Latest news with #wedding
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Patrick Whitesell is all smiles as he enjoys lunch with friends in LA - while ex-wife Lauren Sanchez weds Jeff Bezos in Venice
Patrick Whitesell proved he has well and truly moved on from ex-wife Lauren Sanchez following her illicit affair with Jeff Bezos six years ago. The US journalist, 55, and Amazon founder, 61, have now tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy, saying 'I do' in front of their A-list friends. But Patrick, 60, who is now married to stunning Aussie model Pia Whitesell, didn't have a care in the world on Thursday as he enjoyed lunch in Los Angeles. The Endeavor Talent Agency executive chairman kept his look casual as he and his pals arrived at Craig's in West Hollywood. Wearing a pair of white-washed jeans and a black, long-sleeved shirt, the multi-millionaire sat down for a four-hour lunch with his friends. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The US journalist and Amazon founder have now tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy, saying 'I do' in front of their A-list friends He appeared to be in high spirits as he paired his look with a set of crisp white sneakers and designer sunglasses. Patrick even offered a joyful wave for onlookers before he slipped into the ritzy restaurant. Wife Pia, who is considered one of the most beautiful women in Australia, also appeared content with her life of luxury on Friday. The former Home and Away star appeared unperturbed by the highly-publicised wedding happening between her husband's ex and Jeff this weekend. She was spotted going for a stroll in LA with a friend, flaunting her natural beauty as pouring her figure into skin-tight athleisure wear. The TV star and her wealthy husband appear to be enjoying the quiet life as Lauren and Jeff tie the knot in an ostentatious, three-day ceremony across the ocean in Italy. Lauren and Jeff made headlines six years ago when their illicit affair came to light, effectively ending two marriages – Lauren and Patrick, and Jeff and MacKenzie Scott. Now, Lauren has shared the first look at her stunning wedding dress from her and Jeff's $20 million Venetian wedding in front of their glamorous celebrity friends. The bride took to Instagram moments after saying 'I do' on Saturday to share a photo of the couple together, where she showed off her glamorous Dolce & Gabbana gown. Described as the 'wedding of a century', the Amazon founder and former journalist have welcomed nearly 200 VIPs to Venice for three days of lavish celebrations. The nuptials come two years after Jeff asked Lauren to marry him on his $500 million superyacht. Jeff and Lauren welcomed a slew of their famous friends to witness the nuptials, including Gayle King, Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump, Orlando Bloom, and Usher. Leonardo DiCaprio, Sydney Sweeney, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner, amongst others, also attended. The romantic ceremony took place on San Giorgio Maggiore island, and guests were treated to trumpets, violins and a Gospel Choir when they arrived. The festivities kicked off earlier in the week and the multi-day affair is said to have cost $20 million. Last night, as the couple enjoyed a pre-wedding party inside the historic Madonna dell'Orto cloisters, it was revealed Jeff and Lauren had already married legally. But the couple's lavish celebration has been far from plain sailing with a freak thunderstorm forcing guests to take cover during Thursday night's party. Protesters also planned to disrupt the celebrations and forced a late venue change. Determined not to let the disruptions dampen her day, Lauren has shared glimpses into her wedding preparations on Instagram. She revealed it took a massive team to get her into her stunning gown, with one photo showing her surrounded by seven people as she put on the Dolce & Gabbana dress. Two of them were seen adjusting the back of it while a third worked on the enormous train; the rest stood around the blushing bride. In the caption, she wrote: 'Not just a gown, a piece of poetry. Thank you @DolceGabbana for the magic you made.' Another image showed her standing in the gown, while a third featured a man helping her put her veil on. Lauren also posed in the exquisite wedding dress for a pre-wedding photoshoot with Vogue magazine. The former Home and Away star appeared unperturbed by the highly-publicised wedding happening between her husband's ex and Jeff this weekend While chatting with the publication, she recalled feeling like a 'princess' during her dress fitting, which took place in Milan. 'It was more powerful than I thought,' she added of the moment she put it on for the first time. She also revealed Jeff had begged to see her in the gown, but as is tradition for most brides, she explained she wasn't going to let him lay his eyes upon it until the big day. 'I almost gave in,' she admitted. 