Although Jeff Bezos proposed to Lauren Sánchez on his $500 million superyacht with an enormous diamond, the Amazon founder will have to anchor his beloved yacht far from the wedding venue, as the Koru is simply too big to be even allowed near Venice's Grand Canal

Money can’t buy happiness, and apparently not postcard-perfect city views either. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, worth $209 billion, may have gifted himself the world’s largest sailing yacht, Koru, but this magnificent vessel may put a slight dent in his wedding celebrations. The $500 million Oceanco-built beauty is a 3,300 GT luxury schooner stretching 417 feet in length. While it is well under the 25,000 GT limit required to enter the Venice Lagoon, strict regulations prevent large ships from coming too close to the historic Piazza San Marco, as they could obstruct the views and disrupt the delicate urban landscape. Though Koru will be docked in the lagoon, it’s simply too large to enter the Grand Canal, Venice’s most scenic and iconic waterway.

It’s understood that the Grand Canal and its legendary hotels will host most of the wedding’s guests. From the Belmond Hotel Cipriani and St. Regis Venice to the Gritti Palace, Hotel Danieli, and the opulent Aman Venice, the who’s who of the celebration will be right in the heart of the action, while Koru remains notably absent from the scene.
Still, it’s safe to assume that the magnificent yacht will play some role in the three-day extravaganza from June 24 to 26.

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After all, it’s aboard Koru that Bezos proposed to Lauren Sanchez in 2023 with a dazzling 30-carat diamond ring. The couple even hosted their lavish engagement party off the Amalfi Coast near Positano aboard the same vessel, with guests including Bill Gates, his then-girlfriend Paula Hurd, Oprah Winfrey, and Kris Jenner. This isn’t the first time Koru has faced challenges in European cities. During her maiden voyage in February 2022, the towering 230-foot-tall masts made it impossible for the yacht to pass through Rotterdam’s historic Koningshaven Bridge.

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In order for Koru to leave the Zwijndrecht shipyard in the Netherlands, the city considered temporarily dismantling the Koningshaven bridge, sparking outrage among locals, some of whom threatened to pelt the vessel with rotten eggs in protest. It seems lessons have since been learned.

In 2024, to avoid further backlash, Koru was quietly repaired in France, far from the glare of controversy. And in Venice, the rules will be respected. The megayacht will maintain a respectful distance because, after all, this is a time for a union, not unions!