This isn’t exactly a rags-to-riches tale, but it’s dedicated to the ever-changing nature of life, one life in particular, that of centibillionaire Jeff Bezos’s fiancée, Lauren Sanchez. In a recent interview linked to the release of her children’s book The Fly Who Flew, the helicopter pilot shared stories of her childhood and the inspiration she drew from her grandmother. While Sanchez might now be spotted aboard superyachts or in the company of stylish supermodels, her early years were far from glamorous.
The Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund reminisced about her upbringing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, her Hispanic heritage, and how the ethos of hard work was instilled in her early on. The mother of three called her grandmother, Elsie, a powerhouse, who worked tirelessly. If it meant waking up at 5 a.m. to work as a housekeeper, Elsie did it diligently, and Lauren often accompanied her. Sanchez shared with Elle, “I never felt like I was lacking anything. I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My grandmother was a housekeeper. I used to have to go with her to clean houses before school. She’d put me in the car at 5 a.m., and I’d sleep in there while she cleaned.”
After cleaning, the two would head to the restaurant where Sanchez’s maternal grandmother worked as a manager. It was there that Lauren would get dressed for school and occasionally earn a small tip. Sanchez fondly recalled, “Before school, she’d let me pour coffee into customers’ cups. I’d get a nickel tip. It was an incredible experience because I saw this woman, who was married, but determined to make a living for herself no matter what.” She also reflected on a moment while helping her grandmother with laundry: “I remember saying, ‘I don’t know if I want to be a housekeeper,’ and she responded, ‘No, this is a great job. You get to make someone’s life easier.’ That’s how she saw life, and that spirit is within me.”
Sanchez, who has recently added the title of author to her list of accomplishments, has indeed come a long way. The first lady of Koru, the world’s largest sailing yacht, valued at $500 million, began her career as a desk assistant at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. In 1999, she anchored UPN News 13, and by 2009, she was working with Extra as a weekend anchor and special correspondent. “I have the best memories. It was one of my first jobs out of college. I got to travel the world for the first time with Extra,” she said.
The fiance of Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos, worth $204 billion, carved a niche for herself long before meeting the world’s second richest man in 2016. The little girl who didn’t want to be a housekeeper would undoubtedly be proud of the woman she has become, as would her grandmother, Elsie. Lauren’s luxurious lifestyle regularly makes headlines, sometimes for philanthropy but mostly for fashion. Her globe-trotting adventures, particularly aboard the megayacht Koru, are nothing short of inspirational.
The girl who once rested in her grandmother’s car now resides in some of the most opulent properties, including a $119 million triplex penthouse in New York, a $78 million estate in Maui, and three mansions in Miami’s Indian Creek Island. As for the 417-foot floating paradise, Sanchez enjoys every comfort aboard, from a wardrobe filled with luxury labels to a helicopter that travels with her on the $75 million support vessel Abeona.
Lauren’s journey has been one of perseverance, transforming her academic struggles with dyslexia into a successful career in journalism, aviation, and now, as an author. As I said in the beginning, this story is about the hopeful, ever-changing nature of life.
