A billionaire’s dream wedding in Venice turned into a high-profile mystery. The glitz and glamour of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s nuptials, attended by A-list elites, were marred by a brazen theft that has left the couple reeling. What should have been a celebration of love is now a headline-grabbing scandal.

Summary

• Lauren Sanchez’s wedding dress was stolen post-ceremony in Venice.
• The theft occurred after a $20 million, three-day wedding extravaganza.
• Initial reports of a “party crasher” thief were denied; no police reports filed.
• The missing gown is one of 27, not Sanchez’s Dolce & Gabbana ceremony dress.
• Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio attended the event.

A Star-Studded Affair

Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and one of the world’s richest men, married Lauren Sanchez in a $20 million, three-day wedding in Venice, Italy, on June 27, 2025. The opulent event, held on San Giorgio Maggiore island, drew nearly 200 VIPs, including Oprah Winfrey, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Leonardo DiCaprio. 

Sanchez, 55, wore a custom Dolce & Gabbana gown inspired by Sophia Loren’s iconic 1958 Houseboat dress, adorned with hand-appliquéd Italian lace and 180 silk chiffon-covered buttons. 

“Lauren wanted to surprise Jeff with her gown, resisting his pleas to see it early,” said Vogue Italia editor Laura Tortora. “She managed to keep it a secret until the ceremony.”

Theft Shocks Guests

Just days after the couple exchanged vows, one of Sanchez’s 27 nuptial dresses vanished. 

Initial Italian media reports suggested an “elegantly dressed party crasher” stole the gown, but this claim was later dismissed, with no police reports filed. “It’s a mystery how this happened under such tight security,” a source close to the couple noted. 

The missing dress, though not the ceremony gown, has sparked outrage among attendees who expected a flawless event given Bezos’ $231 billion fortune. The theft cast a shadow over the final night’s pajama-themed party at the Arsenale, where stars like Sydney Sweeney and Orlando Bloom were spotted.

Public Backlash and Excess

The wedding faced criticism from Venetian locals, who protested the couple’s “takeover” of the city. The No Space For Bezos group marched with Amazon boxes labeled “Ordered, Shipped, Delivered, Rejected,” decrying the extravagance. 

“This level of excess is tone-deaf,” said a local activist. Despite the backlash, Bezos and Sanchez remained unfazed, seen sharing a kiss on a water taxi. 

The incident raises questions about security at high-profile events and the optics of such lavish displays amid economic struggles for many.