With Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—who, according to prediction markets, has a 7% chance of being the wealthiest person in the world this year—and journalist Lauren Sánchez reportedly spending around $50 million on a three‑day Venetian extravaganza, the bar for opulent matrimony has never been higher.
From custom‑built stadiums to private concerts by Rihanna and Beyoncé, these nuptials prove that, for the ultra‑wealthy, love really does have a limitless price tag. Scroll on to see which couples topped—and shattered—the record books for wedding‑day spending.
Kim Kardashian & Kanye West – $12 million (2014)
The trans‑Atlantic affair began with a rehearsal dinner at the Palace of Versailles, continued with fittings at
Givenchy, and culminated in a flower‑walled ceremony inside Florence’s 16th‑century Forte di Belvedere.
Private jets for 200 guests, haute‑cuisine receptions in two countries, and a custom 20‑foot floral
backdrop pushed the bill to an estimated $12 million.
Angelababy (Yeung Wing) & Huang Xiaoming –$31 million (2015)
China’s answer to Kim Kardashian rented Shanghai’s Exhibition Center, commissioned a Dior gown that took five
months to sew, and treated 2,000 guests to 3‑D holographic visuals plus a replica Arc de Triomphe
made of cake—adding up to roughly $31 million.
Prince William & Kate Middleton – $34 million (2011)
Westminster Abbey provided the setting, but security was the real splurge: about $32 million of the
$34 million total safeguarded heads of state and a global TV audience of two billion. Some 6,000
military and police personnel ring‑fenced central London for the day.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle – $45 million (2018)
St George’s Chapel seated 600 guests, yet Windsor Castle’s grounds welcomed 2,640 members of the public.
Cutting‑edge anti‑drone tech, rooftop snipers, and airport‑style screening ran the bill to roughly
$42 million for security alone—bringing the overall spend close to $45 million.
Prince Charles & Princess Diana – $48 million (1981)
Dubbed “the wedding of the century,” the spectacle cost about $48 million in 1981—well over
$100 million today after inflation. Highlights included Diana’s 25‑foot train, a glass‑coach
procession viewed by two million people in London, and global TV ratings that eclipsed
the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez – $50 million (2025)
Bezos and Sánchez transformed Venice into their own romantic set, hosting a three‑day celebration
that featured a black‑tie ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, celebrity guests
arriving on 90 private jets, and star performances rumored to include Matteo Bocelli and Elton John.
Reuters puts the price tag at roughly $50 million.
Vanisha Mittal & Amit Bhatia – $60 million (2004)
Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal shut down Versailles for a week‑long Parisian party. Kylie Minogue’s
30‑minute set, silver‑cased invitations, and first‑class flights for 1,000 guests helped this
Indian mega‑wedding hit an estimated $60 million.
Prince Albert II of Monaco & Charlene Wittstock – $65 million (2011)
Monaco staged its biggest celebration since Grace Kelly’s day: a two‑day fête featuring a public
Eagles concert, Alain Ducasse’s Michelin‑star banquet for 450, and fireworks over the Riviera—total
cost about $65 million.
Akash Ambani & Shloka Mehta – $100 million+ (2019)
Gold‑foiled invitations, 100 chartered flights, and a performance by Maroon 5 set Mumbai abuzz.
Political VIPs and Bollywood royalty feasted on 500 menu items, pushing the celebration into
nine‑digit territory.
Isha Ambani & Anand Piramal – $100 million+ (2018)
A private Beyoncé concert, five‑star hotels commandeered in Udaipur, and a mandap erected
27 floors up at the Ambanis’ Antilia residence kept the week‑long festivities near the
$100 million mark.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum & Princess Salama – $100 million (1979)
Dubai’s ruler built a 20,000‑seat stadium, hosted seven days of camel races, and flew in gifts on
20 bejeweled camels. Even four decades ago, the celebration was valued at roughly
$100 million.
Anant Ambani & Radhika Merchant – $600 million (2024)
The current record holder featured a four‑month build‑up that included a Mediterranean cruise,
a Jamnagar pre‑party headlined by Rihanna, and a Mumbai ceremony transformed into a floral temple
city by designer Preston Bailey. Estimates for the multi‑stage extravaganza soar to around $600 million—six times bigger than sister Isha’s bash.
