Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV personality Lauren Sanchez exchanged vows in a dazzling wedding ceremony that transformed the romantic canals of Venice into the epicenter of celebrity and luxury over the weekend.
The three-day celebration, which began on Friday, saw a who’s who of the global elite arrive via water taxis, trailed by paparazzi and fans alike. Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Jenner, Orlando Bloom, Ivanka Trump, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, and numerous royals and Hollywood icons graced the affair.
The intimate-yet-grand ceremony took place on the picturesque island of San Giorgio. Sanchez, 55, stunned in a custom Dolce & Gabbana haute couture gown that reportedly took over 900 hours to craft. Matteo Bocelli, son of legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli, serenaded the couple during the ceremony, adding a classical touch to the fairytale setting.
Despite hosting nearly 200 guests, including 70 family members, Sanchez described the wedding as “extremely intimate” in an interview with Vogue.
The celebrations will conclude on Saturday with a grand finale at a historic medieval shipyard, where pop culture legends Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John are expected to perform.
This marks the second marriage for both Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, who collectively share seven children from previous relationships. The pair got engaged aboard Bezos’s luxurious 417-foot sailing yacht, Koru, in May 2023—a name derived from the Māori symbol for new beginnings.
The opulence didn’t come without controversy. Local Venetians and climate activists staged protests, voicing concerns over over-tourism and environmental impact caused by such high-profile events in the fragile lagoon city.
While the exact cost of the affair remains undisclosed, estimates place the wedding budget between $20 million and a staggering $50 million, making it one of the most extravagant nuptials in recent history.
From the haute couture fashion to the private performances, Bezos and Sanchez’s union was not just a wedding—it was a spectacle worthy of the world’s richest man and his media-savvy bride.