Justin Hemmes reveals his $1million party for staff lasted 12 HOURS

Justin Hemmes threw a whopping party for his staff on Monday. 

The pub baron’s shindig, held at his popular  CBD nightclub The Ivy, lasted a whopping 12 hours and cost $1million, with the 49-year-old Merivale CEO pictured joining the fun.

‘It was a mini-festival. Thousands of staff all having an amazing time, it was incredible,’ Hemmes told on Tuesday. 

The spend was chump change to the billionaire, who was happy to drop some change on his charges, with 4500 staff members partying all day at The Ivy — which was aptly re-named ‘Ivy Land’. 

‘It is not about spending money, it is about recognition,’ he said. ‘It is celebrating their hard work and acknowledging them for the great job that they do. Particularly in hospitality, staff are cbd gummies addictive everything.

‘Your business is built on your people but also we are a family company and we like to celebrate the good times and celebrate the success, our people and the support they give us.’ 

Hemmes shared several videos from the epic bash, aptly named ‘Ivy Land’, on Monday, with his model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 26, taking centre stage as she danced in a glitzy rhinestone bra to the pumping DJ beats.

Her model sister Simone, who recently appeared on SAS Australia, later shared a video of Madeline hosing down revellers with a steam machine as she danced onstage.

The crowd, which were staff from all of Merivale’s venues, danced to a banging setlist of club anthems from headline act Flight Facilities.

The majority of attendees wore colourful outfits and props as they fist-pumped to the beat, and enjoyed free-flowing drinks and cuisine all night long.

According to , the company had to close down most of its locations across the city for the event, with a sign on the door reading: ‘Our wonderful team are currently enjoying a well deserve day off for our staff party.’

One employee even had Hemmes’ face emblazoned on a poster, which was stuck to an umbrella and raised in the air in honour of the CEO.

Hemmes was seen posing with several staff member at the event, wearing a colourful shirt and glitter on his face as he raised his hands in the air and smiled.

Other attendees included Merivale’s celebrity chefs Dan Hong and Mike Eggert. 

Speaking to the publication about the bash, Hemmes said: ‘We’ve all faced a challenging two years.

‘I want to thank my staff for their unwavering support, for their hard work, for their loyalty and the commitment to the industry and Merivale.’

Meanwhile, Hemmes’ girlfriend looked stunning in a sparkly silver bra and pink sunglasses.

She teamed her look with a pair of patterned trousers, and opted for bright green eyeshadow and rhinestones to accentuate her striking features.

At one stage, Madeline climbed up the bar to take a sultry photo, flaunting her svelte frame and ample assets in the process.

One reveller was seen waltzing across the stage in a bikini and rainbow cape, as the crowd bounced along to the music around her.

Hemmes made his debut on the Financial Review Rich List in 2018 with an estimated net worth of $951million.

Last year, his net worth grew to $1.2billion, making him the 97th richest person in Australia.

The billionaire businessman owns a string of lucrative pubs and establishments across the country, including the Lorne Hotel on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, along with The Quarterdeck, The Inlet and The Whale Inn.

Huge parties for staff have become folklore at Merivale, which is currently facing a class action before the Federal Court for underpayment of workers. Merivale has denied liability and is vigorously fighting the class action. 

Madeline and Justin have been dating for some time, and she even spent lockdown at his Vaucluse mansion in 2020.

She now reportedly lives in a Coogee penthouse he owns.