You’d think being the most decorated gymnast in history would get you a few perks. Maybe a free drink? A waived cover charge? For Simone Biles, her post-Olympics celebration in France took a sharp turn into the absurd. After dominating the 2024 Paris Games and securing three more gold medals, Biles decided to hit the town. She deserved it.
The party vibe didn't last long, though.
While getting ready for a Chicago Bears game to support her husband, Jonathan Owens, Biles hopped on TikTok for a casual "Get Ready With Me" video. She was just doing her makeup, blending bronzer, and chatting with her five million followers like she was talking to a friend. Then she dropped the bomb. A local club tried to charge her $26,000 for a single bottle of champagne.
The Night Out That Went Sideways
It happened right after the Olympics closing ceremonies. Paris was buzzing. Biles and her teammates were looking to blow off some steam after years of grueling training and the immense pressure of the world stage. They headed to a high-end spot—which many internet sleuths identified as L’Arc Paris based on her earlier Instagram stories—expecting a legendary night.
Instead, they got hit with a bill that would make a millionaire blink twice.
"You guys, this club tried to charge me $26,000 for a bottle of champagne," Biles said in the video, looking genuinely baffled. "Like, are you insane?"
She didn't name the vintage. She didn't name the brand. But she was very clear about one thing: she wasn't paying it. Even with a net worth estimated in the millions and a fresh haul of Olympic bonuses, Biles has a limit. "Obviously, I didn't buy it," she told her fans. "But why would you even try to play me like that? Like, that's wild."
Why Was the Price So High?
In the world of ultra-luxury nightlife, "bottle service" is less about the liquid in the glass and more about the real estate of the table. However, $26,000 is an outlier even for Parisian standards. For context, Biles earned about $37,500 for each gold medal she won in Paris. The club was essentially asking for nearly 70% of a gold medal's worth of prize money for one bottle of bubbly.
There are a few reasons why a price tag like that even exists:
- Oversized Bottles: It could have been a Methuselah (6 liters) or a Nebuchadnezzar (15 liters), which are basically the size of a small toddler.
- The "Celebrity Tax": Clubs often try to "up-sell" high-profile guests on rare vintages or limited-edition collaborations that aren't on the regular menu.
- Rare Vintages: Some bottles of Dom Pérignon or Krug from specific years can fetch five figures in a retail setting, let alone a marked-up nightclub.
Biles felt the club was definitely "playing" her. She hinted that they likely recognized her and thought they could capitalize on her celebratory mood. It’s a weird reality of fame. You’re the GOAT, everyone knows your face, and suddenly a bottle of fermented grapes costs as much as a mid-sized sedan.
The Struggle of Being "Normal"
What’s most interesting about this Simone Biles reveals astonishing experience at paris nightclub moment isn't just the price tag. It's how she feels about the fame that comes with it. In the same TikTok, she got surprisingly vulnerable about the spotlight.
"I don't know sometimes the attention, I'd rather not have it," she admitted. "I'd want to just be as normal as possible."
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It’s a tough balance. On one hand, she’s posting videos of people holding up light-up signs in the club that say "Gym Legend" and "Simone Biles God 4 Life." On the other, she just wants to grab a drink without being treated like a walking ATM. She’s at a point where her "normal" involves private jets and luxury mansions, yet she still has that Houston-bred sensibility that tells her $26k for champagne is a total scam.
Honestly, it’s refreshing.
We see so many celebrities lean into the "luxury" lifestyle where they never check the price of anything. Biles calling it out as "insane" makes her feel more like a real person than a corporate brand.
The Broader Trend of Paris Nightlife Scams
Biles isn't the only one who had a weird time in the City of Light. Following her video, Australian influencer Jacquie Alexander shared a similar story about a "crime ring" disguised as a club in Paris. Alexander claimed she was lured in with promises of a free night, only to be charged thousands of dollars for items she didn't authorize.
While Biles’ experience was more about an outrageous offer than a forced charge, it paints a picture of a nightlife scene that was arguably predatory during the Olympic rush. When the world descends on one city, the "tourist traps" scale up to "celebrity traps."
Key Takeaways from the Experience
If there’s anything to learn from Biles' night out, it's that even the greatest athletes in the world have to keep their guard up.
- Check the Menu: Even if you're in the VIP section, prices should be transparent.
- Fame is a Double-Edged Sword: It gets you the best table, but it also paints a target on your back for "opportunistic" pricing.
- Trust Your Gut: If a price feels "insane," it probably is. Don't let the pressure of the environment force you into a bad financial decision.
Biles eventually made it back to the States and celebrated in a much more "Simone" way: getting takeout from her favorite Houston spot, Stick Talk Cajun-Hibachi. Her husband picked up the order—chicken fried rice and spicy garlic butter noodles. Total cost? Probably less than $50.
That’s a gold-medal move if I’ve ever seen one.
To keep your own travel experiences safe, always research high-end venues in advance and look for recent reviews from other international travelers who might have flagged suspicious pricing patterns or "celebrity surcharges" during peak events.