By Wonderwall.com Editors
8:48am PST, Dec 29, 2021
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Wonderwall.com rounded up all the ways celebrities proved they're nothing like the rest of us in 2021 — from dropping insane amounts of money to acting in ways that just wouldn't fly outside of Hollywood — starting with this story that will make your jaw drop… On the Dec. 3 episode of "Lorraine," Mariah Carey revealed that the gold Dolce & Gabbana gown she dons in her new Apple TV+ holiday special, "Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues," weighed around 60 pounds. "It required six grown men to carry the train of that dress to get me down the stairs," she said, according to Page Six, joking that she sometimes has five or six grown men on hand to help her with her couture depending "on the beading." She also told Vogue of the hefty gown, "The dress itself took 250 hours to bead. … Everybody was like, 'Oh, she's exaggerating [about the weight],' until they held it for two seconds. The beading is not your average beading. The stones themselves were gigantic, but they still looked beautiful and shined. It was magnificent, but it hurt like a mother to wear it." Beauty is pain, darling!
Now keep reading for more proof that stars were nothing like us in 2021…
RELATED: Mariah's life in photos
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On Dec. 12, Kim Kardashian West revealed on her Instagram Story that "every morning during the month of December," Grammy-winning writer-producer Philip Cornish "comes to play Christmas music on the piano" at her home "to wake up the kids." Yes, that's right: For 31 days straight, the reality star and the four kids she shares with Kanye West — North, Psalm, Chicago and Saint — are treated to a private concert from one of the most talented pianists in the music business … in their living room.
RELATED: The net worth of every member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan
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It must be nice to get the best seat in the house every time — even if it means giving someone else the boot! Page Six reported on Nov. 29 that when Cardi B, Offset and 10 pals showed up for dinner at New York City's Brooklyn Chop House without reservations, the restaurant accommodated them in spite of the fact that they were completely booked for the evening – with a line out the door! "The restaurant had to sway an existing party — with booze on-the-house — to get them to finish their dinner party sooner," writes the New York Post's gossip column, adding that Brooklyn Chop House offered the other group "bottles of Cristal and free desserts to get them to vacate the area for Cardi." All in all, the power couple only waited about 15 minutes for their table. As a show of gratitude, they dropped more than $1K on dinner and another $1K on the tip.
RELATED: Cardi's most over-the-top splurges and money moments
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The U.S. Sun reported on Dec. 13 that Tom Cruise recently dropped thousands of dollars transporting 300 cakes from his favorite bakery in Los Angeles to London via his private jet as a special treat for the crew working on "Mission: Impossible 7" in the U.K. "Tom wanted to give the team on 'Mission: Impossible' a treat for Christmas and decided that only cakes from his favorite bakery in L.A. would do," said a source. "He organized for the shop to make 300 cakes especially and they were then flown back to the U.K. on his jet. It is extravagant, but Tom is an incredibly generous person and he wanted to do something special for everyone who has worked on the movie with him." Of course, Tom is no stranger to over-the-top behavior where his private jet is concerned… More on that later!
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During a Nov. 24 screening of "Red Notice," Dwayne Johnson gifted his own "personal custom truck" to a stranger: Navy veteran Oscar Rodriguez. "Today was a good day. Merry Christmas @coach_orod and enjoy your new truck," The Rock captioned a video showing Oscar's reaction to the news. "I invited fans to a special theater screening of RED NOTICE and I wanted to do something cool for all of them. Free concessions, @projectrock, @teremana, @zoaenergy, @saltandstraw ice cream. Free everything and a great time at the movies! I also wanted to do something BIG… something MASSIVE… something unforgettable for one fan. My original idea was to give away the Porsche Taycan that I drive in the movie, 'Red Notice.' So we reached out to Porsche, but they said no. But I still said, yes. I'll do one better. I'll give away my personal custom truck as the gift. My baby. I gathered as much information as I could about everyone in the audience and ultimately, Oscar's story moved me. Takes care of his 75 year old mom. Personal trainer. Leader at his church. Provides support and meals for women victimized by domestic violence. Proud & humble Navy veteran. Kind human being. … Go enjoy your new truck dude and Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!"
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During an interview with The Guardian that debuted online on Dec. 3, George Clooney revealed that he once turned down $35 million — more money than most of us could ever even dream of — "for one day's work for an airline commercial." The A-list actor went on to explain that the airline is associated with a country that is allied with the United States but is "questionable at times" regarding human rights issues. "I thought, 'Well, if it takes a minute's sleep away from me, it's not worth it,'" he said.
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On Dec. 9, Billboard reported that Adele is set to rake in "more than $2 million in sales" per performance during her "Weekends with Adele" 24-show residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in early 2022. The first round of tickets reportedly sold out in about six hours on Ticketmaster. The venue seats around 4,200 audience members, with ticket prices ranging from $85 to $5,000 each, though some secondhand tickets are currently priced at a staggering $35K.
