Latest news with #billionaire
CNA
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Bezos-Sanchez wedding in Venice: The best that money can buy
The Italian city of Venice was making waves Friday with the most anticipated wedding of 2025 — that of billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez. The sky itself is no limit for this couple who has travelled into space, and expectations are about as high. One of the world's most-enchanting cities as backdrop? Check. Star-studded guestlist and tabloid buzz? Of course. Local flavor? You bet. Beyond that, the team of the world's fourth-richest man has kept details under wraps. Still, whispers point to events spread across the lagoon city, adding complexity to what would have been a massive logistical undertaking even on dry land. On Thursday, dozens of private jets touched down at Venice's airport as yachts pulled into the city's famed waterways. Aboard were athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders, converging to revel in extravagance that is as much a testament to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth. The heady hoopla recalled the 2014 wedding in Venice of actor George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, when adoring crowds lined the canals and hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside City Hall. Not so for these nuptials, which have become a lightning rod for protests. Still, any desire to dampen the prevailing fever pitch has yet to materialise. Instead, the glitterati were set to party, and the paparazzi jostling for glimpses of the gilded gala. Whatever happens, it will be a wedding for the ages. LOGISTICS AND COSTS Venice is famed for its network of canals, where gondoliers croon for lovestruck couples and even ambulances are aquatic. But water transport of everything from bouquets to guests makes Venice among the world's most challenging cities for a party, according to Jack Ezon, CEO of luxury travel advisory and event planner Embark Beyond. 'It's a very tight-knit community; everyone there knows everyone, and you need to work with the right people,' said Ezon, whose company has put on a dozen high-end events in Venice. "There's very tight control, especially on movement there with boats.' It at least triples the cost versus staging the same soiree in Rome or Florence, he said. Veneto Gov. Luca Zaia was first to give an estimated tally for the Bezos/Sanchez bash: He told reporters this week the most recent total he saw was between 40 and 48 million euros (up to US$56 million). It's an eye-popping, jaw-dropping figure that's over 1,000 times the US$36,000 average cost of American couples' weddings in 2025, according to wedding planning website Zola's annual report. Bezos' team has been tight-lipped about where these millions are going. When the youngest son of Asia's richest man married last July, performances by pop stars Rihanna and Justin Bieber pushed up the price tag. 'How do you spend US$40 million on a three- or four-day event?' Ezon said. 'You could bring headliners, A-list performers, great DJs from anywhere in the world. You could spend US$2 million on an incredible glass tent that's only there for 10 hours, but it takes a month to build', or expand the celebration to local landmarks. There's no sign Sanchez and Bezos, the former CEO of Amazon, intend to take over any of Venice's tourist-thronged hotspots. Still, intense hand-wringing about the prospect prompted their wedding coordinator, Lanza & Baucina, to issue a rare statement calling those rumours false. On Friday afternoon, Sanchez emerged from her hotel wearing a silk scarf on her head and blew a kiss to journalists before stepping into her water taxi. It carried her through the canals to San Giorgio island, across the lagoon basin from St Mark's Square, where the couple held their ceremony Friday night. Bezos followed two hours later. Then, in a string of water taxis, came their illustrious guests — Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, Bill Gates, Queen Rania of Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more. Paparazzi trailed on their own boats, trying to capture them all on camera. Vogue magazine, to which the couple granted exclusive access, reported that the Dolce & Gabbana-designed gown took 900 hours to complete. Inspired by Sophia Loren's wedding dress in the 1958 film Houseboat, it featured high-necked, hand-appliqued lace and 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons. 'NO SPACE' There are some who say these two should not be wed in this city. They characterise the wedding as a decadent display of wealth in a world with growing inequality, and argue it's a shining example of tourism taking precedence over residents' needs, particularly affordable housing and essential services. Venice is also one of the cities most vulnerable to rising sea levels from climate change. About a dozen Venetian organisations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — are protesting under the banner 'No Space for Bezos', a play on words referring to his space exploration company Blue Origin and the bride's recent space flight. Greenpeace unfurled a banner in St Mark's Square denouncing Bezos for paying insufficient taxes. Activists floated a bald-headed Bezos-inspired mannequin down a Venice canal atop an Amazon delivery box, its hands clenching fake cash. Authorities — from Venice's mayor to the nation's tourism minister — have dismissed the outcry, saying it ignores the visibility and economic boost the wedding brings. 