Billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are officially married! The couple tied the knot on Friday night in a lavish ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, marking the second day of extravagant celebrations in Venice that reportedly cost up to $56 million.Sanchez confirmed the happy news on Instagram, sharing a radiant photo of herself in a white gown standing beside Bezos, who looked dapper in a tuxedo. The three-day affair has taken over the Italian lagoon city, with athletes, Hollywood celebrities, global influencers, and business titans arriving by private boats and water taxis. Friday’s ceremony, held at the stunning 16th-century San Giorgio monastery complex, came after days of buildup and buzz across the city.Guests at the celebration included Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vittoria Ceretti, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, Sydney Sweeney, Queen Rania of Jordan, Bill Gates, and Indian socialite Natasha Poonawalla.Vogue magazine, which had exclusive access to the wedding, reported that the bride walked down the aisle in a Dolce & Gabbana gown that took 900 hours to make. Inspired by Sophia Loren’s look in the 1958 film Houseboat, the dress featured high-necked lace, 180 silk chiffon-covered priest buttons, and hand-appliquéd detailing.On Friday afternoon, Sanchez hid her look by appearance outside her hotel in a skirt suit with a scarf around her head. Bezos followed two hours later, looking dapper in a three-piece suit. Their guests, including some of the world’s most recognisable faces, arrived in a procession of speedboats trailed closely by paparazzi, who had rented boats to keep up with the action.Local authorities confirmed the magnitude of the event. Veneto Governor Luca Zaia told reporters that the latest estimate for the wedding’s total cost ranged between 40 and 48 million euros.Bezos and Sanchez’s relationship first made headlines in 2019, shortly after the Amazon founder announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott, his wife of 25 years. The couple got engaged in May 2023 and have since been inseparable, regularly appearing together at high-profile events.Sanchez, a former TV anchor and helicopter pilot, was previously married to talent agent Patrick Whitesell, with whom she shares two children. She also has a son, Nikko, from her relationship with NFL star Tony Gonzalez.The Venice wedding celebrations will wrap up on June 28.
