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The Age
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez marry in lavish Venice ceremony
Amid tight security, there have been glimpses of the celebrities moving around town, the women in summer dresses and high heels stepping somewhat gingerly off boats ferrying them around the city's canals. Celebrations began on Thursday evening in the cloisters of Madonna dell'Orto, a medieval church in the central district of Cannaregio 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 €3 million ($5.3 million). Protest movement Businesses have welcomed the glitz and glamour, but the event is opposed by a local protest movement whose members resent what they see as Venice being gift-wrapped for ultra-rich outsiders. Bezos is No. 4 on Forbes' global billionaires list. 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,' Cacopardo told Reuters. '[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.' 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'. Police intervened, forcibly removing the protesters. The anti-Bezos front was planning a march on Saturday, and their activities have already led 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. 'We are happy and honoured to welcome Jeff Bezos and his consort Lauren Sanchez,' said Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who sent white roses to the bride and a maxi-bottle of Amarone luxury red wine to the groom.
New York Post
13 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez wed in star-studded Venice ceremony
Second time's the charm. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez tied the knot on the Italian island of Venice on Friday in front of a star-studded guest list of athletes, celebrities, influencers and business execs. The billionaire Amazon founder, 61, and his new bride, 55, kicked off their lavish three-day wedding extravaganza Thursday as dozens of private jets touched down at Venice's airport and yachts pulled into the city's famed waterways. Advertisement The starry guest list for what has been dubbed the 'wedding of the century' was filled with a slew of rich and famous names including Kim and Khloe Kardashian; Kris, Kylie and Kendall Jenner; Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady and Leonardo DiCaprio. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are officially married. Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images The gilded gala, though, became a lightning rod for protests in the leadup to the nuptials. Advertisement Widespread protests broke out at the tourist hotspot as locals and activists voiced their displeasure that the wealthy couple chose the city for their extravagant day. Large banners that screamed 'the 1% ruins the world' and one featuring 'Bezos' in blue letters with a red X through it were flung over Venice's iconic Saint Mark's Basilica. An organization called the No Space for Bezos campaign — a play on the billionaire's Blue Origin space exploration company — also unfurled banners and distributed stickers throughout the city in the days prior. Earlier, Greenpeace members had displayed a gigantic white banner featuring Bezos' laughing face in St. Mark's Square, emblazoned with: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.' Advertisement Still, it did nothing to dampen the party — or its hefty price tag. Veneto Gov. Luca Zaia told reporters earlier this week that the Bezos/Sánchez bash was set to cost a jaw-dropping $50 million. Bezos' team has been tight-lipped about where these millions are going. Five of the city's most luxurious hotels were booked out in advance, including Cipriani on the island of Giudecca and the St Regis near St Mark's Square. Advertisement Bezos and Sanchez posted up at the Aman, where rooms with a view of the Grand Canal go for at least 4,000 euros per night. Despite the fanfare and tabloid buzz ahead of the festivities, though, the couple were widely believed to have already officially tied the knot before heading to Italy. Multiple sources told Page Six they wed in the US after signing a multi-million dollar prenup. A protest against Bezos in Venice on June 23, 2025. © Greenpeace / Michele Lapini / SWNS The union is the second marriage for both Bezos and Sanchez. Bezos, who has a net worth of around $225 billion, went public with his new relationship in 2019 after his divorce from his first wife, MacKenzie Scott, was finalized. That same year, Sánchez divorced her first husband, Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell. The couple got engaged in May 2023 when Bezos popped the question with a massive 30-carat diamond that set him back an estimated $3-5 million. Since then, they've frequently been photographed jet-setting on glitzy vacations or luxuriating on Bezos' $500 million, 417-foot superyacht, Koru. Sánchez, a former journalist with television credits including stints anchoring the Fox 11 News at Ten and as a special correspondent on 'Extra,' has frequently made headlines for her revealing apparel –even famously catching the eye of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at President Trump's second inauguration.
Business Insider
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
I was in Venice for George Clooney's wedding. Jeff Bezos' feels completely different — and not in a good way.
