
Inside Jeff Bezos' $46m wedding with $6m spent on private jet security, $1.8m on wait staff, and $1.6m on roses alone
JEFF Bezos has dropped an incredible $46 million on his luxury Italian wedding, a source involved in the planning for the past seven months has exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
For a man worth an eye-watering $220 billion, such an extravagant cost is a mere drop in the Venetian Lagoon where the ' wedding of the century ' is taking place.
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But the breakdown of cost to stage the 61 year-old's marriage to Lauren Sanchez, 55, is still remarkable.
They exchanged vows in an amphitheater on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, before enjoying a luxury banquet on the Venetian Island of San Giovanni Evangelista.
With the Amazon boss welcoming in a host of A-listers including Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria and Orlando Bloom, absolutely no expense has been spared.
The glitzy celebration, which started on Thursday and will rage until Monday, will be fueled by a whopping $2 million spent on the finest wines and champagne.
The insider said the event took 'months of planning' with the couple wanting 'everything done exactly their way.'
'This is the biggest wedding ever organized,' he told The U.S. Sun. 'Not just because of the money spent, but also due to the extraordinary level of luxury and detail involved.'
To help everyone attend in style, uber-rich Bezos splurged a cool $9 million to reserve spots in the marina for anyone arriving by yacht, with another $6 million laid out to cover parking and security for private jets.
It promises to be one hell of a party, with 200 of the couple's well-heeled friends waited on hand and foot.
'Jeff insisted on covering the cost,' continued the insider, 'he wants everyone to feel fully taken care of, from arrival to departure.'
A staff of 150 waiters and waitresses was hired for four days, with the cost of service totaling approximately $1.8 million.
The Kardashians are leading the world's A-listers flocking to Venice for Jeff Bezos and his bride Lauren Sanchez's ultra-rich wedding of the century
The culinary operation included 20 chefs, each paid $5,000 per day, adding up to $500,000.
They were supported by 40 sous chefs and assistants, paid $2,000 per day each, for an additional $400,000 over five days.
The U.S. Sun has been told the hiring process for staff was extremely competitive.
More than 1,500 candidates applied with only the best 150 waiters and waitresses chosen.
They were then trained to follow strict service protocols, including limiting interaction with guests while working. The compensation offered was significantly higher than the standard even for large-scale Italian weddings.
Bezos and Sanchez painstakingly chose some of the best chefs from Northern Italy and, per the source, approved every detail after a series of interviews and tastings.
Legendary entertainer Elton John will reportedly be performing alongside a group of Italian musicians—including harpists, cellists, pianists, and guitarists—who were brought in to create a curated 'Venice experience.'
The U.S. Sun understands the performers have been instructed to follow a pre-approved playlist created by Sanchez and members of the couple's inner circle.
The musical talent was flown in from France, Greece, Lebanon, and South America.
The dancers were also carefully chosen—over 2,000 people applied for the roles, and the final group includes professionals from top dance companies in New York, Paris, and Milan
Improvisation is not permitted. Each musician is being paid $10,000 for the six-day engagement, with total music costs exceeding $1.5 million.
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Entertainment also includes a series of themed dance performances. Fifty professional dancers—25 men and 25 women—were hired for six days of shows, receiving $12,000 each.
The performances, choreographed with Sanchez's input, focus on themes of love, family, and success.
Several of the mini-shows will feature the couple's children, and one performance will highlight Sanchez's Latin heritage, during which she will participate in two salsa routines alongside the dancers.
The dancers' costumes were custom-made by Italian designers at a cost of approximately $1 million.
The visual presentation of the event was equally elaborate. Decor and setup costs totaled an estimated $4.5 million and included designer furniture, silk coverings for chairs and tables, custom cutlery, and artwork featuring portraits of Bezos and Sanchez.
Floral arrangements, consisting of roses in six different colors, added another $1.6 million to the budget.
A significant portion of the celebration's expenses went toward wine and spirits, with selections curated to mark the couple's birth years and personal milestones.
This included 50 bottles of 1964 Petrus Pomerol—the year Bezos was born—at a cost of $151,250, and 20 bottles of 1969 Giacomo Conterno Barolo, from the year of Sanchez's birth, for $29,980.
They also ordered 20 magnums of 1961 Dom Pérignon, priced at $25,000 each, totaling $500,000. To accompany those, 20 six-liter bottles of 2003 Dom Pérignon Rosé were brought in at a cost of $399,160.
