Many prominent Jews were lucky enough to have gained admittance to Abramovich’s festivity. Harvey Weinstein, the American film producer, attended along with his fashion designer wife, Georgina Chapman. Marc Jacobs, the preeminent fashion mogul, also made an appearance. Media sources have also reported that the computer genius, Paul Allen, was present on the island during the days preceding the bash, though his presence at such a party would seem awfully misplaced.
One of the first things one would notice at Abramovich’s party (aside from the fact that its guests comprised a who’s who of high society, Jewish and gentile) was the glaring age gap between many of the male guests and their female counterparts. Indeed, many elder and middle-aged men came to the bash with significantly younger female companions. Rupert Murdoch, 80, the renowned media magnate, was joined by his 43-year-old partner, Wendi. One media headline quipped about the whole matter: “Roll out the trophy wives: Tycoons and their much younger girlfriends turn out for Roman Abramovich’s £5million ‘little party’”
But it wasn’t just media magnates and A-listers at Abramovich’s get-together. Members of Brooklyn’s own Sephardic community also found themselves rubbing elbows with A-listers and ushering in the secular New Year in style. While Hollywood celebrities had to lobby to get their own wives past the proverbial velvet rope, several members of the New York Jewish community still found their way in, be it by virtue of personal connections, or perhaps a talent for smooth talking. We may never know.
The bash commenced at around 10 PM Saturday night, as invitees made their way over to the Abramovich’s enormous estate. The property, which was purchased for £59 million (approximately $90 million) in 2009, serves as the owner’s vacation spot, where he has hosted the annual party during the last three years. Most guests spent their time on his yachts, the eclipse and the Luna, the first of which contains two helicopter pads, two swimming pools, and a submarine for underwater adventures. The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed, and a plethora of unique foods and expensive liquors were offered to onlookers.