I usually feel like Daddy Warbucks from the musical Annie whenever I treat a mate to a birthday cocktail.
However, the way Jay-Z handles bestie birthday drinks makes my happy-hour ‘Sex on the Beach’ look like a truly paltry offering.
Shawn Carter took Manhattan in a way the muppets could only dream of on Sunday, (February 18); spending over $110,000 for Roc Nation Sports president Juan ‘OG’ Perez’s b-day celebrations.
Jay Z tab at Playroom last night. I’m just gonna cry in poor for the rest of the day. ? pic.twitter.com/q2OhOoi3YS
— Vic (@MisterClasico) February 19, 2018
The 48-year-old rapper and businessman splashed $13,000 at the high end Japanese restaurant Zuma in Midtown where the party feasted on lobster, steak and sushi.
Seriously, the Zuma Instagram page is a thing of pure splendour for sushi buffs; boasting sumptuous images of Siberian caviar, wagyu beef and daikon & black truffle.
Just a shame I’d probably have to sell a kidney to afford the tap water alone, which might well hamper the enjoyment somewhat.
With their tummies full of luxury delicacies, the plush pals headed uptown to Made in Mexico, Inwood, where they knocked back $9,000 worth of booze. This epic bill – of course – included Jay Z’s premium D’Ussé cognac.
Excited onlookers snapped pictures and videos of their idol living the high life, before posting them to social media; starry eyed and dazzled to be up close and personal to the hip-hop idol on a night out.
However, the real party had yet to begin:
According to Page Six, the celebrations continued at the elite Playroom nightclub – it was here where Jay-Z and friends really decided to loosen the purse strings.
The lavish bill included 40 bottles – half gold and half rose – of the hip hop legend’s Ace of Spades Champagne – I can only imagine this fizz was a darn sight more palatable than the Wetherspoon’s prosecco I knocked back over the weekend.
Generous Jay was clocked sharing the fun, giving away bottles to other tables in the club. What an absolute gent.
Jay Z dropped more on bottles in Upper Manhattan Sunday night than I’ve made in my lifetime lol pic.twitter.com/Na2pBuX8dV
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) February 19, 2018
This is Jay Z's bar tab from last night vs the wholesale price of the booze. That's it, I'm opening a bar pic.twitter.com/UbcgQdiK0i
— kevinbiegel (@kbiegel) February 20, 2018
A flabbergasted Playroom server Snapchatted the final bill; which amounted to a preposterous $91,135.
This included an unimaginable tip of $11,000.
People on social media were left astonished by Jay Z’s big night on the town; left to imagine whether or not a disgruntled Beyonce would be banging loudly while doing the washing up the following morning.
Imagine Jay Z randomly comes to your work 1 day and leaves you that tip, Jesus be my inhaler I would actually pass out. https://t.co/1WTMuBhJsm
— YT: The Focus Group (@manlikekofii) February 19, 2018
However, the tip in particular has proved to be a real sticking point for many people, with some accusing the extravagant spender of being a tad stingy.
One person scoffed: ‘Yeah, Jay-Z left a $11,000 tip on a 80,000$ tab. That’s not even 15%.’
Another tip critic tweeted:
Jay-Z is worth half a billion dollars, he should tip more than 15%, and again, I’m willing to bet that he got the best service the establishment could give, which would have been worth more than 15%.
They wouldn’t let just anyone serve him..
Yeah, Jay-Z left a 11,000$ tip on a 80,000$ tab. That’s not even 15%. pic.twitter.com/iBCZpH09jV
— Gwen Salami (@chelsalame) February 20, 2018
jay z tips like shit no wonder he cheats
— sosa (@chulomang) February 21, 2018
If Jay Z is only tipping 15% I’ll never have enough money to tip 18-20%
— ZACH (@Hans_on_dec) February 20, 2018
That's only a 13.87% tip, Jay Z. pic.twitter.com/v4cMkKKwSQ
— Rudolf E. Havenstein (@RudyHavenstein) February 21, 2018
Jay Z is worth half a billion dollars, he should tip more than 15%, and again, I’m willing to bet that he got the best service the establishment could give, which would have been worth more than 15%. They wouldn’t let just anyone serve him..
— Matt W (@ChinLovesIowa) February 20, 2018
To be fair, I wouldn’t be complaining too much about such an astronomically unexpected tip.
Somewhere out there in Manhattan, there’s a deliriously happy drinks server still jumping up and down, pinching themselves on the way to the travel agents…
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.