Barack and Michelle Obama bring star power to Sydney on whirlwind tour

With tickets to see former US president Barack Obama speak being spruiked for an eye-watering $895, it’s no wonder intrigued Sydneysiders were willing to brave the rain and the crowds just to catch a glimpse.

Weathering the storm ... Anthony Albanese meets Barack Obama in Sydney on Monday as the former US president begins a speaking tour. The leaders were snapped in the rain hours before the Prime Minister unveiled his deal with the Greens on climate change policy.

With tickets to see former US president Barack Obama speak being spruiked for an eye-watering $895 each, it’s no wonder intrigued Sydneysiders were willing to brave the rain and the crowds just to catch a glimpse.

Travelling with heavy security, including a plain-clothed secret service detail, armed Australian Federal Police and NSW police officers, the one-time leader of the free world and his wife Michelle’s star power proved undiminished, drawing crowds at every stop of their whirlwind tour of Sydney on Monday.

No expense was spared to provide protection to the former president, who it is believed could be taking home as much as $2m from the tour, with security guards holding back jostling crowds, uniformed officers redirecting traffic and a fleet of police boats patrolling the harbour.

A motorcade of a dozen sleek black vehicles brought traffic to a stand still on the Harbour Bridge as his car sped over to Kirribilli House for a private meeting with Anthony Albanese.

The Prime Minister was snapped smiling in the rain besides Mr Obama, just hours before his government struck a deal with the Greens on climate change.

Fans surround former US president Barack Obama at Balmoral Bathers Pavilion on Sydney Harbour. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

Despite the perpetually grey clouds and drizzle, the Obamas seemed determined to take in as much as they could of the harbour city, stopping for a walk on ­Collins Flat Beach near Manly and dining at Bathers Pavilion at Balmoral before ensconcing themselves in the Four Seasons at The Rocks.

Publicist Max Markson who has organised tours for former presidents Bill Clinton and ­George Bush Sr said the lightning speaking tour could earn the popular former president – who reportedly typically charges $400,000 per engagement – up to $2m in fees.

“It’s a rare occasion to get a US president in this country; they’re bigger than rock stars,” he said. “We’ve seen Elton John and Rod Stewart here umpteenth times, you don’t see US presidents.”

Mr Obama will address 9000 fans at the Aware Super Theatre in Darling Harbour on Tuesday night before flying by private plane to Melbourne to speak at the 10,000-seat John Cain Arena on Wednesday.

Ticket prices typically range between $195 and $445, but the $895 platinum package tickets – which include drinks, canapes, a “commemorative lanyard” and a signed copy of A Promised Land – have long sold out.

An unknown number of patrons can buy tickets to tune into the online stream for the event being moderated by former foreign minister Julie Bishop for $295.