Last weekend, billionaire Robert F. Smith hosted a “James Bond”-themed party at his Florida estate; however, some guests were less than impressed by the opulent seaside festivities, according to sources cited by On The Money.
The CEO of Vista Equity Partners, the nation’s richest African-American with a net worth of $8 billion, was surprised on his 60th birthday by his wife and family on December 2 at his waterfront mansion in Palm Beach, according to sources close to the situation.
Some of the about sixty guests at the party found the “Double-0 Six-0” celebration strange and unpleasant.
Smith’s wife Hope Dworaczyk – Playboy’s 2010 “Playmate of the Year” who planned the event for months – imposed what one partygoer described as “huge security” during the party, requiring guests to hand over their phones as they entered.
The beachfront estate of Smith in Palm Beach, Florida, listed by Sotheby’s International Realty
Attendees were discouraged from entering the $48 million home, which was originally owned by Tiger Woods’ ex-wife Elin Nordegren and included a putting green and 15 bathrooms.
Instead, attendees were directed to a series of portable toilets located outside. Adding insult to injury, a guest complained, “They patted you down when you came out of the restroom in a persistent search for concealed cameras and other high-tech spying gadgets.”
Usher, an R&B singer, performed at the gathering.
Smith has endured an unpleasant week to say the least. According to sources, Smith’s former attorney, Carlos Kepke, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound six days earlier, on the eve of his own trial for allegedly helping Smith hide $225 million from the IRS.
Smith, who had urged the judge to seal evidence in the case, was to be questioned by Kepke’s attorneys. Smith struck a non-prosecution deal with the federal government in October 2020 about the tax claims against him.
In exchange, Smith promised to testify against his ex-business partner, Robert Brockman, who died in August before to his trial on allegations of orchestrating the largest individual tax-fraud case in U.S. history.
Usher performed around 10 p.m. during Smith’s party, which began around 5 p.m. A live, James-Bond-like, “high-impact action scenario” involving a James-Bond-like individual descending from a helicopter was scheduled for around sunset, according to sources, but was canceled due to weather conditions.
The partygoer explained, “They had something planned, but it was too windy.” “The Bond theme was unimportant. It was a disappointing party.”
Smith, who is the chairman of Carnegie Hall and who notably committed $34 million to pay off the student debt of the whole graduating class of 2019 at Morehouse College, made news earlier this year with a failed effort to purchase the Denver Broncos.
Smith representatives declined to comment.
»Robert F. Smith celebrated his birthday with a James Bond-themed party: sources«