'But I want it to be a surprise. As you get a little older, not many things surprise you. I can't wait to see his face.' Lauren was quick to change her Instagram username to include her new name, swapping it to @laurensanchezbezos and wiping out all of her old posts. Just an hour later, she followed up with some behind-the-scenes snaps of her wedding gown. Guests at the luxurious wedding ceremony were greeted to the sounds of trumpets, violins and a Gospel Choir when they arrived. The choir also broke out into song again after the couple said 'I do', belting out Whitney Houston's Higher Love. Guests were heard cheering and singing along during the touching moment. Opera star Matteo Bocelli kicked off the couple's wedding reception, opening up his set with the iconic Elvis Presley track I Can't Help Falling in Love With You. The son of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli was called in as his dad is performing in concerts in southern Italy this weekend and couldn't attend. Hours earlier, Lauren made her first appearance of the day when she was spotted leaving the five star Aman Hotel in a ladylike white Dior puff sleeve suit. The award-winning journalist paired it with a head scarf and oversized sunglasses. She also appeared to show off a brand new enormous diamond ring for the occasion. Jeff and Lauren are said to have rented out a number of places in Venice to celebrate the lavish nuptials. An insider told last week San Georgio Maggiore island is largely 'off-limits to visitors' from June 24 to June 29.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Plastic surgeons spot telling signs of every nip and tuck as A-listers descend on Bezos-Sanchez wedding
They're calling it 'the wedding of the century,' and the celebrities certainly didn't fail to stun the crowds. More than 200 guests descended upon Venice for the nuptials of the world's third richest man, Jeff Bezos, and former journalist Lauren Sanchez.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' A-list guests run for cover as pre-wedding party is hit by huge freak thunderstorm
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' A-list guests like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner were forced to take cover on Thursday as the couple's pre-wedding party was hit by a huge freak thunderstorm. The lavish event held at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters marked the start of the billionaire couple's lavish three-day wedding in Venice, Italy, which will come to a close on Saturday. However, Thursday night's star-studded soiree was brought to an early end due to the intense downpour. Guests dived for cover under the vaulted cloisters as lightening bolts flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled overhead at the end of what was a torridly humid day with temperatures nudging 96.8° Fahrenheit. Torrential downpours and a strong wind left guests soaked as they then dashed for water taxis which had been scrambled a good 45 minutes ahead of the midnight finish time. The strong gusts of winds whipped table cloths away and sent waiters scurrying for umbrellas to protect the VIP attendees. Thursday night's star-studded soiree was brought to an early end due to the intense downpour; Sanchez and Bezos pictured leaving the party Torrential downpours and a strong wind left guests like Kim and Khloe Kardashian (pictured) soaked as they then dashed for water taxis which had been scrambled a good 45 minutes ahead of the midnight finish time One onlooker said: 'It just goes to show you can have all the money in the world but you cant control the weather - although an Italian saying says a wet bride is a happy and lucky bride.' Kim, 44, and her younger sister Khloe, 40, struggled to stay dry in their couture gowns as their security team guided them to their designated water taxi. Kylie, who is the younger half-sister of Kim and Khloe, reacted to the weather by sharing a photo of her rain-soaked water taxi to her Instagram Story. Bride-to-be Lauren was surrounded by tuxedo-clad gentleman carrying blue umbrellas over her as she carefully stepped on to her awaiting boat. The TV personality, 55, had on a striking off-the-shoulder dress with a dramatic gold corset cinching in her already tiny waist. Bezos, 61 — who popped the question in 2023 with a $3 million engagement ring — was seen following closely behind Lauren with an umbrella over his head. In footage obtained by Lauren appeared to be in high spirits despite the rain ending their soiree early. Once inside the water taxi, she was seen sharing a laugh with Bezos as the downpour intensified. Singer Ellie Goulding was also spotted standing out in the rain as she and a fellow guest waited patiently for their boat. Bezos and Sanchez are set to tie the knot on Friday, June 27 in Venice, Italy after a two-year engagement. The Amazon billionaire and his bride-to-be are said to have invited 200 people to their three-day Italian wedding. Along with Kim Kardashian, Ellie Goulding, Khloe Kardashian and Ivanka Trump, the star-studded guest list includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom and Tom Brady. Earlier this week, a copy of the couple's invite was leaked with one very specific request made on behalf of the couple. They've asked guests not to buy them any presents and told them they'll be making donations to multiple charities working to stop Venice from sinking on attendees' behalf instead. Bezos is thought to be spending roughly $15 to $20 million on his and Sanchez's Italian nuptials. On Thursday, a source closely connected to the organization of the week's events revealed to exclusively that Bezos and Sanchez are already legally married. The lavish event held at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters marked the start of the billionaire couple's lavish three-day wedding in Venice, Italy, which will come to a close on Saturday '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,' the insider revealed. They added: 'When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married. 'There is no application for a wedding license 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.' The source also claimed that Jeff had personally confirmed that he and Lauren are already legally married, and that they had also signed a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune. Greenpeace and the UK-based collective Everyone Hates Elon have joined protests in Venice attempting to disrupt, or even prevent, the planned wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Bezos this week. ' Jeff Bezos is the second-richest man in the world yet is reported to pay a 1.1 percent true tax rate,' the two groups said in a joint statement. 'The multi-million-dollar wedding is reportedly happening over three days, with the wedding ring alone worth as much as $5million.' Guests dived for cover under the vaulted cloisters as lightening bolts flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled overhead A spokesperson from Everyone Hates Elon said: 'As governments talk about hard choices and struggle to fund public services, Jeff Bezos can afford to shut down half a city for days on end just to get married.' 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,' one gigantic banner read in St. Mark's Square. Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia have spoken out in favor of the nuptials, which have been dubbed, 'the wedding of the century,' pointing out that the celebrations are expected to bring $23-34million to local businesses. 'This is a city that handles 150,000 people a day,' Zaia told Italian daily Corriere della Sera. 'George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here.' Bezos has also pledged to make sizable charity donations, including $1.16million to Corila - an academic consortium dedicated to studying Venice's lagoon ecosystem - according to Corriere della Sera and Italy's ANSA news agency. Earlier this month, anti-Bezos banners were hung in Venice from St. Mark's Tower with 'Bezos' in blue capital letters and a red X over it as part of a 'No Space for Bezos' campaign, a play on Bezos' Blue Origin spaceflight venture. More outrage was sparked Thursday as Bezos and Sanchez's wedding guests descended upon the Madonna dell Orto for the rain-soaked pre-party. The chaos caused by the star-studded event reportedly forced canals to shut down and tourists to cancel reservations in Venice. Her tweed Oscar de la Rente dress looked dangerously close to bridal white in the dim lighting The dress' skirt was a darker shade of pink that gradually lightened up the bodice until it was nearly white According to one business owner who runs a kayak renting service in the area, the bridges were 'closed off' to make way for Lauren, Jeff, and their guests, leaving customers unable to reach them. 'We had a party of clients booked for Thursday night. But they were unable to get through to us because the bridges were all closed off,' they shared. 'Despite them having booking, the police wouldn't let them pass. It was party of five Americans, and they had booked an hour and a half for $100 each and so we had to cancel. 'The party involved was on a tight schedule and couldn't rebook so we will have to refund them and so we have lost money.' In addition to the bridges, the Venice local claimed that the canals were also shut gown and that police on jet skis turned them around when they tried to get through. They added that there was 'no real notification from the council that the canal would be closed.' 'I don't begrudge [Jeff and Lauren] for getting married, but this has cost us money and of all the places in Venice they had to choose the one by us,' they added. Photos also showed police presence all over the Italian city, including officers on jet skis in the canals, as water taxis went back and forth taking Lauren and Jeff's guests from their hotels to the event. The newly-minted bachelor, 47, was spotted leaving the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with a mystery woman after guests were forced to end early following a freak thunderstorm in Venice The newly-minted bachelor, 47, was spotted leaving the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with a mystery woman after guests were forced to end early following a freak thunderstorm in Venice Once inside the boat, Bloom was caught wrapping his arm around the brunette For the soiree, which was also attended by Kim Kardashian, Bloom rocked a chic beige suit and white button-up The star looked to be in high spirits despite the recent news of his and Perry's split Lauren was seen being sheltered as she exited the venue amid the rainy and stormy