Venice, Italy What was meant to be a star-studded celebration of love turned into a flashpoint for civic frustration, as billionaire Jeff Bezos’ extravagant wedding in Venice ignited outrage among residents and activists fed up with the city’s ongoing battle against overtourism.
Bezos, founder of Amazon and one of the world’s richest individuals, tied the knot with media personality Lauren Sánchez over the weekend in a high-profile ceremony hosted at a historic Venetian palazzo. The exclusive event drew celebrities, business elites, and heavy security – but also sharp criticism from locals who accuse the ultra-wealthy of using their fragile city as a backdrop for spectacle.
“Venice is not a playground for billionaires,” said Carla Tonelli, spokesperson for No Grandi Navi (No Big Ships), a grassroots group that campaigns against mass tourism and environmental degradation. “The city is drowning – not just from rising seas, but from the weight of unsustainable luxury tourism.”
According to local reports, parts of central Venice were temporarily cordoned off to accommodate the ceremony, including limited access to popular canals and footbridges. Residents say such disruptions are becoming increasingly common, turning everyday life into an obstacle course whenever VIP guests arrive.
“We have nothing against people getting married, but when a private event causes this level of disruption, it’s the people of Venice who pay the price,” said Matteo Rizzo, a shopkeeper in the Cannaregio district. “We are losing the city to photo ops and privilege.”
Environmentalists and cultural heritage advocates have long warned that Venice is at a tipping point, with its delicate infrastructure strained by cruise ships, mass tourism, and luxury events. While authorities have introduced some new restrictions, including a tourist day tax and limits on short-term rentals, critics say enforcement remains weak.
The wedding also drew scrutiny for its carbon footprint, with guests reportedly flown in on dozens of private jets and ferried around on high-end motorboats — prompting further outcry from climate activists.
Venice’s mayoral office declined to comment directly on the wedding, instead issuing a general statement about the city’s right to host “cultural and social events of global significance.”
Bezos and Sánchez have not publicly addressed the controversy.
Meanwhile, residents say the fanfare surrounding the event is yet another reminder of what they see as a deepening disconnect between the needs of Venetians and the priorities of a tourism-driven economy.
“Venice belongs to its people, not to billionaires for the weekend,” said Tonelli. “This wedding was a symbol of everything we’re fighting against.”