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On Nov. 24, CNBC's Marcus Lemonis took to Instagram to share a video revealing that he and Amy Schumer recently left a $30K tip following a night out at the Comedy Cellar in New York City. "It's no joke… even with @amyschumer, who now holds the crown as the queen tipster," he captioned the clip, in which the funnywoman notes that the iconic comedy club is her "home club" and changed her life. "We want to change the way people think about the service industry," Marcus said as he handed over the money. "So we're collectively providing a gift for everybody that works here of $30,000. You guys work [so hard] every day, and it's underappreciated. We want you to know that a lot of people appreciate it. We're both super-blessed — she's more blessed than I am … but we wanted to share our blessings with you guys." He made the donation as part of his "Great American Tip Off" initiative, which he's described as "a nationwide call to action to show some extra love to the hard-working Americans who serve us every day."
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Drake doesn't just have a trophy shelf. He has a trophy room! On Nov. 30, pal YK Osiris took to his Instagram Story to show off the chart-topper's Toronto mansion, which includes a room with rows upon rows of display cases filled with Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, MTV Moon Person Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards and more. (See it here.)
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Page Six reported on Nov. 23 that Swizz Beatz gifted his long-term manager and business partner, Monique Blake, a Pristine Jewelers bracelet featuring more than 20 carats in diamonds for her recent birthday. In June, the Grammy winner gifted his colleague of 15 years a new Bentley to celebrate Triller's acquisition of Verzuz, the webcast battle series he co-founded with Timbaland in early 2020. Lucky lady!
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When it comes to her advocacy efforts, Kim Kardashian West puts her money where her mouth is. According to the AP, the reality star covered the cost of transporting about 130 refugees — 30 teenage members of Afghanistan's female youth development soccer team and their families — from Pakistan to the London area on Nov. 18 after they were "left in limbo for weeks with no flight out of the country as the time limit on their Pakistani visas ticked down." Eventually a nonprofit focused on criminal justice and humanitarian issues reached out to Kim for help. "Within an hour she confirmed she would pay for the flight," said a People magazine source.
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Paris Hilton's November wedding was a three-day affair! The day after she and Carter Reum exchanged vows, the duo rented out the Santa Monica Pier for a private party featuring rides, carnival games — during which guests had the opportunity to win pillows shaped like the reality star — and tunes spun by Grammy-winning DJ-producer Diplo. Guests included Demi Lovato, Lance Bass, Stacy Keibler, Christine Chiu, Stephen Dorff, Keyshia Cole and Billy Idol. Paris's actual wedding day was equally over the top: She wore four designer gowns, they had a 6-foot-tall wedding cake and a caviar station, and Demi performed during the reception. Other A-list guests included Kim Kardashian West, Nicole Richie and Emma Roberts. A Peacock camera crew recorded the entire affair for the "Simple Life" alum's new reality show, "Paris in Love." Meanwhile, in the weeks leading up to the nuptials, DailyMail.com uncovered the couple's registry at Gearys Beverly Hills, a high-end department store. The British webloid reported on Oct. 22 that the items on the registry — including a $3,200 Buccellati picture frame and a $4,885 Baccarat vase — totaled more than $60K. Now we all know what to get for the newlyweds who have everything!
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It pays to work with Keanu Reeves! On Oct. 26, TMZ reported that the action star had recently picked up five brand-new 2020 Submariner Rolex watches for himself and the four stuntmen who doubled for his on-screen alter ego while shooting the fourth installment in the "John Wick" franchise in Paris earlier this year. The A-list actor also had the timepieces — which cost around $10K each — engraved and personalized with each man's name.
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According to TMZ, Drake dropped $5.5 million on a one-of-a-kind Richard Mille timepiece as a birthday gift to himself when he turned 35 on Oct. 24. The watch, which debuted in 2019 at $2.8 million, is reportedly "encased in sapphire crystal" and "employs the incredibly complex tourbillon movement." How's that for treating yourself?!
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No gift cards for Travis Barker on his 46th birthday! Kourtney Kardashian dropped the big bucks to swoop up a vintage Buick GNX for her fiancé on his big day. "When your dream girl gets you your dream car," the blink-182 drummer captioned a slideshow of photos showing off his new ride on Instagram on Nov. 17. "You deserve the world," Kourtney reportedly replied in the comments section. According to MotorBiscuit, a different Buick GNX sold for $205K back in May, so it's likely the reality star spent somewhere in that ballpark for her beau's new whip.
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She did what?! After Blake Lively posed for photos at the Empire State Building in New York City on Nov. 8, she took to her Instagram Story to reveal that she used red nail polish to paint over the white jewels on her $995 Manolo Blahnik heels. "[I apologize] for painting the white jewels on my shoes with red nail polish as I was walking out the door," she scrawled across a photo of herself rocking the monochromatic look, adding that defacing the pricey footwear was "worth it." Considering we've never dropped nearly a thousand dollars on a pair of shoes before, we'll have to humbly disagree!
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They say money can't buy love, but money can certainly buy plenty of expensive tributes to love… In late October, Hailey Bieber started sporting a diamond-encrusted necklace featuring husband Justin Bieber's initials. According to Page Six, the Jennifer Fisher piece costs more than $20K: $6,500 per letter and more than $2K for the 18-inch chain.
