Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife of nearly one year, Lauren Sanchez, are making the most of all the good things in life. That includes their $500 million megayacht Koru, their $75 million support vessel Abeona with its helicopters, and perhaps the company of their closest circle. The power couple behind the active Fiji ocean-protection grant are now making the most of the country’s scenic beauty too.
The tech tycoon and former news anchor tied the knot last year, on June 27, in a Venetian wedding wrapped in enormous fanfare. In a day, they will have been married for a year, and not surprisingly, they appear set to mark the occasion aboard their 416-foot Oceanco behemoth in Fiji’s picturesque Yasawa Islands, where the fleet is currently anchored.
Koru, with its 230-foot triple masts, has been on standby at Lautoka for quite some time now, as seen on Marine Traffic. With Lauren Sanchez’s Instagram Story showing blue waters from aboard a superyacht, and sightings of Koru by local media in Fiji, it is safe to say this latest milestone may well unfold on the luxury vessel that reportedly costs the $238 billion billionaire at least $50 million a year to keep afloat.
But moments like these are what make it worthwhile for the 61-year-old billionaire, who popped the question aboard Koru and celebrated their union aboard it too, even if the ship itself could not enter the Venetian lagoon. That is what makes a first anniversary celebration in one of the most pristine, serene corners of the planet feel like a full-circle moment.
Abeona, the Damen Yachting shadow vessel, is also close by, and for good reason. It carries the helicopter the couple will likely rely on to hop between islands known for being remote, secluded, and less developed, with coral reefs, white-sand beaches, and turquoise lagoons. Around this time of year, Fiji flaunts sunnier days, less rain, cooler temperatures, better underwater visibility, and even manta ray season.
The last time Koru was in the spotlight, it witnessed a dolphin show; this time, perhaps the couple will celebrate their marriage in the company of manta rays. As Sanchez shared with People, “Time really does fly,” Sanchez said of her first year as Mrs. Bezos. “We got married surrounded by family, and we’ll be with family on our anniversary too. That’s my favorite kind of celebration.”
The couple, always in the spotlight, could certainly use the respite from paparazzi in the Yasawas, with their spotless white-sand beaches, remote settings, and uninterrupted stretches of quality time. I doubt Bezos could find this kind of calm in upscale Capri or even Saint-Tropez. With Koru by their side, hopping between beautiful anchorages, reefs and dive spots, and beaches is as easy as it is exclusive.
Venice was spectacle. Fiji, by contrast, is seclusion. Their wedding was surrounded by chaos, protests included, and the constant glare of global media coverage fixated on every tiny detail. They may have enjoyed that attention then, but they do not seem to be staging a repeat telecast as they complete one year of being Mr. and Mrs. Bezos, choosing instead quiet, calm, and beauty beyond words.
