Mukesh Ambani, India’s wealthiest businessman and chairman of Reliance Industries, has once again demonstrated his unmatched penchant for grandeur and luxury with the wedding of his youngest son, Anant Ambani, to his long-time fiancée, Radhika Merchant. The Ambanis are known for their opulent lifestyle, and this marriage is no exception. From extravagant pre-wedding events to a guest list filled with international celebrities, the Ambani wedding promises to be one of the most expensive in history.
A Pre-Wedding Bash Like No Other
In March 2024, the Ambani family kicked off the celebrations with a lavish pre-wedding bash in Jamnagar, Gujarat, that lasted an entire weekend. This event alone reportedly cost a staggering US$100 million and set the tone for the weeks of festivities to come. Guests were flown to the location in private jets, and the venue was decked out with luxury at every corner.
The guest list featured some of the most influential names in global business, politics, and entertainment. Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, and Rihanna were among the A-list celebrities in attendance. Performances by global pop star Rihanna and Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh kept the crowd entertained, while 100 chefs served hundreds of exquisite dishes to the attendees. It was a multi-million-dollar affair that set the stage for the main event.
The actual wedding took place in July 2024 and was a three-day celebration that blended traditional Indian rituals with modern luxury. The first day, July 12, featured the Shubh Vivah, the wedding ceremony itself, which marked the official union of Anant and Radhika. On July 13, the couple hosted the Shubh Aashirwad, a day when they received blessings from a select group of dignitaries and family. The festivities culminated on July 14 with the Mangal Utsav, a grand reception that included a star-studded guest list that boasted global icons like Kim Kardashian, John Cena, Adele, and an array of Bollywood celebrities.
This was no ordinary wedding – it was an event that combined centuries-old traditions with the allure of modern luxury and celebrity culture. According to reports, the entire celebration cost a jaw-dropping Rs 5,000 crore (approximately US$600 million).
When it comes to lavish weddings, few can compare to the scale of the Ambani nuptials. With a total bill that exceeds US$600 million, this wedding easily surpasses other historic celebrations. For comparison, Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s wedding in 1981 cost an estimated US$48 million (around US$163 million today), and Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum’s wedding to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai came in at US$45 million (approximately US$137 million adjusted for inflation).
The Ambanis’ celebration eclipses these events by a wide margin, making it one of the most expensive weddings ever recorded. Among the notable expenses were performances by global superstars such as Rihanna, who was reportedly paid Rs 74 crore (approximately US$9 million) for her performance at the pre-wedding event, and Justin Bieber, who reportedly received Rs 83 crore (around US$10 million) to perform at the Sangeet night.
Record-Breaking Expenditures
The wedding’s budget was spread across several extravagant categories. The pre-wedding events alone are estimated to have cost Rs 2,500 crore (around US$300 million), covering everything from private jet travel for guests to luxury accommodations. A cruise liner, the Celebrity Ascent, was rented out to house some of the high-profile guests, and private jets shuttled attendees from around the world to Jamnagar.
The Legacy of Lavish Weddings in the Ambani Family
The Ambani family is no stranger to extravagant weddings. Mukesh’s daughter, Isha Ambani, married Anand Piramal in 2018 in a similarly opulent celebration. That wedding, which cost nearly US$100 million (around Rs 700 crore), was also known for its star-studded guest list, with celebrities such as Beyoncé performing live and several private jet flights chartered for the wedding.
The Top Six Most Expensive Weddings in History
While the Ambani wedding is certainly one of the most expensive ever held, it joins a list of other high-profile nuptials that have captured global attention for their extravagant spending. Here are six of the most expensive weddings in history:
6. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia – US$55 million (US$90 million today)
In 2004, Vanisha Mittal, daughter of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, married Amit Bhatia in a six-day celebration. The wedding took place at France’s Palace of Versailles and included a performance by Kylie Minogue. The wedding cost an estimated US$55 million (adjusted to US$90 million today).
5. Brahmani Reddy and Rajeev Reddy – US$74 million (US$96 million today)
The 2016 wedding of Brahmani Reddy, daughter of Indian mining tycoon Gali Janardhana Reddy, to Rajeev Reddy cost US$74 million. The wedding featured gold and silver utensils and personalized LCD invitations, making it one of the most extravagant in India at the time.
4. Chantini Toor and Seemanto Roy / Richa Ahuja and Sushanto Roy – US$75 million (US$124 million today)
In 2004, Subrata Roy of Sahara Group hosted a double wedding for his sons, which cost US$75 million. This wedding was unique for its size – attended by 11,000 guests and featuring 27 private jets and a fleet of 200 cars.
3. Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal – US$100 million (US$124 million today)
The 2018 wedding of Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani to Anand Piramal in India cost US$100 million, with private performances by Beyoncé and a guest list that included politicians, business leaders, and celebrities.
2. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikha Hind – US$45 million (US$137 million today)
Held in 1979, the wedding of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to Sheikha Hind cost US$45 million. The week-long celebration involved a national holiday in the UAE and a stadium built for the 20,000 guests.
1. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer – US$48 million (US$163 million today)
Often called the “wedding of the century,” the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was broadcast to millions worldwide and cost US$48 million. The wedding featured the iconic Glass Coach and a wedding gown embellished with 10,000 pearls.
With a mix of opulence, celebrity, and tradition, the wedding serves as a testament to the Ambani family’s status as one of the world’s most influential and wealthiest dynasties. Whether this will be topped in the future remains to be seen, but for now, the Ambani wedding reigns supreme as a symbol of excess and grandeur.
