"BEHIND THE SCENES-PARTY PROMOTION & APPEARANCE FEES"
Party promoters offer celebrities big bucks and generous perks to attend club openings (funded by the club). A-list celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyonce don't have to worry about airline travel costs or accommodations expenses.
Club promoters make travel arrangements and they make sure the stars have expensive gift baskets, boxes of chocolates and complimentary champagne (Dom or Cristal) in their hotel suites when they arrive. Jay-Z and Beyonce rarely do club appearances, but their fee is: $25,000-$50,000 each.
According to author Daaimah S. Poole, party promoters have been known to use an array of tactics to lure celebrities and the right people to their parties. Athletes, rappers and film stars are promised VIP treatment, complimentary bottles of champagne and pretty girls. Some party promoters even pay radio personalities on the sly to talk about their exclusive club openings and parties on the air.
Promoters are also responsible for preparing press releases to release to the media for newspaper and blog exposure.
They have also been known to over-invite, because, the longer the line, and the more people who weren't able to get in, the more exclusive the club's reputation would be.
To sit at an "reserved table" in the VIP section, your tab has to usually be a minimum of $1,000 dollars.
To become a successful party promoter, you have to have a good contact list and large rolodex. This can be a very lucrative career, six figures and above with unlimited perks.
APPEARANCE FEES:
In her prime, Paris Hilton demanded and received a $100,000 appearance fee to show up at an club. Now, club owners balk since her star has dimmed.
T.I. receives $40,000-$60,000 to show up at an club.
Rihanna and Amber Rose receive $10,000 dollars to show up at an club.
Kim Kardashian currently receives $25,000-$50,000 to appear at an club.
Tiger Woods (before his scandal) received $1 million dollar appearance fees just to play in certain golf tournaments.
JAY-Z & BEYONCE ON TRACK TO BECOME FIRST BILLIONAIRE BLACK COUPLE"
Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce live the lifestyle of the Rich & Famous. They only travel by private jet, they lounge on private islands. They also enjoy fine 5-star restaurants and exquistie meals including Truffles and other exotic seafood entrees.
It's speculated that Jay-Z belongs to an exclusive overseas gaming club, located in Europe. Only multi-millionaires and billionaires are members and they reportedly indulge in poker ($10,000 chips) and baccarat.
Rumors are also circulating that Jay-Z belongs to a powerful secret society but he has yet to comment on these allegations.
The couple has a combined wealth of: $400-$500 million dollars.
"BLACK POWERBROKERS & THEIR MILLIONAIRE LIFESTYLES"
Only 17,000 "invited" American Express Black Card owners exist in the world. Five of them are pictured above.
When you become a black card member, you also receive two high-end magazines (including Centurian-above) geared towards the wealthy. Neither magazine is available to the public.
You also receive 24-hour concierge service.
Other perks include:
Private shopping at Tiffany's for black card members
Becoming a member of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold
Invitation for a round of golf with Tiger Woods.
Black Card Invitation Kit (above).
"JET SET" (SEVEN MORE BLACK CARD MEMBERS)
Kanye West, 50 Cent and Rihanna are part of the international jet set. They often travel overseas to party, shop or perform where they can make upwards to six figures for a private performance. Rihanna is more popular as an style icon than a recording artist. She's considered a style trendsetter and style maven; that's why she receives the big bucks (endorsements) from cosmetic and beauty conglomerates. Youngsters in Europe simply adore her and emulate her style.
Kanye, 50 Cent, Rihanna, Jay-Z and Beyonce love St. Tropez and have been known to rent private villas and private yachts to host invitation only parties. Jay and Bey have also been spotted on his and hers jet ski's. This crowd also hangs out at the VIP room on Champs Elysee. The VIP room is an throwback of Studio 54.
Nelly and Tip are rich enough to be part of the international jet set but they seem to prefer partying and hanging out in the states (especially Miami). Nelly is considerably wealthy and is very savvy in regards to business. He's not as high profile (about his wealth) like Jay-Z, Kanye and Diddy.
Photo Credits: Wire Image
The most prestigious automobile among celebrities is not the Roll Royce, Ferrarri or Lamborghini, it's the Maybach. Owners include (or have included) P. Diddy, Jennifer Lopez (pictured below), Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z and record executive Steve Stoute.