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On Nov. 7, Heather Rae Young took to Instagram to share a photo of herself wearing "a special bathing suit" — a custom handmade Karen Sabag three-piece bridal swimsuit featuring pearl embellishments. The "Selling Sunset" star wore the pricey suit, which costs a minimum of $625, while honeymooning with Tarek El Moussa in the Maldives following their October nuptials. (That's a lot of money to drop on something that's going in the ocean!) The newlyweds reportedly stayed at the Waldorf Astoria, where rooms cost a minimum of $2,600 a night, for more than two weeks before jetting off to Dubai for three days. According to People magazine, the pair stayed in a 3,600-square-foot house on the water featuring glass floors in the bathroom, a private pool and a private spa.
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During a video interview with Vogue that debuted online on Nov. 3, Shay Mitchell detailed her 58-step beauty routine. Yes, you read that right: The "Pretty Little Liars" alum's routine consists of a whopping FIFTY-EIGHT steps. Among the products she swears by? La Mer's $350 moisturizing cool gel cream, 11SKIN's $135 anti-blemish cellulose face mask and a gold-infused mask crafted specifically for women's chests.
On Oct. 26, Us Weekly broke the news that Lori Loughlin — who spent two months behind bars in late 2020 after she pleaded guilty to fraud charges for paying a $500K bribe to get her two daughters into the University of Southern California as crew team recruits in spite of the fact that neither of the girls had participated in the sport before — donated that very same amount to two lucky students to cover the costs of tuition and other expenses for four years of college. (The donation is not related to the fines the "Full House" alum was previously ordered to pay as part of her sentencing.) According to the magazine, she "privately arranged" the generous donation.
Yikes. On Nov. 6, The Mail on Sunday reported that, according to a source, President Joe Biden audibly passed gas in front of Duchess Camilla during the COP26 summit in Glasgow a few days earlier. "It was long and loud and impossible to ignore. Camilla hasn't stopped talking about it," said the source. We're not sure what's crazier: breaking wind in front of a royal or being close enough to the president to hear him casually let slip a toot.
Imagine handing over a check for $23 million… In late 2021, Kim Kardashian West forked over a huge sum to estranged husband Kanye West — $20 million for the property and $3 million for its contents — to buy him out of the $60 million family home in Hidden Hills, California, that they built together and shared with their kids before she filed for divorce. According to an Oct. 18 TMZ report, the rapper signed over his rights and the transfer was recorded with Los Angeles County officials on Sept. 28. Kanye isn't exactly homeless, though: In September, The Dirt reported that he dropped $57.3 million for a concrete Tadao Ando-designed beachfront home in Malibu. The following month, he listed his 3,800-acre ranch in Wyoming and, according to an Oct. 30 TMZ report, unloaded six matte black Fords (yes, SIX!) he bought while living in the Cowboy State: four pick-up trucks and two SUVs. He reportedly sold them back to a Ford dealership, which enlisted an auctioneer to handle the sales. (They ultimate sold for between $39K and $72.5K.)
What do you get the woman who has everything?! During an interview for Vogue's "73 Questions" series that hit the internet on Oct. 21, Adele revealed that her most prized possession is a gift from pal James Corden: a framed piece of gum chewed by Celine Dion! "It's pretty amazing," she gushed, explaining that James asked the Canadian chanteuse to "spit her gum into a piece of paper" so that he could frame it for the "Easy on Me" chart-topper. James later confirmed on "The Late Late Show" that he had to stop Celine from doing "the fold," i.e., folding over the paper into which she'd spit the gum. "I said, 'I got it, I got it, I got it,'" he recalled, noting that when he asked his producer to hang onto it and keep it "super safe," she looked at him like he'd "lost his mind." James further revealed the framed gum was a birthday gift for Adele, explaining, "She's a difficult person to buy for. A candle doesn't cut it!"
On the Oct. 5 episode of the "Lunch with Bruce" podcast, Kathy Hilton revealed that when daughter Paris Hilton was young — and in the heigh of her party-girl days — the mother of four would call the New York Post to keep tabs on her eldest child's movements. (Hey, the Find My Friends app didn't exist yet!) "I used to call the city desk at the New York Post … and say at 1 in the morning, 'Excuse me, hi, it's Kathy Hilton. Uh, do you by any chance know Paris, where she is right now?'" Kathy recalled, according to Page Six, adding that she spent "years" tracking her wild child via the media. How insane!
On the Oct. 1 episode of "The Graham Norton Show," Dave Grohl revealed that one of his three daughters, Harper, got her very first piano lesson from none other than rock legend Paul McCartney. The Foo Fighters frontman recalled that the former Beatle and his wife, Nancy Shevell, visited for dinner once, and before they left, Paul spotted a piano in the room and sat down to play. "My daughter Harper, who I think was five at the time, is watching Paul McCartney on the piano and she goes to the kitchen and gets a coffee cup, puts some change in it and puts it on top of the piano like it's a tip jar," recalled the Foo Fighters frontman. "They sat down together, and he was showing her what to play, and they wrote a song together." Wild!
Only in Hollyweird! On the Oct. 1 episode of the "Why Won't You Date Me?" podcast, Meghan Trainor, who welcomed son Riley in February, revealed that the California home she shares with husband Daryl Sabara features side-by-side his-and-hers toilets. "A lot of time in the middle of the night when we're with the baby, we've got to [go to the bathroom] at the same time. So I was like, 'Can we please have two toilets next to each other?'" she explained, adding that they've used the commodes "at the same time a lot." Ask and you shall receive… if you're a chart-topping Grammy winner who's married to a former child star!
