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Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Billionaire Jeff Bezos marries Lauren Sanchez in £48m Venice wedding
Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has officially tied the knot with Lauren Sanchez in an impressive £48million wedding bash in Venice, with Hollywood's biggest A-listers looking on. The world's second richest man Jeff Bezos has married his partner Lauren Sanchez in a labish £48million ceremony in Venice. The couple are now officially husband and wife after tying the knot in front of famous friends and family in a ceremony that lasted just 25 minutes. Guests were heard cheering and clapping as the couple exchanged vows, reports the Mirror. Celebs including the Kardashian-Jenners, Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ivanka Trump were spotted at the lavish event. Guests were welcomed into the event by a gospel choir, who sang Whitney Houston's Higher Love. All eyes were on bride Lauren as she stunned in a breathtaking long-sleeved gown complete with a dramatic train and stunning white flower detailing. The dress featured floral appliques over a corset style dress. Opera star Matteo Bocelli - son of Andrea Bocelli - serenaded the newlyweds at the reception, performing Elvis Presley's song I Can't Help Falling in Love With You. While the celebrations were in full swing in Venice, it was reported that the pair had actually tied the knot weeks ago. According to a well-placed insider involved in the event planning, they said: 'They have been married for at least a month, more than a month. The marriage is fully legal and took place in America under American law." As the legal union had already taken place, no Italian wedding licence was required. "There is no application for a wedding licence from the couple because it was not required. Whatever happens at the wedding on Friday, it will not be a wedding. "Under Italian law, it will not be a wedding celebration, any vows said or rings exchanged will have no legal meaning," they told Mail Online. The source added that Bezos himself confirmed the legal marriage and said the couple had arranged a a prenuptial agreement to safeguard his $244 billion fortune. The couple arrived in Venice this week ahead of the impressive event, with a helicopter picking Bezos and his bride-to-be up from the support ship of Bezos' superyacht Koru. The yacht had been anchored off the Croatian coast, and the couple touched down at the Venice Lido. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Thursday night saw a casual welcome dinner at the 14th century Madonna dell-Orto church. Local sources claimed security is ultra-tight, turning the stunning city into a "fortress-like operation". The ceremony was originally set for the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, but protests from the No Space for Bezos campaign forced a last-minute venue change to the Arsenale shipyard, which activists would struggle to access. Bezos and Sanchez arrived hand-in-hand, with Lauren sporting oversized black sunglasses and a sleek black halterneck dress.
Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez celebrate 'wedding of the century' in Venice, Italy, with their A-list friends
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sanchez have exchanged vows in Venice as they celebrated their wedding with dozens of their A-list friends. Days of build up led to the big moment for the couple on Friday afternoon (local time) as they emerged separately from a luxurious hotel in the Floating City's Grand Canal. Sanchez, 55, stepped out from a large tent set up outside the Aman hotel and waved to onlookers and the world's paparazzi before she boarded a sleek motor boat. The former journalist wore a short-sleeved, cream, fitted skirt suit, with shades and a head scarf to protect her from the blistering summer sun, Reuters reported. Bezos, 61, appeared about two hours later in a black tuxedo and also hopped on a vessel for a short trip to the small island of San Giorgio Maggiore where festivities were held. The couple's VIP guests, who were staying at luxury hotels across Venice, then all departed for the event which has been dubbed as the "wedding of the century". Among the celebrities in attendance included actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom, singers Usher and Ellie Goulding, as well as the Kardashian-Jenner reality family. NFL legend Tom Brady, Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, Bill Gates, and Queen Rania of Jordan were also present. Guests were heavily protected by security guards during festivities. Later at San Giorgio, Bezos and Sanchez exchanged vows in a 25-minute ceremony, which will have no legal status under Italian law, a senior city hall official told Reuters. It suggests the couple may have already legally wed in the United States before flying to Venice, avoiding the bureaucracy associated with an Italian marriage. Guests were heard cheering and clapping after the pair said "I do". A choir then sung Whitney Houston's Higher Love. Then the reception kicked off to the background of Matteo Bocelli, the son of Andrea Bocelli, singing Elvis' 'I Can't Help Falling in Love With You'. According to the Daily Mail, the guests then dined on a $2,000-a-head menu before concluding with a show-stopping cake by renowned French pastry chef Cédric Grolet. The festivities, estimated to cost around AUD$76 million, will culminate on Saturday with a party where reports Lady Gaga and Elton John are set to perform. Bezos and Sanchez have drawn local and global attention after they flew into the Floating City this week ahead of a three-day extravaganza to celebrate their love in Italy. Festivites began on Thursday night in the cloisters of Madonna dell'Orto, a medieval