The A-list pay list
By KATIE NICHOLL and LOUISE HANNAH Last updated at 23:02pm on 7th October 2006
Pay list: Liz Hurley was rumoured to have demanded £80,000 just to turn up at the Moet & Chandaon party in New York
When supermodel Sophie Dahl pulled out of a glamorous New York party at the 11th hour the hosts, champagne house Moet & Chandon, were desperate for another A-lister to step into the breach.
After all, the company had gone to the enormous expense of hiring Liberty Island for the night and bringing on enough of its bubbly to make a Customs and Excise officer wince, so determined were they that the event would be a success.
So who better to turn to than veteran party-goer Liz Hurley who happily calls champagne "the best drink in the world" - and happened to be in town that day on beauty business?
But it wasn"t as simple as tempting Miss Hurley along with a few free glasses of her favourite tipple. In fact, we can reveal that the company agreed to pay her an eye-watering £80,000 to be the guest of honour at the flamboyant event, to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.
Yet, as the hours slipped by and the flutes were refilled, those at the party reported that Hurley appeared to have turned up with nothing else to do other than quaff as much of the company"s bubbly as possible.
Wearing rather too much make-up, she swayed gently to the music and looked bleary-eyed into camera lenses.
And while she was not required to do or say anything in particular - just look generally decorative - Hurley sniped away most of the night about the lack of food and the disastrous effect the wind was having on her superfine hair.
She topped off the evening's bravura performance by insisting on trying to carry a magnum of champagne and three glasses on to a ferry taking her back from Liberty Island to Manhattan. So determined was Hurley that she and her magnum should not be separated, that it took several burly members of staff 20 minutes to politely explain it was a no-alcohol vessel.
One party-goer said: "Liz turned up at the ferry taking guests to the event with an entourage of about 20 people and walked straight on while everyone else had to go through security. She had an entire deck to herself and refused to talk to anyone. She was there solely to be pictured.
"She had been in New York for a job with Estee Lauder and agreed to come to the party on the condition that she was only photographed and wouldn't have to give interviews. In fairness to her, it's no real surprise she got very tipsy. There was no food on offer and it was freezing cold. She was just standing there shivering in her frock."
Moet's executives must have been mortified, but not simply because of their star turn"s somewhat unladylike manners. They knew the 41-year-old's antics would be making all the wrong kind of headlines the next day - and they had paid her handsomely for the 'privilege' of her attendance.
The guest said: "Of course, Elizabeth was the talk of the night for all the wrong reasons. Someone was told that she had been paid to attend the party and from then on, the news spread like wildfire. There were some crazy figures flying around. One person had been told that she was being paid £80,000 just to be there and be photographed."
Last night, a spokesman for Moet confirmed that Hurley had been paid but declined to say how much. "As a rule we don't pay celebrities to attend events," he said. "However in the US it is an industry norm to contribute towards costs and expenses to the artist when the artist is co-hosting a function. I don"t know how much she was paid but that would be private."
The concept of paying a star - or celebrity wrangling as it"s known in the business - is on the increase. "These days, even minor stars expect to be paid to turn up to events," said one source.
Supermodel Erin O'Connor has been offered £10,000 to attend an event at Harrods later this month. "She considers it to be easy money," said an industry insider. "If she wants to leave after an hour she can, as long as she had been photographed."
Last night, a number of party industry insiders in the UK said organisers often had to provide rather more than a gold-edged invitation to guarantee certain glamorous guests turned up.
SOPHIE ANDERTON
The supermodel was given jewellery worth £100,000 by Michele Watches to attend a summer party by designer Michele Barouh wearing one of their diamond-encrusted creations. "Sophie was told she could have her pick of Michele watches if she turned up," says a source.
"For Sophie it's a great chance to go to a party, be photographed and leave with a lavish gift.
She is often offered gifts to be at an event but isn't paid cash as far as I know."
LIZ HURLEY
Tongues wagged at the Moet & Chandon party in New York when the whisper went round that Hurley had been paid £80,000 just to turn up. As our pictures show, Liz looked glamorous in a red chiffon strapless number, but became more dishevelled as the blustery conditions and copious quantities of fizz took their toll.
She insisted on taking a magnum on the ferry back to Manhattan - and had to be reminded by staff that it was a no-alcohol vessel.
LIZ TAYLOR
Earlier this year Taylor, one of Hollywood's most reclusive icons, was given a £35,000 watch by jewellers Chopard to attend Elton John"s glittering Oscar-night bash in aid of his Aids foundation. "Chopard decided to give their star guests watches," said a source. "Because the event is for charity no one is paid as such, but Chopard were incredibly generous.
They lend and give jewels to star clients to be at their events all the time.
When Sharon Stone wears Chopard on the red carpet it is worth thousands of pounds in publicity for the brand."
LIZZIE JAGGER
Mick Jagger's daughter Lizzie, a model for cosmetics giant Lancome was paid £20,000 to attend a party thrown by fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. She also got a first-class ticket and all expenses paid for the night out in Amsterdam.
JERRY HALL
The Sultan of Brunei's son, Prince Azim, called upon "old friend" Jerry Hall to help celebrate a birthday in Knightsbridge. She and actress Scarlett Johansson were among scores of VIPs who received some impressive diamonds.
"It's all about prestige," said a source. "It's good to be able to boast you have had A-list stars on your top table."
JAMIE FOXX
Back in April, Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx was paid £20,000 by West End nightclub Pangaea to party for one night. He and his entourage enjoyed thousands of pounds worth of champagne and other drinks - all on the house
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Paying A-listers to party
true!!
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