CHINA’S MILLION NEW MILLIONAIRES have discovered jet planes, Rolls Royces, mega-watt diamonds, sables, Rolexes and now the ultimate nouveau riche toy — a stunning big Tibetan Mastiff dog that sells for a million dollars or more.

THIS LARGE CANINE, WITH PLUSH, THICK FUR THAT IS REDDISH in hue, shows the world that his master, or mistress, has a status symbol — 220 pounds of rare and highly expensive pet. There are perhaps 300 in all of China, which has gone wild for dogs (they were banned under Mao). Accessories like jeweled collars, fur coats and grooming jobs that leave dogs resembling pandas or tigers are big sellers.

TIBETAN MASTIFFS are a good investment because of breeding opportunities but the super-wealthy flaunt their dogs as a made-in-China luxury. According to a Town & Country article, some pet-mad multi-millionaires have purchased five or six dogs at a time.

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT MAN can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the wisdom of turning around at least three times before lying down.

AND THE CHINESE CAN LEARN A LOT from American multi-millionaires — get a pre-nup, avoid chronic philandering (it is costly and emotionally draining), beware drowning in a whirlpool of excess, buy McDonald’s stock, don’t invest in Spider-Man. And, a wife lasts for the length of a marriage, but an ex-wife is there for the rest of your life … better to invest in a dog.

WHO IS THE COLD, CRUEL WIFE who told her husband, dying of cancer, “Get out! I love you so much I cannot watch you die!” He is living with their son who took him into his one-bedroom condo.

DID YOU KNOW that Shaun Rajah, popular director of the Drake Hotel’s Palm Court, has a fine singing voice and was a finalist in the search for American Idol talent?

WHO IS THE BLOND DIVORCEE who has caused a well-known dentist to lose his wife, his savings and his sanity as she pushed him to help her mother, her son and her drug habit? And he’s not the first to fall for her toxic charms.

MOURNING THE DEATH of Linda Fields of the beauty salon and spa that bore her name are her clients and staff who say she was an exceptionally talented, sweet woman. Those who worked with her report they were shocked when four days after the funeral, their landlord suddenly ordered that they vacate the premises in three hours. Most didn’t have time to collect all their belongings. The Elizabeth Adam salon welcomed them, Canary tells us.

AN EXTRAVAGANZA MILESTONE was the Peninsula Hotel’s 10th anniversary trés grand celebration with 1,500 guests, enough drinks to float the Queen Mary and tons of exquisite food that would have fed half of China. Sir Michael Kadoorie, chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, welcomed movers and shakers, wannabes, social lions and lionesses, the elite and the dizzying throng.

IMPRESSED GUESTS INCLUDED: Master of ceremonies Bill Kurtis, Donna La Pietra, Ken Norgan (home from a trip to Sweden), Charlie Trotter, Rich Varnes, Cynthia King, Richard and Kitz Goodman, Brenda Sexton, Victor Skrebneski, Sherren Leigh, Jim Reilly, Mark Schulman, the John Bodines, Dr. John and Lynn McMahan, Mary Ann Childers, Jay Levine, Heinz Kern, Mary Ann Rose, Walter Jacobson, Toni Canada, Ald. Ed Burke and wife Anne, Lynn Graham, the Buddy Levitons, John Regas, Irene Michaels, Brad Griffith and Tiffani Kim, Bishop Timothy Lyne, Winnie Clarke, Jason Dohmann, Larry Wert, Jeff and Tina Weller, Mamie Walton, Stanley Paul and the immediate world. Great show!

ACTRESS VIRGINIA MADSEN, nursing a broken foot from a fall in a restaurant; “Entourage” star Adrian Grenier, Johnny Galecki of “The Big Bang Theory;” Jesse Williams of “Grey’s Anatomy,” Creed Bratton of “The Office,” and Jenna Dewan and Naturi Naughton of the new TV show “The Playboy Club,” were among celebs who flew in with Richard Branson to celebrate his Virgin American airline’s debut at O’Hare. The party at the Wit Hotel was a high-flying romp.

GAY MARRIAGE HAS MORE SUPPORT TODAY, according to a new Gallup poll. It found that 53 percent of Americans back legalizing gay marriage while 45 percent are opposed.

THE DUCHESS OF PORK, Sarah Ferguson, is trying to wiggle out of the scandalous behavior, caught on tape, of her trying to sell access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. Preparing for her Oprah-promoted TV show on the OWN network, “Finding Sarah,” in June, Fergie now insists her words “were chopped up, changed, out of context.” She only “wanted him to know her family better,” and didn’t mean to mention money. Ha! The unpopular divorcee will have strong professional help in the six episodes — Dr. Phil, Suze Orman and others in this “search for really, truly knowing yourself and your self worth.”

