Michelle Obama Will Smith Split - H 2012
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First Lady Michelle Obama arrived for a sold-out fundraiser Thursday at the Calabasas home of Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith — bringing the total raised for the president’s re-election campaign to $13 million at four Los Angeles events in October, according to campaign finance sources.
About 300 people attended the event at the Smiths’ sprawling estate, where tickets ranged from $2,500 per person to $40,000 per couple. That’s on top of the multimillion-dollar haul on Oct. 7, when President Barack Obama made a sweep through Los Angeles for two fundraisers, including a concert headlined by Katy Perry and Stevie Wonder at the Nokia Theatre. The following day, former President Bill Clinton hosted a fundraiser for the president at Oprah Winfrey show mogul Michael King’s house.
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The October proceeds include money raised from an online contest (to meet both Obama and Clinton on the campaign trail), according to sources. As a result, the Los Angeles total in October rivals the record-breaking $15 million raised at the George Clooney fundraiser in May. Pinkett Smith has also been raising money online through her Facebook page. She’s expect to release the amount her fans gave this week.
“You all have done so much work,” the first lady told the star-studded crowd at the Smiths’ house on Thursday. “And I am honored and, yes, I’m going to go home, brag to Barack.”
She added: “I want to thank you all. I am beyond thrilled to be here today… It has been a privilege to get to know Will and Jada and their beautiful family. They have stepped up for us in so many ways, and it has truly just been a gift and a blessing to have you guys as friends and as part of our lives.”
In addition to the Smiths, co-hosts included Salma Hayek, Roc Nation co-founder Jay Brown and wife Kawanna, film producer James Lassiter and wife Mai, and Lady Gaga manager Troy Carter and wife Rebecca. Among the guests: Wendy Williams, Vivica A. Fox, model Carissa Rosario and Perry, who performed at an Obama rally in Las Vegas the night before.
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After the three-hour luncheon, Obama set off to tape a segment for Jimmy Kimmel Live. (Watch a clip below.)
On Friday, the first lady will travel to La Jolla for a fundraiser hosted by Irwin Jacobs, the billionaire co-founder of Qualcomm, and his wife, Joan.
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