Scott Morrison scores invite to Trump’s star-studded Mar-a-Lago party

The attire was formal and the guest list stacked, as billionaires, models, actors, political heavyweights and new family friends welcomed in the new year. Among them: former prime minister Scott Morrison.

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny posing with US president-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania at the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago. Picture: Scott Morrison

It was the sort of swanky soiree where US president-elect Donald Trump mixed with billionaires, senators, models, actors, political heavyweights and new family friends.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, was there with son X on his shoulders, joined by an eclectic group of guests such as Senator Ted Cruz, vice-president elect JD Vance, boxing promoter Don King and Donald Trump Jr, who brought along new girlfriend Bettina Anderson.

Even former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison got an invite.

The occasion was Mr Trump’s traditional New Year’s Eve party, the place was his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, that has suddenly become the centre of the political and business world.

The attire was formal and the guest list star-studded.

Elon Musk holds his son X on his shoulders as he attends the event. Picture: Reuters

Mr Morrison got a ticket to the last big party of 2024 – which had become the first big bash of 2025 by the time he revealed his presence there on social media in the early hours of January 1 US time.

He posted a photo of him and wife Jenny standing alongside Trump and wife Melania on X and Instagram with the message “HNY 2025 from Mar-a-Lago”.

The quartet were pictured in Mar-a-Lago’s opulent ballroom, where about 300 guests partied.

Mr Morrison was last year reportedly hired as a consultant by Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, and may have been the cardboard box manufacturing magnate’s guest in Florida.

Mr Pratt is a Mar-a-Lago member and hosted a party for 700 customers of his Pratt Industries business in the US at the club in mid-December. Mr Pratt, who also recently announced he was moving to the US full-time after gaining a green card, hosted a small group of guests at the New Year’s Eve function.

Mr Trump’s second son Eric and daughter Tiffany were both reportedly there with their spouses, Lara Trump – who sang the late Tom Petty’s hit I Won’t Back Down onstage at the party – and Michael Boulos.

Donald Trump Jr and new girlfriend Bettina Anderson.

Tesla boss Mr Musk, who has been spending plenty of time at Mar-a-Lago since Mr Trump won the US presidential election in November, was seen in footage dancing to the music with his son perched on his shoulders.

He posted a picture of them on X (the social media business he owns), and also a clip of Mr Trump saying “I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well” when asked what his New Year resolution was.

Mr Trump’s ex-wife, Marla Maples, walked the red carpet into the event, as did Senator Ted Cruz and wife Heidi, Melania Trump’s father Victor Knavs and Mrs Trump’s former modelling agent Paolo Zampoli.

US vice-president elect JD Vance and Usha Chillukiri Vance. Picture: AFP

Other reported guests included casino magnate Miriam Adelson; Michael Waltz, who will be Mr Trump’s national security adviser; financier Omeed Malik; actor George Hamilton; and Trump’s longest-serving political adviser Roger Stone.

Arriving attendees were greeted by violin versions of rock songs such as Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer, with women in black tie playing instruments.

The party was the latest in a long line of appearances by big names at Mar-a-Lago since Mr Trump’s stunning election victory on November 5.

Among those to have made the trip to Palm Beach in the weeks leading up to Christmas were Apple boss Tim Cook, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British MP Nigel Farage, Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, Argentinian President Javier Milei, actor Sylvester Stallone and Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg

Mr Trump’s second presidential inauguration is scheduled to take place in Washington on Monday, January 20.