Inside Jeff Bezos' ‘wedding of the century' in Venice
Bezos' fellow tech titans Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are also expected at the multimillion-dollar shindig.
As befits a man worth $US230 billion ($355 billion), Bezos has booked the most luxurious suites in Venice's finest hotels for his guests.
They include the Aman, a five-star hotel on the banks of the Grand Canal that boasts private gardens and Rococo works of art, as well as the equally swanky Gritti Palace, the Danieli, the Marriott and the St Regis – where Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner will reportedly stay. Her father, Donald Trump, may even reportedly make an appearance at the wedding.
A short distance away from the Grand Canal is the Belmond Cipriani on the island of Giudecca, which is expected to host Lady Gaga, who is rumoured to perform for the newlyweds.
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Wedding celebrations and cocktail receptions will reportedly be held in Palazzo Pisani Moretta, a historic building in the heart of Venice, as well as the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a Renaissance building, and the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido, the slender island that separates the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic.
The wedding is likely to cost around $25 million, according to one detailed breakdown.
The sum includes up to $1.5 million for flowers and the decoration of the various venues, up to $4.5 million for wedding planners, $3 million for the hire of the venues, $1.5 million for the catering and $2.3 million for the bride's dresses.
There will also be mooring fees for Bezos' superyachts and the cost of providing lavish gifts for the guests.
Luxury hotel suites will make up around $3 million of the overall cost, according to Manuela Pivato, the founder of an online publication called MyFairVenice.
She told D Donna, an Italian women's magazine: 'A suite at the Hotel Cipriani costs about €14,000 [$24,768] a night and the hotel recently restored 13 of its top suites.'
Hair and make-up, not just for the bride but for her guests, will also cost a bomb.
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Pivato added: 'For George Clooney's wedding, 50 hairdressers came from Rome. We can estimate a cost of around €500,000 [$890,000].'
The two possible wedding venues – the Fondazione Cini on the island of San Giorgio and the Scuola Grande della Misericordia in Venice itself – are both large, meaning that they will need a wealth of flower arrangements and other decorations. Pivato said the overall bill for three different locations could easily reach $1.5 million.
Between 35 and 50 sleek wooden water taxis have been hired out for the event.
Mario Gasparini, a water taxi operator, told La Repubblica newspaper: 'The exact routes are being kept a secret. We will only discover who our passengers are and where we are taking them the day before the wedding service.'
The lavish affair is expected to bring revenue to the city, with water taxi operators earning about $26,000 each over five days. Gasparini says the event should be embraced, adding: 'Most Venetians are not protesting – it is just the usual 150 communist extremists who are opposed to everything.'
The wedding ceremony itself may be held in a complex of historic buildings known as the Fondazione Cini on the island of San Giorgio, opposite St Mark's Square.
Fireworks will light up the sky as the couple say their vows and exchange rings.
Last week, activists climbed to the top of the bell tower on the island, let off coloured smoke bombs and unfurled a giant banner with a large red cross scrawled across the word 'Bezos'. They hung a similar banner from the Rialto Bridge.
The protesters were from an umbrella group called No Space for Bezos, a slogan that plays on the billionaire's ownership of Blue Origin, the space rocket venture.
In a statement, campaigners said: 'Venice is not for sale, it is not for rent, it should not be the backdrop for the wedding of one of the world's richest men.
'As Venetians, we are ready to defend the dignity of our city. Those who expect Venice to be docile and subservient, happy to gather the crumbs that fall from the king's table, will be disappointed. What we did today is just a taste of what is to come.'
The protesters have threatened to hurl themselves into canals to impede the arrival of Mr Bezos and his bride-to-be at their wedding ceremony.
Tommaso Cacciari, an activist from No Space for Bezos, said: 'To block their arrival peacefully, we will jump into the canals that surround the venue, and we will also block the alleyways that lead to it.
'Bezos is not just any VIP – he is a multibillionaire who supports the world view of Trump.'
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He added that by choosing the World Heritage city as his wedding venue, the Amazon founder was 'confusing Venice with Las Vegas'.
While the activists have commanded plenty of attention, they have been sharply criticised by other Venetians, who say the city should be honoured to host such a high-profile wedding.
Simone Venturini, Venice's councillor in charge of tourism, said: 'I struggle to understand how a private event like this, which won't cause any kind of stress to the city, can be considered detrimental.
'Each year Venice hosts hundreds of events, of every type. Is it Venice's fault that it is the most beautiful city in the world? We should all be proud that the wedding of Jeff Bezos will be held in our lagoon.'
He said the protests and banners had been organised by 'the usual' Left-wing activists who have campaigned in the past against giant cruise ships, mass tourism and the entrance fee for day trippers which was imposed last year.
