The white party that brought Kim Kardashian, Drake and Tom Brady to the Hamptons

It was the fourth edition of Rubin’s and Fishel’s annual Independence Day bash in the Hamptons, where bodycon dresses reign supreme. Paparazzi had lined up outside their property’s manicured hedges to catch a glimpse of the black SUVs ferrying A-listers who came to fraternize on the tennis court, which had been transformed into an ultra-exclusive nightclub for the event. Reporters, including from The New York Times, were not permitted to attend, and organizers hired their own photographer.

“Imagine walking into Liv Miami,” Fishel, 33, said in an interview. “You don’t even know you’re on a tennis court.”

The Gatsby-esque soiree was held at the 2-acre, 8,000-square-foot oceanfront mansion in Water Mill, New York, that Rubin bought for $50 million in 2021, according to the Real Deal. The property is flanked by views of Mecox Bay on one side, and ocean vistas on the other.

Some 400 people made the cut for this year’s guest list, 300 of whom received invitations in the form of lithographs designed by visual artist George Condo. (Fishel met Condo in 2013 as a hostess at a West Village restaurant where Condo was a regular.) A much smaller group received invitations that were framed, personally painted and addressed by name by Condo.

Those who RSVP-ed received a crisp, personalised pair of white Air Jordan 1 Low colorway sneakers, a collaboration between Nike and rapper Travis Scott, produced specifically for party guests. Rubin, 51, is the former co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and founder and CEO of Fanatics, the Amazon-like apparel company and one-stop shop for sports merchandise.

“Don’t puke on these,” a note inside the shoes’ box read. “Not for resale … I know who you are.”

White parties have earned a reputation for lavish extravagance since the late 1990s, when Sean Combs began throwing his own annual bash — including one to which he brought an authentic copy of the Declaration of Independence as his date. He hasn’t hosted a white party since 2009.

Rubin is a rare figure who can corral the richest and most famous of the rich and famous into one place. Representatives for Rubin and Fishel said that multiple people offered $1 million to buy their way into their white party this year, adding that one person offered $5 million. Unfortunately for desperate partygoers, no one can buy their way in.

“We make a joke that it’s 400 of our closest friends coming over to catch up,” Fishel said.

The guest list is part of what has fueled interest in the private party, which draws famous people from various industries — fine arts, sports, business, film, fashion and music — none of whom are allowed to bring entourages. It’s the kind of setting where Leonardo DiCaprio and Drake might casually sing along to Usher, one of last year’s performers.

This year, guests watched performances by Shaboozey, Mary J. Blige and Lil Wayne. Festivities began Wednesday evening, with a beach football game between teams led by Brady and. C.J. Stroud, quarterback for the Houston Texans. (Brady’s team lost to Stroud’s.)

On Thursday, the party started with 5 p.m. cocktails on the deck, but there was no signature cocktail. “This is not a wedding,” Fishel said.

Guests posed for photos and snacked on king salmon, fatty tuna and blue crab from Nobu; slices of Lucali’s margherita pizza; and meatballs from Rao’s, the Italian restaurant in East Harlem, among one of the toughest reservations in the country.

A rooftop performance by Lil Wayne ended with a fireworks display from an ocean barge, followed by surprise acts on the tennis court-turned-club by GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion, Machine Gun Kelly, ASAP Ferg, Alesso and Scott.

“It’s messy and fun, and these artists are there and they don’t really ever get this environment where they can kind of like, let loose,” said Fishel, who, like a bride on her wedding day, had multiple white outfits for the party. As the evening wore on, she changed from a sheer Laquan Smith ensemble into a corset and For Love & Lemons skirt.

As partygoers left — whether at 2 a.m. or 6 a.m. — they were handed a bag of bagels from Goldberg’s, the Hamptons breakfast mainstay.

There was one elusive guest — and occasional neighbor — in particular that Fishel had wanted to see: a humpback whale that made a special, fleeting appearance last year.

Although the whale didn’t receive an official invitation, Fishel hoped it might return, but no amount of exclusive merchandise could court an encore performance.

“He didn’t come,” she said in a phone call on Friday morning, as preparations for next year’s party had already begun.