The couple purchased 500 bottles of 1996 Dom Pérignon Brut, one of the most highly regarded vintages of the champagne, for a total of $799,000. Spirits included 15 bottles of Louis XIII Cognac, costing $70,260, and 50 bottles of rare rum priced at $2,750 each, totaling $137,500.
'I've never seen such a high-caliber selection served at a wedding—not even among other billionaires who've hosted events in Venice or elsewhere in Europe,' admitted the source who has been working on the wedding since December 2024.
'This is not only the wedding of the year—it's arguably the biggest wedding of the century.
"They've set the bar extremely high.
"I wouldn't be surprised if other billionaires now try to outdo it with even more extravagant weddings in the future."
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Plastic surgeons spot telling signs of every nip and tuck as A-listers descend on Bezos-Sanchez wedding
They're calling it 'the wedding of the century,' and the celebrities certainly didn't fail to stun the crowds. More than 200 guests descended upon Venice for the nuptials of the world's third richest man, Jeff Bezos, and former journalist Lauren Sanchez.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' A-list guests run for cover as pre-wedding party is hit by huge freak thunderstorm
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' A-list guests like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner were forced to take cover on Thursday as the couple's pre-wedding party was hit by a huge freak thunderstorm. The lavish event held at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters marked the start of the billionaire couple's lavish three-day wedding in Venice, Italy, which will come to a close on Saturday. However, Thursday night's star-studded soiree was brought to an early end due to the intense downpour. Guests dived for cover under the vaulted cloisters as lightening bolts flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled overhead at the end of what was a torridly humid day with temperatures nudging 96.8° Fahrenheit. Torrential downpours and a strong wind left guests soaked as they then dashed for water taxis which had been scrambled a good 45 minutes ahead of the midnight finish time. The strong gusts of winds whipped table cloths away and sent waiters scurrying for umbrellas to protect the VIP attendees. Thursday night's star-studded soiree was brought to an early end due to the intense downpour; Sanchez and Bezos pictured leaving the party Torrential downpours and a strong wind left guests like Kim and Khloe Kardashian (pictured) soaked as they then dashed for water taxis which had been scrambled a good 45 minutes ahead of the midnight finish time One onlooker said: 'It just goes to show you can have all the money in the world but you cant control the weather - although an Italian saying says a wet bride is a happy and lucky bride.' Kim, 44, and her younger sister Khloe, 40, struggled to stay dry in their couture gowns as their security team guided them to their designated water taxi. Kylie, who is the younger half-sister of Kim and Khloe, reacted to the weather by sharing a photo of her rain-soaked water taxi to her Instagram Story. Bride-to-be Lauren was surrounded by tuxedo-clad gentleman carrying blue umbrellas over her as she carefully stepped on to her awaiting boat. The TV personality, 55, had on a striking off-the-shoulder dress with a dramatic gold corset cinching in her already tiny waist. Bezos, 61 — who popped the question in 2023 with a $3 million engagement ring — was seen following closely behind Lauren with an umbrella over his head. In footage obtained by Lauren appeared to be in high spirits despite the rain ending their soiree early. Once inside the water taxi, she was seen sharing a laugh with Bezos as the downpour intensified. Singer Ellie Goulding was also spotted standing out in the rain as she and a fellow guest waited patiently for their boat. Bezos and Sanchez are set to tie the knot on Friday, June 27 in Venice, Italy after a two-year engagement. The Amazon billionaire and his bride-to-be are said to have invited 200 people to their three-day Italian wedding. Along with Kim Kardashian, Ellie Goulding, Khloe Kardashian and Ivanka Trump, the star-studded guest list includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom and Tom Brady. Earlier this week, a copy of the couple's invite was leaked with one very specific request made on behalf of the couple. They've asked guests not to buy them any presents and told them they'll be making donations to multiple charities working to stop Venice from sinking on attendees' behalf instead. Bezos is thought to be spending roughly $15 to $20 million on his and Sanchez's Italian nuptials. On Thursday, a source closely connected to the organization of the week's events revealed to exclusively that Bezos and Sanchez are already legally married. The lavish event held at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters marked the start of the billionaire couple's lavish three-day wedding in Venice, Italy, which will come to a close on Saturday '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,' the insider revealed. They added: 'When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married. 'There is no application for a wedding license 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.' The source also claimed that Jeff had personally confirmed that he and Lauren are already legally married, and that they had also signed a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune. Greenpeace and the UK-based collective Everyone Hates Elon have joined protests in Venice attempting to disrupt, or even prevent, the planned wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Bezos this week. ' Jeff Bezos is the second-richest man in the world yet is reported to pay a 1.1 percent true tax rate,' the two groups said in a joint statement. 