Christine Matthey is a Swiss-Italian art gallery owner. Business Insider interviewed her in Venice, where she lives, ahead of Jeff Bezos' wedding to Lauren Sánchez. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. I was living in Venice when George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin. The mood in the city was nothing like it is now, for the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. To start with, George Clooney is not Jeff Bezos. Bezos is a friend and donor to Donald Trump. Ivanka Trump is even here for the wedding. For that reason, among others, I'm not happy with Jeff Bezos being this close to my house, or in Venice at all, for that matter. It's not only because of politics, but also because of Amazon, what he represents, and the potential damage his wedding is bringing to this city. I grew up in Venice until I moved to Switzerland for school. I now live here for six months of every year, and I care about the city's preservation. One major concern is the "moto ondoso," or "wave motion." It refers to the damage caused by the yachts, water taxis, and other boats in the canals, which erode the foundations of Venice's historic buildings. It's causing real damage to the city. Bezos has hired fleets of water taxis. It adds to the problems of a city already in danger. He says he has donated 3 million euros to three local institutions, but what does 3 million euros mean to him? (Editor's note: The wedding will use around 30 of Venice's 280 water taxis, according to Venice city officials.) Sure, the wedding brings money to the local economy. But I don't think the long-term damage is worth the short-term gain. Around San Marco, many people depend on tourism. They sell expensive goods to wealthy visitors. I imagine they're happy to see celebrities, and less concerned with the politics. But for young Venetians, it's a different story. Wages are low. Housing is nearly impossible to afford. It's hard to be OK with a billionaire wedding in the middle of all of these difficulties. That's part of what is fueling the protests. On Monday, I passed by San Marco Square just as Greenpeace unfurled a huge banner with Bezos's face. It read: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax." I've also been following the "No Space for Bezos" movement on Instagram. As of Thursday, I haven't noticed major disruption. But I'm nervous. I have an art gallery near the Arsenale, and I just hope I can get to it this weekend without being blocked by police because of the wedding. The wedding has divided Venice. For me, I sit in the camp of thinking the protesters are brave, especially so in a country where the police can be tough. They're putting themselves on the line, unafraid of being hurt or brutalized, to make their point. And honestly, I admire them for it.
Newsweek
19 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Jeff Bezos Wedding: Full List of Celebrities Attending
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Wedding bells will soon ring out for billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his bride, Lauren Sánchez. The two will tie the knot in the Italian city of Venice and A-list guests have been flocking to celebrate with them. The Context The wedding has dominated headlines for weeks, coverage split between the wedding itself, and the protests in Venice against it. The upcoming nuptials have ignited anger among locals and activists, who have united under the "No Space for Bezos" movement, and have argued that the wedding plans amount to the privatization and commercialization of Venice, exacerbating concerns about the city's long-standing problems with too much tourism. This has been denied by the couple's wedding planners, and the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, who said: "We are mutually working and supporting the organizers, to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city," as per The Associated Press. Much of the wedding details, including the exact date remain under wraps. Festivities began on Thursday, June 26 when Sánchez stepped out in her first bridal outfit, a gown from Schiaparelli's 2025 Spring Couture collection, designed by Daniel Roseberry. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez leave the Aman Hotel to go to dinner with guests ahead of their wedding, on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez leave the Aman Hotel to go to dinner with guests ahead of their wedding, on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Stefano Mazzola/GC Images It's the second marriage for Bezos, who split from his first wife Mackenzie Scott in 2019. The two had been married since 1993 and the couple share four children. Sánchez was previously married to Patrick Whitesell, with whom she shares two children. Sánchez had her first child with former Kansas City Chiefs player Tony Gonzalez. Bezos and Sánchez have been engaged since 2023. Which Celebrities are attending the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding? More than 200 guests are expected to attend the wedding. And while the full guest list hasn't been made public, here are all the celebrity guests spotted so far at the most talked about wedding of the year. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio Italian fashion model Victoria Ceretti TV Reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Wedding at Hotel Gritti on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Kim Kardashian ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Wedding at Hotel Gritti on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images TV Reality star Kris Jenner Business executive Corey Gamble TV Reality star Khloe Kardashian TV Reality star Kylie Jenner Model and reality star Kendall Jenner Kendall Jenner, left, and Kylie Jenner are photographed ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Wedding on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Kendall Jenner, left, and Kylie Jenner are photographed ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Wedding on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images Former editor-in-chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful Football legend Tom Brady Actor Orlando Bloom British actor Orlando Bloom and guests get on a taxi boat at the Gritti Palace Hotel ahead of the wedding of Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez in Venice on June 26, 2026. British actor Orlando Bloom and guests get on a taxi boat at the Gritti Palace Hotel ahead of the wedding of Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez in Venice on June 26, 2026. