Musical sensations Elton John and Mariah Carey were allegedly paid millions to perform at the extravagant, star-studded wedding bash for the granddaughter of a Russian-Jewish oligarch.
The entertainment superstars were the highlights of the lavish nine-hour celebration at London’s Landmark Hotel for the granddaughter of billionaire business mogul Valery Kogan, according to British media.
Pop diva Carey was reportedly paid £2.5 million ($3 million) to fly in from the US for the luxurious party for bride Irene Kogan, 19, and groom Daniel Kevey.
Local media reported that Carey personally dedicated her performance of her popular R&B ballad “We Belong Together” to the couple.
According to the British Sun, Elton John, who purportedly charges no less than £1 million ($1.2 million) for appearances, performed a 12-song set at the extravaganza.
Other A-list celebrities in attendance included actor Antonio Banderas, who was said to have given a speech during the affair. The elite guest list also included various members of Russian high society.
The bride’s 65-year-old Jewish grandfather, Kogan, is part owner of Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport.
He has made headlines in Israel with his lucrative real-estate purchases in the country, including a mansion in the sea-side town of Caesarea that was reportedly worth $100 million.
In 2013, he broke an Israeli real estate record with his purchase of a 1,000-square-meter apartment for $31 million.