Introduction
Jeff Bezos, the 61-year-old founder of Amazon, and Lauren Sánchez, a former television presenter, exchanged symbolic wedding rings and vows in Venice on Friday. The couple, already civilly married in the United States, chose the island of San Giorgio Maggiore for their ceremony, located in front of the Arsenal, Venice’s former naval base.
The Lavish Celebration
The wedding marked the climax of a week-long series of events, featuring luxury yachts and famous guests. The renowned Aman hotel, chosen by the couple for its Renaissance palace setting with a minimum nightly rate of 2,000 euros (approximately $2,340), was fully booked.
According to Italian media, Bezos and Sánchez, aged 61 and 55 respectively, exchanged rings and wedding vows in the presence of Matteo Bocelli, son of famous opera singer Andrea Bocelli. Fabrizio Mellino, a three-Michelin-star chef, catered the banquet, while renowned French pastry chef Cédric Grolet created the wedding cake.
Sánchez shared a photo of herself in a white wedding dress alongside Bezos on the Instagram account “laurensanchezbezos”.
A “Little Monaco” in Venice
Notable attendees included reality TV star Kim Kardashian, President Trump’s daughter Ivanka’s daughter, Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Jordan’s Queen Rania, and media personality Oprah Winfrey.
When asked about his favorite aspect of Venice, Bezos smiled beside his wife during a boat ride, saying, “Look around! This city seems impossible, yet it exists,” as reported by La Repubblica in a video published on Thursday.
Local Authorities and the Economic Impact
Despite local resistance, authorities defended hosting the billionaire magnate’s wedding, who is one of the world’s wealthiest individuals with an estimated $215 billion in Amazon shares.
Luca Zaia, the region’s president, explained that Bezos would donate 3 million euros (approximately $3.5 million) to a lagoon protection association, the International University of Venice, and UNESCO.
“The majority of the wedding’s costs, estimated at a minimum of $40 million, will positively impact our businesses and residents,” Zaia stated. He is a right-wing politician governing the Veneto region.
The Ministry of Tourism estimated that the media visibility from this event would generate $1 billion for the city, though they noted it requires empirical verification.
Local leaders distanced themselves from the excessive tourism concerns, having implemented measures such as daily visitor entry fees. While Venice hosts 100,000 tourists during peak season, many only visit for the day, contributing minimally to the city while its local population dwindles.
“The excessive tourism is primarily caused by day-trippers with backpacks and their own food, contributing little to the city,” said Samuel Silvestri, a 55-year-old Venetian merchant. “They’re turning Venice into a mini Monaco, not preserving it.”
“Venice is Not for Sale”
However, some residents oppose the celebrations under the “No Space for Bezos” movement. “Venice is not for sale,” activists chanted during a protest on Tuesday.
“The wedding has caused problems in the city, including channel closures and stricter controls, as well as a crackdown on Extinction Rebellion members,” claimed Alice Bazzoli, a 24-year-old activist from “No Space for Bezos.”
Prefect Darco Pellos of Venice stated that the event did not require additional police reinforcement beyond the usual summer season security measures.
Bezos is not the first celebrity to marry in Venice; George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin wed there 11 years ago without causing such uproar. However, Bezos’ immense wealth and criticism of Amazon’s treatment of workers and Blue Origin’s environmental impact have created more division.
Greenpeace has criticized the ecological damage caused by the wedding, with many guests arriving via private jets as Venice’s fragile balance “sinks under the weight of climate crisis.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who attended the wedding? Notable guests included Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump’s daughter, Leonardo DiCaprio, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Oprah Winfrey.
- Where did the couple get married? Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez exchanged vows on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice.
- What is the estimated cost of the wedding? The wedding’s costs are estimated to be at least $40 million.
- What is Jeff Bezos’ net worth? Jeff Bezos has an estimated net worth of $215 billion, primarily from his stake in Amazon.
- What measures have been taken to address overtourism in Venice? Local leaders have implemented daily visitor entry fees and other measures to manage the impact of excessive tourism.
- What is Greenpeace’s stance on the wedding’s environmental impact? Greenpeace has criticized the ecological damage caused by the wedding, citing private jet arrivals amid Venice’s climate crisis.
