As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding kicks off, a look back at their romance

USA Today

5 days ago

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are tying the knot, and it might just be the biggest wedding of the year.
The techpreneur and socialite's upcoming Italian nuptials have turned the internet (and the city of Venice) upside down as photos and reports emerge of lavish celebrations and a who's who of A-listers arriving via boat.
The Amazon founder is among the world's richest men, and Sánchez, his romantic second act, is an ex-journalist who has lent a quasi-feminist spin to his oft-critiqued business ventures.
Their romance has captured the world's attention, and its opulence will be on full display this month as a slew of celebrity guests arrive to watch the power couple say "I do."
Here's a look back at their relationship timeline.
January 2019: Rumors of a romance swirl
Bezos and Sánchez were first reportedly linked in 2019, around the same time both parties announced splits from their previous partners. Bezos and his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, with whom he shares four children, split officially that same year.
Sánchez was already in the process of divorcing her husband, Patrick Whitesell, with whom she shares two children.
February 2019: Bezos accuses National Enquirer of blackmail
In a post to the blogging website Medium in February 2019, Bezos accused the National Enquirer of blackmailing him with intimate text messages and photos he and Sánchez exchanged, several of which, the outlet claimed, showed him still with his wedding ring on.
"Of course I don't want personal photos published, but I also won't participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favors, political attacks, and corruption," Bezos wrote in the post.
2019: Vacations, Wimbledon, more
Throughout 2019, the couple were spotted out and about, vacationing together and attending sporting events.
The first year of their romance was marked by a slow ramp-up of public appearances, contrasted heavily with their current, more saturated presence in the public eye.
2020: A trip to India
In 2020, the pair jetted off to India for a trip to the Taj Mahal and several public engagements.
2021: Sánchez watches Bezos work
For one of the world's leading businessmen, public appearances are often varied and high-powered. As their romance heated up, Sánchez became a familiar figure on his arm not just during personal outings, but during business ventures as well.
In 2021, the former TV journalist accompanied her partner to business meetings with world leaders, a speech at his space company Blue Origin, and a charitable gala.
2022: Movie premieres, commencements, oh my!
Sánchez and Bezos stayed on the party circuit in 2022, attending various movie premieres, including one for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," a spinoff released on streaming under Amazon Prime, the entertainment subsidiary of Bezos' e-commerce giant Amazon.
They also shared a laugh at a commencement ceremony for MIT graduates.
2023: A multi-million dollar engagement
Bezos popped the question to Sánchez on his yacht during a trip to the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.
He hid a box containing a $2.5 million pink engagement ring under her pillow, Sánchez shared with Vogue, telling the outlet: "When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit."
January 2025: Inauguration Day
Bezos, who has shared a fraught relationship with Donald Trump over the years, attended the 47th president's second inauguration this year, along with a bevy of other tech leaders in an apparent attempt to cozy up to the executive.
Sánchez was by his side in an all-white getup.
Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos' fiancée, wears white to Trump inauguration: See the photo
April 2025: A trip to space
In April, Sánchez took a flight alongside other celebrities and scientists in a much-critiqued, all-female mission aboard a Blue Origin capsule.
Bezos greeted her upon landing, and the two embraced.
June 2025: Wedding bells ring
As the summer heats up, Bezos and Sánchez are set to shut down a large portion of Venice, a major tourist destination, for their wedding festivities.
This week, celebrity guests began arriving for the nuptials and protestors took to the city to voice dissatisfaction with the billionaire's growing wealth and opulent display.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq