Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez wedding in Venice: What we know

Tech billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist and media personality Lauren Sánchez are officially married following a lavish, star-studded wedding in Venice, Italy. The wedding festivities, which spanned multiple days from June 26 to June 28, 2025, were marked by grand venues, high-profile guests, elaborate secrecy, and even protests from local groups concerned about the event’s impact on the historic city.

A Three-Day Affair in Venice

The couple’s wedding was anything but ordinary. They chose Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its canals, Renaissance art, and romantic charm, as the perfect backdrop. The celebrations reportedly kicked off with a welcome party at Madonna dell’Orto, a majestic church in the Cannaregio district. Lauren Sánchez dazzled in a gold Schiaparelli gown, while Bezos appeared in classic black-tie attire.

Over the course of three days, the couple and their guests moved between some of Venice’s most iconic venues, including San Giorgio Maggiore and the historic Arsenale di Venezia, where the main reception took place. The secrecy surrounding each event was intense—guests were only told about the next location on the day of each event, heightening the exclusive and mysterious atmosphere.

A Star-Studded Guest List

The wedding drew a guest list that reads like a who’s who of global elites. Celebrities, billionaires, and political figures were in attendance, including Oprah Winfrey, Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump, and Bill Gates. Reports suggest that over 200 guests were flown in via nearly 90 private jets, staying at some of Venice’s most luxurious hotels such as the Aman Venice, Hotel Danieli, and Gritti Palace.

With such high-profile attendees, security was extremely tight, and many public areas around the venues were cordoned off. Boats and paparazzi were kept at bay, and drone restrictions were reportedly enforced to maintain privacy.

Local Flavor and Extravagant Budget

Despite the global attention, the wedding heavily featured local Venetian artisans, from glassmakers and florists to bakers and musicians. Around 80% of the wedding suppliers were sourced from within Venice and surrounding regions, offering a small but meaningful economic boost to the local economy.

Estimates place the total cost of the wedding between €40 million and €50 million, making it one of the most expensive private events ever held in the city. Sources also indicate that Norwegian DJ Kygo performed during the festivities, with rumors that Sir Elton John may have made a surprise appearance.

Protests and Public Backlash

Not everyone was pleased with the extravaganza. Several local activist groups staged peaceful protests under the banner “No Space for Bezos,” accusing the billionaire of exploiting Venice for a personal spectacle. Protesters marched through the city with inflatable crocodiles and signs denouncing the “commodification” of Venice and its displacement of locals.

In response, Bezos reportedly donated between €2 million and €3 million to environmental and cultural preservation initiatives in Venice, including lagoon restoration efforts—a move seen as an attempt to soften public backlash.

Cultural Impact and Symbolism

The Bezos–Sánchez wedding isn’t just a celebrity spectacle—it underscores larger themes such as the tension between ultra-wealthy private tourism and public cultural heritage. It also highlights Venice’s increasing role as a playground for billionaires, even as locals grapple with rising living costs and tourism-induced strain on infrastructure.

Still, the wedding has gone down in history as one of the most glamorous events of the decade, on par with George and Amal Clooney’s 2014 nuptials—also in Venice.