The Rich & Bizarre: Los Angeles Is Full Of Strange Parties from Rich to Poor

Monica Gray - October 6, 2023
Share

Los Angeles is one of the most eccentric, strangest cities in the world. Where else will you get to attend naked parties, secret cinemas, sunrise dances, and vegan street fairs? Even though most people head to Los Angeles to look for celebrities, others visit to eat dinner around a table of naked people or watch underground wrestling matches. The city hosts tons of bizarre events throughout the year that might leave you with more questions than answers. These once-in-a-lifetime experiences only happen in Los Angeles, and you might just find yourself attending one of these bizarre events.

Getty Images

Why Are So Many Rich People in California?

California’s dominance among the wealthiest in America is striking, with a whopping 26 of the top 100 billionaires choosing the Golden State as their home base. This statistic is more than a simple population-driven phenomenon, as a fair distribution would suggest only 12 residing in California. The primary catalyst behind this wealth concentration is undoubtedly Silicon Valley, a global tech hub that attracts tech moguls like a magnet. However, it’s important to recognize that California’s wealth isn’t solely a product of its tech prowess. The state’s economic might is a key contributor, boasting the fifth-largest economy in the world. This unique blend of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic power creates an environment where the ultra-wealthy naturally gravitate, making California a top destination for those looking to capitalize on its unparalleled opportunities.

Los Angeles Is Rich Rich

Los Angeles boasts an impressive roster of wealth with 205,400 millionaires, making it a playground for the financially elite. This exclusive club extends to 480 centi-millionaires and an even more select group of 42 billionaires, collectively contributing to the city’s opulent reputation. The city’s wealth is not confined solely to the urban core, as it encompasses affluent enclaves like Beverly Hills and Malibu. LA’s economic landscape is diverse, driven by major industries including entertainment, media, real estate, retail, technology, and transportation, each playing a pivotal role in shaping the city’s thriving economy and luxurious lifestyle.

Bling Empire. (L to R) Anna Shay, Kane Lim, Kelly Mi Li in season 2 of Bling Empire. Cr. Ser Baffo/Netflix © 2022

“Bling Empire” Series Shows Niche Elite

Netflix’s latest reality series, “Bling Empire,” has taken viewers into the extravagant lives of a group of Asian and Asian American socialites in Los Angeles, offering a tantalizing blend of opulence and drama reminiscent of “Crazy Rich Asians” meets “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” The show centers around Kane Lim, a 30-year-old heir who hails from a Singaporean billionaire family with interests spanning oil, shipping, tanking, and real estate. While Kane’s family fortune is substantial, his true passion lies in the world of fashion, a fact abundantly evident on his Instagram page, where he models an array of designer clothes and accessories to an audience of over 183,000 followers. The show peels back the layers of Kane’s extravagant lifestyle, unveiling an awe-inspiring wall of shelves dedicated to his impressive collection of Christian Louboutin shoes, rumored to be valued at over $365,000.

Ladecom

The Burning Man Decompression Parties

Even though Burning Man takes place in the Nevada desert, the decompression parties happen in the city of Los Angeles. You’ve likely heard of Burning Man and the bizarre and otherworldly events that happen at the festival. But the city hosts several “decompression” parties, amidst the aftermath of Burning Man. This is to help people decompress from the festival and wean themselves back into real life. It captures the essence of Burning Man, equipped with installations, costumes, and fire dancers. Producer Esquire Jauchem said, “They like our event because it’s so different from what they usually deal with. They don’t have to pick up a ton of garbage when we leave,” thanks to Burning Man’s leave no trace ethos (LA Weekly).

Los Angeles Daily News

The Underground Lucha Libre Wrestling Parties

A new generation of fans is on its way with these intense underground wrestling events happening in Los Angeles. These events are typically very bizarre have a carnival-like atmosphere, and mainly take place in strange, unconventional venues. Sometimes, people dress in eccentric costumes and listen to live music during the event. This is where, likely for the first time in your life, you’ll watch luchadores battle each other. Event producer Madison Woodward started these events and said, “It’s basically like watching the best bar fights in history. Wrestlers do flips off the stage and finishers off the bar, while hundreds of people follow them around, trying to capture every second of it. It’s a spectacle, that’s for sure.” Convincing the wrestlers to participate was the hardest part, but once they agreed, it turned into a bizarre, popular spectacle. Other wrestling parties that happen in Los Angeles include Nuclear Heat Wrestling, which calls itself a “female-run underground hipster show,” which brings an indie vibe to pro-wrestling in the underground venues of Los Angeles (LA Mag).