On Oct. 7, Mindy Kaling took to Instagram to share a rare photo of her three-year-old daughter, Katherine "Kit" Swati, in the backyard of their home in Los Angeles. On display in the background was a giant wooden playhouse featuring a slide, two swings, a swinging seesaw and multiple clubhouses. According to People magazine, the CedarWorks Serendipity swing set runs for a cool $22K. Little Kit could have her own car for that kind of dough! Back in 2019, Mindy tweeted of splurging for the expensive set, "All I've ever wanted for my kid is to have 'the fun house.' Remember that one friend that had the coolest backyard and everyone wanted to hang out there all the time? Well, now I'm the cool parent with the cool backyard."
Offset gifted Cardi B an 8,000-square-foot, four-story home on a hillside in a gated community in the Dominican Republic when she turned 29 on Oct. 11. According to the New York Post, the seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom property, which has two pools and beach access, is currently available on Airbnb for $836 per night and was most recently listed for $1.49 million, though it's unclear how much the Migos rapper ultimately spent to snag it. … If she got a vacation home for her 29th birthday, just imagine what Offset will do for Cardi when she turns 30!
According to Forbes, Beyonce and JAY-Z spent a hefty portion of September vacationing in the Mediterranean aboard the 450-foot-long, 67-foot-wide superyacht the Flying Fox … which is longer than a football field and reportedly costs more than $3.5 million per week to charter. The impressive vessel features 11 cabins, a two-floor spa, a theater, a professional dive center, a legion of water toys including Jet Skis and two helipads. (You know, to accommodate both your primary helicopter and your backup chopper.) It also comes with 55 crew members. The power couple have reportedly hosted guests including Kelly Rowland and her family during their extremely expensive European getaway. Must be nice!
On the Aug. 24 episode of "The Late Late Show," host James Corden dished on a time over the summer when he and pal Tom Cruise realized while chatting via text that they were both in the U.K. The two men started making plans to meet up in London for dinner when Tom asked James, who was staying in St. John's Wood in central London, "Can I land my [helicopter] in your yard?" At first, the funnyman assumed the "Mission: Impossible" star was joking and replied with four laugh-crying emojis. Responded Tom, "Does that mean no?" Replied James, "I'll measure it out, but my hunch is you can't land a helicopter in St. John's Wood." Fired back Tom, who has experience landing his chopper in other people's yards, "You'd be surprised where I can land." We're not sure which part of this story is more ridiculous: Tom's helicopter behavior or the fact that James has a yard big enough for a helicopter to potentially land in it.
What do you get the celebri-spawn who has everything? A plain old school bus, apparently! On Aug. 24, Kylie Jenner took to her Instagram Story to reveal the special surprise that partner Travis Scott got for their daughter: "All Stormi has been talking about is riding a big yellow bus. Daddy surprised her," the reality TV star and makeup mogul captioned a photo of her little girl checking out one such bus. (It's unclear if the rapper bought the bus for his 3-year-old daughter or simply rented it for her to see up close.) Twitter had a field day watching the uber-rich tot geek out over how the other half lives. One user put it best: "Stormi is so rich her dad Travis surprised her with a yellow school bus so she can act middle class for the day." Indeed.
According to Page Six, Kim Kardashian's hairstylist, Chris Appleton, revealed on his Instagram Story that the floor-skimming ponytail she rocked during the 2021 Met Gala on Sept. 13 set her back $10K. He reportedly used 75-inch-long hair extensions to create the look. The following week, Kim gifted friend and former assistant Stephanie Shepherd an Hermès Kelly bag — which can cost anywhere from $10K to $40K — for her 32nd birthday. (Must've been a lucrative month for the reality TV star!)
On Sept. 10, Lizzo took to Instagram to show off her birthday gift to her mom: a brand-new wardrobe (designer dresses, blouses, coats, accessories and more selected by stylist and designer Jason Rembert) lining a closet the size of a large bedroom. "Look at all these clothes. You like these clothes? These are your clothes. I got you a wardrobe," said the Grammy winner as her mother, Shari Johnson-Jefferson, became increasingly emotional. "I won't have to look like a bum anymore," Shari quipped. Fired back the chart-topper, "No, ma'am, not on my watch!" In the caption, Lizzo explained that ever since her father died in 2009, her mother has been telling her "it's been hard to dress nice" for herself. "I know I can't bring your best friend back… but I still wanna give you the world. Happy birthday, Mommy, I love you. Time to be FLYY, girl! Thank you," she wrote. What a lucky lady!
Jada Pinkett Smith built a roller rink at her home in the Los Angeles area for her 50th birthday party in mid-September. According to Page Six, the actress and husband Will Smith provided skates, socks and skating instructors to assist guests including Toni Braxton, Jordyn Woods, Lauren London, MC Lyte, Charlie Mack and NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns. "There was no product placement. It was in Smith family style. They paid for everything," a source told the New York Post's gossip column of the over-the-top bash, during which the birthday girl insisted upon a no-gifts policy.
