NEED TO KNOW
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are set to wed in an extravagant European wedding — and the Amazon co-founder’s $500 million yacht is already playing a role in the festivities.
Amid rumors that the wedding was being held on the yacht in June 2025, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro confirmed that the couple would be hosting their nuptials in the historic Italian city, though he declined to confirm a specific venue.
“The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos’ wedding are completely unfounded,” the mayor wrote in a statement obtained by PEOPLE in April, adding that only 200 guests will be invited and that the event wouldn’t disrupt the city.
“We are mutually working and supporting the organizers, to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city,” the statement continued.
The yacht has already featured prominently into the couple’s relationship.
Bezos, 61, proposed to Sánchez, 55, onboard the extravagant vessel in May 2023. She told Vogue in December 2023 that she “blacked out a bit” when he showed her the 30-carat engagement ring.
And on Sunday, June 22, the yacht was the site of a lavish foam-filled pre-wedding party, with the couple photographed on board (and covered in foam) alongside their friends.
Here’s everything to know about Bezos’ yacht ahead of the high profile wedding.
The Yacht is 250 Feet Long
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The yacht was first spotted on the seas in March 2023, when the vessel was undergoing sea trials in the North Sea near the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands.
At the time, Koru was believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world and features three towering masts, several decks (including one with a pool), and a supporting 250-foot-long yacht with a helipad, according to Boat International.
Bezos was initially rumored to be eyeing up a massive, one-of-a-kind superyacht in May 2021. The vessel was then known only as Project 271. He, along with custom yacht builder Oceanco, reportedly covered the cost of the engineering work, added Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond.
The Yacht is Named Koru
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Koru translates to loop or coil in Māori, and is based on the spiral shape of an unfurling silver fern frond, as a necklace. The Māori are an indigenous Polynesian group. The name and symbol carry a personal meaning to Bezos.
Bezos posted a photo of Koru on Instagram on New Year’s Day 2023 in a slideshow of pictures from his disco party.
“The new year is also a great time to take stock and focus on personal growth, renewal, rebirth, and paying careful attention to each moment of your life,” he wrote in the caption. “The good and the bad. All of it. Celebrate and grow.”
There is a Figurehead of Norse Goddess Freyja On the Bow
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The black intricately carved figurehead is part of the bow of the yacht. The koru symbol can be seen along the legs of the figurehead. The artifact was initially believed to have been made in the likeness of Sánchez, though she later clarified that the figurehead has a different meaning.
In a profile for Vogue’s December 2023 issue, the former news anchor confirmed that the figurehead is actually modeled after Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, fertility, war and gold.
Freyja is one of Bezos’s favorite mythological figures, Sánchez said. “I’m very flattered, but it’s not [me],” she added, suggesting that if it were modeled after her, the figure would have larger breasts.
The Couple Have Hosted Celebrity Guests Onboard
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The couple have hosted a number of celebrity friends onboard the yacht. Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King were onboard vacationing with the couple in Capri in July 2023. King, 70, later accompanied Sánchez and several other women on the Blue Origin flight in April 2025. The flight saw the first all-female crew to outer space for a brief round trip.
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The couple hosted their engagement party on the yacht in August 2023, ahead of vacationing in Croatia with Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Usher. Perry, 40, would also go on to join the Blue Origin flight.
The Yacht Was the Site of a Pre-Wedding Foam Party
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Ahead of their star-studded wedding later in the week, the soon-to-be groom and bride were spotted on on the yacht off the coast of Europe on Sunday, June 22, partaking in lavish foam-filled festivities with their friends.
Wearing their swimsuits, the billionaire Amazon founder and Sánchez could be seen playing in foam that bubbled up on the deck in clouds of thick, frothy bubbles. Partygoers also bounced around giant blue, pink and yellow beach balls, and dove off the yacht to swim in the ocean.
After, the group enjoyed a large dinner together.