The Most Extravagant Dinner Parties in History

Before you splurge on that Super Bowl Party, or make arrangements for that lavish Oscars Dinner, keep in mind that you can go TOO far in your quest to impress friends and neighbors. Below, read ten examples of hosts that got caught up in the excitement of party planning and may have suffered just a touch of remorse the next morning.

1. The 400 Billion Dollar Birthday Bash

Billionaire CEO’s 2001 embezzlement pays for wife’s multi-million dollar, R-Rated fortieth birthday bash. Ends up in jail, divorced.

2. Recession, What Recession?

Billionaire casino magnate and serial supermodel divorcee Sol Kerzner ignores 2008 global meltdown, hosts Grand Opening for Dubai casino.

3. The Billion Dollar Glass of Wine

Cleopatra bets Marc Antony she can create most expensive banquet ever. Dissolves her billion-dollar pearl earring in wine, drinks it down, collects winnings.

4. Can I Have My $20 Billion Back Now, Please?

Insanely-wealthy Sultan of Brunei hosts 1996 bash with Michael Jackson providing the entertainment. Brother embezzles several billion soon after.

5. Eighty-Four and Going Strong

Eighty-four year-old billionaire lumber baron celebrates his 84th birthday at a star-studded 2007 party.

6. Let Them Eat Cake — I’ll Be In Disguise

New York Socialite amuses friends by hosting lavish costume ball in 1897. Stuck in The Long Depression, everyone else is not amused. Taxman sides with everyone else, rakes her over the coals.

7. Try the Flamingo Tongue — It’s to Die For!

Roman Marcus Apicius invents Haute Cuisine, but over-the-top dinner bills force re-evaluation of lifestyle. Rather than live with a mere $200 million in the bank, Marcus opts for suicide.

8. Twenty Thousand Guests, Forty Thousand Bottles of Booze. You Do the Math

Mayors of France turn up their noses at Paris, get together with the federal government at largest dinner party ever in 1900.

9. Dude, She’s Just Not That Into You

Earl of Leicester spends a lifetime chasing the Queen who would not be caught. Efforts culminate in two colossal feasts.

10. You Want Fries With That Ostrich Brain?

Roman Emperor and notorious practical joker Heliogabalus cooks up some ostrich brain, locks his dinner guests in with the lions.