Hundreds of Venetians took to the streets this weekend to protest Jeff Bezos’s lavish wedding to Lauren Sanchez, accusing the billionaire of “kicking out locals” and treating the historic city as a private playground.
Last week, news broke that the Amazon founder had effectively “rented out” parts of Venice for the multi-day celebration, forcing residents out and triggering a partial city shutdown.
Venetians were not happy. In the days leading up to the ceremony, angry demonstrations erupted, with protesters carrying banners reading “No space for Bezos” and chanting against corporate greed. Mounting public pressure eventually forced the CEO to move the main ceremony out of the city centre.
On the big day, the groom-to-be was prepared for controversy, surrounding the perimeter with ex-marines in a security operation estimated to cost £10 million.
The star-studded guest list included Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, Queen Rania of Jordan, and of course, several Kardashians, drawing further scrutiny over the spectacle’s scale.
The ceremony itself is estimated to have cost an eye-watering £41 million, roughly 600 times the price of an average wedding. Even so, the expense will hardly make a dent in Bezos’s £127 billion fortune.
Italy’s Ministry of Tourism defended the decision to grant permits, claiming the event could generate an economic impact of more than £700 million for the region.
But local protesters were unimpressed. Demonstrators accused Bezos of greed and hypocrisy, citing the environmental consequences Venice faces due to rising sea levels, consequences they say companies like Amazon have fuelled.
Environmental campaigners have long criticised Amazon’s vast carbon footprint, with the company generating around 1 million tonnes of packaging waste annually.
In what was billed as an effort to give back to the city, the newlyweds asked guests for “no gifts” and instead pledged £2.5 million in donations to three Venetian cultural institutions.
For many residents, however, the gesture was overshadowed by the disruption and symbolism of a billionaire wedding in a city already grappling with the impact of mass tourism and climate change.
