Unlike Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, who spent $600 million on his son’s wedding, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is keeping his grand Venice ceremony relatively humble, spending a mere $15 million, a figure that is less than the annual maintenance cost of his superyacht

Ever since Jeff Bezos, the world’s second-richest man worth $220 billion, announced his engagement to Lauren Sánchez in May 2023, much of the past two years has been spent decoding potential wedding dates and details. The world got a brief break from the speculation when the spotlight shifted to Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, and the surreal, over-the-top wedding of his youngest heir.

That magnum opus of a celebration saw Ambani, worth $108 billion, transform the world into his stage. From extravagant pre-wedding festivities in India to booking an entire cruise liner for four days and even reserving all of Portofino for a soirée, no expense was spared. The wedding, which finally took place in July 2024, brought together the biggest names from across the globe in Mumbai (Kim Kardashian got to attend this one too).

Once that spectacle was over, the spotlight turned back to the tech tycoon and his fiancée. From Sánchez blacking out during the proposal upon seeing the 30-carat sparkler, to lavish parties aboard Koru with their inner circle, there were endless rumors about when the wedding would take place. No answer came, until April 2025. And since then, the world hasn’t stopped discussing the Venetian wedding.

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According to the New York Post, the wedding, touted as the “wedding of the century”, may not be the grand spectacle many expected. Bezos is opting for serenity over spectacle. The Amazon founder is expected to spend just $10 to $15 million, a mere 0.005% of his $220 billion net worth, on the nuptials set to take place in Venice at the end of June.

“It’s going to be very intimate, just family and close friends. Under 200 people,” a source close to the couple told Paula Froelich of NewsNation. Even rumors of performances by Lady Gaga and Elton John have been dismissed as “ridiculous.” Of course, there are some obvious expenses. Among the expected VVIP guests are Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Kris and Kim Kardashian, and Katy Perry with Orlando Bloom. Accommodations alone will cost a couple of million dollars, as Bezos and Sánchez, along with their guests, are staying at Aman Venice and The Gritti Palace, both of which can command $500,000-a-night price tags.

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Then there’s the presence of their third floating third wheel, Koru, the 416-foot Oceanco sailing yacht, which will likely host the couple and their guests for a post-wedding bash. According to News Nation, the docking fees alone could add another $500,000 to the bill. Additional costs, entertainment, photography, planners, private flights, gourmet catering, designer gowns, and jewelry, won’t be eye-wateringly massive, but the celebration will undoubtedly be breathtaking.

Still, the world expects billionaires to mark their milestones like billionaires. After all, Bezos already shells out $50 million annually to maintain Koru, the largest sailing yacht in the world, and another $ 7 million to $10 million on her shadow vessel Abeona. While everything is still conjecture, the big day is just weeks away, and soon, everything will be crystal clear.
There’s still plenty of time to take a few cues from Mukesh Ambani and his team.