Mark Ronson's 1m party payday

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Mark Ronson was paid a staggering £1 million to perform at a 21st birthday party.

The producer-and-musician was hired to appear at the Moulin Rouge-themed bash of British heiress Freya Dawson in the grounds of her family's country estate in the Cotswolds.

Ronson surprised Freya as he sang 'Happy Birthday' to her and then joined Jamiroquai's band and DJs from Hed Kandi as he performed a 45-minute set, which included his version of The Zutons' hit 'Valerie'.

One guest told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I've never known anything like it. The party was the type of thing reserved for royalty. The food was first-class, there was plenty of drink and Mark Ronson was great. All the girls were thrilled when they saw him come out - he was lucky to get out of there alive!"

Ronson is not the first star to be paid a vast sum of money to perform at a private party.

Last month, Amy Winehouse was given £1 million by Russian billionaire, Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich to perform at an event organised by his girlfriend Daria 'Dasha' Zhukova.

George Michael once received £1.7 million for a 75-minute show at Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin's New Year's Eve party in 2006, while the Rolling Stones were paid a total of £4.4 million for playing at the 60th birthday bash of billionaire David Bonderman.