Lady Gaga And Elton John Insiders Address Rumor They Demanded $6M Each To Perform At Bezos' Wedding
One of the biggest rumors was that music stars Elton John and Lady Gaga were approached to perform at the wedding, but that Bezos said "no" to a request for $6 million performance fee each.
Now, insiders for Elton John and Lady Gaga have denied the claim, stating that Jeff Bezos never even asked the Grammy award winners to perform at his wedding.
Before Bezos' wedding to Sanchez, a rumor had circulated that the Amazon founder had turned down an alleged demand by Gaga and John to be paid $6 million each to perform at his lavish nuptials.
"Each wanted $6 million for a single night. Jeff said, 'Absolutely not,'" a source said at the time, per RealityTea.
However, insiders for both Gaga and John have branded the rumor "laughable," telling TMZ that such a thing never happened as they were not approached to play the wedding, let alone request such a "gigantic fee."
While the two music icons were not at the wedding, Bezos and Sanchez were still serenaded by top performers, such as "Burn" singer Ellie Goulding, who reportedly performed about four or five of her songs, and Andrea Bocelli's son, Mateo.
With their wedding over, Bezos and Sanchez have reportedly departed Venice to kick off their honeymoon.
Although the newlywed couple hasn't disclosed their exact plans, a source revealed that they would first stay in the Torcello area before heading to Nicelli Airport.
From there, Bezos and Sánchez are expected to board a helicopter that will take them back to Bezos' $500 million superyacht, Koru, where they will set sail for Taormina in Sicily.
According to The Mirror, the historic destination is said to be a favorite of the couple, who fell in love with it during a sailing trip around the region last year.
In Taormina, they are expected to stay at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace, the same hotel famously featured as a primary filming location in "The White Lotus" Season 2.
Bezos and Sanchez's wedding was met with protests by Venetians. However, it seems the opulent event may have been beneficial for the Italian city.
New reports claim that Venice was expected to generate over $1 billion from hosting the celebration.
This figure reportedly accounts for nearly 68% of the city's annual tourism revenue, driven by extensive logistics arrangements for the couple and their guests, as well as hospitality services.
As part of the wedding festivities, Bezos and Sanchez reserved dozens of water taxis, effectively booking out a large portion of the city's fleet.
Guests also filled nearly all of Venice's top luxury hotels, including the Aman Hotel, where Bezos and Sánchez stayed, as well as the St. Regis, Gritti Palace, Cipriani, and Hotel Danieli.
Given the massive figures, it is no wonder that Daniela Santanchè, Italy's Minister of Tourism, earlier called for activists to "abandon the controversy and focus on opportunities."
"This is not just a private event but a concrete driving force for the entire sector," she said in a news release, per CNN. Venice has all it takes to transform it into an opportunity for relaunch and promotion."
Before the wedding, Bezos made sure to spoil his bride with a jewelry set that cost an eye-watering sum.
The gift was reportedly a diamond necklace from a high-profile jeweler, valued at $3 million to $5 million.
"It's a diamond necklace that circles her neck with a large center stone and matching earrings," a source told Page Six.
"You won't be able to miss this elegant diamond necklace as it's almost as massive as Jeff's superyacht," the source added about the expensive piece. "Lauren is thrilled with her blinding new necklace and earrings that take her already impressive collection up several notches."
Sanchez didn't waste time updating her name across social media after tying the knot to Bezos.
She now goes by Lauren Sanchez Bezos on her Instagram page. However, it remains unclear if the Emmy Award-winning journalist has also legally taken the billionaire's last name.
The swift name-change doesn't come as a surprise, as Sanchez already made clear her excitement about becoming Mrs. Bezos during a 2023 interview with Vogue Magazine.
When asked about taking Bezos's last name at the time, she asserted, "Uh, yes, one hundred percent. I am looking forward to being Mrs. Bezos."
Shortly after the name update last Saturday, Sanchez shared the first look from the wedding, which appeared to have been held in a garden setting on Venice's island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
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