When world leaders gathered for the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, just weeks ago, 62 private jets were recorded arriving at the venue, raising eyebrows over the carbon footprint of a meeting meant to address global crises, including climate change. But that figure now looks modest compared to what’s about to descend on Venice.
For Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding, a staggering 96 private jets are expected to touch down, as reported by Affaritaliani, carrying some of the world’s richest and most influential people for what’s already being described as the social event of the year.
The three-day celebration, scheduled from June 26 to 28, will transform Venice into a billionaire’s playground. The ceremony will take place on the small and picturesque island of San Giorgio Maggiore, right across from Piazza San Marco.
The festivities kick off with a gala on the Lido and wrap up with a massive party inside the Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Misericordia, a 16th-century architectural gem that now serves as a venue for exhibitions and lavish events. All locations are accessible only by water, which is perhaps why, in addition to the jets, no fewer than 9 mega yachts will also arrive in Venice for the occasion.
At the heart of this extravagant celebration is the union of 61-year-old Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and 55-year-old Lauren Sánchez, a former journalist and helicopter pilot. The couple, together since 2018, has spared no expense to ensure their wedding is as unforgettable as it is exclusive. Security will be tight, with former US Marines reportedly contracted to guard entrances, canals, and even nearby waters using jet skis.
The guest list is a constellation of wealth, fame, and power. Bill Gates will be flying in, as will Queen Rania of Jordan, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, and Ivanka Trump. Media heavyweights like Anna Wintour and Barry Diller are also expected, along with actress Eva Longoria and models like Camila Morrone and Brooks Nader. DiCaprio, who once dated Morrone, is also expected to attend, now accompanied by his current partner, Italian model Vittoria Ceretti. If nothing else, the seating arrangements promise high drama.
Many guests will stay at Venice’s most luxurious hotels, including the Belmond Cipriani, the Gritti Palace, and the Aman. Others will sleep aboard the mega yachts docked at locations like the Stazione Marittima and Riva degli Schiavoni. Among them will be Bezos’ own 417-foot sailing yacht, Koru, worth an estimated $500 million.
While the wedding is an extravagant personal celebration, it also underlines the cultural shift in how wealth is displayed. The G7 summit may bring together the elected heads of the world’s richest countries, but Bezos’ wedding draws an even more exclusive crowd—people who, while unelected, wield significant influence over technology, media, fashion, and finance. Venice is about to play host not to heads of state, but to the architects of the global elite.
