Jewish Oligarch Roman Abramovich’s New Year's Eve party

Roman Abramovich and girlfriend Dasha Zhukova

Welcoming in 2012: Wendi (far left) and husband Rupert Murdoch (2nd right) await the fireworks

Film producer Harvey Weinstein talks to his fashion designer wife Georgina Chapman

Film producer Brian Grazer and his female companion look distracted

Martha starts off the evening looking more like her conservative self

Roman Abramovich’s annual New Year's Eve party in St Barts is one of the biggest showbiz events of the year.

But looking at the guestlist this year, the invitation could have easily read 'bring your own trophy wife/girlfriend' given the age gaps on show.

While the Russian oligarch, 45, was hosting the party with his girlfriend Dasha Zhukova, 30, a host of celebrity men arrived on the arms of their much younger partners

Among them was media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, 80, and wife Wendi, 43; music mogul Russell Simmons, 54, and actress girlfriend Melissa George, 35; film producer Harvey Weinstein, 59, and fashion designer wife Georgina Champman,35; and George Lucas, 67, and his partner Mellody Hobson, 42.

On Saturday night, the Russian oligarch opened his French Caribbean paradise, the 70-acre Gouverneur Bay Estate, to 400 guests for a New Year’s Eve party.

While the rest of the world confronts the worst global economic crisis in decades, St Barts stands apart as a defiant beacon to glitz and conspicuous wealth.

And the richest of all of its well-heeled holiday-makers is, of course, 45-year-old Abramovich.

The owner of Chelsea FC bought the property for £59 million in 2009, and has been enjoying the Christmas holiday there with Dasha, with whom he has a two-year-old son, Aaron.

He and Dasha took off to St Barts not long after Abramovich had reportedly paid £90 million for a 15-bedroom house in London’s Kensington Palace Gardens that was owned by the Russian government during the Cold War.

This was the third New Year’s Eve party he has hosted on St Barts and perhaps the most extravagant - a conservative estimate of the bill is £5million.

One of the many advantages of St Barts as a party venue is that it’s incredibly difficult and expensive to get to, which minimises the chances of gatecrashers.

There is one small airport - a tiny strip just 2,200ft long - that can accommodate only small prop planes or private jets.

It isn’t clear if Abramovich footed the bill for his guests’ air fare - though, since he’s worth an estimated £8 billion, he could certainly afford to - but he did provide accommodation for most.

Many stayed on Abramovich’s super-yacht, Eclipse, which has been a dominating feature - some might say eyesore - of the pretty harbour of Gustavia over the past few weeks.

At 536ft long, it is the world’s largest private yacht. It has two helicopter pads, two swimming pools, a submarine for underwater adventures and guest accommodation for up to 20.

Eighty members of staff, wearing discreet tan uniforms, operate the craft.