weather She appeared to be in good weather despite the weather woes as she exited the venue Bezos is thought to be spending roughly $15 to $20 million on his and Sanchez's Italian nuptials The chaos caused by Thursday's starry pre-wedding party reportedly forced canals to shut down and tourists to cancel reservations in Venice Around 20 activists were seen protesting hours before the pre-wedding party in St Mark's Square, the iconic heart of Venice. Protesters held signs that read, 'We are the 99 percent we have the power,' 'the planet burns,' while someone even waved an extinction rebellion flag. Sanchez and Bezos arrived in Venice for their wedding on Wednesday. Read More Awkward! Kim Kardashian poses for photo taken by sister Khloe... but there is a hilarious catch They were photographed outside the luxurious five-star Aman Hotel — where some suites cost nearly $14,000 a night — after being dropped off by a water taxi along with 50 of their 200-something guests. They hosted a drinks reception with a playlist of romantic music, blasting More Than A Woman by the Bee Gees. They then continued to play tunes like Nina Simone's I'm Feeling Good, Lovely Day by Bill Withers and Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison. Earlier that day, in the private garden of the hotel, which is surrounded by a 10ft brick wall, staff could be heard working to erect marquees, ready for a weekend of celebrations. They also put a VIP jetty up outside the Aman Hotel for guests to use when they arrived. Days before their Venice arrival, Sanchez and Bezos kicked off their wedding-week by throwing a rowdy foam party on board his $500million superyacht Koru on Sunday. Kim and sister Khloe Kardashian seen en route to the wedding party Their mother Kris Jenner, 69, was also invited Kendall and Kylie Jenner followed closely behind their mom and famous sisters as guests made their way to the boats, which were headed to the party venue Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, waved at photographers while aboard a water taxi with husband Jared Kushner Billionaire Oprah Winfrey carefully boarded a water taxi with BFF Gayle King R&B superstar Usher was also on hand for the invite-only festivities in Venice Eligible bachelors Tom Brady and Orlando Bloom looked ready to party in white button-up shirts Kim Kardashian has also recently sparked surgery speculation as she continues to flashy her very tiny waistline As she arrived to Venice on Thursday, the TV personality showcased her sculpted midriff in a Balenciaga outfit Her slim waist was further put on display as she later also stopped by the star-studded bash in a snakeskin Versace dress that clung to her curves and had small cutouts on the front She once again gave a glimpse at her smaller frame as she attended a party later on Thursday while sporting a purple and white-colored ensemble with small cutouts on the sides Winfrey - who has lost nearly 50 pounds with the aid of one of the newly popular weight-loss drugs - was seen arriving to Venice on Thursday wearing a white sweatshirt and matching sweatpants Pictures obtained by of the lavish celebration show the loved-up couple covered in little more than soap suds as they relished in the summer sunshine. Bezos proposed to Sanchez on the same superyacht more than two years ago in 2023. While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to their now-exes. Read More Bezos' best men! Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady and newly-single Orlando Bloom lead chic male guests Soon after it was revealed, the billionaire businessman divorced his wife of more than 25 years and the mother of his four children, Mackenzie Scott, while Lauren left her husband, Patrick. At the time, the bombshell report from the Enquirer claimed that Lauren and Jeff had been involved in an eight-month affair, which involved him 'whisking his mistress off to exotic destinations on his $65 million private jet, sending her raunchy messages and erotic selfies, and having secret rendezvous at palatial private estates.' The outlet said that it had tracked them 'across five states and 40,000 miles, tailing them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and 'quality time' in hidden love nests.' Following the Enquirer's accusations, Jeff fired back by writing a lengthy essay to the publication's CEO, David Pecker, in which the mogul accused the company of blackmailing him. '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,' he wrote. While Jeff and Lauren are set to say 'I do' in front of guests on Friday, a source revealed to this week that the couple are already married; seen in 2021 The A-list couple got engaged more than two years ago in 2023 '[After] intimate texts 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 shared alleged emails sent to him by Enquirer staffers, in which they described the racy images they had 'obtained during their newsgathering' in detail. Read More Slim Leonardo DiCaprio, 50, brings Vittoria Ceretti, 27, to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding 'If in my position I can't stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can?' Jeff continued. '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.' As for how Jeff and Lauren met, it was said that it was Lauren's husband Patrick who was the first to introduce the two at an Amazon studios party for the movie Manchester By the Sea in 2016. Her production team was then hired to film footage for Jeff's rocket company, Blue Origin, in 2018. 