Billionaire Jeff Bezos’s wedding to Lauren Sanchez is being touted as one of the “most lavish” weddings in recent times as the festivities begin today in Venice. As per estimates, the wedding of the Amazon founder could generate a bill of around 40 and 48 million euros (up to $56 million). It’s a staggering figure — more than 1,000 times the average $36,000 spent by American couples on weddings in 2025, according to wedding planning site Zola’s annual report. From private yachts and star-studded guest lists to multi-themed parties, the affair has been branded by many as “the most lavish wedding of the year.” But is it truly the most expensive? Amid the spotlight on this Venice wedding, here’s a look at what had happened at the Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding that took place in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. The Ambani Spectacle: Opulence on Another Scale Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, hosted what many are calling the most expensive wedding in history. The pre-wedding festivities in Jamnagar in March 2024 were only a preview, with the main event and subsequent receptions estimated to cost around $600 million (over Rs 5,000 crore), as reported by Financial Express. The celebrations featured performances by global stars such as Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and the Backstreet Boys, alongside Bollywood’s elite. Guests were flown in on chartered planes, and the itinerary included a luxury Mediterranean cruise. The Mumbai-based finale, held at Jio World Convention Centre and the Ambani residence Antilia, was attended by India’s top political and business figures. The Verdict Jeff Bezos’ Italian wedding is without any doubt opulent, setting a new standard for destination nuptials. However, in terms of scale, spending, and spectacle, Anant Ambani’s wedding clearly takes the crown. With costs more than ten times that of Bezos’ ceremony, the Ambani wedding is arguably the most expensive in modern history.