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WORLD BUSINESS

Venice Hijacked? Jeff Bezos’ €50M Wedding Sparks Outrage As Locals Locked Out Of Their Own City

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s €40 million Venice wedding sparked major backlash from locals. Residents and activists say the event disrupted daily life and turned the city into a billionaire’s playground.

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Surya Singh
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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez

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What was meant to be a dream wedding turned into a public controversy. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s lavish three-day wedding bash in Venice is now facing major heat, not just from the sun, but from frustrated locals.

The billionaire duo landed in the iconic city with a fleet of nearly 90 private jets and a guest list packed with A-listers like Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and Ivanka Trump. According to Reuters, the event cost somewhere between €40–48 million. But it wasn't the price tag that stung Venetians; it was the disruption.

Venice Locals Claim Their City Was Hijacked

Residents say Venice became almost unrecognisable during the festivities. With parts of the city cordoned off and boats blocked from the canals, many felt like strangers in their own home. One local told Reuters, “We have to ask them for permission to board a ferry", and pointed out how it became a restriction in everyday life.

The wedding, with its yachts, helicopters, and glamorous parties, only added to Venice’s growing struggle with over-tourism. For a city already fighting to keep its identity, this event felt like the tipping point.

“No Space For Jeff Bezos” Movement Rises

The backlash was quick and sharp. Activists launched the protest group “No Space for Bezos” and even floated the idea of placing inflatable crocodiles in the canals to block the wedding proceedings. Social media lit up with posts and images of banners that read: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”

Greenpeace Italy and the group Everyone Hates Elon joined in, demanding that billionaires take responsibility for the environmental damage they cause, especially through luxury travel like private jets and mega-yachts.

Venue Change Fails To Calm Protestors

Facing rising protests and tight security demands, the wedding’s main ceremony was quietly shifted from the Cannaregio district to Arsenale, a more secluded area of the city. This allowed for better control and fewer interruptions, but it didn’t stop the criticism.

While some officials, like Veneto regional president Luca Zaia, defended the event, calling it a potential economic boost, many Venetians weren’t buying it. Organisers claim the wedding would contribute to the city's cultural and environmental restoration, but locals see it as just another elite party where their city is the backdrop

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Jeff Bezos' Wedding: A Billionaire Fairytale Or City Nightmare?

To some, this wedding was the stuff of fairytales. But to many Venetians, it was a billionaire invasion that turned their hometown into a playground for the rich. The core issue wasn’t love, it was power, privilege, and pollution.

Whether you call it a royal affair or a tone-deaf takeover, Jeff Bezos’ wedding has stirred up a storm that’s far from over.

Jeff Bezos