 

A Saudi Arabian Prince Who Would Buy Multiple Hotel Levels

This guy witnessed a Saudi Arabian prince back in the 1980s, and his account is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Picture this: one of the top crown princes from Saudi Arabia casually reserving not just one, but three entire floors at some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including iconic spots like the Four Seasons. But it doesn’t stop there; it gets even more surreal. Two of those floors were designated for an entourage that included maids, helpers, and an army of security personnel. Talk about going all out to ensure comfort and security. Reading this account makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a scene from a lavish movie. It’s a stark reminder of the immense wealth and privilege that existed within certain circles during that era, a world that most of us can only dream about.

Time Out

The Voodoo Hollywood New Year’s Eve Party

If you’ve ever visited the Voodoo Lounge in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve, then you’ll know just how bizarre this event is. It has a mystical atmosphere. Guests wear voodoo-inspired costumes, drink absinthe, sip on a sweet midnight elixir, and roam around amongst live music and fortune tellers. To top it all off, there’s a silent disco (Go Mag).

Reddit

The Annual Night Of Destruction

As this Reddit user puts it, this bizarre get-together is a demolition derby on steroids. After attending one year, racers surprised the crowd with races and crashes, that included every type of vehicle, from boat trailers to taco trucks to mobile homes. There was even a figure-8 race track, and hilarious vehicular wreckage (Reddit).

Hollywood Reporter

The Bizarre Hollywood Forever Cemetery Screening

In the summertime, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts movie screenings outdoors. Even though the concept itself isn’t that strange, watching classic films amongst eerie graves of the legends of Hollywood is an electrifying, weird experience. Leave it to the legends of Hollywood to have one of the most bizarre movie screenings in the world (Trip Advisor).

Midsummer Scream

Midsummer Scream

Even though this isn’t your traditional Halloween party, it’s still a bizarre event that takes place in LA. This horror-themed convention features cosplay, scary performances, and haunted houses. It’s the place to get your scare on, especially if you’re a die-hard horror enthusiast. The event features more than 350 spooky vendors and exhibitors. You’ll get props horror collectibles and everything in between to suit your horror needs (Midsummer Scream).

The Guardian

Clifftop House Parties

Amongst the scenic hills of Los Angeles are exclusive parties in eccentric mansions, with some of the most celebrities in the world. These gatherings are opulent, grand, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can expect nudity and strange rooms, amongst many other strange things that only happen at the richest parties. These parties were especially troublesome during COVID when the elite held these parties under the radar. At one point, the government even threatened to shut off their power and water supply (The Guardian).

LA Times

The Naked LA Party

You don’t need to bring a bottle or any appetizers to this party. All you have to do is arrive and take off your clothes. You’ll find this combination of food and nude at this exclusive party in LA. It’s there to help attendees lower their inhibitions and experience art in an entirely new way. The attendee said, “I was among the 26 people who paid $150 to experience Füde, a plant-based gathering that invites people to leave their inhibitions, self-doubt, and clothing behind.” The host, Charlie Max, said, “I wanted to focus on what made people feel comfortable in their skin and tap into their most pure authentic selves. Nudity represents so much more than the act of being naked. It’s surrender.” They want to explore the yes within, and this is one way they’re doing it (LA Times).

Vanity

The Secret Cinema

If you’re looking for an immersive film screening experience in LA, then the Secret Cinema is for you. The surroundings transport you into a world of film. You need to dress up and participate in interactive scenes. It’s more of an immersive, theatrical experience than a comfortable evening at the cinema. As this cinema puts it, “You don’t watch it, you live it.” It’s one way to escape reality and live a life different than your own (Secret Cinema).

LA Girl

Daybreaker

This event doesn’t exclusively take place in LA, but all over the world. You’ll get the Daybreaker events in New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, San Diego, and Austin. But the one in LA might seem bizarre for those of you who have never attended a Daybreaker event. They throw events in strange places, like lofts and boats. You arrive at a location at sunrise, dressed in whatever eccentric outfit you want, and start the day dancing with tons of other sober people (Daybreaker).

