Jeff Bezos, the world fourth richest man, may be $212 billion (£154 billion) in personal wealth. Instead, he’s been making headlines for other reasons, like the multi-billionaire getting ready to marry Lauren Sánchez in an ostentatious “White Lotus” style ceremony in Venice. The wedding celebrations began on Thursday evening. An opulent reception is planned for afterwards on Saturday at the ancient Arsenale shipyard complex.
The couple’s wedding has sparked considerable debate among Venetians, splitting the city into three distinct factions: those indifferent to the high-profile event, those expressing outrage, and those who welcome it as a potential economic boon. As the city looks forward to the celebrations ahead, that joy is countered by protest.
Protests erupted across Venice, with some residents displaying banners that read: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.” This sentiment resonates with many locals who feel that Bezos’s wealth should contribute more to the city’s economy. Italy’s tourism minister, Daniela Santanchè, welcomed this view, arguing that Bezos and Sánchez should be paying more taxes in the first place.
The effects of these protests have stretched far beyond the local churches, manifesting even in the couple’s wedding plans. The “No Kings, No Bezos” coalition pulled off an impressive act of civil disobedience. Their influence moved the reception’s venue from the Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the more exclusive Arsenale.
Despite the opposition, the Royal Wedding has still brought international attention and several high profile celebrity wedding guests. Notable figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, and Orlando Bloom attended a welcome party on Thursday night. Given all of this public excitement and scrutiny, the attendance of such high-profile attendees has continued to create a public interest circus.
A visible lure for these heightened local tensions has been the influx of around 90 private jets and superyachts that have accompanied the wedding celebrations. In response to the protest, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called their concerns “shameful.” He pointed to the economic impact the event would deliver to the city.
News sources are reporting that Bezos and Sánchez have married in a secret ceremony in the United States. The activities on Friday will be limited to symbolic celebrations. The estimated total cost of this shindig will be €50 million, with 200 to 250 guests expected.
Amongst all the praise, a German delivery company executive named Cagdas Halicilar has gone above and beyond the call of awe to express his fandom for Bezos. He’s got in as a wedding present a €3,000 (£2,600) bottle of whiskey. He just really wanted to hang out with Bezos, apparently.
“I will just tell him that I’m proud to look like him. That’s all. He’s not arrogant and he has a big heart. He makes people smile and I’m a huge fan.” – Cagdas Halicilar
A Spanish woman from the north of Spain expressed her frustration, saying,
“Two hundred and fifty guests and a bill of €50m? This is why I don’t buy anything on Amazon.”
Some islanders prefer to stay removed from the constant beehive buzz of renewed activity surrounding the wedding. One man stated simply,
“I’m not thinking about it at all.”
Santanchè has sought to demonstrate the good it has done for local businesses’ bottom lines.
“All of this translates into a massive free publicity campaign. In fact, because they will spend a lot of money, they will enrich Venice – our shopkeepers, artisans, restaurateurs, hotels. So it’s a great opportunity both for spending and for promoting Italy in the world.” – Daniela Santanchè