'Patrick and Lauren have socialized with Jeff Bezos and his wife for a few years, because both [former] couples have houses in Seattle,' a source told Page Six after their affair was brought to light. As for how Jeff and Lauren met, it was said that it was Lauren's husband Patrick introduced the two at an Amazon studios party for the movie Manchester By The Sea in 2016 (seen) 'Then Lauren was hired to work on one of Jeff's projects, Blue Origin, a space-launch company. She has been shooting aerial shots for Jeff.' Despite the start of their romance being shrouded in accusations of blackmail and extortion, cheating allegations, and an explosive affair, the couple did not let it defer them. In fact, after splitting from their respective partners, Jeff and Lauren didn't wait long to start flaunting their love all over the globe. They were seen for the first time together publicly in May 2019, when photographers caught them enjoying a romantic date night in New York City, and they made their first official appearance as a couple at Wimbledon that July. Since then, the couple has not tried to hide their romance, and for the last five years, they have continuously jetted off on a slew of lavish getaways together, shared tons of adorable, PDA-filled photos together on social media, gushed over one another nonstop in interviews, and attended a slew of star-studded events side by side.
ABC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Venice wedding in pictures
The sky itself is no limit for billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez, who have travelled into space — and expectations were about as high ahead of their wedding in Venice. One of the world's most enchanting cities as a backdrop? Check. Star-studded guest list and tabloid buzz? Of course. Local flavour? You bet. And then, time to tie the knot. The couple held their wedding ceremony on Friday night, local time, and the now Mrs Sánchez Bezos posted to Instagram a photo of herself beaming in a white gown as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Mr Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man. Before the nuptials, Ms Sanchez, 55, wearing short-sleeved, cream, fitted skirt suit, with shades and a head scarf to protect her from the blistering summer sun, boarded a motor boat for the small island of San Giorgio where the couple would exchange rings. About two hours later, Mr Bezos, 61, wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie over a white shirt, made the same short trip across the lagoon, accompanied by singing from Matteo Bocelli, son of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Businesses have welcomed the glitz and glamour but it is opposed by a local protest movement whose members resent what they see as Venice being gift-wrapped for ultra-rich outsiders. Mr Bezos is No 4 on Forbes' global billionaires list. The anti-Bezos front is planning a march on Saturday, and its 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. 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. Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, the queen of Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner and Kim and Khloe Kardashian as well as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and Domenico Dolce from Dolce & Gabbana, are among the 200-250 guests. 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 euros ($5.8 million). AP/Reuters
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Here's How Much The Bezos-Sánchez Wedding Extravaganza Really Cost
L ove is lavish-er the second time around. Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are celebrating their nuptials in a star-studded, and controversial, three-day celebration in Venice—and most of the focus has been on how much the affair cost. More than six months ago, rumors started circulating that the Bezos-Sánchez wedding (the second time each has said, 'I do.') would be held in Aspen and cost $600 million. 'Unless you are buying each of your guests a house, you can't spend this much money,' hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman joked on X in December. Bezos himself reposted the comment, stating 'this whole thing is completely false—none of this is happening.' Instead, the happy couple opted for what is reportedly an 'intimate' 200-person ceremony presumed to be much less expensive than the rumored Rocky Mountain hijinks. And that doesn't include a pre-wedding foam party the 61-year-old groom and 55-year-old bride reportedly threw for one of her son's last weekend aboard Bezos' superyacht, Koru . Based on conversations with a dozen sources, including Venetian wedding industry insiders and multiple local vendors involved in or with knowledge of the event, Forbes estimates that the Bezos-Sánchez wedding will cost at least $20 million - but could be closer to $25 million or even more, depending on what surprises the hosts have