Oprah Winfrey and Kris Jenner led the star-studded departures from Venice on Sunday morning, following the final party on Saturday night of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez‘s three-day wedding extravaganza.
Described as the ‘wedding of a century,’ the 61-year-old Amazon founder and the former journalist, 55, exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy, on Friday.
The nuptials began on Thursday with the first of three days of parties in Venice, followed by the intimate ceremony on Friday and then a star-studded rave.
Around 200 of the world’s wealthiest people were gathering for a final night’s fun, before bidding their goodbyes to the Italian city the following morning.
Kris, 69, and Oprah, 71, walked arm-in-arm down the dock, alongside Gayle King and Kris’ boyfriend Corey Gamble.
Oprah Winfrey and Kris Jenner led the star-studded departures from Venice on Sunday morning, following the final party on Saturday night of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez ‘s three-day wedding extravaganza
Described as the ‘wedding of a century,’ the 61-year-old Amazon founder and the former journalist, 55, (pictured) exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy , on Friday
Around 200 of the world’s wealthiest people were gathering for a final night’s fun, before bidding their goodbyes to the Italian city the following morning
Bezos, worth £177billion, has taken over the Italian city for a wedding estimated to have cost up to £40million, small change for the world’s third richest man.
But 700 demonstrators gathered at Santa Lucia railway station carrying protest banners and waving inflatable crocodiles.
The demo was organised by the No Space For Bezos group, with some carrying Amazon boxes with the words: ‘Ordered, Shipped, Delivered, Rejected.’
But Bezos and Sanchez cared not a jot. It was the second marriage for both and they have seven children between them.
Earlier, they blew kisses on a visit to Harry’s Bar – and give a first glimpse of their understated wedding rings.
Sanchez’s simple wedding band was in stark contrast to the 30-carat $3million pink diamond she sported after Bezos asked her to marry him two years ago.
In the run-up to Friday’s ceremony, that sparkler was switched to her right to make way for an upgrade – an even larger, brilliant-white diamond, estimated at 35 carats and worth $10million.
But impeccable sources reveal that the billionaire were already legally married, with a source closely connected to the organisation of the week’s events saying: ‘They have been married for at least a month, more than a month.
Kris, 69, and Oprah, 71, walked arm-in-arm down the dock, alongside Gayle King and Kris’ boyfriend Corey Gamble
‘The marriage is fully legal and took place in America under American law.’
The source adds: ‘When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married. There is no application for a wedding license from the couple because it was not required.
‘Whatever happens at the wedding on Friday, it will not be a wedding. Under Italian law, it will not be a wedding celebration, any vows said or rings exchanged will have no legal meaning.’
The source added that Bezos had personally confirmed that he and Sanchez – who met when both were married to other people – are already legally married, and that they had also signed a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune.
Vogue later released a set of pictures with a braless Sanchez posing in her new husband’s unbuttoned wedding shirt.
The Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo shirt was similar to the one he wore at Friday’s ceremony.
The photoshoot took place earlier this month, the day after Sánchez and Bezos were at the Dolce & Gabbana atelier in central Milan for their final fittings.
She revealed her wedding dress was inspired by the high-necked lace wedding dress Sophia Loren wore to marry Cary Grant in the 1958 film Houseboat.
She told the magazine that a few conventions were to be honoured, including the groom not seeing the bride just before the wedding day.
Her Dolce & Gabbana Alta Gioielleria Miracolo earrings, four diamonds cut from a single stone and inlaid in white gold, were her something borrowed.
Her something blue was from Blue Origin, the spaceflight she took with five other women, including the singer Katy Perry, that was arranged by Bezos.
Sánchez said she carried a secret souvenir up in the rocket so she could bring it back for Bezos ‘because it was one of the most profound experiences I’ve had in my life.’
She credited her new husband for ‘transforming my life’.
