Down Angle Symbol A symbol in the form of an angle pointing downwards. Rihanna and members of the Ambani family took the stage for the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. Reliance Industries/Reuters
- Rihanna performed at a pre-wedding event for Anant Ambani, the son of Asia's richest man.
- She's not the first celebrity to play an expensive private gig for the elite.
- In 2013, Jennifer Lopez apologized after speaking out for a Turkmen leader described as a dictator.
Performing for the world elite pays off. Just ask Rihanna.
The “Umbrella” singer arrived in Gujarat, India, this week for pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, who married Radhika Merchant.
The Ambani patriarch, chairman of Fortune 500 company Reliance Industries, has an estimated net worth of $113 billion.
Media is not supported by AMP.
Tap to enjoy the full mobile experience.
Rihanna took the stage on Friday during a star-studded cocktail party that ended with a payout of more than $5 million.
Although Rihanna's appearance is making headlines this week, she's not the first celebrity to give the world's elite an ultra-exclusive appearance.
Read on to find out which other celebrities have performed for presidents, dictators and the wealthy.
Beyoncé received a multi-million dollar paycheck for a private performance at a luxury resort in Dubai.
Beyonce in Dubai. Mason Poole/Parkwood Media/Getty Images
Beyoncé is no stranger to private concerts, but her recent performance in Dubai thrilled fans around the world. In January 2023, the “Cuff It” singer arrived in the United Arab Emirates city to celebrate the grand opening of Atlantis The Royal Resort, described on its website as “the most luxurious experiential resort in the world.”
Although it was a private concert, videos and pictures of Beyoncé's performance went viral on social media. Many fans praised videos of Beyoncé singing her now-famous “Drunk in Love” riff, as well as Beyoncé singing on stage with her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy.
The private concert only lasted an hour, but media outlets like Fortune reported that Beyoncé received $24 million.
Italian singer Andrea Bocelli performed at Kourtney and Kim Kardashian's weddings – intensifying the feud between the two sisters.
Andrea Bocelli. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
The Kardashian family has always seemed close-knit, but in July 2023, rifts emerged between Kourtney and Kim. Tensions between the two had been building for several years, but one point of contention concerned Andrea Bocelli.
Bocelli is a famous Italian tenor who performed at Kim's wedding to Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, in 2014 and Kourtney's wedding to Travis Barker in 2022.
During season three of Hulu's The Kardashians, Kim accused Kourtney of copying her wedding aesthetic after Kourtney accused her of doing the same.
“I got married in Italy. Am I saying you copied me by getting married in Italy? Who performed at my wedding? Who performed at Kourtney's wedding? Andrea Bocelli,” Kim said in a confessional.
“You stole my damn wedding land and my wedding artist,” she added. “Andrea Bocelli is my favorite singer of all time, but I copy her dolce vita lifestyle?”
Bocelli later spoke out, writing in a July 2023 Instagram Stories post that he was “flattered” that they liked his work.
Jennifer Lopez apologized after giving a private performance for a Turkmen leader described as a dictator.
Jennifer Lopez in Turkmenistan. AFP/Getty Images
In July 2013, Jennifer Lopez was criticized after she traveled to Turkmenistan for a private concert. Media outlets such as Vanity Fair reported that the guest list included former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the former president of Turkmenistan whom the Wall Street Journal described as a “dictator.”
Critics accused Berdimuhamedow of human rights abuses and sparked an outcry over Lopez's decision to serenade him with “Happy Birthday” during the performance.
Following the backlash, Lopez's publicist attempted to address the situation in a statement to E! to clarify. News said the China National Petroleum Corporation was hosting the event and it was not political in nature.
“The event was reviewed by its representatives. If human rights issues of any kind had arisen, Jennifer would not have participated,” the statement said.
According to Vanity Fair, Lopez was paid between $1 and $1.5 million for the controversial three-song show.
Mariah Carey said she was “embarrassed” after performing at a private concert for Muammar Gaddafi's family members.
Mariah Carey. VALERIE MACON/Getty Images
Carey tried to distance herself from the infamous 2008 appearance. This year she performed for members of Muammar Gaddafi's family in St. Bart's. Human rights organizations have long criticized former Libyan dictator Gaddafi, who has been accused of war crimes.
“I was naive and didn’t know who to perform for. I feel terrible and embarrassed to have been involved in this mess,” Carey said in the statement. “Going forward, this is a lesson that all artists can learn from. We need to be more aware and take more responsibility, regardless of who books our shows. Ultimately, we as artists need to be held accountable.”
Carey was paid $1 million for singing four songs, The New York Times reported.
Nelly Furtado also performed for the Gaddafi family. She donated her $1 million payment after public backlash.
Nelly Furtado. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Mariah Carey wasn't the only artist to get in trouble for a private concert for the Gaddafi family. Beyoncé, Usher and Nelly Furtado were also criticized and Furtado publicly apologized.
In a statement shared on Twitter in 2011, Furtado said in a post that the private concert took place in 2007 and lasted 45 minutes.
“In 2007, I received $1 million from the Gaddafi clan to perform a 45-minute show for guests at a hotel in Italy,” Furtado wrote. “I’ll donate the dollar.”
The Rolling Stones received a hefty check after performing at a Texas investor's birthday party.
The Rolling Stones. `
The Rolling Stones were also successful in the private concert business. In November 2002, the English rock band played for a Texas billionaire named David Bonderman, who, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, invited 400 guests to celebrate his 60th birthday party in Las Vegas.
It's unclear how much the Rolling Stones were paid for the performance, but CNN reported that Bonderman's party cost around $7 million.
Guns N' Roses once played a private show in Russia for a chairman.
Guns N' Roses. Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images
According to Rolling Stone, the members of Guns N' Roses once traveled to Moscow in 2010 for a private concert. The band performed for Alexander Chistyakov, then CEO of the Federal Grid Company, at a film studio complex.
“It couldn’t have felt more awkward,” singer Tommy Stinson told the outlet in May 2022. “They were a bunch of drunk partygoers who were happy we were playing. I didn’t see any damn gold plated toilets,” but I’m sure they were there somewhere.
Guns N' Roses walked away with $1 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Miley Cyrus sang at a Texas law firm's Christmas party as a teenager.
Miley Cyrus. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Cyrus was around 16 years old when she agreed to perform at the Lanier Law Fims Christmas party in Houston, Texas in 2008.
Chron reported that the event took place at Mark Lanier's home, where Cyrus appeared on stage with a guitar-playing Santa Claus and music-loving elves. Lanier told the outlet that an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 guests were expected.
It's unclear how much Cyrus received for the private concert, but The Hollywood Reporter estimated between $200,000 and $500,000.
Comments are closed.