India-born steel baron L.N. Mittal takes the cake for hosting the most extravagant wedding of the century, according to Forbes magazine.
By splurging $60 million (Rs 270 crore) for his daughter Vanisha’s wedding in 2004, Mittal outscored billionaires like Donald Trump of the US, Bernard Arnault of France and Andrei Melnichenko of Russia.
Consider the expenses: the report said the Mittals had sent out 20-page invitations in silver cases; put up 1,000 guests in a five-star hotel in Paris for the five-day-long ceremony; hosted a party at the Versailles and another reportedly at a wooden castle temporarily erected in Parc de Saint-Cloud.
More than 5,000 bottles of Mouton Rothschild were emptied with a wine tab estimated at $1.5 million. Pop singer Kylie Minogue performed and guests received goody bags of jewels.
Among the Top Five weddings, the Mittal extravaganza is followed by the wedding of Trump and Melania Knauss last year. His son Donald Trump Junior also made it to the list with his equally extravagant wedding.
Melnichenko became a member of the millionaires' aisle for his over-the-top marriage to model Aleksandra Kokotovic, and LVMH boss Arnault for throwing a luxe wedding party for daughter Delphine.
Mittal's event rivaled what was considered the most extravagant wedding of modern times, Forbes said. The wedding of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, now the ruler of Dubai, and Salama in 1981 had earned that title with its $44.5-million tag ($100 million at current rates). It is still the most expensive wedding in the Guinness World Records.
Mittal's event rivaled what was considered the most extravagant wedding of modern times, Forbes said. The wedding of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, now the ruler of Dubai, and Salama in 1981 had earned that title with its $44.5-million tag ($100 million at current rates). It is still the most expensive wedding in the Guinness World Records.