By Megan Riedlinger
8:19am PDT, Mar 29, 2017
The big 2-1! It's a milestone birthday for everyone, but like most things, celebrities manage to outrageously outdo us regular folk. So just how have some of your favorite stars kicked off the momentous age? In honor of pop star Austin Mahone turning 21 on April 4, 2017, we're taking a look back at some of the incredibly lavish and surprisingly down-to-earth things celebs did to celebrate when they turned 21! Keep reading to find out who enjoyed five different parties around the world, who got paid $500,000 to attend their own party and who spent the big day at home with her parents!
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Supermodels celebrate twice! Gigi Hadid turned 21 on April 23, 2016, and in honor of the monumental day, she threw parties in two different cities — Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The L.A. shindig took place at celebrity hotspot The Nice Guy, where boyfriend Zayn Malik and friends Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner and Naomi Campbell were in attendance, while the Las Vegas festivities went down at Intrigue at the Wynn.
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Kendall Jenner wore a $9,000 silver dress comprised of Swarovski crystals to her big 21st birthday bash, very similar to what Paris Hilton wore to one of her five birthday parties (yes, five, but we'll get to that later). The reality star-turned-model's party took place at Hollywood hotspot Delilah, where pals (and rumored love interests) Harry Styles, Jordan Clarkson and Travis Scott were all in attendance, as well as pals Hailey Baldwin, Cara Delevingne, Jaden Smith and sisters Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian West, Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner.
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Ringing in your 21st birthday at the Happiest Place on Earth seems like a great choice! Ariana Grande headed to Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to celebrate with her "favorite people" at Disney World in 2014. She even got this adorable photo with Cinderella and Prince Charming.
Not all celebrities throw over-the-top fiestas. Despite being one of the most famous ladies around, when Taylor Swift reached the 2-1 milestone in 2010, she opted to quietly celebrate with her parents.
The award for the most star-studded 21st birthday goes to Harry Styles! In attendance at his birthday bash in Los Angeles in 2015? Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Martin, Adele, David Beckham, Cindy Crawford, Adam Levine, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne… just to name a few. And to feed those famous faces, Harry had four cakes on hand!
The record for the most 21st birthday parties held by a celebrity has to go to Paris Hilton. The heiress toasted to her big 2-1 not once, not twice, but five times back in 2002. Her celebrations went down all around the world, with events in London, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It's rumored that the bashes cost $75,000… per guest.
Imagine getting paid to attend your own birthday party! That's how it went down for Justin Bieber, who rang in his 21st birthday in Las Vegas in 2015 at the opening of the Omnia nightclub at Caesars Palace. In exchange for the superstar partying the night away for his own birthday, the club reportedly paid Justin $500,000.
Miley Cyrus spent her 21st birthday at nightclub Beacher's Madhouse in West Hollywood, where she partied the night away alongside pals Kelly Osbourne, Amber Rose, Emma Roberts and Kesha. Party decorations included cutouts of Miley's face and "I Love Miley" sunglasses to keep things festive. Among the gifts she received from famous father Billy Ray Cyrus? A $24,000 motorcycle!
Adele celebrated her 21st birthday in true Adele form… on stage! The star was performing in New York City when her mom surprised her (and her audience) with a massive birthday cake and an avalanche of balloons in 2009.
Ever wonder how the future king of England rang in his 21st birthday? Prince William, who turned the big 2-1 back in 2003, actually opted for a laid-back party at Windsor Castle. One thing he did insist on? The party be an African-themed costume party, which he later said he did because, "I thought it would be quite fun to see the family out of black tie and get everyone to dress up."
A movie night and a party in the Hollywood Hills? Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate 21! That's how Rihanna rang in her birthday in 2009 after canceling a big shindig and opting to keep things low-key. The singer reportedly headed to the theater to see "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail" with pals before attending a house party in Hollywood.
Back in 2008, Blake Lively was starring on "Gossip Girl," so it's no surprise her Upper East Side co-stars were in attendance for her big night. The actress threw a 1920s-themed party to mark her 21st in the New York Palace Hotel in New York City and invited her family, then-boyfriend Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick and some old high school friends to toast her milestone birthday.
