By Robin Leach

Published Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 | 6:25 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 | 6:29 p.m.

Mike Esterman

Baywatch's Traci Bingham, Criss Angel and Mike Esterman.

Scott Doctor

Fergie

Pure Management Group

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson.

* Ever wonder how celebrities and other VIP names turn up at red-carpet events -- not only worldwide but right here at all our Las Vegas celebrations? Be it the opening of a new resort or a special party in a Strip nightclub, there’s always an agent in the middle who makes it happen -- for the right price!

Yes, they are paid gigs for the most part, and the price tags can become quite staggering. In fact, if you have some big bucks to blow, the stars might even attend your own private party or lend you their name to put atop a new building development.

One man who makes it all come down to money as a real-life Entourage character is celebrity booking agent Mike Esterman, who spends more time in our platinum playground than he does at home or in Hollywood!

Mike says he’s heard stories in his industry of Justin Timberlake being paid $1 million to appear at an event in the United Arab Emirates and Jeremy Piven of Entourage being paid $50,000 to appear at a private birthday party in San Francisco. You could actually book all four Rolling Stones to play at your party for $5.2 million or Celine Dion could sing “Happy Birthday” for $4 million -- but Caesars Palace co-headliner Sir Elton John will do it for $1.5 million -- and has! He turns the money over to his AIDS charities.

Usher, who is appearing at the Bank in the Bellagio on New Year’s Eve, has a $1 million fee, although I think his Dec. 31 gig here comes at a lesser price tag. But you can bet the Kardashians will pocket their normal $30,000 fee apiece at LAX in the Luxor and Carmen Electra her customary $25,000 to $35,000 fee at Tao for the midnight countdown.

Mike even revealed that the going price for the new duo of Ashlee Simpson and Fall Out Boy hubby Pete Wentz now carries a $150,000 asking price. They’re appearing New Year’s Eve at Pure and, considering Britney Spears received $250,000 for her ill-fated countdown there two years ago, the Caesars Palace club will save $100K and get two stars into the bargain! Even Fergie, who will be in concert at The Venetian and then appear at Lavo in the Palazzo next door, has a $100K to $150K figure for her appearances today -- a year ago, it was $50K for her birthday bash at The Mirage.

It might all seem expensive, particularly when you add in the cost of providing plane tickets, limos and hotel rooms for the stars and their entourage. However, as Esterman points out, the red carpet photos, the name on the invitations, the pre- and post-press coverage and paparazzi photos that run in magazines for months make it all worthwhile.

“People will talk about their night out with a star for months,” he smiled.

Light Group

Jody Meyers and David Blaine.

* Magician David Blaine had himself one busy night on the town during his Las Vegas visit. He took in fellow magic man Lance Burton’s show at the Monte Carlo and then enjoyed dinner at the new Brand steakhouse there. Afterwards, he grabbed a VIP table at the Bank in the Bellagio, where female fans tried their sleight-of-hand come-ons! Detroit Tigers star Gary Sheffield was there in a separate party group.

* Actor Luke Wilson took a break from local filming of his new movie "Middle Men," about the Internet sex business, for leisurely afternoon dining at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars. He ordered the hand-cut fettuccine and yellowfin tuna while his mystery guest ordered the chicken salad sandwich.

* San Diego Chargers Shaun Philips, Shawne Merriman and Stephen Cooper took over a dance floor corner section of Jet at The Mirage and showered club revelers with dollar bills as their favorite songs were played. Every time they loved a hit record, they ordered up a new bottle of Ace of Spades champagne!

* Eccentric singer Maynard Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle enjoyed dinner at Lavo in the Palazzo. As a budding winemaker in town to promote the new release from his winery Caduceus, he stuck with the grape for dinner and ordered a bottle of Nickel and Nickel Cabernet!