'There will be photos everywhere, social media will go wild over the bride's dress, over the ceremony,' Italy's tourism minister, Daniela Santanche, told the AP. 'All of this translates into a massive free publicity campaign. In fact, because they will spend a lot of money, they will enrich Venice — our shopkeepers, artisans, restauranteurs, hotels. So it's a great opportunity both for spending and for promoting Italy in the world.' PHILANTHROPY As Amazon's CEO, Bezos usually avoided the limelight, frequently delegating announcements and business updates to his executives. Today he has a net worth of US$231 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 Sanchez, a former TV news anchor. Sanchez filed for divorce the day after Bezos' divorce was finalised. He 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. Sitting beside Sanchez during an interview with CNN in 2022, he announced plans to give away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. 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.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
You know you really are in billionaire territory when a 30-carat ring doesn't cut it: ALISON BOSHOFF on the inside story of the Bezos wedding
The gospel choir sang Steve Winwood's Higher Love, the bride wore a brand new diamond ring and the groom was safely delivered by water taxi. In an event which was simultaneously wildly elite and deeply tacky, and amid heavy security, with a strong police presence and dozens of private ex-services bodyguards, Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos exchanged vows with his second wife, Lauren Sanchez. His first marriage, to mousy Mackenzie Scott, was a quiet affair at the Breakers Hotel in Florida 's Palm Beach in 1993. This ceremonial nuptial (the legal end having been concluded some time ago) was instead a spectacle for the world, hyped as 'the wedding of the century'. It took place in the 'green theatre', a renovated amphitheatre in a forest situated on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where the Cini Foundation runs a museum and art galleries on the site of a former monastery. The forest was transformed into an enchanted garden, with lanterns, flowers, chandeliers, and tables laid out alongside the maze. And by the time the celebrities, politicians and business titans had arrived for the spectacle, one thing was sure: nobody bought the rumour that Bezos was getting out of this spending a measly $5 million any more. Indeed, to emphasise the billionaire-ness of it all, before the exchange of rings between bride and groom Sanchez had done another exchange of rings of her own. Her 30-carat $3 million pink diamond, presented by Bezos when he asked her to marry him two years ago, had been switched to her right hand... and in its place a yet larger, brilliant-white diamond, estimated at 35 carats and worth $8-$10 million. You know that you are moving with the 0.001 per cent when a 30-carat diamond isn't quite up to the occasion. The socking great diamond upgrade rather gives lie to earlier claims that their three-day wedding is a simple – virtually low-budget – affair for close friends and family only. In fact there were more celebrities than anyone had predicted, from Leonardo DiCaprio and Oprah to the Kardashians and Sydney Sweeney. And of course, as revealed by the Mail yesterday, the couple actually got legally married quietly over a month ago, which is why no wedding licence has been taken out by them in Venice. Promptly at 4.30pm local time, around two hours before her guests started to arrive for the ceremony, Sanchez hopped into a water taxi and headed for San Giorgio Maggiore. She wore a Dior cream skirt suit, a silk 'Brides de Gala en Fleurs' Hermes headscarf and carried a Hermes Kelly bag in black crocodile – and appeared in high spirits, blowing kisses to photographers. Nine minutes later she was being helped ashore, and disappeared from view to get ready. It is a look synonymous with the likes of sophisticated vintage film stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Sophie Loren and Jackie O Lauren put her best fashion foot forward as she completed her chic ensemble with printed headscarf, elegantly wrapped around her chocolate caramel tresses and a pair of classic black Celine sunglasses, along with a black croc-print handbag She was attended by a glam squad of at least five: make-up artists Buster Knight and Laura Mele, hair stylist Sophie Rose and stylist Robbie Gutterman. Samuel Horowitz, who works for Dolce & Gabbana, was on hand to help her into her wedding dress which was created by the pair. The designers, famous for their corseted dresses, are friends of the bride. She was seen visiting their shop in Milan in late April, apparently for a fitting. In a photo uploaded to Instagram by Sanchez, the bride showed off her stunning wedding dress, which contained lacy, floral sleeves, a tight bodice, high neckline, long flowing skirt with an enormous train, and buttons down the front. The glamorous, figure-hugging number showcased her stunning physique. The blushing new bride's long brown tresses were pulled back behind a vail and she wore striking makeup. Her new husband, for his part, donned a chic black tuxedo. Sanchez also posed in the exquisite wedding dress for a pre-wedding photoshoot with Vogue magazine. While chatting with the publication, she recalled feeling like a 'princess' during her dress fitting, which took place in Milan, Italy. 