Sometimes, good old coincidence plays a major role in life — like being in the right place at the right time. Or when you’re chatting in the cafeteria with a colleague and friend about your upcoming trip to Miami, and he casually mentions that his best buddy — with whom he studied — happens to live there. And not just anyone: no one knows the nightlife of Miami and Miami Beach better than him. A true party animal.
Oh, and by the way — he’s also a multimillionaire. He made his fortune importing PC components from China back in the late ’90s. And as the self-proclaimed Party King, he spares no expense for his wild nights out. My colleague illustrated this with a story so over-the-top I almost didn’t believe it — something Rishi experienced in 2008 with a group of college friends he had invited from all over the world. A kind of “class reunion” deluxe, so to speak.
That weekend, they planned to go out and party. Rishi knew that a brand-new club in Miami Beach was having its grand opening that very night. So, of course, they headed straight there. At the entrance, however, the bouncer simply said, “Not tonight — we’re full.” But Rishi wasn’t having it. He asked to speak with the club manager.
When the manager came out, he immediately recognized Rishi and apologized, saying that unfortunately, it really wasn’t possible that weekend — but he’d be happy to welcome him the following weekend. Rishi replied coolly that his guests would be gone by then and that they absolutely wanted to celebrate the grand opening tonight.
Then he asked, “What would it cost for us to get in tonight?”
The club manager, probably thinking that would shut things down once and for all, replied, “That’ll be $10,000.”
Rishi’s response? Ice cold: “I’ll give you $20,000 — and I want the best table for me and my friends.”
Well, that did the trick. Moments later, the group was seated at the most prime spot in the club, partying hard until dawn. What happened to the people who had been sitting there before? Nobody could tell me. That’s how my colleague told me the story — and up until then, I thought stuff like this only happened in movies.
But he had another story up his sleeve. One that involved none other than Britney Spears.
Apparently, Britney was at the same club one night, partying with her entourage. But Rishi? He had even more people around him. More champagne. A wilder vibe. The whole club was watching him, not her. Britney, visibly annoyed, eventually walked up to him and asked:
“Who are you that you’re getting way more attention in here than I am?”
She was so baffled by the whole thing that some say it might’ve been that night that pushed her to shave her head soon after.
But hey — that’s just a rumor. 😉
My colleague simply said that he would get in touch with Rishi and explain to him that a friend would soon be coming to Miami, and that maybe, once we’re there, he could make some time for me. Said and done – contact was made, Rishi got in touch, and from that point on I handled everything directly with him via email.
As soon as I told him when we planned to be in Miami Beach, he made it clear that he would do everything he could to make time for us. At first, it didn’t seem easy, but he definitely made it happen: we got to know him better – partying together and even having a cozy Sunday breakfast at his penthouse. But before that first meeting on the terrace of our hotel in Miami Beach, there was a flurry of emails exchanged between us across Florida.
Finally, on Friday afternoon, November 29, 2013, the moment arrived: Rishi and his friend Mike were suddenly standing in front of me. We were seeing each other live for the first time. Luckily, we had a mutual friend to break the ice, so we started off talking about him. After all, they hadn’t seen each other for almost five years, so Rishi was genuinely interested in hearing what was new with his friend back in Germany.
Then the conversation shifted to that night. He suggested picking us all up from the hotel at 11:30 p.m. to go out and party. We were to be surprised – he wouldn’t reveal any details yet. Benita, Filis, and Gülcin were still skeptical about what to expect and didn’t really believe me when I told them we were about to experience one of the craziest party nights with a charming millionaire. They kept thinking, “Olli always talks big.” I just thought to myself, let them talk – because I trust my friend in Germany 100%. If he says that his best friend is the party king of Miami, then that’s exactly who he is. And the three girls were about to be completely blown away.
A decadent night was about to begin – or in other words: “I’ll just buy the world as I like it…”
At exactly 11:30 p.m., Rishi showed up with his buddy Mike in a minivan taxi. This slightly confused the three girls, since they were probably expecting a millionaire to show up in a stretch limo or something similar – not in a plain old taxi. I thought it was charming and was excited for what was to come.
During the ride to the SLS Hotel – our first destination of the evening – he explained why he prefers to travel around in taxis. He enjoys the independence, can always have a drink, and loves learning about the drivers’ backgrounds, their stories from different countries, and occasionally even picks up a new business idea that one of the drivers might be harboring in the back of his mind.