Reddit

Teen Parties We Only Thought Existed In Movies

In his teenage years, at around 15 or 16, he found himself at a swanky mansion party up in the hills, accompanied by a buddy and a female friend. Surrounded by a crowd of high schoolers living out their extravagant fantasies, they opted for a low-key approach, enjoying beers and a card game, the picture of teenage nonchalance. Yet, this soirée wasn’t your run-of-the-mill party. It seemed like some of the affluent kids in attendance had taken an exotic detour via Ecstasy, leading to a spectacle of eccentric behavior. The overall vibe? Well, let’s just say it was “rich in quirkiness.” But the pièce de résistance of the night had to be the unforgettable moment when a girl, perched on the back patio’s ledge, decided to take a leap of faith (or folly) and went tumbling down the hill.

Nude Noir

The Nude Noir

This elegant, extravagant event with guests, eccentric costumes, and performances. Guests describe it as sensual and seductive. On the Nude Noir’s website, it says, “There’s a very old but good Asian proverb that says, “It is better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times.” Nude Noir is an art and experience that has to be seen, felt, and surrendered to.” And it’s better to attend this bizarre event once than hear about it from other people (Nude Noir).

Vegan Street Fair

Vegan Street Fair

Los Angeles loves veganism, and they make sure everyone knows it during their annual vegan get-together. At this event, you’ll find an array of food vendors selling anything and everything vegan, from ice cream to desserts, to tacos, and burgers. You likely didn’t know how many vegan items existed until attending this street fair. You can munch on as many small portions as you want, without getting too full (Vegan Street Fair).

Hello Jetlag

No Pants Subway Ride

The No Pants Subway Ride began in New York City. The people of Los Angeles loved it so much, it inspired a similar movement on the LA Metro. You’ll see people riding the subway without pants at this bizarre, annual get-together. If you thought you’d seen it all on the metro, you haven’t. Participants split into six different groups and ride the subway in the afternoon. They all end up at Santa Monica station in Tongva Park (Hello Jetlag).

Pasadena Doo Dah Parade

Doo Dah Parade

If you want an eccentric parade with a bit of humor and satire, head to the Doo Dah Parade in Los Angeles. It has outlandish costumes, bizarre floats, and wild performances that are probably unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. You’ll get anything and everything from couch potatoes on wheels, performance artists, time travelers, absurdists, country western hicks, marching lawnmowers, and as their website puts it, “The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade is free to watch, so bring your lawn chair and enjoy the nationally known twisted sister of the Tournament of Roses Parade and enjoy all the funky, whacky, irreverent, satirical, and silly fun!” This is the event of a lifetime (Pasadena Doo Dah Parade).

Time Out

The Los Angeles Festival of Books

Even though attending a festival of books probably doesn’t sound that bizarre, this one hosts some unexpected guests. You’ll get niche authors writing books on bizarre topics. It’s a unique literary experience. It started in 1996 as a way to unite people who love writing books with those who love reading them. The outdoor area is free, but if you’re looking to attend a seminar, you’ll have to pay a small fee (Timeout).

Time Out

CicLAvia

This Los Angeles event closes off many major streets in the city to cars, transforming them into massive bike and pedestrian paths. You’ll get street performances, food trucks, and music along the way. These normally bustling streets transform into car-free zones, helping encourage people to explore the city uniquely (Time Out).

Daily News

The Adult Swim Festival

If you’re one of those late-night fanatics of Adult Swim, then you might be happy to learn about the television network’s strange annual festival. You’ll get interactive games, live performances, and an immersive experience. It takes place in different cities depending on the year, including LA and San Diego (Adult Swim).

Trip Savvy

The Edwardian Ball

This bizarre event is a blend of Edwardian-era fashion, steampunk, and a masquerade ball. You’ll get a surreal, immersive experience that transports everyone to a different era. According to the event’s website, “One of the key successes of our event is that we do not have a dress code, no kind of look or fashion is “right” or required. Our only request — and please, this we beseech of you — is that you dress up in some manner, step out of your ordinary life, and join the celebration!” It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new. Another similar event also takes place in San Francisco (Edwardian Ball).

Advertisement