Usher paid £50,000 to sing 'Happy Birthday'

Finding a special present for his girlfriend's birthday was no problem for one multi-millionaire internet whizzkid who paid R&B star Usher £50,000 (€62,518) to sing his hits and cut the cake at a London nightclub.

Andrew Michael, 27, who has a £46m (€57.5m) fortune thanks to his website company Fasthosts, flew in the Grammy Award winner to croon Happy Birthday to his partner Katy Teague, 26.

The American singer, who scored number one hits with 'Burn' and 'U Remind Me', delighted revellers at London club Paper, where he also enjoyed the birthday cake and danced with Ms Teague.

Mr Michael, who started his company from his bedroom 10 years ago, said: "It was a complete surprise.

"Katy idolises Usher and we had been in the club celebrating for a couple of hours when he appeared. Katy nearly fainted. It was a really good night."

Mr Michael, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has a history of enticing superstars to his lavish celebrations.

In 2003 he brought Mis-Teeq, the Cheeky Girls and former Eternal star Louise Redknapp to entertain his staff at a Christmas party in Gloucester.

Two years later he arranged for The Darkness to play at the local football ground - introduced by Jonathan Ross.

He has been praised for inviting disadvantaged children to his parties. In 2004 a coach took a group of youngsters to his Cotswolds mansion where a curtain lifted to reveal Rachel Stevens, Girls Aloud, Sugababes and Big Brovaz - the evening's performers.

From its Gloucester headquarters Fasthosts looks after e-mail and web services for businesses. According to the Times Rich List, sales soared from £240,000 (€300,077) in 1999 to £20m (€25m) in 2005, and last year the German company ISP United Internet paid £61.5m (€76.9m) for Fasthosts.

Michael pocketed £46m (€57.5m) for his stake.