Less than 100 Maybach's are made each year. The cheapest base model is priced at $400,000 dollars. Recently, the Maybach launched a Landaulet convertible, first shown in Dubai.
In Related News:
Lamborghini hosts a private car race (annually) for VIP Lamborghini owners across the country. Details are secretive and no information about the race is available to media outlets. Super producer Timbaland bought two Lamborghini's through the "Robb Report" classifieds.
"MALE GOLD DIGGERS"
These male fortune hunters are the handsome men you see backstage, in sky boxes, or in the VIP sections of private clubs-trying (desperately) to get the attention of the rich women in attendance. These men are usually decked out in tailored Brioni or Saville Row suits, accessorized with custom made shoes and solid gold watches.
To impress women, they normally lease an expensive sports car.
They target female entertainers (singers, actresses and models).
Their goal is to get the woman sexually addicted. Once this happens, the gigolo plays mind games until she's so hopelessly addicted, before she knows it, he's in the drivers seat and in complete control of her finances.
During a long-term relationship or marriage, many of these women make these men their managers.
When she's completely brainwashed and isolated from friends and family, he starts spending her money on other women.
*This above scenario happened to a woman who sang in a group. While performing on stage, she saw him in the audience, and later said, he was the most gorgeous man I've ever laid eyes on. They hooked up backstage, before long, they were married and despite protests from her group members, she made him their manager. Later, domestic abuse would come into play and he managed the group into the ground. Before their divorce, he managed to spend most of her money on other women.
Casino hosts are similar to publicists and party promoters, their client/contact lists with VIP names are their lifeline. Whenever a new luxury hotel/casino opens in Las Vegas, top tier casino hosts are often sought out by the newer establishment for their connections with the Rich & Famous.
Competition in Las Vegas is fierce in regards to luring celebrities to luxury casino's/hotels.
Celebrities are now receiving the same perks as High Rollers, as follows:
You're flown in by private jet (owned by the casino) and you're picked up at the airport in a Bentley.
Penthouse amenities include: Indoor waterfalls, 24 hour butler service, wraparound views of the Strip, VIP show seating, a Jacuzzi, golf simulators, bowling lanes, backstage passes, and a Jacuzzi that seats 25 people.
Wynn hotel also houses a Ferrari dealership and Dior & Tiffany boutiques. The Wynn golf club is restricted to hotel guests only and you pay $500 per person for a tee time. No one under 18 is allowed inside (Wynn) without a parent or guardian and no strollers are allowed inside.
"SKY CASINO"
"Encore," another Las Vegas casino-hotel from Steve Wynn, aims to draw the world's high-spending gamblers with impeccable service and top-flight amenities, including a "Sky Casino" unlike any other on the Las Vegas Strip.
Five 63rd-floor gaming salons offer high rollers -- known as "whales" in gambling lingo -- a completely private oasis.
Of course, they need to have at least $300,000 in their pockets to bet.
"HIP-HOP CONCIERGE"
Your garden variety concierge can obtain anything. Example: Super Bowl tickets, front row concert tickets with backstage passes, NCAA tickets, tickets to the Masters, Kentucky Derby and the NBA finals, etc. They can obtain these tickets within an hour or within 24 hours.
A number of hip hop artists use the service of a legitimate concierge but you have others who use the services of a "street" concierge.
These street concierge's specialize in illegal activity, example: They will act as an courier and move a cache of weapons across state lines for you.
They are also available to move large amounts of currency, diamonds and drugs.
If that isn't enough, they can also set you up with a street soldier who has no qualms about executing a hit for the right price.
Hip-hop stars can also be set up with an array of women.
The hip-hop concierge who covers Los Angeles charges four to five figures per assignment.
When drug kingpin Nicky Barnes' was released from prison after serving a brief bid, black gangster Jimmy "Goldfinger," Terrell (no photo available) gave him a private party. James Brown was the featured entertainer and rumor has it-Brown was paid a fortune to perform.
If Barnes' hadn't came along in the same era as Goldfinger, you would read and hear more about Goldfinger. He was a ruthless and feared mobster who ruled over the streets of New York. Like black godfather Frank Ward's (above) family, allegedly-Goldfinger's family will not agree for his life to be marketed through DVD's or media outlets.
Joan Moreland aka Queen Bee (no photo available) also came along in this era. She was the first black woman on the East Coast or West Coast to deal exclusively in kilos. Allegedly, her life story may be appearing in an upcoming book.
