BIRTHDAY BECKS
Star-studded bash as David Beckham hits 40 in Morocco.
• He has not kicked a ball in anger for two years, but it says something about David Beckham’s continued global appeal that a 40th birthday picture on Facebook attracted more than 650,000 likes.
Beckham shares a birthday with Catherine the Great of Russia and his birthday party Saturday would not have disappointed her taste for ostentation.
The former footballer hired the Amanjena resort outside Marrakech, rated as one of the top 100 hotels in the world, to mark the occasion.
“A tranquil retreat, Amanjena reflects the region’s Moorish heritage in every graceful arch, stone courtyard and rose petal-strewn fountain, its sun-paled red walls and reflective pools paying homage to North Africa’s stark beauty and rich history,” the resort’s website enthuses.
Ninety guests flew in from around the world to join Beckham and his wife, Victoria, the pop star-turned-successful fashion designer, for the Arabian-themed party, said to have cost the couple £250,000 ($460,000). Given the Beckhams’ wealth, this represents little more than small change.
Those in attendance included James Corden, Elizabeth Hurley, Tom Cruise, Eva Longoria and Gordon Ramsay. While the couple’s four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper were in Marrakech, they were understood not to be attending what was described as an adult occasion.
The lavish party was a reflection of the status Beckham has achieved since the end of a distinguished playing career which, along with lengthy stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid, included spells at AC Milan, Paris St Germain and L.A. Galaxy, where he is credited with having done much to turn soccer from a fringe into a mainstream sport in the U.S.
Since hanging up his boots, the combination of sporting success, good looks and a
Earned nearly £50 million last year
family image has done much to cement Beckham’s status as a global brand. Beckham’s face can shift anything from Breitling watches and Adidas sports kit to Jaguars in China, while his torso sells underwear.
According to Forbes magazine, Beckham earned nearly £50 million last year — more than twice as much as Lionel Messi, probably the world’s best footballer, much of it from celebrity endorsements and business ventures.