Robbie's £1m party fee

If you wanted Robbie Williams played at your party, you'd check your CD collection.

Michael Spencer checked with the man himself. Then it was simply a matter of handing over £1million before Williams turned up to provide the entertainment at Mr Spencer's 50th birthday party.

A mere one hour's entertainment to be precise. But for the City's wealthiest selfmade man it was a sound investment.

Williams's appearance was the highlight of the party at the Spencer mansion in the south of France on Saturday night.

The 1970s band Sister Sledge provided the rest of the music, two of France's top chefs cooked the food and the champagne flowed like water for the 300 guests.

Mr Spencer may not be as famous as Williams, but his £360million fortune leaves the 32-year-old singer in the shade.

The chief executive of Icap, the world's biggest money-trading broker, he paid himself a £10million salary last year and is the 138th richest man in Britain. He is also one of the Conservative Party's biggest donors.

And while Williams once claimed 'I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams' his £85million is small change to Mr Spencer. He has excellent earning power, though. He played a mere 15 songs at the party - for almost £70,000 a tune.

Last night, sources close to the singer said he had given his pay cheque to charity. 'It was an incredible party that must have cost - if you include what Robbie was paid - at least £1.5million,' said a source who attended the party in Grasse, near St Tropez. 'It had everything money can buy - and then some.

'The wine and champagne were all vintage. They included bottles that were worth thousands of pounds.

'When Robbie came on there was a huge cheer and people could not believe that he was there playing to them in such an intimate venue.

'Michael flew at least some of his guests over from England and all over the world to attend the party and he also paid to put them up. It was a night that no one will forget.'