Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist, author, and pilot Lauren Sánchez are now officially husband and wife. The billionaire couple tied the knot in a highly anticipated, star-studded, multi-day wedding celebration culminating in a black-tie ceremony in Venice, Italy, on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Sánchez confirmed their marital status with a radiant Instagram post. The photo captured the newlyweds walking hand-in-hand up the aisle, surrounded by applauding guests. Sánchez dazzled in an intricate white lace mermaid gown, while Bezos looked sharp in a classic black tuxedo. Her simple caption included the date, "06/27/2025," and a pink heart emoji, marking the official start of their marriage after dating for approximately five years and an engagement announced in May 2023.
Venetian Splendor and Star Power
The wedding transformed parts of Venice into a private playground for the elite. While specific venues remained closely guarded secrets, reports and sightings pointed to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore as the location for the main ceremony. In the days leading up to the event, luxury hotels buzzed with activity as celebrity guests arrived. Paparazzi captured glimpses of the guest list, which read like a who's who of business, media, and entertainment:
Media mogul Oprah WinfreyAn estimated 200 guests attended the exclusive festivities, which included pre-wedding events like an evening reception held in the gardens of the Madonna dell'Orto Church, where the couple was photographed sharing a kiss on Thursday.
Fashion, Philanthropy, and Local Flair
Sánchez's wedding dress became an instant topic of fascination. Following the ceremony, she shared details on social media, revealing a custom creation by Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. In an interview with Vogue, Sánchez explained the gown was inspired by the timeless elegance of screen icon Sophia Loren, featuring exquisite lace detailing.
True to their immense wealth (Bezos is estimated by Forbes to be worth $215 billion), the wedding was a spectacle. However, the couple and their planners, Lanza and Baucina (known for George and Amal Clooney's 2014 Venice wedding), emphasized supporting the local Venetian economy. Reports indicated a deliberate effort to employ about 80% local vendors and organizations. This included long-standing institutions like pastry-maker Rosa Salva, operating for over 140 years, and renowned Murano glassware firm Laguna B.
In a notable philanthropic gesture, the couple's wedding invitation, obtained exclusively by ABC News, explicitly asked guests not to bring gifts. Instead, it listed three Venetian charities. Bezos and Sánchez pledged to make donations to these organizations on behalf of each attending guest.
Protests Amidst the Pageantry
The high-profile event wasn't without controversy. It drew protests from some local residents and environmental groups, notably Greenpeace, under the banner "No Space for Bezos." Concerns centered on over-tourism, disruption to daily life in the historic city, and the perceived excesses of extreme wealth.
A prominent Greenpeace banner unfurled in Venice's St. Mark's Square directly addressed the groom: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax." Protesters expressed frustration with the city being effectively rented out for private luxury. "We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure," protester Simona Abbate told Reuters.
Despite the protests, Venetian officials welcomed the event. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro expressed pride in hosting the couple and their guests. Deputy Mayor Simone Venturini dismissed the idea of Venice competing for such events, stating confidently, "No, we play in another league, so people compete to get married in Venice." Some local businesses also reported a positive impact, with John, a tourism worker, telling ABC News, "The work in the city is at a high level in this moment and everybody is excited or anxious for the event."
Both Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, have been married before. Bezos's divorce from MacKenzie Scott in 2019, after 25 years of marriage, made global headlines. The former couple share four children. Sánchez was previously married to talent agent Patrick Whitesell for 14 years; they finalized their divorce in 2019 and share two children together. Sánchez also has an adult son, model Nikko Gonzalez, from a previous relationship with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez.
Their Venice wedding marks the beginning of a new chapter for one of the world's most prominent couples, blending personal commitment with a characteristically grand celebration that captivated – and in some quarters, polarized – global attention. The images of Sánchez in her Dolce & Gabbana gown and Bezos beaming beside her now stand as the official confirmation of their union after years of dating.
Disclaimer: Only the headline and image of this report may have been modified by the PulseNext team; the rest of the content is auto generated from a syndicated feed.
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