'It was more powerful than I thought,' she added of the moment she put it on for the first time. Her groom arrived two hours later, wearing a Dolce & Gabbana tux, sunglasses, and a beaming smile. During the ceremony guests were serenaded by tenor Matteo Bocelli, son of operatic legend Andrew. Afterwards, there was a dinner by candlelight and chandelier, with huge displays of dendrobium orchids and roses, followed by fireworks. Police were advised that the party was due to break up between 3am and 4am. Local sources say the menu included Spaghetti alla Nerano prepared by Fabrizio Mellino, the chef at Quattro Passi, the 3-star Michelin restaurant located in the picturesque fishing village of Nerano, on the Sorrento Peninsula. It's a family recipe, first created in 1952 and there are three basic ingredients: thick Gragnano handmade spaghetti, fried zucchini and grated provolone cheese. To follow, a top pastry boutique in Minori near Amalfi called Sal De Riso, prepared 'a thousand portions of desserts': mignon pastries, sweets by the glass and single portions of lemon and ricotta and pear delights. There was a wedding cake, of course, baked by the renowned chef Cedric Grolet, the executive pastry chef at Le Meurice in Paris. During the day, newly single actor Orlando Bloom ducked away from the paparazzi to hang out with former American football star Tom Brady, who is the ex husband of Gisele Bundchen. The two men seem to have struck up a strong bond over the days long wedding. On Thursday night Bloom gallantly helped his old friend, socialite Dasha Zhukova (once married to Roman Abramovich) into a water taxi, and was spotted with his arm around Hollywood stylist Jamie Mizrahi. He has known both women for years, and both are married, but that hasn't stopped speculation Bloom is perhaps not all that broken-hearted over the end of his nine-year romance with pop's Katy Perry. Perry, who is on a break during the Australian leg of her tour, was sent a consoling message by Lauren Sanchez who posted: 'We miss you Katy' on her Instagram. Bezos and Sanchez have seven children between them, and all attended the wedding, as did the father of her son Nikko, Tony Gonzalez, and his wife Tobie. Tobie Gonzalez and Sanchez are so close that she came to her hen party in Paris last month. And that's not the end of the festivities – there will be a gala party at the Arsenale in Venice tonight, followed by a smaller post-event brunch pyjama party.
Globe and Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's extravaganza dubbed ‘wedding of the century' kicks off in Venice
The Italian city of Venice was making waves Friday with the most anticipated wedding of 2025 – that of billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez. The sky itself is no limit for this couple who have traveled into space, and expectations are about as high. One of the world's most enchanting cities as backdrop? Check. Star-studded guestlist and tabloid buzz? Of course. Local flavor? You bet. Beyond that, the team of the world's fourth-richest man has kept details under wraps. Still, whispers point to events spread across the lagoon city, adding complexity to what would have been a massive logistical undertaking even on dry land. On Thursday, dozens of private jets touched down at Venice's airport as yachts pulled into the city's famed waterways. Aboard were athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders, converging to revel in extravagance that is as much a testament to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth. The heady hoopla recalled the 2014 wedding in Venice of actor George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, when adoring crowds lined the canals and hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside City Hall. Celebrities descend on Venice for Bezos and Sanchez's wedding extravaganza Not so for these nuptials, which have become a lightning rod for protests. Still, any desire to dampen the prevailing fever pitch has yet to materialize. Instead, the glitterati were set to party, and the paparazzi jostling for glimpses of the gilded gala. Whatever happens, it will be a wedding for the ages. Venice is famed for its network of canals, where gondoliers croon for lovestruck couples and even ambulances are aquatic. But water transport of everything from bouquets to guests makes Venice among the world's most challenging cities for a party, according to Jack Ezon, CEO of luxury travel advisory and event planner Embark Beyond. 'It's a very tight-knit community; everyone there knows everyone, and you need to work with the right people,' said Ezon, whose company has put on a dozen high-end events in Venice. 