How the Other Half Lives
When celebrities rent houses, they go for big numbers or free deals.
MALIBU, Calif., July 19, 2007 — -- Celebrities rent homes just like the rest of us, right? Well, kind of.
The only difference is that they will either spend in a single week what many people would budget for an entire year or manage to live a life of leased luxury without spending a single cent.
Malibu, Calif., is the neighborhood of choice for many stars seeking to get away from their hectic Hollywood lifestyle of spas and manicures. The Polaroid Beach House, located on the so-called Billionaire Beach section of the Malibu coast, is one preferred location. It offers exclusivity and the opportunity to truly indulge, all for a price available to only the rich and famous -- nothing.
"A smart celeb should never have to pay a penny," said Jay Marose who worked alongside Fingerprint Communications, the company behind the Polaroid House. "Given the right amount of time and the right party planner, they can even turn a profit."
If a celebrity is planning a party or a weekend away then their publicist will put the feelers out by contacting one of two groups of people. They either select from a handful of connected realtors in the city or, as strange as this may sound, a catering company who has good relations with the upper echelons of the Los Angeles social scene.
After the location is set, the next task is to find people to sponsor (read: pay for) the event.
With paparazzi magnets like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, this isn't difficult. In fact, sponsors often become the center of attention.
"When Lindsay walked in [to the Polaroid House] the Alterna haircare consultant said, 'Introduce me, introduce me,'" Marose said. "I told him, 'Relax, she'll come to you,' and sure enough she soon asked me who he was. Before you know it they had begun negotiations for her own shampoo."
Following quick on the heels of Matthew McConaughey's bash two days prior, Lindsay Lohan and Hillary Duff made sure that this year's July Fourth celebration at the Polaroid Beach House was sprinkled with an appropriate level of stardust.
"We are not a gifting suite and see ourselves as a boutique hotel," said Laura Duran, who works for Fingerprint Communications, who remain behind this summer's eventsat the house.
