Hot Vegas

Now we know how he can afford that Million Dollar Piano … TMZ has learned Elton John has bumped Britney Spears in her Vegas run by hauling in more than $500K a show.

Elton’s definitely in the driver's seat. According to his deal he gets 88% of the door for every show. He also has a sign off on ticket prices, which range from $55 to $1,000 for VIP seats.

Captain Fantastic is putting Britney's $475K take a show to shame, because he's doing it with fewer seats -- The Colosseum only seats 4,296 while Britney's show at Planet Hollywood has 4,600.

The show began Friday and runs through April 14.

We reached out to Elton, but he's too rich to comment.

Dance duo Les Twins -- featured on Beyonce/Jay Z's recent tour -- were embroiled in an intense dance battle Friday ... it got so heated one of them got punched in the face!

The twins were competing at Revolution Lounge in Las Vegas ... and the person who shot the video says Laurent and Larry Bourgeios were trash talking with the opposing dancers.

Laurent eventually tries to make peace, but when he extends his hand he's swiftly gets punched in the face.

We're told the man who threw punches was booted ... and the competition ended with no winner.

Calls to the Mirage and Les Twins went unreturned.

Check out the dancers in action during the "On the Run" tour -- pretty impressive.

Mariah Carey is setting up shop at Caesars Palace, and you gotta figure she's pulling in at least as much dough as Britney Spears to do it -- which means an epic shopping spree is in the making.

Much like winter on "Game of Thrones" ... Mimi is coming, Las Vegas! You've been warned.

Robert De Niro has beef with Caesars Palace ... actually he has Kobe beef, because his swanky Nobu restaurant has been stiffed by the house.

De Niro is the co-founder of the high-end restaurant chain and his company, Nobu Hospitality, is listed as a creditor in the bankruptcy case the hotel just filed. According to legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Caesars owes Nobu nearly $460K.

And the actor's not alone. According to the docs, Caesars owes Gordon Ramsay $307K. Ramsay also has a restaurant -- Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill -- in the hotel complex.

Move over Britney Spears, it's Mariah Carey, Bitch! The singer has officially signed on as the newest resident diva in Las Vegas ... TMZ has learned.

Caesars Palace got their wish ... we're told that Mariah snuck into Vegas last week to seal the deal. Need proof? We've got video of Carey and her entourage leaving the Palace Cheesecake Factory, escorted by security.

The superstar plans to light up the Colosseum in place of Celine Dion -- who's taking a break -- the glittery one will take the reigns until she returns late this year or early 2016.

We're told the deal is super secret but ENORMOUS. To put it in perspective Britney is raking in $475K a show ... it's unfathomable Mariah accepted less. Caesars is ready to announce concert dates any day now.

Looks like she can have her cheesecake AND eat it too.

Get ready for what could be the most epic girl's night out ever ... because Mariah Carey wants to party with Britney Spears.

Paps went bats**t crazy for Mimi as she left Craig's in West Hollywood ... just hours after we reported Mariah's deal to set up a residency at Caesars in Las Vegas was official.

While one might think Sin City is not big enough for both Mariah and Britney, Miss Carey told our photog she's totally down for a night on the town with Brit.

The Vegas gay bars will be hopping that night.

R&B singer The Weeknd was arrested Saturday in Las Vegas ... after he was accused of punching a cop.

Law enforcement sources tell us a fight allegedly involving Weeknd started inside the Cromwell Hotel around 4:20 AM ... and when they arrived, the fight was still raging.

We're told cops attempted to break up the fight, and one of them pulled the singer into an elevator during the scuffle. That's when Weeknd allegedly punched him in the head.

The singer -- best known for his duet "Love Me Harder" with Ariana Grande -- was instantly hauled off to jail for battery of a protected person.

After he was bailed out ... Weeknd posted a pic of himself boarding a private jet with the caption, "escaped from Las Vegas."

Celine Dion is NOT coming back to Vegas ... at least till the end of this year ... TMZ has learned.

The plan was ... Celine would return to Caesars Palace in March after taking a hiatus last August to care for her ailing husband.

Our Caesars sources say Celine has informed the venue the earliest she will return is most likely at the end of the year. She will not give a date.

We're told Celine continues to care for Rene Angelil, her husband of 20 years. He's battling throat cancer, but we are told he is getting better.