He also asked whether the spray canisters that the activists had used to create their banners 'were bought on Amazon'.
The governor of Veneto, the region that includes Venice, also criticised the protests. Luca Zaia said that the banners strung from the bell tower on San Giorgio island and the Rialto Bridge sent an 'unacceptable' message to the world.
Zaia told Corriere della Sera newspaper: 'The history of La Serenissima is cosmopolitan, a story of openness. We have warehouses that were built by Germans, by Turks, we have the oldest Jewish ghetto in the world. Our cuisine is influenced by spices that came from other parts of the world. Our history has never been about forbidding entry to anyone.'
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The governor, a heavyweight in the conservative League party, said only around 200 guests have been invited to the wedding – a number that Venice can easily handle given that, during the busiest periods of the year, 150,000 tourists descend on the place each day.
He added: 'What message are we sending? That Venice is not a welcoming city? That we are going to start squirting tourists with water pistols? Tourism is Venice's main business, it's worth €18 billion a year and we all benefit from it, even people who don't work in the sector.'
The Bezos wedding will pump between $35 million and $50 million into Venice's economy, Zaia said.
He conceded that there was a need for tourist numbers to be better managed as tourist hordes overwhelm an ever-dwindling population of residents. The city's population has dropped from 175,000 in 1950 to around 48,000.
The governor said Venice had managed to host celebrity weddings in the past without much disruption, including that of George Clooney and British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014. Unlike the impending Bezos wedding, the Clooney nuptials attracted barely a whiff of dissent among Venetians.
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The Advertiser
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Lawyers for Weller say that by ending their services, the firm unlawfully discriminated against the singer's protected philosophical beliefs, including that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that Palestine should be recognised as a nation state. Weller said he had 'always spoken out against injustice, whether it's apartheid, ethnic cleansing, or genocide". "What's happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe," he said. "I believe they have the right to self-determination, dignity, and protection under international law, and I believe Israel is committing genocide against them. That must be called out. "Silencing those who speak this truth is not just censorship - it's complicity. "I'm taking legal action not just for myself, but to help ensure that others are not similarly punished for expressing their beliefs about the rights of the Palestinian people." Weller will donate any damages he receives to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, the legal letter says. Weller's lawyer Cormac McDonough, says the case "reflects a wider pattern of attempts to silence artists and public figures who speak out in support of Palestinian rights". "Within the music industry especially, we are seeing increasing efforts to marginalise those who express solidarity with the people of Gaza," he said. Paul Weller is suing his former accountants after they stopped working with the British singer because they were offended by comments he made alleging Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. The former frontman of The Jam has filed a discrimination claim against Harris and Trotter after the firm ended their professional relationship after more than 30 years. In a pre-action letter seen by the PA news agency, lawyers for Weller say the singer-songwriter was told in March that the accountants and tax advisers would no longer work with the 67-year-old or his companies. Weller is also performing a sold out "Gig For Gaza" in London with other musicians in October. According to the letter, a WhatsApp message from a partner at the firm included the reason for severing the relationship. "It's well known what your political views are in relation to Israel, the Palestinians and Gaza, but we as a firm are offended at the assertions that Israel is committing any type of genocide," it said. "Everyone is entitled to their own views, but you are alleging such anti-Israel views that we as a firm with Jewish roots and many Jewish partners are not prepared to work with someone who holds these views." Lawyers for Weller say that by ending their services, the firm unlawfully discriminated against the singer's protected philosophical beliefs, including that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that Palestine should be recognised as a nation state. Weller said he had 'always spoken out against injustice, whether it's apartheid, ethnic cleansing, or genocide". "What's happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe," he said. "I believe they have the right to self-determination, dignity, and protection under international law, and I believe Israel is committing genocide against them. That must be called out. "Silencing those who speak this truth is not just censorship - it's complicity. "I'm taking legal action not just for myself, but to help ensure that others are not similarly punished for expressing their beliefs about the rights of the Palestinian people." Weller will donate any damages he receives to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, the legal letter says. Weller's lawyer Cormac McDonough, says the case "reflects a wider pattern of attempts to silence artists and public figures who speak out in support of Palestinian rights". "Within the music industry especially, we are seeing increasing efforts to marginalise those who express solidarity with the people of Gaza," he said. Paul Weller is suing his former accountants after they stopped working with the British singer because they were offended by comments he made alleging Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. The former frontman of The Jam has filed a discrimination claim against Harris and Trotter after the firm ended their professional relationship after more than 30 years. In a pre-action letter seen by the PA news agency, lawyers for Weller say the singer-songwriter was told in March that the accountants and tax advisers would no longer work with the 67-year-old or his companies. Weller is also performing a sold out "Gig For Gaza" in London with other musicians in October. According to the letter, a WhatsApp message from a partner at the firm included the reason for severing the relationship. "It's well known what your political views are in relation to Israel, the Palestinians and Gaza, but we as a firm are offended at the assertions that Israel is committing any type of genocide," it said. "Everyone is entitled to their own views, but you are alleging such anti-Israel views that we as a firm with Jewish roots and many Jewish partners are not prepared to work with someone who holds these views." Lawyers for Weller say that by ending their services, the firm unlawfully discriminated against the singer's protected philosophical beliefs, including that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that Palestine should be recognised as a nation state. Weller said he had 'always spoken out against injustice, whether it's apartheid, ethnic cleansing, or genocide". "What's happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe," he said. "I believe they have the right to self-determination, dignity, and protection under international law, and I believe Israel is committing genocide against them. That must be called out. "Silencing those who speak this truth is not just censorship - it's complicity. "I'm taking legal action not just for myself, but to help ensure that others are not similarly punished for expressing their beliefs about the rights of the Palestinian people." Weller will donate any damages he receives to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, the legal letter says. Weller's lawyer Cormac McDonough, says the case "reflects a wider pattern of attempts to silence artists and public figures who speak out in support of Palestinian rights". "Within the music industry especially, we are seeing increasing efforts to marginalise those who express solidarity with the people of Gaza," he said.
