Anyone wanting to earn easy money could have pocketed $1,500 for the questionable honor of eating with Ahmadinejad in New York’s fancy Warwick Hotel, where he stayed last week.

He basically rented a crowd, as he customarily dines every time since he began his yearly visits that cause controversy in the Big Apple, The New York Post reported.

Protesters stood outside the hotel while one Iranian artist. One artist, whose work Ahmadinejad admires and who is routinely invited, made up excuses not to have the “privilege,” according to a friend quoted by the New York newspaper.

The Warwick’s Murals on 54 restaurant was closed the entire week for Ahmadinejad and his entourage.

His presence provided a major headache to a local dentist whose office is next door. The New York Post reported that Dr. Nicholas Toscano, who in the past has treated presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, suffered several cancellations by patients who did not want to or were afraid to be in the area.

Ahmadinejad also dined with Columbia University students last week but not with members of the Columbia International Relations Council and Association after the Iranian mission to the United Nations withdrew its invitation following negative press coverage.