On Sept. 15, restauranteur Keith McNally, who owns Balthazar Restaurant in New York City, took to Instagram to reveal the "outrageously generous" tip Sharon Stone left after dining at the hotspot the previous evening: "She left the server a $600 tip on a $250 check!" he gushed. That very same evening, the iconic actress attended the New York City premiere of "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" (pictured). Earlier in the month, Ben Still made a lucky server's night when he tipped generously following a night out in New York City: A source told Wonderwall.com that the actor left a $150 tip on a $160 bill for dinner at L'Avenue at Saks on Sept. 8.
Billie Eilish made history during the 2021 Met Gala on Sept. 13 when she donned 30 different pieces of Cartier jewelry — the most worn by a single person at a time ever! Meanwhile, we're over here dreaming about wearing just one…
We can't even fathom making this much money! According to Variety, Daniel Craig earned more than $100 million when he signed on to star in two upcoming "Knives Out" sequels for Netflix. His nine-figure paycheck factors in the streamer's compensation for its stars in what Variety refers to as "the projected back-end box office participation" they would earn if their films received exclusive theatrical releases.
In July — just months into their rekindled romance — Ben Affleck dropped nearly $45K on a custom piece of bling for back-on girlfriend Jennifer Lopez's 52nd birthday. The Oscar winner teamed up with jewelers Beth Bugdaycay and Murat Bugdaycay to create the piece: layered chains featuring diamond-encrusted symbolic charms.
On Aug. 21, DailyMail.com reported that The Weeknd dropped a cool $70 million in an off-market deal to purchase an expansive mansion in Los Angeles's exclusive Bel Air neighborhood. The deal, which has since been recognized as one of the largest to have closed in L.A. this year, gave him the keys to an estate that includes a music studio, an infinity pool, nine spacious bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. According to the Wall Street Journal, the property's previous owners — Dutch actor and production company founder Reinout Oerlemans and wife Danielle — hadn't planned on selling their place until the "Blinding Lights" singer's agents approached them with an offer they couldn't refuse. The couple purchased the home in 2015 for $21.4 million.
Earlier this year, Travis Barker dropped $8K on some tooth bling: a diamond-encrusted skull for one of his incisors. Page Six reported in August that dentist Dr. Thomas Connelly created the custom piece, which the blink-182 drummer, who's known for pouting in photos, rarely shows off in public.
On Aug. 14, James Van Der Beek and wife Kimberly took to Instagram to show off their custom luxury RV. According to People magazine, their Thor Motor Coach Aria 4000 is worth more than $375K — more than a house in some parts of the country! It comfortably houses up to seven people and includes two separate bathrooms with showers, a sofa bed, two bunk beds, a king-size bed, several TVs, a kitchen with double sinks, a washer and dryer, a pull-out pantry and a full-size fridge.
We can all totally relate to living luxuriously aboard a spacious yacht, right?! According to Page Six, model Miranda Kerr and her billionaire husband, Snapchat co-creator Evan Spiegel, dropped $250 million on the 311-foot mega-yacht on which they were seen relaxing in the Mediterranean in August. The extravagant vessel, which reportedly took three years to complete, includes three pools, nine bedrooms and a spa.
On Aug. 3, Quavo took to Instagram to share a photo of his assistant, Joshua Washington, holding an umbrella over the Migos rapper and a portable fan to keep him cool. "5k a Day My Asst. A Millionaire!" the "Bad and Boujee" actor captioned the snap. Now that's a job we wouldn't mind having!
On July 14, MailOnline reported that Adele dropped $9.95 million on a new home in Los Angeles' tony Hidden Valley neighborhood … directly next door to two other properties she previously purchased within the past five years. The new home — which features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a pool and a basketball court — brings the total value of her expanding compound to $30 million. Neighbors include Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, Zoe Saldana and Jennifer Lawrence.
On July 8, a helicopter journalist spotted Drake enjoying an intimate dinner date with his then-girlfriend, Johanna Leia, at an otherwise empty Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. "@DRAKE ON A DATE? Randomly just flew over this cozy couple enjoying a private dinner along the third base line at an empty Dodger Stadium from #Air7HD," tweeted ABC7 helicopter reporter Chris Christi. Multiple media outlets later reported that the MLB team arranged for the epic dinner after the "God's Plan" rapper made a sizable donation to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
There nearly weren't Fourth of July fireworks in New Orleans this year due to funding issues in The Big Easy. When Will Smith, who was in town shooting the upcoming Antoine Fuqua drama "Emancipation," caught wind of the news, he donated $100K to rectify the issue. "The gift of city fireworks was made possible by actor and produce Will Smith, along with his company Westbrook," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell tweeted on July 2.
Page Six reported on June 24, that while celebrating dad Lionel Richie's 72nd birthday in Mykonos, Greece, siblings Nicole Richie, Sofia Richie and Miles Richie stayed aboard the Ulysses, a $150 million luxury yacht the features a massive swimming pool and a hot tub, a wine cellar, a movie theater and enough bedrooms to house up to 36 guests!
