Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who is the third richest person in the world with a net worth of $215 billion, is all set to marry former American journalist and fiancé Lauren Sánchez in an extremely luxurious wedding in Venice from June 24 to June 26. As per the city’s municipal administration, the high-profile event will host 200 guests but is not expected to disrupt local life for residents or tourists.
The couple announced their engagement in May 2023, almost five years after the couple made their relationship public. Bezos proposed with a breathtaking 20-carat pink diamond ring, valued at $2.5 million, aboard his $500 million superyacht, Koru. The same megayacht will reportedly be used as a private water taxi to avoid any disruptions in Venice’s Grand Canal.
For their grand celebrations, the couple has booked two of Venice’s most opulent hotels – Gritti Palace and Aman Venice – where room rates start at $3,200 per night. Sánchez is said to have chosen an Oscar de la Renta gown for the occasion, reportedly on the advice of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Notably, Sánchez is also set to embark on a space mission with an all-women crew, a journey she says will “change her perspective of Earth”.
Earlier, there were reports that the 61-year-old billionaire businessman would host a wedding on Koru off the Italian coast, and it would cost $600 million. Bezos refuted the claims, adding “none of this is happening”. He reiterated the old adage “don’t believe everything you read”. He quoted CEO Pershing Square Bill Ackman, who cited a New York Post report saying that it is not “credible”. He said, “This is not credible. Unless you are buying each of your guests a house, you can’t spend this much money.”
“This whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening. The old adage “don’t believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been. Now, lies can get all the way around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out there folks and don’t be gullible,” Bezos wrote in December 2024.
Despite his denial, public reactions to Bezos’s real wedding plans have been mixed, with many criticizing the billionaire for excessive wealth hoarding. Under his social media post, one user sarcastically commented, “So how much will the wedding cost? $599 million?” Another chimed in, “What about your company pouring water on the freezing strikers? You need to know, America is getting sick of you individuals hoarding all the wealth and then dining with the president and taking more and more and more. We’re not going to let this continue.”
“He could literally give everyone in America 2 million dollars,” a third said.
The backlash didn’t stop there. Some critics labeled Bezos “morbidly wealthy,” arguing that his fortune exists at the expense of everyday people: “He might be wealthy because we use his services, but he’s morbidly wealthy because the United States favors his fortunes over the well-being of the majority of citizens. In no society should anyone be able to hoard the currency that allows others to thrive.”
Another joined, “Say they care about the environment, and they are one of the worst offenders. Disgusting display of wealth in these times.”
“I strongly oppose Jeff Bezos and anyone choosing to celebrate or align themselves with him, including those attending his wedding. Best believe me and plenty of others will be boycotting all names listed at his wedding,” yet another Internet user expressed.
Bezos was previously married to MacKenzie Scott. Four years after their marriage ended, he announced his relationship with Sanchez, 55, a former news anchor. Sanche,z too had ended her marriage to then husband Patrick Whitesell the same year.
Bezos’s high-profile guest list includes celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, and Kris Jenner, many of whom have already celebrated aboard his $500 million megayacht, Koru. Other notable invitees include Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Queen Rania of Jordan.