Between Escort and Endorsement

For the past 19 years and much to the distaste of Austria’s polite society, Richard Lugner has paid for celebrity dates to the Vienna Opera Ball. The dates — everyone from Sophia Loren to Paris Hilton to Dita Von Teese — are paid $150,000 to sign autographs at one of his malls, attend the ball with him, ruffle some feathers and generally allow themselves to become profile-boosting tabloid fodder for the 77-year-old billionaire.

This year, Lugner is taking Lindsay Lohan, whose handlers have apparently been making it hell on earth for Lugner’s people. Lohan is not allowed to see a drop of alcohol while she’s out with the businessman, his 20-year-old girlfriend, his 16-year-old daughter and his daughter’s boyfriend.

No funny business is expected from the stars, we’re assured.

Information from the New York Post.