If only we had the funds to treat our closest friends to an extravagant yacht experience in Italy! On July 6, TMZ reported that NBA legend and Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson went even bigger than usual for his annual summer vacation, throwing down $1.1 million (a week!) to charter Aquila, a 281-foot yacht, to transport his family and friends through the waters off the coast of Italy. The super-yacht reportedly comes with its very own nightclub, movie theater, jacuzzi and gym. Magic's guests included superstars Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J and Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete.
Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber sure know how to ball out on vacation! On June 30, MailOnline reported that the "Intentions" hitmaker and his model wife shelled out around $1,400 a night for a suite at the Calilo Hotel in los during their summer vacay in Greece. The "Blue & You" suite comes with its own swanky outdoor marble pool, an indoor cave pool, two ponds, a swim-up bar and an outdoor bed over the water. Not too shabby!
A "starter home" that costs $10.5 million? Yeah, we cannot relate. According to a late June report from MailOnline, Brookyln Beckham — the 22-year-old son of retired soccer star David Beckham and fashion designer Victoria Beckham — purchased a home with his 26-year-old fiancée, actress Nicola Peltz, in Beverly Hills earlier this year. The five-bedroom property, which they reportedly bought for $1 million over the asking price, features several luxurious amenities including a juice bar, a sauna, a steam room and a rooftop terrace.
Lil Uzi Vert truly committed to showing off bling in a new way when he announced that he'd implanted a $24 million natural pink diamond in his forehead. Yes, instead of having the massive diamond incorporated into a ring or necklace, he opted to have it put in his forehead on Feb. 2. When asked if it cost more than his car, he said, "Yes my Bugatti can't even pay for it… all my cars together, plus home." He later took to social media to share the proof and has since posted plenty of photos and videos showing off the massive pink diamond. But this story doesn't have a happy ending… During a late August interview with TMZ, Lil Uzi Vert revealed that he nearly lost his $24 million pink forehead diamond when he stage-dived during the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami in July. "I jumped in the crowd and they kinda ripped it out," he said, adding that he's fine physically and somehow managed to hold onto the nearly 11-carat gem. (Ironically, he previously said he had the pricey rock implanted in his forehead because he was worried he'd lose it.)
The whole world watched Oprah Winfrey's jaw-dropping interview with Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry on March 7. A surprising breakout star soon emerged from the tell-all — the patio chairs. Yep, the chairs on which Oprah and the royals sat during the CBS interview quickly sold out. Even crazier, the outdoor furniture has another celebrity link: They were designed by former "Brady Bunch" star Christopher Knight! The Christopher Knight Home Burchett outdoor chairs, which cost $554 for a pair, were snatched up from online retailers including Amazon, Target and Overstock, according to Page Six.
How do you say thank you to your dedicated crew after your long-running reality show wraps for good? By gifting them the most luxurious accessories on the market: Rolex watches! TMZ reported on Jan. 13 that when their E! show wrapped in early January, the Kardashian-Jenner clan showed their appreciation to 30 of their loyal crew members by forking over Rolex watches worth about $10K each. Not exactly a terrible parting gift if you ask us…
Given that her Savage x Fenty lingerie brand is now valued at $1 billion, it's no surprise that Rihanna — who also happens to be the richest female recording artist on the globe — has an incredibly impressive real estate portfolio to match. According to The Hollywood Reporter, in April, the music star and beauty mogul purchased the $10 million house next door to the $13.8 million Beverly Hills estate she bought just three months prior. The 3,500-square-foot Tudor-style house has four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. Combined with the neighboring 7,600-square-foot mansion she purchased first, Rihanna's $23.8 million Beverly Hills compound covers more than an acre of land. Talk about living large.
Who doesn't love to keep mementos from good times? Ludacris sure does — though his souvenirs are a little fancier than the rest of ours! The rapper revealed to talk show host Conan O'Brien in March that he's taken home something from the set of every installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise in which he's appeared… and his souvenirs are cars! "On every single 'Fast & Furious,' I bought one of the cars that was in the movie," he explained, adding that there's been one exception. He didn't snag a car from one of the London-based films because steering wheels there are on the opposite side of the vehicle.
When it comes to cars, just your standard Mercedes or BMW doesn't cut it for superstars. Nope, Justin Bieber invested in a custom-made Rolls-Royce that took not one, not two, but three years to make. The fancy car — which was first spotted in June 2021 (see it here) — is a custom 2018 Wraith model, which reportedly set him back $330,000 to begin with, but there's no telling how much the final cost was because Justin went to West Coast Customs to have it customized even further after he got it.
While most of us rocked a lot of sweatpants (and maybe invested in some tie-dye) during quarantine, one famous face did quite the opposite and decided that even spending time at home required designer clothes every day. Keira Knightley told Harper's Bazaar U.K. in June that she "put on red lipstick every day and every bit of Chanel that I have in my cupboard" while spending time with her daughters in quarantine. "I thought, 'What is the point of these lovely things sitting in the wardrobe, when it feels quite apocalyptic and scary outside?' It felt so important to be really happy for the kids," she told the outlet. To each their own!
