Oprah Winfrey and Kris Jenner led the star-studded departures from Venice on Sunday morning, following the final party on Saturday night of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s three-day wedding extravaganza.
Described as the ‘wedding of a century,’ the 61-year-old Amazon founder and the former journalist, 55, exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy, on Friday.
The nuptials began on Thursday with the first of three days of parties in Venice, followed by the intimate ceremony on Friday and then a star-studded rave.
Around 200 of the world’s wealthiest people were gathering for a final night’s fun, before bidding their goodbyes to the Italian city the following morning.
Kris, 69, and Oprah, 71, walked arm-in-arm down the dock, alongside Gayle King and Kris’ boyfriend Corey Gamble.
The Kardashian family matriarch looked in high spirits, wearing a jungle-patterned jacket and trouser co-ord and hiding behind black shades.
Oprah Winfrey and Kris Jenner led the star-studded departures from Venice on Sunday morning, following the final party on Saturday night of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez ‘s three-day wedding extravaganza
Described as the ‘wedding of a century,’ the 61-year-old Amazon founder and the former journalist, 55, (pictured) exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy , on Friday
Around 200 of the world’s wealthiest people were gathering for a final night’s fun, before bidding their goodbyes to the Italian city the following morning
While Oprah looked chic in all-white, as she wrapped an arm around Kris’ shoulders and listened intently to her pal.
BFF Gayle – who memorably went on Bezos’ Blue Origin spaceflight alongside Sanchez – caught the eye in a multi-coloured striped dress that showcased her slender frame.
Bill Gates was also spotted making his exit from the Italian city, still looking cheerful after the extravagant 72-hour nuptials.
The Microsoft founder and billionaire kept comfortable in a simple black polo neck and trousers with a matching baseball cap.
Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner were also spotted making their exit, after arriving in Italian city on Tuesday.
The couple flew in with their three children, Arabella Rose, 13, Joseph Frederick, 10, and Theodore James, eight, while sister-in-law Karlie Kloss – who is married to Jared’s brother Joshua, also was a guest.
Among the star-studded guests at the nuptials were Kris’ daughters Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, as well as Hollywood starsLeonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom and NFL star Tom Brady.
But Kim, 44, and Khloe, 41, left the festivities early, making a swift exit by boat on Saturday, despite the $20M festivities being far from over.
The sisters were spotted wearing casual ensembles as they made a low-key exit from the Italian city, presumably to board a private flight back to Los Angeles.
Bezos, worth £177billion, has taken over the Italian city for a wedding estimated to have cost up to £40million, small change for the world’s third richest man.
Kris, 69, and Oprah, 71, walked arm-in-arm down the dock, alongside Gayle King and Kris’ boyfriend Corey Gamble
The Kardashian family matriarch looked in high spirits, wearing a jungle-patterned jacket and trouser co-ord and hiding behind black shades
While Oprah looked chic in all-white, as she wrapped an arm around Kris’ shoulders and listened intently to her pal
BFF Gayle – who memorably went on Bezos’ Blue Origin spaceflight alongside Sanchez – caught the eye in a multi-coloured striped dress that showcased her slender frame
But 700 demonstrators gathered at Santa Lucia railway station carrying protest banners and waving inflatable crocodiles.
The demo was organised by the No Space For Bezos group, with some carrying Amazon boxes with the words: ‘Ordered, Shipped, Delivered, Rejected.’
But Bezos and Sanchez cared not a jot. It was the second marriage for both and they have seven children between them.
Earlier, they blew kisses on a visit to Harry’s Bar – and give a first glimpse of their understated wedding rings.
Sanchez’s simple wedding band was in stark contrast to the 30-carat $3million pink diamond she sported after Bezos asked her to marry him two years ago.
In the run-up to Friday’s ceremony, that sparkler was switched to her right to make way for an upgrade – an even larger, brilliant-white diamond, estimated at 35 carats and worth $10million.
But impeccable sources reveal that the billionaire were already legally married, with a source closely connected to the organisation of the week’s events saying: ‘They have been married for at least a month, more than a month.
‘The marriage is fully legal and took place in America under American law.’
Bill Gates was also spotted making his exit from the Italian city, still looking cheerful after the extravagant 72-hour nuptials
The Microsoft founder and billionaire kept comfortable in a simple black polo neck and trousers with a matching baseball cap
Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner were also spotted making their exit, after arriving in Italian city on Tuesday
The source added: ‘When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married. There is no application for a wedding license from the couple because it was not required.
‘Whatever happens at the wedding on Friday, it will not be a wedding. Under Italian law, it will not be a wedding celebration, any vows said or rings exchanged will have no legal meaning.’
The source added that Bezos had personally confirmed that he and Sanchez – who met when both were married to other people – are already legally married, and that they had also signed a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune.
The wedding, held two years after Bezos proposed to Sanchez aboard his $500million superyacht, was described as ‘extremely intimate’ with a strict no-phone policy – with around 70 of the 200 guests being family members.
The only images that emerged of the nuptials came via Sanchez’s official Instagram account – and photos of guests leaving the night-time celebrations were scarce.
She revealed to Vogue her wedding dress was inspired by the high-necked lace wedding dress Sophia Loren wore to marry Cary Grant in the 1958 film Houseboat.
She also revealed that Bezos had begged to see her in the gown, but as is tradition for most brides, she explained that she wasn’t going to let him lay his eyes upon it until the big day.
‘I almost gave in,’ she admitted. ‘But I want it to be a surprise. As you get a little older, not many things surprise you. I can’t wait to see his face.’
This was not the only tradition the couple stuck with: Sanchez also donned ‘something borrowed’ for the ceremony – a pair of Dolce earrings.
And she explained to Vogue that her ‘something blue’ was from her Blue Origin flight, revealing she carried a secret souvenir up in the rocket so she could bring it back for Bezos ‘because it was one of the most profound experiences I’ve had in my life.’
Sánchez went on: ‘Seeing Earth from space, I came down and I couldn’t describe it. It was the greatest experience I’ve ever had’.
The Bezos couple are thought to have splashed out a staggering $20million on their multiple-day extravagant wedding bash.
As guests arrived at the reception on Friday, they were welcomed by the stirring sounds of trumpets, violins, and a soulful Gospel choir.
That same choir returned to belt out Whitney Houston’s Higher Love right after the couple exchanged their vows, with guests cheering and singing along during the heartfelt moment.
Opera singer Matteo Bocelli kicked off the wedding reception with a touching tribute, opening his set with the timeless Elvis Presley classic I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.
The son of renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli stepped in since his father was tied up with concerts in southern Italy over the weekend.
Earlier in the day, award-winning journalist Sanchez made a chic first appearance, stepping out of the five-star Aman Hotel in a sophisticated white Dior puff-sleeve suit, perfectly accessorized with a headscarf and oversized sunglasses.
In the photographs, she flashed a dazzling new giant diamond ring that caught plenty of attention.
