When the world’s third-richest man decides to tie the knot, it’s not just a ceremony, it becomes a global spectacle. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are set to host what many are calling “the wedding of the century” in the romantic heart of Venice, Italy. From Hollywood royalty to European grandeur, here are the reasons why their three-day celebration is called to be so.
1. A $55 Million Celebration Fit for Royalty
Forget your average luxury wedding, the Bezos-Sanchez affair reportedly cost between $46.5 and $55.6 million. Beyond opulence, the festivities included sizeable charity donations, like the €1 million contribution to Corila, an academic body dedicated to preserving Venice’s fragile lagoon ecosystem. It wasn’t just a wedding, it was a statement in extravagance and philanthropy.
2. Venice as the backdrop, Arsenale as the stage
Venice, the city of canals and eternal romance, served as the perfect stage. The main party was held at the historic Arsenale, a 15th-century fortified naval dockyard turned exclusive party venue. Rumors swirled that the actual wedding might have been held at San Giorgio Maggiore’s basilica or the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, iconic Venetian landmarks steeped in Renaissance grandeur.
3. 90 private jets, 30 water taxis, and a luxury hotel takeover
This was no ordinary destination wedding. About 90 private jets touched down in Venice, Treviso, and Verona airports, while 30 water taxis zipped guests through the canals. To accommodate the elite guest list, Bezos booked out five of Venice’s most opulent hotels, including the Aman Venice, Gritti Palace, Belmond Cipriani, St. Regis, and Hotel Danieli. Room rates ranged from $3,200 to a staggering $32,000 per night.
4. A star-studded guest list
The who’s who of film, finance, tech, and politics descended on Venice. Attendees reportedly included Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and even Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, fresh from their Tuscan holiday. With celebrities and power brokers mingling across candlelit dinners and lagoon cruises, it was a rare convergence of global elites.
5. Welcome dinners, Yacht cruises, and wedding mystery
The festivities kicked off with a Venetian-themed welcome dinner at the Scuola Grande, where guests arrived via a fleet of water taxis. The next morning, everyone boarded Bezos’ superyacht Koru for a cruise through the Venetian lagoon. Though early whispers teased a floating ceremony, geopolitical and security concerns likely moved the vows to a more secure and confidential venue, adding an element of intrigue to an already jaw-dropping event.