Jeff Bezos, the wealthy creator of Amazon, is currently the centre of attention as he prepares to marry his long-time fiancée Lauren Sánchez in a grandiose wedding in Venice, Italy.
The lavish wedding in Italy has sparked outrage both online and in Venice, ultimately forcing the couple to change their original site at the last minute.
A parade of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, the Kardashian-Jenners, and Ivanka Trump, were spotted arriving in Venice for the wedding celebrations, which were said to take place over three days from June 26 to June 28.
The impending wedding will be the second marriage for Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, who were both previously married to other individuals. The couple collectively have seven children from previous relationships.
Here are the members of the Bezos/Sanchez blended family.
Bezos’ younger children
Bezos and his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott have four kids together: three sons and a daughter - with the latter adopted from China.
Little is known about the tech tycoon's younger children as he is extremely private about them. According to Today, Bezos has never made his three younger children's names or birth dates public.
The only time we got to see the Bezos, Scott and the children together was at the premiere of Star Trek Beyond premiere in San Diego, California, on July 20, 2016, when they made their first and only public appearance as a family of five.
He talked about spending morning time with his children in 2018. According to CNBC, he stated at the Economic Club, “I like to putter in the mornings. I like to read the newspaper, I like to have coffee, I like to have breakfast with my kids before they go to school,” Bezos explained. “My puttering time is very important to me.”
Preston Bezos
One of the Bezos children who is slowly becoming more comfortable with the public spotlight is his eldest son, Preston.
In 2019, Preston made a rare appearance with his father at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's American Portrait Gala. The following year, he was at the Oscars.
His name follows a pattern in the Bezos family - in addition to being Jeff’s middle name, Preston is also the middle name of his great-grandfather and grandfather.
Regarding his education, Preston carried on a family custom in this regard too. He went to Princeton University, his parents' old mater and an Ivy League institution.
Preston earned a degree from MIT in engineering and humanities, and Bezos Sr was photographed at the school's 2022 commencement ceremony.
Sophie Sanchez’ children
Bezos is a step-father to Sanchez's three children, Nikko, 24, Evan, 18, and Ella, 14.
Sanchez spoke about their blended family in a 2023 interview with the Wall Street Journal. She said: “On a typical Saturday, we hang out, we have dinner with the kids, which is always fun because you never know where the conversation is going to go with this many kids.”
Then she jokingly said, “We are the Brady Bunch.”
Nikko Gonzalez
Sanchez welcomed her oldest child Nikko into the world in February 2001. Even though the broadcast journalist and NFL player Tony Gonzalez broke up soon after, they have stayed close while raising their child together.
When Nikko isn't modelling or accompanying Gonzalez on the red carpet at film premieres, the father-son team is participating in adventurous pursuits like skydiving.
Evan Whitesell
Sanchez married Patrick Whitesell, a Hollywood agent, in August 2005.
Nearly a year later, in June 2006, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Evan.
The relationship wasn’t to last, however, and in late 2019, Sanchez and Whitesell came to an arrangement that included joint physical custody of Evan and his sister, Ella, as part of their divorce.
Sanchez posts certain updates about Evans' life on social media while hiding his face to respect his privacy.
Ella Whitesell
In January 2008, Sanchez and Whitesell had their daughter, Eleanor Patricia, who goes by Ella.
Although Sanchez avoids posting her on social media, she offered a heartfelt shout-out for Ella on her 16th birthday in January 2024, complete with a flashback photo in a now removed post.
She had written: “I can’t believe you are already 16. It seems like just yesterday I took this pic of you. In your quiet strength, you’ve grown, not with loud fanfares, but with the gentle grace of a sunrise. Each day, you show us the beauty of dedication and the power of quiet dreams.”
“We love you for everything you are, and everything you’re yet to become. I love you beyond words.”
