Priciest New Year's Eve parties

For $5,000, you might get a chance to ask them why they named their kid Bronx Mowgli

How much would you pay to ring in the New Year in the same room as Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson? Did you say $5,000? Then you’re in luck! Or maybe you’d rather hop in your private Lear jet and count down to 2009 with Shakira in Abu Dhabi? That’ll cost you a mere $400…plus jet fuel, of course.

Recession? What recession? This New Year’s Eve, there are plenty of ways to drop some serious coin on wild and weird New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe. Here are 12 of our favorites.—Keith N. Dusenberry, Special to Metromix