The ultra-exclusive Caribbean island of St Barthélemy played host to an extraordinary congregation of A-list celebrities and billionaires ringing in 2026, but the relentless social media documentation of their luxury has ignited a significant backlash. Former supermodel Heidi Klum found herself at the centre of the online critique for her prolific posting throughout the festivities.
A Night of Extravagance Documented Online
Heidi Klum, 52, shared a staggering 17 posts over the course of the evening, offering followers a minute-by-minute account of the opulence. Her videos included a coquettish selfie in a nightclub, a table laden with Petrossian caviar – which retails for up to $447 per tin – and her 36-year-old boyfriend, Tokio Hotel guitarist Tom Kaulitz, swigging from a $2,500 jeroboam of Cristal champagne.
The celebrations were centred at the renowned Nikki Beach club, where famed DJ Diplo, 47, performed an exclusive set. Klum also shared aerial footage of the island's coastline and clips of the spectacular fireworks display marking the start of 2026. Diplo, though working, appeared to enjoy the party atmosphere, posting his own stories from a yacht and of feeding turtles in the island's clear waters.
A Who's Who of the Mega-Rich Gathers
Klum and Kaulitz were far from alone on the island, which served as a temporary hub for the global elite throughout the holiday week. The guest list included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 61, and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, 56, who were previously seen dancing and drinking at Nikki Beach. The couple's $500 million yacht was part of a flotilla of shockingly extravagant vessels moored offshore.
This nautical display included the mega-yachts of other luminaries such as Google co-founder Sergey Brin, WhatsApp founder Jan Koum, and basketball legend Michael Jordan. A tradition amongst the rich and famous on the island saw them sound their foghorns in unison as midnight struck.
Local Annoyance and Online Mockery
The gluttonous display did not sit well with everyone. Locals and frequent visitors to St Barts took to online forums to air their grievances. One Reddit user with 12 years of experience visiting the island lamented its transformation into a magnet for the "tacky designer crowd," while others complained that the armada of superyachts ruined the natural ocean views.
Social media criticism was particularly sharp towards Bezos and Sanchez. A video of Sanchez dancing enthusiastically in a denim mini-skirt while Bezos looked on gleefully as staff served champagne with sparklers prompted widespread mockery. "One of the richest men in the world parading around... like a University of Miami fraternity brother. Exhausting and cringe," wrote one user on X.
Another comment captured the prevailing sentiment of many observers: "These disgusting people could eradicate homelessness across the entire world with their cash and look what they do instead. So tacky and vile." The event, intended as a festival of excess to welcome the new year, ultimately served as a stark spotlight on the growing public fatigue with unabashed celebrity and billionaire ostentation.