Courier-Mail
9 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
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Renegade owner Jerry Jones took over the popular Texas franchise known as 'America's Team' in 1989 and sacked its beloved two-time Super Bowl winning coach Tom Landry in favour of his firebrand friend Jimmy Johnson. Together they assembled a team of superstars that would dominate the decade with three championships – despite a string of scandals – and help turn it into a $9 billion juggernaut. Key players including Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith – aka the Triplets – are interviewed along with high-profile guests such as former President George W. Bush and Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Harry Lloyd as DCI Hector Morgan in I, Jack Wright. I, JACK WRIGHT SUNDAY, 8.55PM, ABC There are mysteries and mayhem aplenty in this pulpy six-part UK drama about an already volatile family thrown into further turmoil after the apparent suicide of its patriarch. The title character is a thrice-married hard man, who has pulled himself up by the bootstraps to preside over a 100 million pound brick business. But when he's found dead on his country estate, seemingly with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, his wives, children, in-laws, colleagues and staff are all left wondering what will happen to his fortune. After gathering to see the old boy off at a boozy wake, the will reading that follows is nothing short of explosive, setting the stage for a family battle royal, while the cops investigate whether everything is as it seems. Trucker Sludge with his wife on Outback Truckers. OUTBACK TRUCKERS TUESDAY, 8PM, 7MATE Driving an enormous beast of a vehicle through the parched Aussie interior sounds like my idea of a nightmare, but there's something strangely compelling about watching these resourceful and resilient pros performing an essential service in the toughest of conditions and weighing up the cost of time away from family. There's veteran Steve, who is dragging an excavator through 1000km of blistering heat and rutted roads to an amethyst mine. Mike is delivering much needed firefighting equipment to a remote community, and performing emergency surgery on his malfunctioning rig. And Sludge is on the comeback trail after an accident and feeling the pressure to turn up on time for a very short shutdown window of the only rail line between the east and west sides of the country. The wonders of orcas are revealed in a new ABC documentary. KILLER WHALE: AUSTRALIA'S MEGAPOD TUESDAY, 8.30PM, ABC Killer whales are all too often painted as the villains of nature docos – the bullies of the sea who bump adorable seals off slabs of ice or gang up to hunt down playful dolphins. And yes, they are absolutely partial to a sea lion snack or a cetacean canape, but they are also extraordinary and fascinating creatures with complex social structures and methods of communication. This outstanding documentary, narrated by Richard Roxburgh, follows a couple of orca experts operating out of Bremer Bay in Western Australia as they track, tag and study a community of the ocean's apex predators and make some extraordinary discoveries about an animal that developed a complex brain 30 million years before we did. Prince Andrew is back in the news again. Picture: AFP TENDING – PRINCES OF THE PALACE STREAMING, TUBI Whether it's the revelation a jealous Prince Andrew made snarky comments about Kate Middleton or cringey home videos of Harry and Meghan Markle bumping and grinding in the delivery suite, the spare heirs keep making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Having weathered Andrew's car crash interview with Emily Maitlis and Harry's biography Spare, the Palace is now dealing with the fallout of Andrew Lownie's biography Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York which digs up more dirt on Randy Andy. Some of the lesser known the antics of Andrew, Harry and the House of Windsor's other menfolk are also detailed in this salacious 2016 documentary. Originally published as Sex, drugs, murder and injustice: Amanda Knox tells the real story behind THAT 2007 murder