It only took a few minutes until we reached our destination – the entrance of the SLS Hotel, where the manager of the Hyde Beach Club, Deyan, was already waiting for us. A very courteous and friendly man, he welcomed all of us and personally guided us through all the checkpoints into the club. Our area was already reserved there.
from left: Deyan, Oliver, Rishi
And unlike in Germany – at least I’ve never seen it there – each VIP table here has its own dedicated VIP host, usually a very, very attractive and often quite provocatively dressed lady who perfectly embodies the role. And under no circumstances should you pour your own drink or help yourself – that’s what she’s there for. If you try, she’ll just shoot you a sharp look. One simple gesture is enough, and she’ll refill your glass or bring you whatever you’d like. Top-notch service.
Then came what we would experience several more times that night – the large bottle of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2003. I’ve never had so much champagne in one night.
Although the evening had only just begun, there was already a lot you could say about Rishi—things that still hold true to this day. He’s the perfect example that money doesn’t necessarily spoil a person’s character. On the contrary, he’s incredibly generous, genuinely likeable, and always up for a good laugh. We got along really well from the very beginning.
His buddy Mike was a bit more reserved at first, but gradually opened up—and by the end of the night, it felt like we’d known him for much longer. I think I can also speak on behalf of my three companions when I say that, despite being surrounded by strangers, we felt completely at ease all night. Everyone was so welcoming and open toward us.
From the SLS Hyde Beach Club, we went straight by taxi to the Mansion Club. Waiting for us at the VIP entrance was Dimitri, the VIP Director for several clubs in Miami Beach that belong to the Opium Group. We were ushered in right away, and the moment I saw the lighting system inside the club for the first time, I was completely speechless – the entire ceiling was a giant light organ. Absolutely mind-blowing. You just stand there at first, taking in the phenomenal sound system and marveling at the incredible light show. To this day, it’s the most stunning club I’ve experienced in Miami.
Once we got to the VIP area, the same ritual kicked off as it had at the Hyde Beach Club – a bottle of champagne was presented by a crew of stunning women. Honestly, I could watch that scene for hours. 🙂
Then the club owner entered the VIP section. His name is Roman Jones, and he’s the son of the legendary Mike Jones, the frontman of the famous band “The Foreigners.” Rishi greeted him right away, and it was clear the two had known each other for a long time and were close friends. Then Rishi introduced me, and we started talking about his incredible club.
Suddenly, he pointed to the three huge LED displays on the far side of the club – and there, in bold letters across all of them, were the words: “Welcome back Rishi!!” – repeated three times.
He just laughed and took a big sip from his champagne glass.
From left: Roman, Oliver, Dimitri
Above the VIP area, a large net had been stretched out — something I had already wondered about at the beginning of the night. Now I knew why: two very, very scantily clad go-go girls were hanging in it, performing every possible gymnastic move imaginable while suspended in mid-air — right up to a full-blown leg split. *smile
Honestly, we could’ve just stayed here tonight — I felt instantly at home in the Mansion. But we wanted to check out more clubs, so we slowly but surely made our way to the exit, together with a few more of Rishi’s friends, as well as Dimitri and Roman.
Roman said goodbye to all of us, while Dimitri came along — after all, the next club also belonged to the Opium Group.
And that was the SET Club. Significantly smaller than the Mansion, but all the more exclusive. Everything was already prepared here as well, and the champagne wouldn’t keep us waiting for long. Once everyone had gathered, the champagne arrived. And this is the moment where you should imagine a fanfare, because what followed was nothing short of royal – true entertainment.
From an opening in the ceiling, an angel descended. And no, it wasn’t because I had one too many and started seeing divine visions – this angel was way too sexy for anything you’d expect in heaven. Suspended by a rig, she floated into the club, over the DJ booth, and was slowly lowered near our table.
In her hands, she held an oversized Dom Perignon bottle, with the brand name glowing and rotating around it like a neon halo. It was just a dummy, of course – a showpiece so that everyone in the club could see that someone was about to blow a few hundred dollars on a massive bottle of bubbly. The real bottle was brought to our table at the same time, with no less spectacle.
All around us were numerous VIP hostesses, and more women kept joining the table—it was pure delight for the men in the group. I always say it: money makes people sociable. By now, Dimitri had really loosened up and asked if I wanted to film the club from the DJ booth. After a quick nod from me, he led me through a side corridor toward the booth.
Now, let me just point this out: on the way there, in pitch-black darkness, I slammed my forehead straight into a low ceiling edge—so hard I was seeing stars and angels again. Unfortunately, they didn’t bring champagne this time, just a pounding headache and a big bump the next day. All I could think was, “Damn, Dimitri could’ve mentioned that the ceiling’s lower in the dark!”