WE DO FEEL SOME SYMPATHY FOR POOR, STUPID FERGIE, because she’s not a very smart woman. We’ve been with her several times and she hasn’t the good sense NOT to tell dirty jokes at social gatherings. At an elegant dinner party at Catharine Hamilton’s home, she shared a British giggle that had a raunchy punch line.

Why did she feel the need to take center stage with a bad taste joke? Oh, she’s insecure, just like the rest of us.

WE SALUTE CHIC AND SAVVY EVELYN MACIE, the first woman ever hired by Lehman Brothers, who is now first veep at Wells Fargo for investments for fixed income investors. She’s a 40-year veteran of the money wars.

MATT LAMB WAS AN UNDERTAKER for many years but is now showing off his oil paintings in his new Museum of Private Collections on Illinois St. He and wife Rose and daughter Sheila welcomed guests to its grand opening recently. Guests loved or hated his massive, colorful canvasses.

OPRAH FANS WATCHING HER FINAL SHOWS were surprised to see that best pal Gayle King has gained weight. Hosting TV programs must activate hunger pangs.

TZEN JEWELRY DESIGNER JULIE LIU, who has given 100 pieces to benefit the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation, has received a Rising Star award from the Fashion Group International. Julie, formerly a hedge fund guru with an MBA from the U. of C., is thrilled her creations are seen on Rachael Ray and Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford.

CONGRATS TO STEPHEN KOMIE, elected to the 25-member board of governors of the Illinois State Bar Association that guides 33,000 lawyers.

“THE MIDWESTERNERS’ GUIDE TO LIVING IN L.A.” is a new book by Katie Martin that reveals the differences in fast-paced life and work in that strange and wonderous city.

FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER CHRISTINE LAGARDE, 55, once head of Winston-Strawn, is the leading candidate to replace disgraced International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn (Strauss-Kahn is facing charges of sexually assaulting a New York City hotel housekeeper). Lagarde was in Chicago in March to present Renee Johnson with the Legion of Honor Award.

VICE-PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND WIFE JILL attended the inauguration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel as mayor of Chicago, adding stature to the event, and looked movie-star glam.

TRIPS TO DISNEYLAND are the dreams of two young boys, hoping that Make-A-Wish and Panera Bread can help. Cubs and Sox sandwiches named for them will bring funds for Michael Jenig and Dan Cavazos.

VICTORIA’S SECRET BOMBSHELL Erin Heatherton created a small earthquake when she showed up on Boul Mich clutching a bottle of VS’s summer scent.

FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR DAVID AXELROD was honored as PR Professional of the Year from the Public Relations Society of America’s Chicago chapter for his labors crafting President Obama’s message. He is now a senior strategist on Obama’s re-election campaign.

BEAUTY NEWS … LASH DIP is a new, semi-permanent mascara, inky black gel-like coating that transforms lashes. Created by two Chicago-based makeup artists, Jessica Harley and Gina Mondragon, the mascara must be put on by an expert and lasts six weeks. It is hypo-allergenic and safe for contact wearers. The result is pitch-black, clump-free, dramatic eyelashes. Cost is from $200.

ARTIST LEROY NEIMAN’S $5 MILLION GIFT to the School of the Art Institute will create a new student center bearing his name and house his mammoth mural, “Summertime Along the Indiana Dunes.” Neiman has had his art in Playboy magazines since Hef started it all in 1953. His gifts to the Institute total $9 million. Neiman, 90, attended SAIC from 1947 to 1950.

MOST RIDICULOUS FEUD OF THE YEAR … The 2nd Avenue New York deli and the Heart Attack Arizona Grill are fighting over who owns the right to brag about the “INSTANT HEART ATTACK SANDWICH” and the “TRIPLE BYPASS BURGER.” THE HEART ATTACK SANDWICH offers a half-pound of corned beef, turkey or pastrami, plus Russian dressing and mustard between two large potato pancakes. It sells for $23.95. The TRIPLE BYPASS BURGER lethally consists of three half-pound beef patties, bacon, cheddar cheese, red onion, tomatoes and sauce on a bun. The Grill, with “fatty food with a taste worth dying for,” is trying to stop the deli from offering a Triple Bypass Sandwich. We say, a pox on both their houses … CORONARY-CAUSING CUISINE isn’t worth fighting for and dying for! (WARNING: Reading this article may cause arteries to clog.)

A LUFTHANSA PRIVATE JET to Prague is the top auction item at the June 24 Ascot Ball at the Casino for the English-Speaking Union chaired by Jennifer Swift and Robert Gienko Jr. Roosevelt U. dean

Henry Fogel will be honored.

DR. MEHMET OZ, author, Columbia U. professor and TV host signed his books and met fans at a panel discussion sponsored by PNC Bank and the Trib.

“WHEN YOU GO INTO COURT you are putting your fate in the hands of 12 people who were not smart enough to get out of jury duty.” —NORM CROSBY