When Jeff Bezos throws a wedding, it’s no quiet affair. The Amazon founder and his partner, Lauren Sánchez, just hosted a lavish, three-day celebration on a private island in Venice, attended by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Oprah. But behind the glamour, there’s a web of legal preparations, an already-legal US marriage, and a multi-million-dollar prenup that’s been signed and sealed.
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While guests were sipping prosecco in Venice, the real business of marriage had reportedly already been handled stateside. And all this unfolds against the backdrop of Bezos' past with MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife who helped build Amazon from a garage and walked away with a significant piece of his fortune. Here's a look at Bezos' past and present relationships, and the financial moves he made along the way.
Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez: A prenup before the party
Despite the fanfare surrounding their $10 million wedding celebration in Venice, Italian officials confirmed that no civil ceremony took place under their jurisdiction. According to Financial Express, no request for a wedding licence was filed, and the absence of required paperwork strongly suggests the legal marriage had already occurred in the United States.
Legal experts told Financial Express it’s not unusual for American couples marrying abroad to wed at home first. One divorce lawyer said:
They can get married anywhere as their prenup would generally be drafted to include its enforceability everywhere.
Another added:
If they live in Florida, no matter where they marry or what the prenup says, they would have to divorce in Florida.
Three top lawyers confirmed that Bezos and Sánchez have a comprehensive prenuptial agreement in place, reportedly worth millions. The exact terms remain private, but it’s a standard move for high-net-worth individuals like Bezos, now 61, and Sánchez, 55.
With Bezos' empire on the line and Sánchez also holding her own career as a journalist, pilot, and founder of an aerial film company, the prenup ensures their assets remain protected. Such agreements are especially crucial at this level of wealth, where business interests, intellectual property, and multiple income streams can create legal complications without clear boundaries.
Who was Jeff Bezos' first wife?
Before Lauren Sánchez, there was MacKenzie Scott – novelist, philanthropist, and a central figure in Bezos' early Amazon years. The couple met in 1993 while working at a New York hedge fund. According to People, they got engaged after just three months of dating and were married that same year.
Scott played a key role in Bezos' entrepreneurial journey. When he decided to quit his job and start Amazon, she fully supported the move and helped relocate to Seattle to build what would become one of the world’s most valuable companies. Reflecting on this moment, Scott said in a 2013 interview:
To me, you know, watching your spouse, somebody that you love have an adventure, what is better than that and being part of that.
Scott, a Princeton graduate and published author, has kept much of her personal life private. Her philanthropic pursuits and literary background stand in contrast to Sánchez’s high-profile media presence and ventures in aviation and space travel.
While Scott channels her wealth into quiet generosity, Sánchez often headlines events and initiatives, including her work with the Bezos Earth Fund and recent space flight with Blue Origin. The couple welcomed four children, whose lives remain largely out of the public eye. After divorcing in 2019, Scott briefly remarried but filed for divorce again in 2022.
How much did she get after the divorce?
The financial outcome of Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott’s divorce was substantial. In May 2019, she announced she had agreed to give away at least half of her wealth, following the divorce. According to People, she joined the Giving Pledge and has since donated over $19 billion to more than 2,000 organisations.
Scott’s share of Amazon stock, received as part of the divorce settlement, made her one of the richest women in the world. Despite this wealth, she committed to a ‘no strings attached’ approach to philanthropy. In a 2021 blog post, she wrote:
How much or how little money changes hands doesn’t make it philanthropy. Intention and effort make it philanthropy.
In total, she received 4% of Amazon's shares, worth roughly $36 billion at the time, making it one of the largest divorce settlements in history. Her response? Giving most of it away.
Read more:
Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott gave away $19 billion - here's what we know
Lauren Sánchez: Everything to know about Jeff Bezos' soon-to-be wife
Jeff Bezos shares four children with ex-wife Mackenzie Scott but they keep a low profile
Sources used:
Financial Express: Married before Venice? Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s multi-million prenup
People: Who Is Jeff Bezos’ Ex-Wife? All About MacKenzie Scott (and How She Helped the Billionaire Found Amazon)
CNN: Who is Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos’ bride-to-be?
