NEW YORK (AP) — When Michael Aaron learned that Wall Street investment banks were going to be shelling out record bonuses this holiday season, the savvy wine merchant uncorked his own plan to make serious dough.He paid for a double-page advertisement in The New York Times, boasting a rare bottle of 1995 Dom Perignon costing $14,950 (euro11,362).

"We have fabulous, fabulous Wall Street clients," said Aaron, chairman of Sherry-Lehmann wine store on Madison Avenue. "We thought we'd put this temptation out there."

The $15,000 bottle of bubbly is just one example of how record Wall Street bonuses this year can trickle through New York City's economy. People are buying multimillion-dollar apartments with the newfound cash. They are driving $40,000 BMWs out of the showroom.

"It definitely means business," said Phil Kornblatt, director of retail for Hickey Freeman, a maker of fine suits that are popular on Wall Street and routinely cost around $1,500. "We noticed a big increase in sales, and I believe most of it is due to the bonuses."

The most jaw-dropping bonuses are being doled out by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the world's largest investment bank. The company reported a staggering profit last week of $9.4 billion and said it was dedicating $16.5 billion for salaries, bonuses and benefits at the end of the year.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., and Bear Stearns Cos. said they would pay out about $12 billion in compensation — more than $300,000 per employee.

Individual bonuses range from the low six figures to tens of millions, like the "golden 25" at Goldman Sachs who could get at least $25 million.

Wall Street firms paid $21.5 billion in bonuses in 2005, and that record will surely be shattered this year.

Alan Johnson, managing director of Johnson Associates Inc., a New York compensation-consulting firm, said the big bonuses can be pinned on surging financial sectors.

Investment banking, trading, asset management and mergers and acquisitions have all had booming years despite steep oil prices, the war in Iraq and a sinking housing market, he said.

"What's unusual about this year is that it's not one thing," Johnson said. "It's ten things."

With financial and insurance companies fuelling much of the city's economy, Johnson said the effects of the bonuses are widespread. "It kind of keeps the city going," he said.

One area of commerce these bonuses keep afloat is real estate, as plenty of bankers look to upgrade their digs or buy their first pad.

"A lot of my Wall Streeters have been pounding the pavement anticipating the bonuses," said Louise Phillips Forbes of Halstead Property. "They're prepared to pay a tremendous amount of money."

Earlier this month, Forbes sold she sold 11 apartments. More than half of those buyers worked on Wall Street. Forbes says she has about 200 apartments for sale ranging from $500,000 to $6 million. Many of those, she said, will go to bankers.

Forbes, who has been selling real estate since 1989, said the bonuses heat up the market in another way. Those who do not work on the Street try to close on new homes before those beefy bonuses arrive.

"People started buying before bonuses were even announced so they wouldn't compete with Wall Streeters," Forbes said.

Jeff Falk, president of BMW of Manhattan, has an advantage over real estate brokers.

He can bring his wares to the doorstep of the investment and banking community. In July 2005, BMW of Manhattan opened a second showroom on Wall Street. He said his company plans for bonuses, ensuring it has enough inventory to satisfy any urges to buy a sleek BMW.

"Every year we anticipate the bonuses season," Falk said. "They are very hot on the new 3 Series. We try to focus our advertising around this year."

Falk said he's running an ad that says: "My bonus is faster than your bonus."

Charles de Rancher, 24, works in New York for Bayern LB, a German financial institution. The conservative Frenchman says he has no intention of running out and buying a car or taking a trip to Las Vegas.

Like many young financial whizzes, Rancher is going to invest his money in a safe place, one that promises a decent return over the long haul.

"I'm sorry, I'm a pragmatic guy." he said. "The bonus goes to repayment of the principal on my new mortgage."

So far, nobody has snapped up Aaron's bottle of "Methuselah," the holy grail of champagne.

But he is hoping. Hoping some Wall Street executive with multimillion-dollar bonus buys it for a New Year's party, making it the most expensive bottle of any wine he's ever sold.

"It would be one hell of a New Year's party," Aaron said.

And one heck of a bonus for Aaron.