WHAT CREDIT CRUNCH?

 

MERE MORTALS LIKE US MIGHT BE FEELING THE PINCH, BUT ON PLANET CELEBRITY IT’S STILL A CASE OF SPEND, SPEND, SPEND. JEALOUS? US? WELL, MAYBE JUST A BIT…

By Eimear O'Hagan and Claie Wilson

WEDDING-CRAZED COLEEN MCLOUGHLIN

 

Coleen is a self-confessed shopaholic, rarely seen without a dozen designer carrier bags on her arm. So her wedding to Wayne Rooney was always going to be the perfect excuse for a big fat splurge.

Seemingly oblivious to the credit crunch, the 22 year old blew a phenomenal sum on the nuptials – we calculate around £4million – including £100,000 on a Marchesa bridal gown, and another £85,000 on alterations.

Then there were three hen nights – in Manchester, Gran Canaria and Miami – costing a staggering £210,000.

Coleen and Wayne, who are worth £35million, hired private jets to fly 64 guests from the UK to the £60,000-a-head wedding celebration in the Italian Riviera resort of Portofino.

They’re also hosting a £250,000 wedding reception in Liverpool. But they’ve managed to recoup £2.5million from an exclusive magazine deal. Nice work if you can get it!

BIGGEST CASH SPLASH

The happy couple paid £400,000 to book Westlife to perform at their reception. But were they worth the money? As any wedding guest will tell you, it doesn’t matter who’s providing the music after a few drinks.

All you need is a DJ with the Dirty Dancing theme in his collection, and everyone’s guaranteed a good knees-up.

Total spend: £4million+

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO WAS BARRED FROM ATTENDING THEIR ULTRA EXPENSIVE WEDDING

 

LUXE-LOVING PARIS HILTON

 

It’s no surprise you’ve never seen Paris slumming it on an EasyJet flight. She only travels first class, as does her entourage.

A trip to London last month with mum Kathy and boyfriend Benji Madden would have cost around £15,000. And of course her luggage is Gucci or Louis Vuitton.

The 27-year-old heiress also loves to splurge on her chihuahua Tinkerbell, who’s regularly seen in designer doggy outfits and jewelled collars.

Over the course of her cosseted lifetime, ‘Tink’ could cost Paris a staggering £90,000 – and that’s before we get to her 16 other dogs, goat and two ferrets named Dolce and Gabbana.

On top of spending sprees in designer shops, Paris fritters money in the strangest ways. While in Russia to host the MTV Movie Awards, she splurged £30,000 on wine in a Moscow store.

BIGGEST CASH SPLASH

The swanky suite at The Dorchester on London’s Park Lane that Paris checked in to last time she was in town costs £6,500 per night, adding up to a staggering £19,500 for a three-night stay.

Total spend: £1million+

 

JET SETTING SIMON COWELL

 

He loves the high life, so you wouldn’t expect Simon Cowell, 48, to tighten the belt of his high-waisted trousers when the going gets tough.

Despite a global recession, the pop mogul is building a £4million mansion in Beverly Hills, complete with five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a swimming pool and a hi-tech media room.

Simon, who’s worth an estimated £112million, famously refuses to travel by anything other than private jet – we reckon he spends at least £1million a year on travel.

Simon doesn’t skimp on holidays either, spending Christmas and New Year in the exclusive Sandy Lane resort in Barbados, where a 14-night stay costs up to £385,000.

BIGGEST CASH SPLASH

Simon recently acquired the ultimate boy toy – a £600,000 Bugatti Veyron.

It’s the world’s most expensive and fastest street-legal car, but given that he’ll never come close to hitting the 253mph top speed, what’s the point? Anyway, you know what they say about short men who drive fast cars…

Total spend: £5million+

 

MONEYBAGS MADONNA

 

Madonna, 49, is an estate agent’s dream. As the housing market slows down, the queen of pop has snapped up a £6million town house next door to her sprawling mansion in central London.

But don’t assume she needs the extra space for her expanding family. Oh no!

She’s turned the house into a state-of-the-art gym complete with £7,000 Power Plate. Madge and husband Guy Ritchie have a combined fortune of £300million, so she’s used to splashing out on whatever she fancies.

She’s a big fan of exclusive eaterie Locanda Locatelli, where pasta with white truffles will set you back £65. A meal for two with champagne wouldn’t give Her Madgesty much change from £500. Ouch!

BIGGEST CASH SPLASH

Travelling by road is far too mundane for Madonna, who took to the skies for a 37-mile helicopter trip from her home in London to Maidstone, Kent, to play at Radio 1’s Big Weekend last month.

Private hire of a chopper costs around £1,500 an hour, making it around £18,000 for the trip.

Total spend: £6million+

 

Photography: PA, Pacific Coast News, Splash, Goffinf.com, Matrix, NM/CNB/Finalpixx.com, Eagle press, Film magic, Wire image

 

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