What do boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and the late Sammy Davis, Jr. have in common? They have the distinction of having luxurious penthouse suites named after them at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip.
These suites come with a concierge, private jet access and you have to be a billionaire to occupy these penthouse's. These suites aren't open to the public.
"BLACK UNDERWORLD & THE BLACK PLAYGIRL"
In the 1950's, Red Dillard Morrison (above) was considered the most dangerous criminal in the country-black or white.
Dillard and Bumpy Johnson often bumped heads on numerous occasions (there could only be one Harlem Godfather) but the men eventually settled their differences.
The photo above does Dillard no justice. According to Mayme Johnson (Bumpy's widow), Dillard was extremely attractive and he was always well dressed, in tailored clothes and he smelled good. Charm oozed from Dillard and he never had a shortage of women, including black model Carrolle Drake (second photo).
Drake was involved with Dillard in the early 50's, until Dillard got convicted for drug trafficking.
As the result of a prison fight (1953), Dillard was paralyzed in both legs.
By then, Carrolle Drake had moved on to singer Billy Eckstine (1954). The most popular black singer in the country during this era.
"BLACK UNDERWORLD" (CONTINUED)
Late drug kingpin Felix Mitchell and his wife Sheila (above) believed in keeping the business in the family.
Sheila's sister was married to major L.A. kingpin Tootie Reese. The two brother-in-laws decided to do business together.
Reese put Felix in touch with contacts in Los Angeles and Detroit to expand his business.
Reese's enforcer Ron Waddy and his brother Conway Willie Waddy, Jr., were indicted as a part of an multi-million dollar undercover money laundering ring.
"MOST NOTORIOUS BLACK PLAYBOY IN HISTORY"
We've reported on black playboy/gigolo Dickie Wells before (above) and how he was involved with numerous women-Ava Gardner, Tallulah Bankhead, Joan Crawford, etc. He allegedly took every penny these women offered and would later spend it on black women. Dickie was considered the black Rubirosa.
Additional information:
To say white actress Tallulah Bankhead was black friendly is an understatement.
Not only has she been linked with black men, including Dickie and saxophonist Sidney Bechet (above) but she's also been rumored to have had bisexual relationships with Billie Holiday and Hattie McDaniel.
BACKSTORY:
White actors often competed with Dickie Wells for white women. This was unheard of for a black man in the 20's and 30's but Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, James Cagney and Charlie Chaplin were all in competition with Dickie and they often lost despite their white movie star status."
"INVITATION ONLY-NETWORKING SITES FOR THE RICH"
Ever wondered where do millionaires and billionaires of the world network?
Well, here is the answer most of them patronize `exclusive social networks’ that are open strictly by invitation.
Welcome to the social networking for the elite and creame da creame of the society. These facebooks's of the rich provide them with a platform where they can flirt, swap advice, plan parties and find new pals without mixing with the commoners.
Some of these networks have a rigorous application process based on education, job title and many more must-haves.
1. Asmallworld.net (above)
If more proof were needed that the rich are different, it could be found on aSmallWorld.net, an invitation-only social networking site.
Dean C. K. Cox for The New York Times:
“I need to rent 20 very luxury sports cars for an event in Switzerland on the 6th September,” a member wrote recently on the Forum, aSmallWorld’s popular nucleus. “The cars should be: Maserati — Ferrari — Lamborghini — Aston Martin ONLY!”
Another announced: “If anyone is looking for a private island, I now have one available for purchase in Fiji.”
Founded four years ago, the site, promoted as a Facebook for the social elite, has grown from about 500 members to about 150,000 registered users.
2. DiamondLounge.com (above)
Diamond Lounge is one of the most exclusive sites with small membership. The site claims to be a luxury online space aimed at those who want a sophisticated and classy alternative to the standard online dating and social networking websites.
As for membership, “Our members are eligible, professional individuals who appreciate the benefits of an exclusive and private environment where they can date and socialize with like minded people.”
According to owner Arya Marafie, DiamondLounge.com focuses mainly on dating and fun, just like an exclusive online club.
However, according to him, being wealthy won’t automatically get one in the door. The person also needs to be interesting and bring something to the table.
The average age of members is between 35 to 40, significantly older than MySpace or Facebook. The signup process is easy and people can create profiles free of charge. Potential club members can apply online and will be accepted or declined based on what they do and whom they know. Members have to pay a $50 monthly fee.
