Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wed in star-studded Venice amid protests

Jeff Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man, and Lauren Sanchez are getting married in Venice, Italy, in one of the most talked-about weddings of the year, as reported by NBC News due to the massive celebrity attendance and public interest. The three-day celebration started on Thursday with a star-studded party at the cloisters behind Chiesa della Madonna dell'Orto church. Famous guests include Oprah Winfrey, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Tom Brady, Bill Gates, and Ivanka Trump with her husband Jared Kushner.

Queen Rania of Jordan and Leonardo DiCaprio are also attending the lavish event. The main wedding will happen Saturday at the Arsenale, a large former medieval shipyard that is now an art space. However, the wedding will not be legal under Italian law because it needs to happen at an official place like City Hall, according to Venice Deputy Mayor Simone Venturini. This has led people to think the couple has already gotten legally married in the United States. NBC News also notes that protesters have shown up with banners saying "No Space for Bezos" and criticizing his wealth, while Greenpeace displayed a huge banner in St. Mark's Square.

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The Amazon founder looked happy and sharp in a black tuxedo as he waved to people watching, according to FOX News coverage of the Friday preparations when guests were heading to various celebration venues. Bezos took a water taxi to San Giorgio Maggiore, where the wedding is reportedly being held. Sanchez was seen earlier leaving the Aman Hotel wearing a white jacket and matching skirt with a headscarf and sunglasses. She blew a kiss to photographers before taking her own water taxi to San Giorgio island. Many A-list celebrities have been spotted around Venice, staying at luxury hotels.

Oprah Winfrey and her best friend Gayle King were photographed leaving the Gritti Palace Hotel. Other famous faces include tech leader Sam Altman with model wife Karlie Kloss, singer Usher with his wife, and Bezos's adoptive father Miguel Bezos. FOX News reporters captured Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner walking around Venice, with Kardashian wearing a black dress and flip-flops while Jenner chose a bold leopard-print gown. The couple hosted a welcome party Thursday night where Sanchez wore a golden satin dress from a high-end fashion collection, and guests enjoyed pizza made by a famous chef from Naples.

The wedding celebration is estimated to cost between 46.5 million and 55.6 million dollars, making it one of the most expensive weddings ever, as USA Today reports based on Venice regional governor estimates that increased after venue changes for security reasons. Around 200 guests are attending, and about 90 private jets flew into Venice and nearby airports this week to bring the wealthy attendees. The guest list includes some of the richest people in the world, with the total net worth of attendees reaching into the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Sanchez's engagement ring alone is estimated to be worth 5 million dollars and weighs about 30 carats, which is nearly 1,000 times more expensive than the average American engagement ring. Venice has been dealing with too many tourists for years, and local protesters are worried about the impact of such a huge, high-profile event on their historic city.

The celebration shows the extreme wealth gap in society, as USA Today points out when comparing the wedding costs to average people's spending. Despite the protests, Venice officials hope the wedding will show the world how beautiful their city is and potentially lead to more donations from Bezos, who has already given money to protect Venice's lagoon system and heritage sites.