'The multi-million-dollar wedding is reportedly happening over three days, with the wedding ring alone worth as much as $5million.' Guests dived for cover under the vaulted cloisters as lightening bolts flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled overhead A spokesperson from Everyone Hates Elon said: 'As governments talk about hard choices and struggle to fund public services, Jeff Bezos can afford to shut down half a city for days on end just to get married.' 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,' one gigantic banner read in St. Mark's Square. Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia have spoken out in favor of the nuptials, which have been dubbed, 'the wedding of the century,' pointing out that the celebrations are expected to bring $23-34million to local businesses. 'This is a city that handles 150,000 people a day,' Zaia told Italian daily Corriere della Sera. 'George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here.' Bezos has also pledged to make sizable charity donations, including $1.16million to Corila - an academic consortium dedicated to studying Venice's lagoon ecosystem - according to Corriere della Sera and Italy's ANSA news agency. Earlier this month, anti-Bezos banners were hung in Venice from St. Mark's Tower with 'Bezos' in blue capital letters and a red X over it as part of a 'No Space for Bezos' campaign, a play on Bezos' Blue Origin spaceflight venture. More outrage was sparked Thursday as Bezos and Sanchez's wedding guests descended upon the Madonna dell Orto for the rain-soaked pre-party. The chaos caused by the star-studded event reportedly forced canals to shut down and tourists to cancel reservations in Venice. Her tweed Oscar de la Rente dress looked dangerously close to bridal white in the dim lighting The dress' skirt was a darker shade of pink that gradually lightened up the bodice until it was nearly white According to one business owner who runs a kayak renting service in the area, the bridges were 'closed off' to make way for Lauren, Jeff, and their guests, leaving customers unable to reach them. 'We had a party of clients booked for Thursday night. But they were unable to get through to us because the bridges were all closed off,' they shared. 'Despite them having booking, the police wouldn't let them pass. It was party of five Americans, and they had booked an hour and a half for $100 each and so we had to cancel. 'The party involved was on a tight schedule and couldn't rebook so we will have to refund them and so we have lost money.' In addition to the bridges, the Venice local claimed that the canals were also shut gown and that police on jet skis turned them around when they tried to get through. They added that there was 'no real notification from the council that the canal would be closed.' 'I don't begrudge [Jeff and Lauren] for getting married, but this has cost us money and of all the places in Venice they had to choose the one by us,' they added. Photos also showed police presence all over the Italian city, including officers on jet skis in the canals, as water taxis went back and forth taking Lauren and Jeff's guests from their hotels to the event. The newly-minted bachelor, 47, was spotted leaving the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with a mystery woman after guests were forced to end early following a freak thunderstorm in Venice The newly-minted bachelor, 47, was spotted leaving the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with a mystery woman after guests were forced to end early following a freak thunderstorm in Venice Once inside the boat, Bloom was caught wrapping his arm around the brunette For the soiree, which was also attended by Kim Kardashian, Bloom rocked a chic beige suit and white button-up The star looked to be in high spirits despite the recent news of his and Perry's split Lauren was seen being sheltered as she exited the venue amid the rainy and stormy weather She appeared to be in good weather despite the weather woes as she exited the venue Bezos is thought to be spending roughly $15 to $20 million on his and Sanchez's Italian nuptials The chaos caused by Thursday's starry pre-wedding party reportedly forced canals to shut down and tourists to cancel reservations in Venice Around 20 activists were seen protesting hours before the pre-wedding party in St Mark's Square, the iconic heart of Venice. Protesters held signs that read, 'We are the 99 percent we have the power,' 'the planet burns,' while someone even waved an extinction rebellion flag. Sanchez and Bezos arrived in Venice for their wedding on Wednesday. Read More Awkward! Kim Kardashian poses for photo taken by sister Khloe... but there is a hilarious catch They were photographed outside the luxurious five-star Aman Hotel — where some suites cost nearly $14,000 a night — after being dropped off by a water taxi along with 50 of their 200-something guests. They hosted a drinks reception with a playlist of romantic music, blasting More Than A Woman by the Bee Gees. They then continued to play tunes like Nina Simone's I'm Feeling Good, Lovely Day by Bill Withers and Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison. Earlier that day, in the private garden of the hotel, which is surrounded by a 10ft brick wall, staff could be heard working to erect marquees, ready for a weekend of celebrations. They also put a VIP jetty up outside the Aman Hotel for guests to use when they arrived. Days before their Venice arrival, Sanchez and Bezos kicked off their wedding-week by throwing a rowdy foam party on board his $500million superyacht Koru on Sunday. Kim and sister Khloe Kardashian seen en route to the wedding party Their mother Kris Jenner, 