Caesars continues to fill The Colosseum with other acts ... including Rod Stewart, Elton John, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn.

Jennifer Lopez passed the "Vegas Residency Test" with flying colors on New Year's Eve, and in the process scored more than $400K.

Our Vegas sources tell us ... Lopez raked in $410,000 for her NYE performance at Caesars Palace, plus she gets back end. Even though the show was sold out, the venue only netted slightly more than $600K.

It's still good, and our sources say the point of the gig was to see if Lopez was a sufficient draw for a full-on residency.

To put Lopez's payday in context, Britney makes around $475K a show with her new contract.

We're told Caesars was pleased.

GET IT SIR CHUCK!!!

We just got amazing video of Charles Barkley gettin' down -- droppin' it low -- at a bar in Vegas this weekend. Did we mention it's amazing?

Barkley was at the Mandalay Bay around 1AM Sunday morning -- busting out the moves to the beat of Kendrick Lamar's new jam, "i."

Clearly, Sir Chuck was feelin' it ... until the DJ decided to put on CeeLo's "F**k You" ... and that's when Barkley decided the dance party was over.

Random thing 1: Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello and Arnold Schwarzenegger all hung out together on New Year's Eve. Random thing 2: They went took in a Britney Spears performance!

We're on the fence about which thing is more random -- but yeah, the 3 celebs and Arnold's gf Heather Milligan ... hit up Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas for a steak dinner, and Britney's "Piece of Me" show.

Sofia still managed to keep that engagement ring (rumored to be 10 carats) under wraps -- just like she did in Hawaii right after Joe gave it to her.

Brody Jenner's ass was tapped to perform at the biggest porn event of the year -- he'll be getting handsy at the opening party for the sex industry's Oscars ... as the house DJ.

Our impeccable porn sources tell us the Adult Video News Awards Show (AVNs) lined up BJ and DJ William Lifestyle to double team the Kickoff Party on Jan. 21st at the Hard Rock.

As we first told you ... the AVNs are also gunning for Lorde to perform during the award ceremony. No word if she's officially turned them down responded yet.

We're told Brody's pulling in five figures for the gig ... plus fringe benefits, of course.

Much like Sony did with North Korea, Sharper Image has caved in its battle with the City of Las Vegas ... and in this scenario, Heidi Klum's boobs are "The Interview."

Sharper Image's new ad campaign features a scantily clad Klum alongside suggestive copy designed to get you to buy the gadgets Sharper Image sells that you never knew you needed.

But Klum's cleavage did not meet Clark County code and the ads were barred from being displayed at McCarran Airport. The crux of the problem ... "the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering or any portion thereof below the nipple" -- aka underboob.

So Sharper Image submitted toned downed pics, which were approved, and will soon be displayed for all to see.

Who knew Las Vegas was run by prudes?

When you've banged as many chicks as Derek Jeter ... running into exes becomes an occupational hazard, and Tuesday night it was Jessica Alba's turn for the awkward moment.

Jeter and Alba were both guest speakers at the Goldman Sachs technology conference in Las Vegas. Jeter was there for his new website (theplayerstribune.com) and Alba was talking about her Honest Company baby products.

The after party went down at Hyde Bellagio Nightclub -- and sources inside tell us Jessica and Derek did have a 10-minute chat while they were there. Nothing hot and heavy, we're told ... just enough to talk about her kids and his retirement.

Still ... Cash Warren and Hannah Davis can't be thrilled.

There've been lots of Photoshopped iterations of Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine shoot -- but only one man has dared to drop trou and put his real butt on blast.

Showman Jeff Beacher adorned himself in a wig, pearls and black lacy gloves in his homage to KK. The owner of the MGM Grand party palace Beacher's Madhouse showed no shame and no mercy.

Getting arrested in a Las Vegas nightclub probably SAVED rapper Kid Ink big money -- 'cause he just paid a measly $120 to make the whole mess go away.

As we first told you -- Ink was arrested for disturbing the peace at 1OAK nightclub back in August when he and a female friend tangled with security guards. But the rapper struck a deal with prosecutors to pay the dirt cheap fee ... and in return they dropped the case.

Think about it -- $120 is less than 5 minimum bets at a $25 blackjack table ... less than buying a round of drinks for you and 5 friends ... and several hundred bucks less than bottle service in a club.

Now you know how to win money on the Strip.