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images TV icon Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey is seen ahead of the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding at Hotel Gritti on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Oprah Winfrey is seen ahead of the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding at Hotel Gritti on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Luigi Iorio/GC Images Daughter of President Donald Trump Ivanka Trump Son-in-law of Trump Jared Kushner Belgian fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg Queen Rania of Jordan Crown Prince of Jordan, Hussein bin Abdullah Jordanian royal family member Princess Rajwa Al Hussein Jordanian royal family member Princess Iman Bint Hussein U.S. Fashion designer Sarah Staudinger U.S. film producer Brian Grazer U.S. entrepreneur Veronica Smiley U.S. fashion model Karlie Kloss Cuban American businessman and adoptive father of Jeff Bezos Miguel Bezos U.S. businessman Barry Diller Italian fashion designer Domenico Dolce Brazilian soccer player Guilherme Siqueira TV personality Gayle King Where will the wedding take place? The wedding festivities are extensive, with celebrations taking place over multiple days at multiple venues. The bride and groom are said to have changed their plans to avoid protests and move the wedding to a more remote location. Initially, celebrations were slated to take place in Cannaregio, in Venice's historic center. However, the local group "No Space for Bezos," threatened to disrupt the ceremony with inflatable crocodiles and a group plunge into canals. The bride and groom are believed to have changed their plans to avoid the protesters and moved the wedding to a much more isolated location. A nonbinding ceremony, when the couple will exchange vows, is due on the small island of San Giorgio on Friday, Reuters and The Associated Press reported. The wedding reception, which is rumored to be taking place on Saturday, is now expected to take place inside of the Arsenale, a 14th-century complex of former shipyards and armories on the eastern side of the historic center, Reuters has reported. How much has the wedding cost? The wedding will cost between $46 million and $56 million, according to Reuters estimates. An estimated 90 private jets are expected to arrive for the event, and 30 water taxis have been booked. A copy of Bezos and Sánchez's wedding invitation obtained by ABC News tells guests "no gifts," and instead requests that donations be made on behalf of guests to a number of organizations, including the UNESCO Venice Office to "safeguard this city's irreplaceable cultural heritage."
STV News
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Stars descend on Venice for $50 million Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez wedding
The Italian city of Venice has been inundated with celebrities as billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez kicked off celebrations for their multi-million dollar wedding. Dozens of private jets and yachts delivered celebrities, athletes and influencers to the City of Canals on Thursday for the world's fourth richest man and his former journalist fiancée's reported $50 million extravaganza. On the guest list were Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady and Orlando Bloom who were seen getting into water taxis for the start of what promised to be a high-octane three-day celebration. Kim Kardashian and sister Khloé Kardashian, arrive in Venice. / Credit: AP Orlando Bloom was among the likes of Leonardo Di Caprio and Tom Brady to be invited to the star-studded event. / Credit: AP US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump waves as she and her husband Jared Kushner arrive in Venice. / Credit: AP Details of the event have been shrouded in secrecy, but rumours of world-famous performers, exclusive venues and lavish decorations are all thought to have pushed up the final cost. Singer Usher and other guests arrived by watertaxi's down the canals. / Credit: AP Oprah Winfrey chats to guests on Thursday in Venice. / Credit: AP Local media have reported the couple will hold a ceremony Friday on San Giorgio island, across the lagoon basin from St Mark's Square. But not everyone is celebrating. Local activists, housing advocates and environmental groups have denounced the nupitals as a symbol of inequality and over-tourism in a city already strained by climate change and rising sea levels. Protests by the movement dubbed 'No Space for Bezos' – a nod to both the billionaire's space exploration company Blue Origin and Sánchez's own recent space journey – included Greenpeace unfurling banners in St Mark's Square and demonstators floating a bald-headed Bezos-inspired mannequin down a Venice canal on top of an Amazon delivery box, its hands clenching fake cash in the canals. The banner was quickly taken away by police officers. / Credit: Greenpeace/AP A mannequin resembling Jeff Bezos floats in a canal in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, ahead of festivities in the lagoon city. / Credit: AP When Amazon CEO, Bezos used to shun the limelight, frequently delegating announcements and business updates to his executives. He has a net worth of $231 billion (£168 billion), according to Forbes. In 2019, he announced he was divorcing his first wife, MacKenzie Scott, just before the National Enquirer published a story about an affair with Sánchez, a former TV news anchor. Sánchez filed for divorce the day after Bezos' divorce was finalised. Bezos stepped down as CEO in 2021, saying he wished to spend more time on side projects, including Blue Origin, The Washington Post, which he owns, and his philanthropic initiatives. Last week, a Venetian environmental research association issued a statement saying Bezos' Earth Fund was supporting its work with an 'important donation.' CORILA, which seeks protection of the Venetian lagoon system, said contact began in April, well before any protests. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