church that hosts masterpieces by 16th-century painter Tintoretto. "This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories," the bride and groom said on their wedding invitation, in which they asked for "no gifts" and pledged charity donations for three Venetian institutions. Their donations are worth AUD$5.4 million. There has been anger among some locals and local activists of Bezos' presence. Giulia Cacopardo, a 28-year-old representative of the "No Space for Bezos" movement, complained that the needs of ordinary people were being neglected in a city that is a tourist magnet and fast depopulating largely due to the soaring cost of living. Venice's city centre has less than 50,000 residents, compared to almost 100,000 in the late 1970s. "When you empty a city of its inhabitants, you can turn it into a stage for big events. (But) the money that Bezos spends on this wedding does not end up in the pockets of Venetians. The owners of luxury hotels are not Venetians," she told Reuters. Ms Cacopardo was one of 30-40 activists who staged a protest in St Mark's Square on Thursday, chanting "We are the 99 per cent" as a masked couple posed as bride and groom and one man climbed a pole to unfurl a banner reading: "The 1% ruins the world." Bezos' net worth is estimated to be more than USD$225 billion, after creating Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce, cloud computing and digital streaming company. The anti-Bezos front is also planning a march on Saturday, and their activities have already led local authorities to step up security and move the location of the closing party to a more secluded part of Venice, the Arsenale former shipyard. Charlotte Perkins, an Australian tourist, said she could understand the locals' resentment at their city being treated as a celebrity playground. "I'd probably feel the same if I lived here," she said. But politicians, hoteliers and some other Venice residents are happy about the wedding, saying such events do more to support the local economy than the multitudes of day-trippers who normally overrun the city. -with Reuters
Irish Daily Star
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding ceremony underway as Whitney Houston song blares
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez grand wedding ceremony in Venice is officially underway with Whitney Houston's anthem Higher Love heard blaring from the venue. The couple are exchanging vows surrounded by a host of celebrity friends to celebrate their union . Guests including Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Barbara Streisand and Ivanka Trump have been seen arriving at the venue to join them for their lavish nuptials. The couple rented out the entire Aman Venice hotel for their stay, hosting a welcome party for their guests at the Madonna dell'Orto church which had to draw to a close earlier than planned due to a thunderstorm. They also entertained their celebrity friends with a pre-wedding foam party aboard his $500 million megayacht, Koru. Read More Related Articles Jeff Bezos' dad lands in Venice as Lauren Sanchez wedding hit with last minute chaos Read More Related Articles Lauren Sanchez spotted arriving at Venice hotel ahead of Jeff Bezos wedding The relationship between Jeff, 61, and Lauren, 55, sparked controversy when it came to light that the Amazon founder had been secretly taking then-married Lauren on exotic getaways and arranging clandestine meetings, all while he was still married to his wife of 25 years, Mackenzie Scott. Meanwhile, Lauren was still married to her now ex-husband Patrick Whitesell. Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos at the Aman Hotel in Venice The Enquirer brought Lauren and Jeff's affair into the public eye in January 2019, at a time when both were still legally married. The tabloid alleged that Lauren and Jeff had been involved in an eight-month-long affair, marked by secret meet-ups and explicit text exchanges, including risqué messages and provocative selfies sent by Lauren. The publication claimed to have followed the pair across five states and over 40,000 miles, documenting their travels in private jets, limousines, and helicopters, their romantic hikes, stays in luxury hotels, intimate dinner dates, and "quality time in hidden love nests." In response to these allegations, Jeff penned an open letter to the CEO of the publication, David Pecker, accusing them of blackmail. He wrote, "Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten. Jeff and Lauren caused controversy with their romance (Image: AFP via Getty Images) "[After] intimate text messages from me were published in the National Enquirer, I engaged investigators to learn how those texts were obtained, and to determine the motives for the many unusual actions taken by the Enquirer. "We were then approached with an offer. They said they had more of my text messages and photos that they would publish if we didn't stop our investigation." He went on to say, "If in my position I can't stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can. 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. I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out." For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Irish Daily Star
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Jeff Bezos' wedding guest list included celebrities like Kardashians and Ivanka Trump