After a quick intro to the DJ and a great view of the club and our crew, the night rolled on. That’s when Dimitri left us. We hopped into taxis and headed to the Mynt Lounge.
When we arrived, there was a huge crowd gathered at the entrance—but that didn’t faze Rishi at all. He simply gave a quick nod to the bouncer, who immediately recognized him, smiled, and cleared a path for us by pushing the waiting guests aside. I think this was the biggest our group had been so far—around 10 to 15 people—rushing straight to our table at the front, waiting for Rishi to join us.
As soon as everyone was there, the drinks we had ordered began arriving at the table. No, this time it wasn’t Dom Pérignon—but instead about ten bottles of Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne. Probably not a cheap order, but I have to say, absolutely delicious.
Naturally, the moment was celebrated with all the bells and whistles: flashlights, fireworks, and several stunning VIP hostesses making sure the whole club noticed what was going down. And yes—it worked perfectly.
I honestly couldn’t tell you which glass of champagne I was on by then, but my mood was fantastic, and the alcohol seemed to help with my headache. At least it felt that way.
Once again, there were half-naked dancers on stage, gracefully presenting their nipple pasties with a surprising amount of class.
A truly beautiful sight, I must say. I couldn’t help but imagine this becoming the next summer trend on German streets… nipple pasties. Okay, on second thought, better not — there are quite a few people I’d rather not picture wearing them.
At this point, the mood among our group was at its peak, and by now it was already 5 a.m. — and we had only managed to visit four clubs so far. So once again, it was time to say our goodbyes and move on to the next venue. We headed off to the Story Club.
This was also the moment when the group dynamic came to an end – we were back to the same number as in the beginning: just six of us. It would also be the last club of the night, as the late hour clearly showed that the party at Story had already peaked.
Nevertheless, what had happened in every other club that night couldn’t be missed here either – you guessed it – champagne! Once again presented with a parade of ladies and a huge show, though by that time, nobody in the club seemed to care anymore. We didn’t mind – the vibe was still great. Maybe a bit tired, but hey, there’s always room for a glass of champagne.
We partied a little longer and then, shortly after 6 a.m., decided it was time to call it a night. Following Rishi’s suggestion, we took a taxi to Ocean Drive.
To the only place still open at that hour: the News Café – because we were all starving. Time for breakfast. I ordered baked pasta. Breakfast? Okay, maybe a bit unusual, but I was craving pasta. In my defense, no one else really ordered a proper breakfast either.
Afterwards, we were full, exhausted, and couldn’t go on. Rishi noticed that too, so we ended the night there. Luckily, our hotel was just around the corner. We said goodbye to him and Mike and thanked them for an unforgettable evening – well, night, to be exact.
While we were already fast asleep in dreamland, Rishi confessed to us the next day that his night had been far from over – he kept partying until 11 a.m. at the afterhours at Space in Downtown Miami.
By Saturday, Rishi was completely out of commission. When he finally crawled into bed around noon, all he wanted was sleep.
As for Saturday night, I had VIP invitations to LIV, but unfortunately, we had to pass – we were still totally wiped out from the night before.
A pity, really – but postponed doesn’t mean canceled. And during my next visit to Miami in March 2014, I’ll definitely make up for it.
Just as we were about to head towards the Everglades on Sunday morning as planned, Rishi reached out via email and invited all of us to his penthouse for breakfast. It was a truly lovely gesture and the perfect opportunity to say a proper goodbye, as he had to leave for a business trip to Mexico the next day and would be gone before our departure. About 8 to 10 miles north of Miami Beach, we visited him in his two-story penthouse. Even getting to the elevator was quite the experience — full security with a gate, a concierge at the ground floor, a check to confirm we were registered, and only then were we allowed to access the elevator.
Completely relaxed, Rishi opened the door for us with a beaming smile, dressed in sporty attire, clearly happy to see us. He had ordered the entire breakfast from a caterer, but joked that if we had told him exactly when we were coming, he would have staged it as if he had cooked it all himself just for us. What a joker.
It was lovely to experience the private side of Rishi, who proudly introduced us to his son in his role as a loving father. The nanny then took the little one outside to play, and we sat down for breakfast with Rishi, enjoying the breathtaking view as he shared more about his life with us.
Unfortunately, time flew by way too quickly, and we had to keep moving and slowly say our goodbyes.
Looking back, I can truly say I’m glad I got to meet Rishi – it’s rare to come across someone so wild yet likeable, and who hasn’t been spoiled by money. Thanks so much for the awesome night and the breakfast at your place. I’ll be back!!!
