Opinion
Year in review: Celeb perks
By: Jeff Dufour
Editor at Large/Columnist, "Yeas & Nays"
12/30/08 12:05 AM EST
“The rich are different,” F. Scott Fitzgerald said. Especially celebrities. Just check out some of the benefits and lifestyles enjoyed by VIPs this year. After one of his many trips to Washington, Ben Affleck arrived at Dulles International Airport for his outbound flight only 21 minutes before the plane was scheduled to take off. No worries. He was rushed though security so he could make it on board. Later this year, teen pop sensations the Jonas Brothers were permitted to use an employee entrance at Dulles to expedite their departure.
But enough about departures. What about arrivals? Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, otherwise known as the king of Bahrain, showed up at the Four Seasons with an entourage of 99 people, “limos everywhere” and hundreds of bags.
Next, let’s look at what the rich and famous do with their money. David Rubenstein, of local private-equity giant The Carlyle Group, paid $21.3 million for a 1297 copy of the Magna Carta. The previous owner? Ross Perot. Rubenstein will leave it where it is, on permanent loan to the National Archives.
Less expensive, but arguably more fun than a historical document, was the 28th birthday party Wizards star Caron Butler threw for himself. Butler flew in celebrity pinups Carmen Electra and Kim Kardashian. Rumors also had Butler pursuing Paris Hilton as a party guest, but that idea was nixed, thanks to her feud with Kardashian.
Some things can’t be bought ... like a portrait in the National Gallery of Art. After much begging, Stephen Colbert got his visage hung by the men’s room, where it nearly created a fire hazard thanks to the number of gawkers coming to get a peek.
Then there’s Karl Rove. The former aide to President Bush had a horse named after him. Karl Rove, the 6-year-old thoroughbred, hadn’t had much luck in Kentucky, however. He’s made a habit out of finishing dead last. Later this year, he was put up for sale. His price quickly declined from $15,000 to $5,000.