'There's very tight control, especially on movement there with boats.' It at least triples the cost versus staging the same soiree in Rome or Florence, he said. How much will Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding cost? The celebrity affair in Venice, by the numbers Veneto Gov. Luca Zaia was first to give an estimated tally for the Bezos/Sánchez bash: He told reporters this week the most recent total he saw was between €40-48 million (up to US$56 million). It's an eye-popping, jaw-dropping figure that's over 1,000 times the US$36,000 average cost of American couples' weddings in 2025, according to wedding planning website Zola's annual report. Bezos' team has been tight-lipped about where these millions are going. When the youngest son of Asia's richest man married last July, performances by pop stars Rihanna and Justin Bieber pushed up the pricetag. 'How do you spend $40 million on a three- or four-day event?' Ezon said. 'You could bring headliners, A-list performers, great DJs from anywhere in the world. You could spend $2 million on an incredible glass tent that's only there for 10 hours, but it takes a month to build,' or expand the celebration to local landmarks. There's no sign Sánchez and Bezos, the former CEO of Amazon, intend to take over any of Venice's tourist-thronged hotspots. Still, intense hand-wringing about the prospect prompted their wedding coordinator, Lanza & Baucina, to issue a rare statement calling those rumors false. Bezos's Venice wedding party moved to isolated area on security concerns On Thursday, a string of water taxis cut through the lagoon to bring Bezos, Sánchez and guests to the Madonna dell'Orto cloister as some onlookers cheered. Paparazzi followed in their own boats, trying to capture guests on camera – Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom – as police on jet skis patrolled. Local media have reported the couple will hold a ceremony Friday on San Giorgio island, across the lagoon basin from St. Mark's Square. Associated Press journalists circling the island Thursday saw workers assembling tents and private security personnel stationed at every pier, including a newly built one. Media have also reported a reception Saturday in the Arsenale, a former navy base best known as a primary venue for the Venice Bienalle. There are some who say these two should not be wed in this city. They characterize the wedding as a decadent display of wealth in a world with growing inequality, and argue it's a shining example of tourism taking precedence over residents' needs, particularly affordable housing and essential services. Venice is also one of the cities most vulnerable to rising sea levels from climate change. About a dozen Venetian organizations – including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups – are protesting under the banner 'No Space for Bezos,' a play on words referring to his space exploration company Blue Origin and the bride's recent space flight. Opinion: As Jeff Bezos prepares for a grand Venice wedding, locals are pushing back harder than ever Greenpeace unfurled a banner in St. Mark's Square denouncing Bezos for paying insufficient taxes. Activists floated a bald-headed Bezos-inspired mannequin down a Venice canal atop an Amazon delivery box, its hands clenching fake cash. Authorities – from Venice's mayor to the nation's tourism minister – have dismissed the outcry, saying it ignores the visibility and economic boost the wedding brings. 'There will be photos everywhere, social media will go wild over the bride's dress, over the ceremony,' Italy's tourism minister, Daniela Santanchè, told the AP. 'All of this translates into a massive free publicity campaign. In fact, because they will spend a lot of money, they will enrich Venice – our shopkeepers, artisans, restauranteurs, hotels. So it's a great opportunity both for spending and for promoting Italy in the world.' As Amazon's CEO, Bezos usually avoided the limelight, frequently delegating announcements and business updates to his executives. Today he has a net worth of $231 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 finalized. He 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. Sitting beside Sánchez during an interview with CNN in 2022, he announced plans to give away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. 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.
Bloomberg
11 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Roger Federer Becomes a Tennis Billionaire
Roger Federer's long-term deals and sharp investments have made him a tennis billionaire - with a net worth of around $1.3 billion. Alex Morgan explains. (Source: Bloomberg)
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meet newly married Jeff Bezos's three sons and his Chinese-born adopted daughter he keeps under wraps
When billionaire Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos marries busty Lauren Sanchez in Venice today, four people will be taking a special interest in his glamorous bride – because she will officially become their new stepmother. The balding billionaire shares his children with ex-wife Mackenzie, 55 – who was left heartbroken when his affair with Sanchez, also 55, was splashed across the tabloids in 2019.
