Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s extravagant honeymoon has taken a controversial turn as locals raise eyebrows over their massive $500 million yacht docking off the coast of one of Italy’s most historic towns.
Just hours after their $54 million three-day Venice wedding ended, the billionaire couple departed by helicopter from Nicelli airport and boarded Bezos’ luxury sailing yacht, Koru. The vessel is reportedly en route to Taormina, where the couple plans to stay at the iconic Four Seasons San Domenico Palace.
Insiders told GLOBE Magazine the newlyweds selected the hilltop hotel after Bezos fell in love with the town during a prior trip to the Aeolian Islands. However, the decision to anchor their superyacht in the Ionian Sea has sparked backlash from environmentalists and cultural groups concerned about the region’s fragile marine ecosystem and historic integrity.
Backlash builds over Bezos yacht near historic site
Sources in Sicily say the presence of Koru off the Taormina coast has caused logistical and ecological concerns. Local activists accused the couple of disrupting marine traffic and damaging seabed biodiversity with the yacht’s anchoring systems.
A Sicilian tourism insider told GLOBE Magazine that residents feel the billionaire’s display of wealth has cheapened the cultural identity of the ancient town. One source said Taormina is not a billionaire’s runway and warned that the spectacle could inspire regulatory crackdowns on luxury vessels entering protected zones.
Adding to the tension is the couple’s rumored stay at the San Domenico Palace, a former 14th-century convent turned ultra-luxury hotel that recently gained pop culture clout as the backdrop for HBO’s The White Lotus Season 2.
Behind the lavish wedding and secret ceremony
While the couple’s three-day wedding featured stars like Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the Kardashian-Jenners, GLOBE Magazine learned that Bezos and Sanchez had legally married in the United States more than a month before the Venetian spectacle.
Sources involved in the planning said the Italian event was purely ceremonial, designed for optics rather than legality. The couple kept the U.S. ceremony under wraps, likely to maintain tight control over media coverage.
Lauren Sanchez wore a pleated pink Versace gown inspired by Sophia Loren’s Houseboat role. She later debuted a new 35-carat white diamond ring estimated at $10 million, replacing the original 30-carat pink diamond Bezos gave during their engagement.
Usher, DJ Cassidy, and Matteo Bocelli performed at the reception, though guests were under a strict no-phones policy. Footage still leaked online, adding to public scrutiny of the event’s excess.
While Bezos appeared unfazed, critics claim his post-wedding moves reinforce growing concerns about billionaire overreach in heritage tourism zones. One local source described the yacht’s arrival as a floating insult to centuries of cultural preservation.
And now, with their $7,000-a-night suite waiting and protests brewing in the distance, the world watches what comes next.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.