Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's $10M Venice Wedding Extravaganza

In a lavish display of wealth and celebrity, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media personality Lauren Sánchez are set to tie the knot in Venice, Italy, on June 24, 2025. The wedding, rumored to cost over $10 million, promises to be a star-studded affair, drawing a guest list that includes Hollywood A-listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, and former President Barack Obama. However, the opulence of the event has sparked protests among local Venetians, who express concerns over its environmental impact and the disruption it will cause in their historic city.

The couple’s nuptials are expected to span three days, featuring multiple extravagant parties and events. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the celebrations will be held across several notable hotels in Venice, including the Aman and the Gritti Palace, with room prices ranging from $3,000 to $32,000 per night. Additionally, Bezos' $500 million yacht, Koru, will play a central role in the festivities, further amplifying the wedding's lavishness.

Bezos, whose wealth is estimated at $233 billion, has endured significant public scrutiny, especially following his divorce from MacKenzie Scott, which resulted in a historic settlement. The couple's wedding plans have faced opposition from local activists who are concerned about the environmental footprint of such a large-scale event, particularly in a city already struggling with issues of over-tourism and sustainability. "This is Venice behaving as a prostitute," stated Matteo Secchi, founder of Venessia.com, a group advocating for the city’s heritage.

As the wedding approaches, the Venice city council, led by Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, has suggested that the couple could mitigate local discontent by making substantial donations to the city, a proposal met with skepticism by residents. Meanwhile, the couple has reportedly instructed their guests to forgo gifts in favor of charitable donations, aligning with their philanthropic endeavors.

The wedding's planning has been entrusted to London-based wedding planners Lanza & Baucina, known for their expertise in organizing high-profile events. The choice of Venice as a venue underscores a trend among the ultra-wealthy to host extravagant celebrations in picturesque locations, often at the expense of local communities and environments.

In conclusion, while the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez is poised to be a spectacle of opulence and grandeur, it also serves as a focal point for discussions on wealth disparity, sustainability, and the responsibilities of the affluent in preserving cultural heritage. As the couple prepares to say 'I do,' the eyes of the world—and the people of Venice—are watching closely.