle Kraken co-owner David Bonderman would decide that it’s just right to have a solid celebration for his 60th birthday in 2002? It’s worth noting that this lavish bash was able to nab the band for a ‘discounted’ tag of $11.5 million.
Sir Elton Joh at the Kogan-Kenvey Wedding
An Elton John song at a wedding is like pairing wine and cheese. It just works well and there’s always somebody that you know will request it. Naturally, there’s something sublimely special about actually getting the man himself instead of a cover of his greatest hits.
On a cool night at the Landmark London Hotel, Irene Kogan and Daniel Kenvey would have the Rocket Man croon Tiny Dancer and 11 other songs to them as they wed. Although his outfit was far from being as iconic or controversial as the Ethridge Nudie suit, his aura and fit were quintessentially fabulous to match his piano. Getting such an extensive set was made possible by an unsparing payment of around $1.3 million. Such are the perks of having a loving grandfather who also happens to be a Russian oligarch.
Mariah Carey at Prince Azim’s New Year Bash
There seems to be a peculiar talent-laden list of A-List musicians who perform private events for billionaires who want to ring in the new year. This includes the likes of Rihanna and Lady Gaga among others, but a standout is Mariah Carey performing at the behest of the Sultan of Brunei’s son. Of course, the Queen of Christmas herself would be the perfect artist to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
The ‘Songbird Supreme’ is no stranger to holiday hits, be it her exclusive line of Christmas cookies with Virtual Dining Concepts or her countless chart-toppers that are perfect for every season. Prince Azim has long held star-studded affairs, and this chic Dorchester Hotel party would be no different. Carey led a chorus of Auld Lang Syne before belting out her own classics like Always Be My Baby. For this quick appearance, she would be paid $1.5 million.
Feature photo courtesy of unsplash
