Venice, Italy, has once again become the center of global attention this weekend, as billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sanchez tied the knot in one of the most extravagant celebrity weddings of the year.

The lavish celebration, estimated to cost around $50 million, has drawn an exclusive guest list of nearly 200 prominent figures from the worlds of business, politics, and entertainment. Among those in attendance are Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Usher, and several members of the Kardashian family.

Although the event details have been kept under tight wraps due to widespread protests across the city, local media outlets report that the couple exchanged vows on Friday during a private black-tie ceremony held on San Giorgio Island — an exclusive location closed to the public.

The main reception, scheduled for Saturday, is expected to take place in the Arsenale, a centuries-old shipyard complex on the eastern edge of Venice. Originally, the couple had planned to host the event in a 16th-century palazzo in the city center, but concerns over security and crowd control prompted a last-minute venue change.

Earlier in the week, Bezos and Sanchez welcomed guests to a pre-wedding gathering inside the cloisters of the Madonna dell’Orto, a medieval church located in the Cannaregio district. Other festivities are rumored to include a foam party and a glamorous Great Gatsby–inspired soirée, keeping with the couple’s reputation for grand-scale events.

According to Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto regional government, the total cost of the multi-day celebration could range between 40 million and 48 million euros ($47–$56 million).

With an estimated net worth of $230 billion, Bezos remains one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. Reports indicate that the billionaire plans to accompany his wedding festivities with philanthropic gestures, including a €2 million donation to Corila — an academic consortium dedicated to studying and preserving Venice’s delicate lagoon ecosystem.

The luxury, however, extends far beyond the ceremony itself. Many guests reportedly arrived days in advance aboard private jets, helicopters, and superyachts, taking full advantage of Venice’s world-class hospitality, fine dining, and luxury boutiques. Reuters reported that several of the city’s most prestigious hotels — including the Cipriani and the Aman — were fully booked for the wedding party and their entourages.

Despite the glamour, the event has stirred controversy among Venetians. Environmental activists and local residents have voiced frustration over what they see as the continued transformation of Venice — a UNESCO World Heritage site — into a playground for the global elite. The city, long burdened by overtourism, became the first in the world to introduce an entry fee for day visitors last year in an effort to protect its fragile infrastructure and improve quality of life for locals.

Italy, meanwhile, continues to attract the ultra-wealthy, thanks in part to its favorable flat-tax policy and flourishing luxury real estate market. While some nations have begun cracking down on the world’s richest, Italy appears to be embracing them — with the Bezos-Sanchez wedding serving as a glittering example of the country’s ongoing allure.