We appreciate her generosity! During an April interview with Nancy O'Dell's channel on talkshoplive, Oprah Winfrey revealed that she'd been mailing $15,000 checks to people in need amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. "I literally have been, people don't know this, going through the newspaper finding stories of people who weren't doing well in their life, sending them money, trying to help because I know I have been blessed," she explained. "I sent the maximum amount that the government allows you to give a person, which is $15,000 per person, and saying I know it's going to be a while before you're working, [so] let me help you out," the billionaire said, also noting that she'd created a list of people she knew would be out of work due to the ongoing pandemic. "I called it my personal pandemic relief package for friends," she further shared. "I think it has made me more thoughtful — the more blessed I become, the more I think about people who are not and what can I do to help them."
We all know that Paris Hilton's life is drastically different than the rest of ours, but this certainly solidifies it! Days before Carter Reum proposed with a huge diamond ring on a private island a few days ahead of her 40th birthday in February, she gave him a very, very big birthday gift of his own to commemorate their love. No, it wasn't a framed print of a selfie. She commissioned an enormous life-sized painting that showed the venture capitalist kissing her on the forehead. Just what every man wants?
On May 23, Drake rented out SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles — which has a capacity of 70,000 and is located on 298 acres — to privately celebrate his artist of the decade award win at the Billboard Music Awards earlier that evening. The Canadian music star hosted dinner on the 50-yard line for guests including his toddler son, Adonis — who also appeared on stage with him that night — and fellow artists like SZA, The Weeknd, Doja Cat and DJ Khaled. (See a few pics here.) "There are huge champagne towers and several bars set up throughout the stadium," a source told E! News of the celebratory dinner party. "Drake also has cute album books featuring his favorite moments through his career set up around the stadium." Well, that's one way to celebrate!
Gwyneth Paltrow's star power allowed her to skip the line while running one of the most dreaded errands ever — enduring a long wait at the DMV. On May 3, DailyMail.com reported, the actress and Goop founder was seen arriving with her bodyguard at a California Department of Motor Vehicles office in Los Angeles, where she was brought through a back-door entrance, bypassing a line of approximately 50 Angelenos! It was a huge perk considering that standing in line to be seen can take several hours, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gwyneth, however? Well, the A-lister was in and out in just 30 minutes. Seriously, we can't even imagine.
Ever sell an old painting at a garage sale? When you're a superstar, your paintings fetch just a bit more than the average Joe's. Case in point? On March 1, Angelina Jolie sold a painting by Winston Churchill that was originally purchased back in 2011 — reportedly as a gift from then-love Brad Pitt — for an astounding $12 million. The former U.K. prime minister's artwork, the "Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque," fetched more than triple its high estimate of $3.5 million via a Christie's of London auction, setting a new sale price record.
How much did your last Airbnb set you back? If you're a super-famous genetically blessed couple, that answer might be astronomical. In the early days of their romance, Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly reportedly shacked up in an Airbnb rental in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles that costs $30,000 a month! Yep, according to the New York Post, the couple stayed in a five-bedroom, five-bathroom newly built home — which also features a pool, a spa and a basketball court — in the late spring and early summer.
Sarah Jessica Parker and "Sex and the City" co-stars Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis scored major paydays to return to the roles that made them stars on the HBO Max revival "And Just Like That…" In January, Variety reported that the trio earned upwards of $1 million each per episode for the 10-episode series, which debuted in December.
While many of us worked from home over the last year, a certain famous couple actually moved themselves to a set. "The Walking Dead" star Jeffrey Dean Morgan, actress wife Hilarie Burton and their kids relocated to the set of his popular show while he filmed season 10 — setting up their family in a former co-star's TV house while shooting during the coronavirus pandemic. Hilarie opened up about their unique living arrangements with Interview magazine at the end of February, explaining, "To keep us safe for the filming, they had us quarantined living in the neighborhood that 'The Walking Dead' shoots in." The move might sound fancy, but it wasn't exactly a cozy setting, as she shared, "Alexandria is a little subdivision of houses with a big, huge wall, and it's apocalyptic. There's trash everywhere, and the water tower and all the sets that you see on television. We lived in Rick Grimes' house. There were bullet holes in my child's closet door."
For most new moms, getting out of pajamas is a big accomplishment. But if you're model-designer Emily Ratajkowski, a bra worth more than $3,000 is a totally normal postpartum outfit! The beauty headed off on vacation to celebrate her 30th birthday in June and shared photos from her beachside getaway in which she wore a Versace bustier that retails for $3,195 (you can see it here). It wasn't the only Versace piece she wore during the trip either — she also posted Instagram pics of herself in a pricey dress by the same designer.
Want another reason to love Post Malone? He gave back to those fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. On Jan. 13, TMZ reported that the "Sunflower" hitmaker gifted 10,000 frontline workers his custom Crocs — the Post Malone x Crocs Duet Max Clog II — which immediately sold out after debuting in December 2020. Post teamed up with Crocs and the nonprofit organization Musicians On Call to donate the footwear.
The Weeknd had the honor of performing at this year's Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 7, and the musician took the role so seriously that he invested $7 million of his own money into his performance! He told Billboard that he wanted to make his set a "cinematic experience." His manager revealed that the Canadian pop star put up the extra funds from his own pocket in addition to doing six months of "Zoom calls and email chains" to plan the epic performance.
