Bezos and Sánchez Tie the Knot in Lavish Venice Wedding Amid Protests
The highly anticipated nuptials of tech titan Jeff Bezos and television personality Lauren Sánchez unfolded in Venice, Italy, this Friday. The extravagant three-day celebration, however, has drawn criticism, with activists voicing their discontent through protests throughout the city.
The Ceremony and the Controversy
The wedding, a major talking point, saw the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, and Lauren Sánchez exchange vows. Critics voiced their disapproval via banners and posters. The event has a star-studded guest list, including celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Wedding of the year in Venice 🤩 #JeffBezos #LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/dK07r0a4zZ
— Marie (@Marie__1906) June 28, 2025
“We came from nowhere. I used to sleep in the back of my grandmother’s car when she was going to clean houses,”
—Lauren Sánchez, The Hollywood Reporter
According to Forbes, Bezos‘ net worth is estimated at $195.9 billion as of June 2024, making him one of the wealthiest people globally (Forbes).
A Look at Lauren Sánchez’s Past
Sánchez, born in 1969 in New Mexico, is a third-generation Mexican-American. She has stated that she grew up in a family of limited means. Sánchez, originally wanting to be a hostess, later studied journalism at the University of Southern California but left to work in the field of audiovisual journalism.
From Journalism to Aviation
Before her current role, Sánchez worked in local news. She became a familiar face on American television, hosting programs such as “Going Deep”. She also won an Emmy in 1999. In 2003, Sánchez was featured on the cover of “Open Your Eyes” magazine with the headline: “The most popular news presenter in the United States.”
At age 40, Sánchez became a licensed helicopter pilot, inspired by her flight instructor father. She established Black Ops Aviation in 2016, becoming the first woman to own an aerial film production company. The company has provided services to Netflix and Amazon and consulted on the film Dunkirk.
Her interest in aviation also led her to join the female crew of the New Shepard rocket of Blue Origin. Sánchez has three children, one from a relationship with Tony Gonzalez, and two with her marriage to Patrick Whitsell.
