There is no authoritative, apples-to-apples ranking of the world’s costliest parties. Published lists mix weddings, birthdays, public celebrations and hotel openings—and often leave unclear whether their totals include security, infrastructure or other expenses. The events below are a curated selection of widely reported high-cost celebrations; figures are labeled by source and should not be read as audited budgets unless noted.
How to read the reported costs
All dollar amounts below are reported in nominal dollars for the year of the event unless a source says otherwise. They are not adjusted for inflation, so a 1971 estimate cannot be compared directly with a 2024 estimate as a measure of today’s purchasing power. Sources also use different accounting boundaries, which makes a precise, universal ranking impossible.
10 widely reported expensive celebrations
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Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding celebrations — 2024
Reported cost: more than $600 million. The National reported an estimate exceeding $600 million for the celebrations; Vanity Fair separately described the cost as a reported $600 million. Neither account presents an audited budget. The National reported 11 pre-wedding events, with about $300 million allocated to those festivities, and reported fees of $9 million for Rihanna and $10 million for Justin Bieber. Vanity Fair described celebrations stretching over months before the July 12–14 Mumbai wedding and a reported crowd of about 2,000. The National; Vanity Fair.
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Persepolis celebration — 1971
Reported cost: $500 million, according to the Times of India. That is a source-specific estimate, not a settled event budget. Accounts differ over the total and whether infrastructure should count as party spending; Waddingtons discusses how the accounting boundary changes the calculation. A separate listicle gives a much higher inflation-adjusted range, but its figures also rely on disputed estimates. Keep the $500 million figure in its original-year context rather than treating it as a verified total or combining it with an adjusted figure. Times of India; Waddingtons; The Travel.
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Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia’s wedding — France, 2004
Recorded cost: US$55 million. Guinness World Records identifies this as a six-day wedding in France and records the couple as the hosts. Events included a re-enactment of their courtship, an engagement ceremony at Versailles, and performances by Shah Rukh Khan and Kylie Minogue. Guinness describes it as the only private function held at the palace. This is a record-style figure, rather than an independently audited ranking across all parties. Guinness World Records.
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The Sultan of Brunei’s 50th birthday — 1996
Reported cost: $27.2 million. Whatitcosts gives that figure; the South China Morning Post search-result record describes the celebration as costing about US$27 million and lasting two weeks. It says Michael Jackson performed for a crowd of 60,000 at a custom-built stadium, and that a dinner was held for 3,000. These are reported historical figures, not a certified budget. Whatitcosts; South China Morning Post.
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William and Kate’s wedding — United Kingdom, 2011
Estimated cost: $70 million. Legit.ng includes this estimate in its 2020 list of expensive celebrations. The article does not establish an audited total or a consistent accounting scope, so treat the amount as a reported estimate, not a definitive event-only bill. Legit.ng.
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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi’s wedding — 1981
Reported cost: $45 million in 1981 dollars. Legit.ng gives this historical figure. It is a nominal amount for the event year, not an inflation-adjusted comparison with more recent celebrations; the list does not provide an audited budget. Legit.ng.
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Atlantis hotel opening — 2008
Reported cost: $31 million. Legit.ng lists the hotel opening among extravagant celebrations. Because it does not explain whether the figure covers only the opening festivities or broader event costs, the number is best read as a reported list figure rather than a verified party budget. Legit.ng.
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Elizabeth Brooks’s bat mitzvah
Reported cost: $10 million. Both Legit.ng and Whatitcosts include this bat mitzvah in their selections. The reviewed list entries do not establish an audited total or a more specific accounting boundary. Legit.ng; Whatitcosts.
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Wayne Rooney’s wedding
Reported cost: $8 million. Legit.ng gives this figure in its 2020 list. It is a reported list amount, not a verified budget with a stated cost methodology. Legit.ng.
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David Bonderman’s birthday celebration — 2012
Reported cost: $7 million. Both Legit.ng and Whatitcosts include a Bonderman celebration at this figure; Legit.ng dates it to 2012. The sources do not establish an audited total, so the amount remains a reported estimate. Legit.ng; Whatitcosts.
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Why different lists produce different winners
The selection changes depending on whether a list counts only private parties or also weddings, public celebrations and commercial openings. Even within one event, the headline total may combine different things: event production, performers, security, infrastructure or other spending. That is especially consequential for Persepolis, where sources disagree about the event’s total and what should be included.
The strongest contrast is between the Guinness World Records entry for the Mittal-Bhatia wedding at US$55 million and the press estimates of more than $600 million for the Ambani-Merchant celebrations. Guinness records a specific figure for a named event; the much larger Ambani figure is a press estimate, not an official budget disclosure. Those different kinds of evidence explain why these celebrations can be compared as reported costs, but not arranged into a fully verified global leaderboard.
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