Bezos’ Venice wedding to cost $55 million. He could have staged it in America for a lot less.

The good citizens of Venice are protesting Jeff Bezos' second marriage. They’ve abandoned their gondolas and taken to the streets. They believe this will put an end to "inequality”. (see links below).

There’s probably a couple of things wrong with this.

First of all, if you live in Venice, and you think rent is too high and wages are too low, that’s something you should take up with the government. Italian PM Giorgi Meloni should be sympathetic – her net worth is less than $2 million. Venice has been in tough shape for years. In 2014 "the Floating City" threatened to secede entirely from Italy, due to corruption, high taxes, and economic mismanagement. Bezos should be seen as an angel for Venetians, unless they’ve gone blind. Not a demon.

There is a LOT of money fueling these anti-Bezos protests. Organizations like rent cap advocates. Universities. Venetians against cruise ships. There aren’t ocean liners in Venice at the moment, as far as I can determine, so the hate has pivoted to Bezos. He has at least 2 yachts, but no gondolas yet.

To be fair, I've also opposed Bezos’ Royal Italian Wedding farce, but for different reasons. Let’s return to the $55 million cost. Wouldn't that be better spent in America? I'm not interested in Making Venice Great Again. There are a lot of US cities worse off than Venice, and which would welcome the opportunity to host the biggest wedding since the Prince Charles and Lady Diana. That one cost $150 million, if you use inflation adjusted 2025 dollars. And there wasn’t even a giant yacht involved. Charles and Diana’s wedding was paid for in large part by UK taxpayers, not profits from some discount shopping club founded by royal ancestors named Tudors, Hapsburg, or Windsor.

Imagine what an extra $55 million could do for a struggling city like Gary, Indiana, or Baltimore. Baltimore in particular could have a budget deficit of $100 million next year. They’ve been beset by arson, riots, corrupt police, and a mayor who served time in the state penitentiary. The city deserves a break. Plus, Baltimore has a harbor big enough to allow Bezos' 400 foot yacht (the Koru) to drop anchor. Possibly alongside the USS Constellation (puny in comparison, at 200 feet long). When it was launched in 1854, the Constellation was America’s biggest - and last - sail powered US Navy Warship. The Koru's offensive and defensive armament is not known. It's possible drone interceptors may be on board.

Okay, yes . . . I agree that Bezos is out of touch with reality. Jeff thinks spending $55 million in Venice to stage the “Queen for a Day “ show for is girlfriend is going to be treated kindly by history. It won't be. Nobody cares, despite what you're hearing from People Magazine dot-com, and Venetians Against Cruise Ships dot-org.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

Factbox-Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's celebrity Venice wedding in facts and figures

Protesters say Bezos' star-studded Venice wedding highlights growing inequality | AP News

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

I think some Venetians simply object to their much loved city effectively being turned into a film set by the highest bidder, with the consequent inconvenience and disruption to their daily lives. There were nearly 6m tourist arrivals in Venice last year. Some people make fortunes, but the bodies entrusted with the city's heritage struggle to offset the damage caused to the urban environment.

joe438 · 61-69, M

I completely agree that the money would better recycled in the US, but he’s entitled to spend his money as he likes. It also started a boycott of Amazon here, but that’s not going to make a measurable dent.

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@joe438 no question that he's both entitled and allowed by law.

i'm just pointing out that he's mostly brain dead if he doesn't understand that he will be mocked for this, for the rest of his life.