Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez just pulled off the kind of wedding that only happens when you have a net worth of $231 billion and friends like Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio on speed dial. Held over three days in Venice, Italy, the affair included couture fashion, Michelin-starred menus, and one very expensive hotel buyout for their wedding guests.

But how much did it actually cost? Based on some pretty meticulous reporting by Forbes and other outlets, here is what we know about the price of the Bezos-Sánchez wedding, which cost roughly 1,666 times more than the average American wedding, according to The Knot’s 2024 estimate of $33,000.

Estimated Total: $46 million–$55 million

Veneto regional president Luca Zaia first floated a cost estimate of €20–30 million ($23M–$34M) in Reuters, but later bumped it to €40–48 million ($46.5M–$55.6M) after a last-minute venue change due to security concerns. Forbes independently confirmed through wedding planners and local vendors that the figure is credible, based on catering, hotel, and transportation costs alone.

Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding Dress: $300,000+ (Estimated Range)

Sánchez stunned in a custom long-sleeve lace gown by Dolce & Gabbana, complete with 180 silk chiffon-covered buttons and a cathedral veil inspired by Sophia Loren in Houseboat, per Vogue. While the brand hasn’t released pricing, similar couture-level gowns — like Amal Clooney’s Oscar de la Renta wedding gown — reportedly cost upwards of $380,000, per OK! Magazine. Given the designer and detail, it’s fair to place Sánchez’s dress in the $250K–$400K range.

Hotel Buyout: ~$900,000

According to Forbes, Bezos and Sánchez bought out the Aman Venice for the weekend, relocating other guests as needed. With rooms averaging $2,000 per night and roughly 150 rooms blocked for three nights, the total likely hit $900,000.

Catering: ~$1.1 million

Three-Michelin-star chef Fabrizio Mellino of Quattro Passi helmed the wedding menu. Former clients told Forbes the rate is around $1,800 per guest, including food transport and staff. For 200 guests and multiple meals, the total likely topped $1.1 million.

Water Taxis: ~$270,000

Guests like Orlando Bloom and Kim Kardashian were ferried around in 30 private water taxis for up to 12 hours a day. Venice’s Water Taxi Consortium confirmed rates between $210–$290/hour, meaning the final transport tab ran about $270,000.

Murano Glass Favors & Pastries: ~$150,000+

Guests received luxury gift boxes including hand-blown Murano glassware (starting at $220 per goblet) and Venetian pastries from the historic Rosa Salva bakery. Owner Antonio Rosa Salva told Forbes he was commissioned to produce 200 assortments through a third-party agency, only learning it was for Bezos weeks later.

Security: $2–3 million

Event security was “massive,” according to Kenneth Bombace of Global Threat Solutions. He estimated the cost of a private team of 40–50 agents, canine units, and prep could hit $2–3 million. Italian police also provided security, sweeping venues with dogs and tactical units.

Floral & Event Design: Unknown

Local insiders told Forbes that Munaretto Flowers handled floral design — though the florist declined comment. No firm price is known, but planners estimate hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent.

Venue Rental & Last-Minute Changes: Unknown

The main party was moved from Scuola Grande della Misericordia to Arsenale, a sprawling former naval shipyard. While exact rental costs aren’t public, planners said this last-minute switch added “significant” expenses, per Reuters. No confirmed pricing is available.

The multi-day events were coordinated by Lanza & Baucina, a high-end London-based firm run by three Italian cousins. According to The New York Times, the planners emphasized they were minimizing “any disruption to the city” and employing local craftspeople and vendors throughout the weekend. The agency’s all-caps website promises “THE WORLD’S MOST EXCLUSIVE, PRIVATE AND SPECTACULAR PARTIES” — though it also loudly proclaims, “DISCRETION IS PARAMOUNT TO US.”

Bonus PR Move: $3.6 Million in Donations

To temper the backlash on both a local and international scale, Bezos quietly donated €1M each (about $3.6M total) to UNESCO Venice, Corila, and Venice International University. Corila’s director told Forbes Bezos expressed genuine interest in lagoon conservation before protests picked up.

Post-Wedding Day Entertainment (Lady Gaga & Elton John): ~ $5-8 million

According to USA Today, the weekend culminates with a Saturday night concert at the Arsenale, Venice’s historic shipyard-turned-event space, with expected performances by Lady Gaga and Elton John. While their rates vary, high-profile private gigs for either artist can command between $2.5–$4 million each, per Business Insider reporting on celebrity private event fees. According to Hello, there are also supposed to be live performers and fire breathers at the post-wedding masquerade ball, which will only add to the total bill.

“Low-Key,” but Make It Billionaire

Despite the spectacle, a source told Us Weekly the ceremony felt “low-key.” Sure, if “low-key” includes Oprah, DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Tom Brady, the Kardashians, and a rocket company souvenir as your “something blue.” Sánchez told Vogue she carried the item on her Blue Origin flight, calling it “the greatest experience I’ve ever had.”

Still, not everyone in Venice was thrilled. Protestors under the banner “No Space for Bezos” disrupted the weekend with plans to block canals using boats and inflatable animals, per The New York Times. “Veniceland: A Playground Fit for an Oligarch” was among the slogans seen on posters around the city. While some locals appreciated the tourism bump, others pointed to rising anti-overtourism sentiment across Europe.

Even with efforts to keep things discreet, employ locals, and donate to the lagoon, the reality is this: Venice became a backdrop for a wedding so expensive it sparked canal-blocking protests. And while planners insisted on minimizing disruption, there’s no such thing as a subtle affair when Elton John and Lady Gaga are closing out your reception in a 12th-century shipyard.

For Bezos, the $55 million bill is barely a blip — less than 0.02% of his $231 billion fortune. But for the rest of us, it’s a crystal-clear picture of billionaire excess in real time.

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrities who have pulled off secret weddings.