Venice is poised to reap an estimated US$1.1 billion economic windfall from the ultra-luxurious wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media executive Lauren Sánchez, according to Italy’s Ministry of Tourism.
The three-day celebration, which drew 200 A-list guests including Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Leonardo DiCaprio, has been hailed by officials as a “concrete driving force” for the city’s struggling tourism sector.
The projected impact — equivalent to nearly 68% of Venice’s annual tourism turnover — includes both direct spending and global media exposure.
The wedding itself reportedly cost between $46 million and $55 million, with lavish details including a full buyout of the Aman Venice hotel, Michelin-starred catering, Murano glass gifts, and private water taxis ferrying guests across the canals.
The couple also pledged €3 million (US$3.2 million) in donations to local environmental and cultural institutions, including UNESCO Venice and the lagoon research group CORILA.
Despite the economic boost, the event sparked protests from residents and activists who criticised the city’s overreliance on elite tourism. They also criticised the symbolic takeover of public space by ultra-wealthy visitors.
For investors, the event underscored the growing monetisation of destination branding and luxury tourism as economic levers.
While the $1.1 billion figure includes indirect media value, the surge in high-end hospitality, transport, and event logistics spending is real — and timely.
Venice has seen a 7% drop in overnight stays in 2025, and the city is preparing to implement a tourist entry fee in 2026 to manage overcrowding.
The Bezos-Sánchez wedding, though controversial, may serve as a case study in how cities can leverage high-profile events to drive short-term economic gains — while navigating long-term sustainability risks.
