The Las Vegas Strip, November 2012. Inside a colossal tent, a private world of extreme indulgence had been constructed for one night only. An indoor ferris wheel spun under a glittering roof, its gondolas carrying celebrity guests high above the dancefloor. A 24ft bar sculpted entirely from solid ice gleamed, serving endless streams of champagne and premium spirits. The air thrummed with a dizzying mix of hip-hop beats and laughter.
Guests, including the reality TV star Kim Kardashian, the actor Robert De Niro and the Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, moved through the lavish space observing the unfolding spectacle, a display of wealth so over the top that Robin Leach, a longtime chronicler of celebrity excess, declared it the most expensive private party ever held in Vegas.