in store for their guests. (A representative for Bezos has not yet replied to a request for comment.) This week, a handful of media outlets cited Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region (which includes Venice), saying that the wedding would cost upwards of 40 million euros, or $46 million. But that number looks like a wild guess. A member of Zaia's press office says that Zaia was using 'online sources' and does not have any insider information from the Amazon cofounder or his representatives. Another number that's been cited is the wedding's economic impact on the Queen of the Adriatic. According to Italy's Ministry of Tourism, the wedding could generate an economic impact of more than $1 billion, equivalent to some two-thirds of the city's annual tourism number. How that is calculated is unclear, but there is no doubt officials are hoping for a boost after a nearly 7% decline in overnight stays so far in 2025. The $20-plus million Forbes estimates for the celebration, based on confirmed costs, is more than 600 times the cost of an average American wedding—which the wedding site The Knot puts at $33,000 or about $284 a guest—but won't exactly make a dent in Bezos' estimated $237 billion fortune. Bezos and Sánchez's multi-day affair kicked off with a welcome party held near the Madonna dell'Orto church on Thursday night; it was reportedly cut short due to a thunder storm. The actual ceremony was held at the 16th century San Giorgio Maggiore Basilica on one of Venice's islands on Friday night, though the couple don't appear to be getting legally married—they never applied for the necessary license from the city, suggesting they may have wed ahead of the very public celebration. Matteo Bocelli, son of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, reportedly performed at the ceremony, followed by a reception on the island. On Saturday, another party is planned at Arsenale, a massive complex of former armories and shipyards first built in the 12th century. The party was supposed to be held at the Scuola Grande Della Misericordia, in the center of Venice, but was moved on Tuesday for security concerns—a last-minute inconvenience that likely added significantly to the weekend's costs. The couple's A-plus guest list—which ranged from billionaires Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey to Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Brady, as well as a vaporetto-load of the requisite Kardashians—have been spotted at five-star hotels across Venice in recent days, including at the Gritti Palace, the St. Regis and the Aman, where the bride and groom are staying. (The couple reportedly bought out the entire hotel for the three nights, which required relocating guests who had coincidentally booked the Aman to other luxury properties in the city at the Bezos' expense.) The average cost of a room at the luxury hotels in June, based on the rack rate on several hotel sites, is about $2,000 per night. That adds up to some $900,000 for three nights, assuming around 150 rooms were booked. It's not clear whether the couple are paying for guests' rooms, but two wedding planners say it's standard for ultra-luxe events like this. Billionaire Sam Altman, the CEO of Chat GPT maker OpenAI, is one of a handful of billionaire guests at the Bezos-Sanchez wedding. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images The couple's wedding planners also commissioned about 30 private water taxis to escort guests around the city, according to a source in Venice. Each taxi costs between $210 and $290 per hour, according to the Venice consortium of water taxis, the largest in the city. All told, assuming 12-hour days, the cost would be at least $270,000 spent on water transport alone. The wedding was catered by three-Michelin-star chef Fabrizio Mellino of Quattro Passi, a restaurant in Nerano—near Naples–which Bezos has been known to frequent, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra. The restaurant charges around $1,800 per person, including staff and food transport, to cater weddings of this level, according to former clients. That's at least $360,000 in food-and-beverage costs for the one night—but it is likely a three-day contract, adding up closer to $1.1 million. Quattro Passi is reportedly closed for four days. The floral arrangements were provided by Munaretto Flowers, according to a source within Venice's luxury wedding planning industry, who estimates the cost to be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Munaretto did not reply to a request for comment. In addition, the couple is giving each guest an arrangement of local goods and pastries, including hand-blown Murano glass from Laguna B–a Venice luxury staple, and fresh-baked treats from Rosa Salva, one of the oldest bakeries in the city. A simple Murano wine goblet starts at around $220, making the estimated cost per box hundreds of dollars. Antonio Rosa Salva, owner of the Rosa Salva bakery, was commissioned to produce 'about 200' small assortments of the bakery's products, which is known for its typical Venetian cookies, including buranelli and zaleti . Rosa Salva tells Forbes the level of secrecy surrounding the nuptials has been such that he himself didn't know the order was intended for Bezos until two weeks ago, and that it was placed through a third-party agency. "We make our product with love,' he says. 