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

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jehova · 31-35, M

1) i wonder if weddings outside of the u.s. shouldnt count for citizenship requirements. 2) that money should be spent in America for the reasons youve noted (perhaps an event tax for foreign weddings to be recognized when conducted on foreign soil. Absent religious exemptions and\or expense caps. America needs that $55 million.

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@jehova its an interesting idea, but i'm mostly against tax hikes. it never seems to reduce the deficit. the more money you giver politicians, the faster they spend it. reducing spending to essential/constitutional activities should be our priority.

I love it when canadians and brits go to disneyworld for weddings. and japanese couples to hawaii.

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iamthe99 · M

@SusanInFlorida

but i'm mostly against tax hikes. it never seems to reduce the deficit. the more money you giver politicians, the faster they spend it.

Funny. How come when President Clinton raised the top marginal income tax rate from 31% to 39.6% and increased the corporate income tax rate on corporations with incomes over $10 million, the US was suddenly running a budget surplus by 2001...?

jehova · 31-35, M

@SusanInFlorida i to am against tax hikes but the likes of Bezos arent paying his fair share of taxes as it is now. Therefore the playing field needs to be equalized somehow.

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@jehova not sure where this is headed. is bezos complying with the tax laws, or isn't he?

we know Warren Buffet isn't. He's had a $2 billion dispute with the IRS for more than a decade.

if Bezos is breaking tax laws, the IRS or DOJ should file former charges.

If Bezos is simply taking advantage of complicated tax regulations written by politicians who got campaign contributions from billionaires, that's a tougher question. There seems to be no way to rein in politicians doing favors VIPs.

jehova · 31-35, M

@SusanInFlorida thats the crux of the issue. Id like to see a flat 30% income tax on everyone all capital gains all income. No exceptions.America has bills to pay!

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@jehova so you don't want any deductions for spouses, children, charitable deductions, medical expenses?

jehova · 31-35, M

@SusanInFlorida flat tax with deductions? That seems reasonable. What America seems to do instead is exemptions and reduction in taxation (amount paid) only based on amount earned. And agedness. All of which translates to rebates.
We got bills to pay.