69, was also invited Kendall and Kylie Jenner followed closely behind their mom and famous sisters as guests made their way to the boats, which were headed to the party venue Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, waved at photographers while aboard a water taxi with husband Jared Kushner Billionaire Oprah Winfrey carefully boarded a water taxi with BFF Gayle King R&B superstar Usher was also on hand for the invite-only festivities in Venice Eligible bachelors Tom Brady and Orlando Bloom looked ready to party in white button-up shirts Kim Kardashian has also recently sparked surgery speculation as she continues to flashy her very tiny waistline As she arrived to Venice on Thursday, the TV personality showcased her sculpted midriff in a Balenciaga outfit Her slim waist was further put on display as she later also stopped by the star-studded bash in a snakeskin Versace dress that clung to her curves and had small cutouts on the front She once again gave a glimpse at her smaller frame as she attended a party later on Thursday while sporting a purple and white-colored ensemble with small cutouts on the sides Winfrey - who has lost nearly 50 pounds with the aid of one of the newly popular weight-loss drugs - was seen arriving to Venice on Thursday wearing a white sweatshirt and matching sweatpants Pictures obtained by of the lavish celebration show the loved-up couple covered in little more than soap suds as they relished in the summer sunshine. Bezos proposed to Sanchez on the same superyacht more than two years ago in 2023. While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to their now-exes. Read More Bezos' best men! Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady and newly-single Orlando Bloom lead chic male guests Soon after it was revealed, the billionaire businessman divorced his wife of more than 25 years and the mother of his four children, Mackenzie Scott, while Lauren left her husband, Patrick. At the time, the bombshell report from the Enquirer claimed that Lauren and Jeff had been involved in an eight-month affair, which involved him 'whisking his mistress off to exotic destinations on his $65 million private jet, sending her raunchy messages and erotic selfies, and having secret rendezvous at palatial private estates.' The outlet said that it had tracked them 'across five states and 40,000 miles, tailing them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and 'quality time' in hidden love nests.' Following the Enquirer's accusations, Jeff fired back by writing a lengthy essay to the publication's CEO, David Pecker, in which the mogul accused the company of blackmailing him. 'Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten,' he wrote. While Jeff and Lauren are set to say 'I do' in front of guests on Friday, a source revealed to this week that the couple are already married; seen in 2021 The A-list couple got engaged more than two years ago in 2023 '[After] intimate texts messages from me were published in the National Enquirer, I engaged investigators to learn how those texts were obtained, and to determine the motives for the many unusual actions taken by the Enquirer. 'We were then approached with an offer. They said they had more of my text messages and photos that they would publish if we didn't stop our investigation.' He shared alleged emails sent to him by Enquirer staffers, in which they described the racy images they had 'obtained during their newsgathering' in detail. Read More Slim Leonardo DiCaprio, 50, brings Vittoria Ceretti, 27, to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding 'If in my position I can't stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can?' Jeff continued. 'Of course I don't want personal photos published, but I also won't participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favors, political attacks, and corruption. I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out.' As for how Jeff and Lauren met, it was said that it was Lauren's husband Patrick who was the first to introduce the two at an Amazon studios party for the movie Manchester By the Sea in 2016. Her production team was then hired to film footage for Jeff's rocket company, Blue Origin, in 2018. 'Patrick and Lauren have socialized with Jeff Bezos and his wife for a few years, because both [former] couples have houses in Seattle,' a source told Page Six after their affair was brought to light. As for how Jeff and Lauren met, it was said that it was Lauren's husband Patrick introduced the two at an Amazon studios party for the movie Manchester By The Sea in 2016 (seen) 'Then Lauren was hired to work on one of Jeff's projects, Blue Origin, a space-launch company. She has been shooting aerial shots for Jeff.' Despite the start of their romance being shrouded in accusations of blackmail and extortion, cheating allegations, and an explosive affair, the couple did not let it defer them. In fact, after splitting from their respective partners, Jeff and Lauren didn't wait long to start flaunting their love all over the globe. They were seen for the first time together publicly in May 2019, when photographers caught them enjoying a romantic date night in New York City, and they made their first official appearance as a couple at Wimbledon that July. Since then, the couple has not tried to hide their romance, and for the last five years, they have continuously jetted off on a slew of lavish getaways together, shared tons of adorable, PDA-filled photos together on social media, gushed over one another nonstop in interviews, and attended a slew of star-studded events side by side.


The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Kylie Jenner risks breaking huge dress code rule at Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sanchez's wedding as fans rage ‘inappropriate!'