'The real satisfaction comes from receiving recognition in that regard—from a financial standpoint as well, but it's much more important to be recognized for the quality.' The island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, where the ceremony between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez was held on Friday, June 27. STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images Given the number of high-profile and ultra-wealthy guests, security has been paramount all week. 'The security posture there must be massive,' says Kenneth Bombace, CEO of Global Threat Solutions, who has provided private security for multiple events that Bezos attended in the past. Bombace says that for an event of this caliber, he would have hired 40 to 50 agents, including members of the local police force, and would have begun preparations months in advance. Bombace estimates the total security cost for the event, including travel and preparations, at 'a few million dollars.' A source with knowledge of the events confirmed that at least 30 members of the Italian police have surveyed the island of San Giorgio Maggiore with a canine unit and other security forces have swept the hotels. To spread good will in Venice—which has not exactly returned the kindness to the couple, including dumping a dummy of the groom clinging to an Amazon delivery box in the canal—Bezos has donated nearly $3.6 million to three organizations in the city: $1.2 million (or 1 million Euro) to Corila, an agency that coordinates research for the care of the Venetian lagoon; $1.2 million to UNESCO's Venice office, which promotes culture and the natural sciences; and an estimated $1.2 million to Venice International University. 'They did a blood test and an X-ray on us,' joked Pierpaolo Campostrini, general director of Corila, who says he was pleasantly surprised to receive the donation. Bezos had been struck by the beauty of Venice's lagoon during a previous visit and asked about its management, he tells Forbes . 'We didn't fill out an application or do anything of the kind.' Campostrini says he was first contacted by representatives for Bezos in April, before protests denouncing the lavishness of the event picked up, adding, 'It wasn't greenwashing.' A spokesperson for UNESCO Venice confirmed the group plans to use the funds to 'support UNESCO's activities in managing and preserving the cultural heritage of Venice and its lagoon.' A representative of Venice International University did not respond to a request for comment. Despite the media frenzy and lavish details, the weekend extravaganza is hardly the most expensive recent wedding among the billionaire set. In 2004, Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, then the country's second richest person, sprang for an opulent six-day wedding celebration in Paris for his daughter Vanisha. Mittal spared no expense on the nuptials, flying 1,000 guests by private jets to France, where festivities included fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, a performance by Kylie Minogue and an engagement ceremony at the Palace of Versailles. The estimated tab for the week was around $60 million. That amount was modest compared to the 2024 marriage celebration of Anant Ambani, the son of India's richest person, Mukesh Ambani. Believed to be the most expensive of all-time—costing between $400 million and $500 million—it included multiple events stretching over several months, including a Mediterranean cruise and performances by Rihanna and Justin Bieber. One event alone had more than 10,000 guests. Not all billionaires or their heirs want such spectacles when they walk down the aisle. Alex Soros, son of hedge fund billionaire George Soros, recently tied the knot with Huma Abedin, a longtime advisor to Hillary Clinton, at a private ceremony 'at home' in their Water Mill, New York mansion. Still even a low-key billionaire wedding brings out a roster of A-list guests, this one including everyone from Clinton and Kamala Harris to Jennifer Lawrence and Mariska Hargitay. Plus there was a performance by Boyz 2 Men, a band well past their heyday and with a price tag that could have been as little as a few hundred thousand. Bezos and Sánchez are reportedly going for much bigger pop stars for their Saturday bash-–Lady Gaga and Elton John, according to several media outlets. And if those two don't show, Usher and Elie Goulding have already joined the Venetian party. The joy rushing through the canals has been palpable. From Bezos and Sánchez waving at crowds to the new bride already posting a glamorous photo of her in a Sophia Loren-inspired Dolce & Gabbana gown and changing her name to Lauren Sánchez Bezos on Instagram, there is no doubt they want to shout the news from the gondolas. Here's hoping it lasts longer than the marriage of Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott and her second husband, who divorced after less than two years — and that in this case, the second time is really the charm. More from Forbes
