Billionaire Jeff Bezos marries Lauren Sanchez in £48m Venice wedding
Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has officially tied the knot with Lauren Sanchez in an impressive £48million wedding bash in Venice, with Hollywood's biggest A-listers looking on.
The world's second richest man Jeff Bezos has married his partner Lauren Sanchez in a labish £48million ceremony in Venice.
The couple are now officially husband and wife after tying the knot in front of famous friends and family in a ceremony that lasted just 25 minutes. Guests were heard cheering and clapping as the couple exchanged vows, reports the Mirror.
Celebs including the Kardashian-Jenners, Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ivanka Trump were spotted at the lavish event. Guests were welcomed into the event by a gospel choir, who sang Whitney Houston's Higher Love.
All eyes were on bride Lauren as she stunned in a breathtaking long-sleeved gown complete with a dramatic train and stunning white flower detailing. The dress featured floral appliques over a corset style dress.
Opera star Matteo Bocelli - son of Andrea Bocelli - serenaded the newlyweds at the reception, performing Elvis Presley's song I Can't Help Falling in Love With You.
While the celebrations were in full swing in Venice, it was reported that the pair had actually tied the knot weeks ago. According to a well-placed insider involved in the event planning, they said: '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."
As the legal union had already taken place, no Italian wedding licence was required. "There is no application for a wedding licence 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," they told Mail Online.
The source added that Bezos himself confirmed the legal marriage and said the couple had arranged a a prenuptial agreement to safeguard his $244 billion fortune. The couple arrived in Venice this week ahead of the impressive event, with a helicopter picking Bezos and his bride-to-be up from the support ship of Bezos' superyacht Koru. The yacht had been anchored off the Croatian coast, and the couple touched down at the Venice Lido.
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Thursday night saw a casual welcome dinner at the 14th century Madonna dell-Orto church. Local sources claimed security is ultra-tight, turning the stunning city into a "fortress-like operation".
The ceremony was originally set for the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, but protests from the No Space for Bezos campaign forced a last-minute venue change to the Arsenale shipyard, which activists would struggle to access.
Bezos and Sanchez arrived hand-in-hand, with Lauren sporting oversized black sunglasses and a sleek black halterneck dress.
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Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- 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.
Leader Live
an hour ago
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Billionaire Jeff Bezos marries Lauren Sanchez in lavish Venice ceremony
A post shared by Lauren Sánchez Bezos (@laurensanchezbezos) 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 Friday night, and Sanchez posted to Instagram a photo of herself beaming in a white gown as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man. It was the second day of events spread across the Italian lagoon city, which added complexity to what would have been a massive logistical undertaking even on dry land. Dozens of private jets had flocked to Venice's airport, and yachts pulled into the city's famed waterways. Athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders converged to revel in extravagance that was as much a testament to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth. A post shared by Lauren Sánchez Bezos (@laurensanchezbezos) 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 became a lightning rod for small, colourful protests. But any desire to dampen the prevailing fever pitch hadn't materialised as of Friday. Instead, the glitterati were partying and the paparazzi were jostling for glimpses of the gilded gala. 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 on 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. There are some who say these two shouldn't have been married 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. Stella Faye, a researcher at a university in Venice, said: 'Venice is not just a pretty picture, a pretty postcard to please the needs and wants of the elite or of mass tourists, but it is an alive city, made of people who want to actually live there.' 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 Venice's Grand 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 has brought. '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, restaurateurs and hotels. So it's a great opportunity both for spending and for promoting Italy in the world.' As Amazon's chief executive, Bezos usually avoided the limelight, frequently delegating announcements and business updates to his executives. Today, he has a net worth of 234 billion dollars, 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's divorce was finalised. He stepped down as chief executive of Amazon 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's 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.
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Billionaire Jeff Bezos marries Lauren Sanchez in lavish Venice ceremony
The sky itself is no limit for billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiancee Lauren Sanchez, who have travelled into space, and expectations were about as high ahead of their wedding in Venice on Friday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lauren Sánchez Bezos (@laurensanchezbezos) 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 Friday night, and Sanchez posted to Instagram a photo of herself beaming in a white gown as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man. It was the second day of events spread across the Italian lagoon city, which added complexity to what would have been a massive logistical undertaking even on dry land. Dozens of private jets had flocked to Venice's airport, and yachts pulled into the city's famed waterways. Athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders converged to revel in extravagance that was as much a testament to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lauren Sánchez Bezos (@laurensanchezbezos) 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 became a lightning rod for small, colourful protests. But any desire to dampen the prevailing fever pitch hadn't materialised as of Friday. Instead, the glitterati were partying and the paparazzi were jostling for glimpses of the gilded gala. 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 on 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. There are some who say these two shouldn't have been married 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. Stella Faye, a researcher at a university in Venice, said: 'Venice is not just a pretty picture, a pretty postcard to please the needs and wants of the elite or of mass tourists, but it is an alive city, made of people who want to actually live there.' 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 Venice's Grand 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 has brought. '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, restaurateurs and hotels. So it's a great opportunity both for spending and for promoting Italy in the world.' As Amazon's chief executive, Bezos usually avoided the limelight, frequently delegating announcements and business updates to his executives. Today, he has a net worth of 234 billion dollars, 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's divorce was finalised. He stepped down as chief executive of Amazon 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's 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.
