Shane Smith $300k Dinner - Talk of a meal fit for a king! The CEO and co-founder of international media company VICE Media reportedly dished out $300,000 for a meal with some execs in Las Vegas last month.
Two unidentified sources told The New York Times that more than 30 people were at the dinner party hosted by Shane Smith at the Bellagio casino's Prime Steakhouse in Las Vegas during the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Some of the pocket-sinking treats that the guest enjoyed on the night reportedly included bottles of a $20,000 wine and a 28-ounce bone-in rib eye, which costs about $85.
Smith, who paid for the $300k meal personally, is believed to have dipped into his winnings from a lucky gambling run to cover the cost of the dinner. Sources told The New York Times that Smith won up to $1 million from gambling while at Las Vegas.
The late New York Times columnist David Carr hinted at Smith's gambling last month when he tweeted "No brainer quiz. What media co exec did I watch win $100k at blackjack last nite?" "Hint: gambling not his only vice."
MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren first mentioned the $300,000 dinner bill while discussing his company's 4th quarter earnings report with analysts. Murren didn't directly identify that the high spending client was Smith, he simply used the check to illustrate what he described as "abundant spending."
Smith, whose wealth is valued at about $400 million, is credited with transforming the free punk magazine he started in Montreal to a multi-billion dollar media house. Today, Vice Media is estimated to be worth up to 2.5 billion. Despite Smith's larger-than-life personality, he is regarded as a astute businessman.
The news of Shane Smith's $300k dinner has since gone viral and has sparked a lively debate on social media.
