Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez marry in a lavish wedding in Venice
The wedding of US billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez, described as the "wedding of the year," took place in Venice, Italy. The wedding remained in the spotlight both for its opulence and the harsh reactions from environmentalists and activists.
AA
Amazon founder and one of the world's wealthiest individuals, Jeff Bezos, married journalist Lauren Sanchez on the historic San Giorgio Island in Venice. The wedding of 61-year-old Bezos and 55-year-old Sanchez took place in isolation from guests and the press, under high-level security measures taken by the Italian police.
Lauren Sanchez announced their marriage with a photo she shared on her Instagram account and updated her surname to "Bezos".
A PARADE OF CELEBRITIES: WHO ATTENDED?
Numerous famous names from all over the world attended the wedding. While names such as Ivanka Trump, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Bill Gates, and Robert Pattinson drew attention among the guests, it was also stated that Lady Gaga would give a private concert for the couple.
According to the Italian press, 90 private jets landed at Venice Marco Polo Airport for the wedding.
CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR VENICE
Instead of accepting wedding gifts, the Bezos and Sanchez couple asked guests to make donations to charities that would benefit Venice. While this gesture was received positively by the public on one hand, the impact of the wedding on the city continued to be criticized on the other.
The wedding had been protested by environmentalists and activists in Venice for weeks. Banners with slogans such as "No room for Bezos" and "Venice is not for sale" were hung in many parts of the city.
Greenpeace Italia and the British group "Everyone Hates Elon" unfurled a giant banner in St. Mark's Square on June 23 featuring a photo of Bezos and the text, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can also pay more taxes." The police removed this banner shortly after.
In a protest held again in St. Mark's Square on June 26, some demonstrators tried to climb the flagpoles; the police intervened. On the night before the wedding, the message "No to kings, no to Bezos" was projected with lasers onto the historic bell tower in the same square.
3-DAY WEDDING, 30 MILLION EURO BUDGET
The Italian press wrote that Bezos may have spent approximately 20 to 30 million euros for the wedding in Venice. It was emphasized that this amount remained "insignificant" compared to Bezos's 215 billion dollar fortune.
While it was stated that the wedding celebrations lasted for three days, it was reported that delicacies specific to the southern regions of Italy were preferred for the catering portion of the organization.
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPALITY ARE HAPPY
Although the reaction of environmental groups was intense, the Italian government and the Venice Municipality openly expressed their satisfaction with this wedding. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro argued that Bezos choosing their city was an important promotional opportunity.
Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè also made a written statement on the day of the wedding, stating that the event was a great opportunity for Venice and Italy.