One of the most highly anticipated weddings of the year has kicked off. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is marrying journalist Lauren Sanchez in a star-studded wedding ceremony in Venice, Italy, on June 27. Leading up to the ceremony, protestors lined the streets of the Italian city in defiance of the billionaire's celebration. Protestors slammed the high-profile wedding for overrunning the tourist industry, creating a higher security presence, and more. Posters proclaiming, "No Space for Bezos" were held up, a play on his Blue Origin space venture. A fake dummy of Bezos was also floating in the Venice canal with money in its hands as it floated on taped together Amazon boxes. But one of the more shocking details to emerge is that Jeff and Lauren possibly got married weeks ago. Read More Related Articles Jeff Bezos' 'appalling' take on fans to Lauren Sanchez exposed by lip reader Read More Related Articles Ivanka Trump flaunts tiny waist in pretty red gown after being upstaged by son A source revealed, "They have been married for at least a month, more than a month. When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married." This live blog has ended. 19:37 Tatiana Krisztina It's official! Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are officially married. According to Page Six, the ceremony is over and sealed with a kiss. Share 19:20 Tatiana Krisztina Whitney Houston song helps ring in marriage From outside the wedding venue, people could hear loud cheers erupt along with Whitney Houston's hit song, Higher Love. The song was later remixed in 2019 by Kygo - and it's unclear if it was her original song or the remix playing. But there appeared to be high hopes as Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez tied the knot. Share 19:16 Tatiana Krisztina Jeff Bezos is all smiles amid protests The groom looked happy as he waved at onlookers as he headed to his nuptials. He wore a tuxedo and black bow-tie along with circular blackout sunglasses. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Share 19:11 Tatiana Krisztina Leonardo DiCaprio goes incognito The Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio tried to hide himself from the cameras as he boarded a water taxi. Leo donned a black baseball cap that covered his face. He also wore a traditional black and white suit. (Image: AP) Share 19:05 Tatiana Krisztina Oprah looks pretty in pink Oprah Winfrey was seen smiling and posing as she boarded a water taxi to attend Bezos' wedding. The star's best friend, Gayle King, was one of the women who went up into space with Lauren Sanchez and her all-female crew. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Share 18:49 Tatiana Krisztina The Kardashian family arrives in style Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloe Kardashian arrived donning black and pink respectively. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) The two sisters took a water taxi together while their mom Kris Jenner left onlookers gobsmacked with her youthful glow as she rode alongside her partner, Corey Gamble, in an earlier water taxi. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Read the full story here . Share 18:41 Tatiana Krisztina Celebrities begin to arrive, including Ivanka Trump Ivanka Trump was spotted donning a pink dress alongside her husband, Jared Kushner, as they got into a water taxi to jet off to the wedding. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are attending Jeff Bezos' and Lauren Sanchez's wedding She posted about the upcoming nuptials on social media, praising the "love story" between Jeff and Lauren. Read the full story here . Share
Black America Web
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Rihanna, Cardi B, Tyla & More Featured On The ‘Smurfs' Soundtrack
Source: Courtesy / UMG The beloved blue crew is back, and they're bringing a full-blown sonic experience. Ahead of its theatrical debut this summer, Smurfs has unveiled its all-star soundtrack with beloved voices Rihanna, Cardi B, Tyla and more. Read more and check out the full tracklist inside. The vibrant and genre-blending collection of songs is set to elevate the animated adventure to new heights. Distributed by Roc Nation and Universal Music Group, the album officially drops June 13, but it's available now for pre-save and pre-order. The Smurfs soundtrack features a powerhouse roster that includes Rihanna, Tyla, DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Shenseea, and James Corden, alongside rising global talents like Natania, Lous and the Yakuza, and DESI TRILL. This isn't just another movie album, but it's a cultural crossover, fusing pop, hip-hop, Caribbean, and South Asian influences. Fans already got a taste of the Smurfs soundtrack energy with Rihanna's 'Friend Of Mine' and DESI TRILL's 'Higher Love,' which features DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania, and Subhi. The latter is accompanied by a colorful video and has quickly ignited buzz online. The full tracklist is as diverse as the Smurfs' own world, ranging from the uplifting 'Celebrate' and 'Milenge' by Natania, to Tyla's vibey 'Everything Goes With Blue' and Shenseea's high-energy 'It's My Party.' Actor and voice cast member Corden even delivers a heartfelt tune titled 'Always On The Outside.' Milenge – Natania Celebrate – Natania Friend Of Mine – Rihanna Higher Love – DESI TRILL feat. DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania & Subhi Liar For A Living – Natania It Takes A Village – Natania & The Indian Connect Big Dreams – James Fauntleroy To Me – Lous and the Yakuza Did We – Natania Balle Balouza – Natania, Subhi & The Indian Connect Everything Goes With Blue – Tyla It's My Party – Shenseea Always On The Outside – James Corden Higher Calling – The Indian Connect With Rihanna not only voicing Smurfette but also serving as a producer, Smurfs promises to be one of this summer's most culturally rich and musically daring releases. Be sure to catch the film in theaters July 18, 2025. Let the countdown begin! Be sure to pre-order and pre-save the soundtrack here. SEE ALSO Rihanna, Cardi B, Tyla & More Featured On The 'Smurfs' Soundtrack was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