The company claims that it spends a tremendous amount of time making sure that they select the right club members, because these are the people who will invite the next group.
3. Luxury Ratings.com (above)
LuxuryRatings.com is a free members-only ratings site for consumers who seek and enjoy luxury brand `experiences.'
Started by Luxury Institute, the site offers access to member ratings of several different types of service providers, from wealth advisers to art dealers to yacht brokers.
It is mainly a network of member-generated ratings for brands and the people behind them.
*The majority of these sites will list their homepage in search engines but their comment sections remain "unsearchable," not appearing in any search engines.
According to sources, Kim Kardashian is playing the role of Super Bowl "wifey" to the hilt. She was allegedly seen on Rodeo Drive in one of her luxurious exotic cars-followed by her crew-convoy style, loading up on Gucci, Versace and Prada, for her Miami trip.
Kim will also be attending several Super Bowl parties, and yes, she will be pocketing appearance fees for a few of these events.
It's also been rumored that the Kardashian clan is trying to secure a private luxury Super Bowl suite (fully catered). These suites range from $180,000-$250,000 dollars and can seat 36-40 invited guests.
The menu normally includes cracked crab, expensive champagnes, caviar, etc.
Private suite attendees also have their own private suite holder parking lot.
"BLACK UNDERWORLD"
Ike Atkinson is a charismatic former U.S. Army Master Sergeant, drug smuggler, card shark and adventurer from North Carolina whom law enforcement nick-named "Sergeant Smack."
Under the cover of the Vietnam War and through the use of the U.S. military infrastructure, Atkinson masterminded an enterprising group of family members and former African American GIs that the DEA describes as one of history's top ten drug trafficking rings.
Atkinson was also the South East Asian connection for Frank Lucas in the Golden Triangle.
The e-book (Sergeant Smack-authored by Ron Chepesiuk) will be relased online in April and the print book will be released in June.
"BLACK UNDERWORLD" (MURDER CONTRACT)
Drug lord Frank Matthews built strategic alliances that helped keep the violence associated with the drug trade in check in the 70's, but it was not all smooth sailing with him. In Philadelphia, he had to deal with the growing and ultra-violet Black Mafia. Twenty-four-year-old Tyrone "Fat" Palmer, Matthews main supplier in the city, made the big mistake of handling a drug deal that went bad and then not reimbursing Black Mafia godfathers for their loss.
The Black Mafia put out a $10,000 dollar contract on him; ($50,000 in today's dollars). On March 2, 1971, Palmer was sitting back with a cigar in his mouth, enjoying himself at Club Harlem; he was surrounded by a harem of beautiful black women. The club was a popular venue that held 800 people and featured such performers as Sammy Davis, Jr., (above), Billy Paul and Sara Vaughn.
As Palmer sat near the stage enjoying the show, several shots rang out. When the shooting finally ended, Palmer lay dead and twenty others were wounded.
Matthews believed Philadelphia's Black Mafia (PBM) was sending him the following message: Give us a kickback for operating in our territory or face the consequences.
PBM would kill three more of Matthews lieutenants.
The Lavish Store-which specializes in: Exotic car rentals, private jet excursions and yacht outings has expanded.
With this expansion, owner Maurice A. Morris (above) becomes the first African-American man to offer a "Black Card," in the coming months.
Perks include: Enter hot nightspots (including 40/40) in NY, Miami, Las Vegas and Hollywood without standing in line behind the velvet rope; you are ushered to the front of the line with your black card. Once inside, cardholders are ushered into VIP where Dom Perignon and Cristal awaits them. This card also allows you to rent exotic cars, receive private jet miles, compile helicopter hours, enjoy culinary experiences and have a hydro assistant at your disposal.
Maurice has also expanded into publishing with an affluent magazine (with a select clientele). This affluent publication is distributed in Dubai, Madrid, Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit.
If that isn't enough, Morris will also be launching a vitamin drink in the near future.
The Black Card will be available this fall.
"GIORGIO ARMANI HOTELS & RESORTS-DUBAI"
Giorgio Armani's hotel and resort will open in Dubai on March 18, 2008. The schedule of Armani hotel openings to follow Dubai will be Milan, London, and New York. Armani's hotel (Dubai) will be located in the tallest building in the world.