Weddings are usually about two people, unless you’re Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his spacefaring fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. Then the nuptials become a spectacle involving everyone from the host city, Venice, in this case, to guests like Oprah, the Kardashians, the Trumps, Katy Perry, and Orlando Bloom. But according to some sources, this wedding isn’t just about two people tying the knot anymore. It’s taken on a more charitable dimension.
Dubbed “the wedding of the century,” the celebrations will unfold in Venice from June 24 to 26.
With the world’s second-richest man, worth $200 billion, descending upon the City of Canals aboard his $500 million megayacht Koru, alongside the queen of his heart, Lauren Sánchez, the city is abuzz. But it’s not just the paparazzi or the five-star hotels preparing for the high-profile guests; Venetian authorities are now urging Bezos to give something back.
Rather than requests from the A-list invitees, it’s the local politicians hoping Bezos might fund the restoration of public housing buildings in the city. These structures could house actual Venetians in a place now overrun by overtourism. For a city that will forever be etched into his personal history, this pivotal moment in Bezos’s life could also be remembered for his generosity.
Local politicians haven’t held back. In an open letter to Mr. Bezos, a group of Venice councilors wrote, “Venice’s most pressing need is for residents who live here permanently. The city is being overwhelmed by tourism, specifically, overtourism, which is eroding its authenticity.” The appeal, as reported by The Telegraph, is for Bezos to make a significant donation to help restore abandoned public housing flats throughout the city.
Interestingly, the idea originated with Bezos’s friend and fellow superyacht owner, fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg, who resides in Venice. The Belgian fashion designer joined centibillionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez aboard Koru in 2023 as the newly engaged couple played the perfect hosts for their friends, including bigwig Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, aboard the 416-foot Oceanco beauty.
Speaking to the Italian press, the 80-year-old shared, “Jeff is a friend. When I heard about his wedding, I said to him, if you come and get married here, you should give Venice a big present.” When asked if she meant a financial donation, she confirmed, “Yes.” While Bezos may not go full MacKenzie Scott and donate billions, he’s known for his benevolence. A sizable contribution isn’t out of the question, especially since the billionaire recently disclosed plans to sell up to 25 million shares of Amazon stock by May 29, 2026. At current prices, the stake is worth around $4.8 billion.
A couple of million to help restore a living, breathing city that’s about to become a permanent part of his life story doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Besides, imagine all that good juju.