KYLIE Jenner has risked breaking the biggest dress code rule at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's over-the-top wedding in Venice, Italy. Jeff, 61, and Lauren, 55, tied the knot on Friday, June 27 in a beautiful ceremony in Italy in front of family and friends, including A-listers. 8 8 8 Kylie, 27, was seen arriving to the nuptials with her older sister Kendall, 29. Photos reveal Kylie wore a floor-length corseted gown with cutouts under the breasts and two small black bows on the straps. She topped off the look with black sunglasses and her hair in an updo. Kendall stunned in a black sheer gown, as she completed the wedding look with a matching scarf. FASHION FAUX PAS But fans were up in arms over Kylie's dress, as the silver satin could be easily mistaken for white. One fan rage on Reddit, "A WHITE DRESS???!" Another wrote, "This family just refuses to dress appropriate to an event." A third slammed, "I'd be pissed as hell if I was the bride and someone wore what Kylie has on to my wedding like wtf." A fourth fired, "Black and silver to an Italian wedding?? Wtf lol" Kylie Jenner fans spot embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as she spills out of skintight dress on Venice water taxi A fifth slammed, "I don't get how she's not embarrassed because no other woman is wearing white or anything close to it from what I've seen." Kim flaunted her curves in a low-cut slinky brown gown with sequins. Khloe wore a plunging pink sequin down with a feather shawl. Matriarch Kris looked youthful in a black dress with white tulle sleeves. 8 8 8 WARDROBE MALFUNCTION Earlier on the trip, Kylie suffered a wardrobe malfunction. Kylie flaunted her curves in a strapless lace yellow dress alongside her sister Kendall while riding a water taxi in Venice. Fans were quick to insist that in one shot, her boob appeared to have popped out without her noticing. Writing on social media, one insisted, 'It really looks like it…' While another argued, 'It's just angle and shadow.' STAR-STUDDED WEDDING The Amazon founder and the former journalist, 55, said 'I do' at the stunning San Giorgio Maggiore monastery in Venice. The couple exchanged vows at a ceremony at the island's Teatro Verde, according to Today. Jeff couldn't stop smiling as he stepped off a classic boat in a black tux and shades, waving to crowds outside the Aman Venice hotel. Lauren has been reported to be wearing a white gown designed by Dolce & Gabbana after attending a dress fitting at the Italian designer's Milan shop in March. Other A-listers outside of the Kardashian family include Oprah Winfrey, Sydney Sweeney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady and Orlando Bloom. At least 95 private jets are said to have landed for the occasion. Jeff Bezos – who is he? Here's what you need to know... Jeffrey Preston Bezos, better known as Jeff Bezos, is an American tech billionaire He made his fortune by founding online retail giant Amazon Bezos became the first centi-billionaire according to the Forbes wealth index And he was named the 'richest man in history' when his net worth grew to $150 billion in the summer of 2018 Bezos was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and then raised in Houston, Texas He graduated in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University Bezos went on to work on Wall Street until 1994, before founding Amazon Amazon began as an online bookstore but has since become a global tech giant in retail, streaming, cloud computing and gadgets And the billionaire also runs spaceflight firm Blue Origin, which has been operating since 2000 Estimates in 2024 put his net worth at $196billion Bezos' personal life came under scrutiny in 2019 after he and his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, announced their decision to divorce The divorce was finalised on April 4, 2019 Bezos is now dating Lauren Sánchez, a media personality, entertainment reporter, and news anchor On July 5, 2021, Bezos took up the role of executive chairman at Amazon, stepping down from his former position as CEO and president The U.S. Sun previously reported that the event took 'months of planning' with the couple wanting 'everything done exactly their way.' 'This is the biggest wedding ever organized,' the source told The U.S. Sun. 'Not just because of the money spent, but also due to the extraordinary level of luxury and detail involved.' Jeff dropped $9 million to reserve spots in the marina for anyone arriving by yacht, with another $6 million laid out to cover parking and security for private jets. 'Jeff insisted on covering the cost,' continued the insider. 'He wants everyone to feel fully taken care of, from arrival to departure.' A staff of 150 waiters and waitresses were hired for four days, with the cost of service totaling $1.8 million. He hired 20 chefs, each paid $5,000 per day, adding up to $500,000. They were supported by 40 sous chefs and assistants, paid $2,000 per day each, for an additional $400,000 over five days. Elton John will reportedly be performing alongside a group of Italian musicians—including harpists, cellists, pianists, and guitarists—who were brought in to create a curated 'Venice experience.' 8 8