Ever tried to impersonate a celebrity? Surprisingly, Dakota Johnson has! The actress revealed on "The Drew Barrymore Show" in January that she used to use George Clooney's name to get dinner reservations… without even knowing him! But here's where this story gets wild: Eventually, she ended up meeting George. He knew about her reservation antics and told her he was "OK" with it!
What did you do for your first Valentine's Day with your significant other? We bet Michael B. Jordan has you beat: He rented out an entire aquarium for new love Lori Harvey! Lori shared scenes from the extravagant date on Instagram, explaining how they went on a private tour and then ate dinner brought in from Nobu at an elaborate set-up underneath the swimming fish. Their day ended in an equally over-the-top hotel room filled to the brim with flowers.
SoulCycle classes often involve big pop stars' music, but what happens when one of the singers stops by to sit in the instructor's seat? That's what happened in June when Joe Jonas crashed a "One Direction vs. the Jonas Brothers"-themed spin class in Georgia. He chronicled the funny stunt on Instagram, captioning a video of the prank, "When you've got an off day in Atlanta… why wouldn't you drop-in for a @JonasBrothers vs. @OneDirection class at @soulcycle?? Let's get it! #notanad #justlovesurprises."
All kids love to pull off prank calls. But if your dad is super-famous, you might have access to a more impressive rolodex of numbers. "Behind Her Eyes" actress Eve Hewson, who happens to be the daughter of U2 frontman Bono, opened up about a certain boy bander she used to prank call: Justin Timberlake. Yep, in March, she confessed on "This Morning" that she once stole her dad's address book. "I tried to prank call a few people, but Justin picked up, so we asked him trivial questions from the back of a cereal box," she said.
On April 16, Dirt reported that Dwayne Johnson had just purchased a 3.67-acre Los Angeles property for $27.8 million! The stunning home, which was built in 1993, was previously owned by "Mad About You" star Paul Reiser. Despite having been on the market for $30 million, it seems The Rock was able to shave a couple million off the asking price. The extravagant estate located in L.A.'s Beverly Park area includes six bedrooms, a full-size tennis court, a baseball diamond and a state-of-the art gym. There's also a 2,500-square-foot guest house which, added to the main home, means there's nearly 18,000 square feet of living space in total.
Kylie Jenner donated $500,000 to create a hospital lounge for teenage cancer patients that opened on March 31. The makeup mogul made the decision to financially contribute to the creation of the "Hey, I'm Here For You Teen Lounge" at Nashville's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in honor of her friend, singer-songwriter Harry Hudson, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2017 (the lounge was also named after his 2020 album and cancer charity). "I am so grateful for Kylie's friendship and the impact she's had on my life and my cancer journey… She has always been there for me, and together, we wanted to figure out a way to be there for other young people who are battling this disease," Harry said in a statement.
It turns out that running for president without a successful fundraising arm costs a pretty penny. In February, it was revealed exactly how much Kanye West shelled out for his 2020 campaign: $13.2 million, which included $12 million of his own money. The rapper ran as a member of the Birthday Party after announcing his ill-advised run in July 2020.
If you starred in one of the biggest blockbusters of all time, would you decorate your house in the film's memorabilia? Leonardo DiCaprio allegedly did! In early 2021, interior designer Megan Weaver revealed that while working with the movie star back in the '90s, she briefly stayed at his beach home, where she made a shocking discovery. "…Everything was 'Titanic,'" Megan explained on the "Behind the Velvet Rope" podcast. "'Titanic' towels, 'Titanic' posters, 'Titanic' everywhere."
Kim Kardashian West took to Instagram on Feb. 8 to show fans a painting created by her then-7-year-old daughter, North West — a typical mom move! The only difference? This painting of a lake is insanely impressive… and many fans thought it looked too good to have been painted by a little girl. (See it here.) After receiving a lot of backlash, Kim took to her Instagram Story to defend North's skills: "My daughter and her best friend have been taking a serious oil painting class where their talents and creativity are being encouraged and nurtured. North worked incredibly hard on her painting, which took several weeks to complete. As a proud mom, I wanted to share her work with everyone. I'm seeing op-ed pieces in the media and social media from grown adults breaking down whether or not my child actually painted this. How dare you see children doing awesome things and then try to accuse them of NOT being awesome!?!?!" she wrote.
You know you've made it when… you inspire a question on a national high school exam! In May 2021, Taylor Swift was featured in a question on the 2021 AP U.S. Government and Politics exam for high school students. The question apparently focused on the "folklore" singer-songwriter's political Instagram post from 2018 in which she urged Swifties to vote for Tennessee Democrat Phil Bredesen (over Republican Marsha Blackburn) in their race to be elected to the U.S. Senate. "I opened the free response questions, and the first question was about Taylor Swift, and I was just laughing," high school student Alyssa Brown told CNN, as reported by People magazine. "I thought it was pretty cool."
After two years on the market, Bette Midler finally sold her Fifth Avenue Manhattan triplex for $50 million, it was revealed in April. While it might seem like just another high-profile celebrity real estate deal, it's more than that — Bette made an absolutely enormous profit. According to the New York Post, she initially purchased the Upper East Side apartment for $3.5 million in 1996 — which means she made $46.5 million! The luxurious New York City apartment, which spans 7,000 square feet, includes seven bathrooms, a private elevator and a stunning rooftop garden and terrace.
