Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio and his celebrity friends jetted around the world to try to celebrate New Year in two different timezones, a US court has heard as the star gave evidence in a multimillion dollar fraud case.
The actor was called as a witness in the prosecution of former Fugees rapper Pras Michel, who is accused of funnelling stolen money into Barack Obama’s 2012 Presidential election campaign.
Michel, 50, is said to have received more than $100 million from businessman Jho Low, who himself is accused of stealing billions from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund.
According to prosecutors, Mr Low used his vast wealth to befriend celebrities and wield influence.
Giving evidence, DiCaprio said he met Mr Low in Las Vegas in 2010 and attended "a multitude of lavish parties" on yachts and nightclubs alongside other celebrities, actors, and musicians.
He, with stars including Jamie Foxx and Jonah Hill, rang in New Year in 2012 in Australia before taking a private jet chartered by Mr Low to Las Vegas to celebrate the turning of the year for a second time. DiCaprio told the court Michel had also been on the flight.
Michel, who found fame as a rapper in the 1990s, is facing a slew of criminal charges including conspiracy and witness tampering, and denies all wrongdoing.
The court in Washington DC has heard Mr Low is accused of – and denies - stealing billions from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in the biggest alleged embezzlement case in history.
It is said he enlisted Michel’s help to secure "secret, illegal foreign influence" on US politics, including contributions to Barack Obama’s 2012 US presidential campaign and a plan to influence Donald Trump’s administration when they came under criminal investigation.
Mr Low is currently at large and believed to be in China.
DiCaprio, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, recalled discussing US politics with Mr Low and said the tycoon was interested in making a "significant contribution" of between $20-30 million to the Democratic party in 2012.
"I basically said ‘wow, that’s a lot of money’”, the actor told the court.
Jurors have heard stars including Alicia Keys, Paris Hilton, and Miranda Kerr attended parties thrown by Mr Low, while Britney Spears once jumped out of a cake to wish the tycoon’s birthday.
DiCaprio was questioned over Mr Low’s financing of hit 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, in which he played notorious fraudster Jordan Belfort.
"I understood him to be a huge businessman with many connections", said the actor. "He was a prodigy in the business world and ultra-successful."
Mr Low was thanked in the credits of the movie, which garnered five Oscar nominations.
DiCaprio said his associates vetted the funds, and he was “given the green light by my team as well as my studio” for the investment to be made in the film.
“He was a legitimate business person wanting to invest in the movie”, he added.
The court has heard how Mr Low took part in auctions held by DiCaprio in St Tropez "to bring in funds" for his environmental charity.
DiCaprio said he lost contact with Mr Low in around 2015, when the businessman was under investigation over his financial dealings.
Jurors have been told stars including Jim Carrey, Mark Wahlberg, and Martin Scorsese might be witnesses in the trial, which continues.
