Jeff Bezos Gives Blue Origin’s All-Female Crew a Pep Talk Ahead of Launch — Then Heads to Italy for $20 Million Wedding Extravaganza

While Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is no stranger to the stars, this week he’s splitting his attention between outer space and a lavish Italian wedding. In a rare dual moment of history and luxury, the billionaire businessman gave a motivational speech to Blue Origin’s first-ever all-female space crew — a landmark mission that includes pop superstar Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez — just days before the couple’s rumored $20 million wedding in Venice, Italy.

From Liftoff to Love

The excitement began at Blue Origin headquarters in West Texas, where Bezos greeted the all-female crew ahead of their highly anticipated mission. The flight, which marked another milestone in private space travel, was made even more historic by its all-women roster — a symbolic statement in an industry long dominated by men.

Bezos, dressed casually in a flight suit and signature cowboy hat, addressed the team with heartfelt encouragement.

“You are making history,” he reportedly said. “This mission isn’t just about where you’re going — it’s about who is going and what that means for the next generation of explorers.”

The crew, which also included aerospace engineer Dr. Mia Leong and entrepreneur Carla Ruiz, beamed with energy as they prepped for their short suborbital flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The capsule successfully completed the mission, soaring beyond the Kármán line before gently parachuting back to Earth.

Lauren Sanchez, a licensed helicopter pilot and media personality, called the experience “breathtaking,” adding, “There’s nothing like looking down at Earth with women who have all shattered their own glass ceilings.”

Meanwhile, in Venice…

Back on Earth, another kind of countdown is underway — to one of the most extravagant celebrity weddings of the decade.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are set to tie the knot this week in Venice, according to several outlets, with multiple days of festivities rumored to cost between $10 million and $20 million. The high-profile nuptials will take place aboard Bezos’s $500 million superyacht, Koru, anchored in the Venetian lagoon.

Roughly 200 guests are expected to attend the multi-day celebration, which some insiders describe as “a blend of high fashion, old-world glamour, and cutting-edge security.” Celebrity guests are expected to include Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, and others from the tech and entertainment elite.

Lavish Yet Controversial

While the wedding is private, its public footprint is undeniable. Several prominent Venetian locations, including the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, have reportedly been reserved for ceremonies and celebrations.

The choice of Venice has drawn criticism from some locals, who worry the event could disrupt daily life and overwhelm infrastructure. But the couple’s planners, Lanza & Baucina Limited, issued a statement assuring the public that their aim is to “minimize any disruptions” and “respect local culture.”

“Rumors of a ‘city takeover’ are exaggerated,” the statement read. “Only 30 of the city’s 280 water taxis have been reserved, and local vendors are handling over 80% of the services, from catering to glassware.”

Indeed, the couple has gone to lengths to integrate local artisans into the festivities. Venice’s iconic Rosa Salva pastry company is creating custom sweets for guest gift bags, while Laguna B, a luxury glassware designer, is crafting custom pieces for the reception.

From Billionaire to Bridegroom

Bezos, now 60, proposed to Sanchez in 2023 during a Mediterranean cruise aboard the Koru. The couple has been together since 2019, and both were previously married.

Sanchez has spoken openly about her excitement to become “Mrs. Bezos.” In a November 2023 interview with Vogue, she said: “I feel like this is a new chapter, not just for me but for us together. We share a vision, a love of adventure, and a belief in building something that lasts.”

And there’s plenty to build on. Bezos, who stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021 but remains its executive chairman, has focused in recent years on his passions: Blue Origin, the Washington Post, climate philanthropy, and now, family life.

His estimated net worth currently sits at $223.5 billion, according to Forbes, making him the fourth-richest person in the world, behind Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, and Mark Zuckerberg.

A New Frontier for Blue Origin

While the wedding has dominated headlines, Bezos’s commitment to Blue Origin remains strong. The company continues to expand its ambitions, including future lunar missions under NASA’s Artemis program and its orbital space station project, Orbital Reef, slated for the end of the decade.

But this week’s flight had symbolic resonance. It was not only a celebration of female achievement in spaceflight but also a testament to how personal and professional milestones can intertwine — especially for Bezos and Sanchez.

“Being able to share this journey — literally and metaphorically — is something I’ll never forget,” Sanchez said in a post-flight interview.

Critics and Champions

Still, not everyone is applauding the Bezos-Sanchez extravaganza. Some critics have questioned the optics of a multi-million-dollar celebration in a world beset by inequality, climate change, and political unrest. Others argue that Blue Origin’s suborbital joyrides — while glamorous — offer limited scientific value compared to SpaceX’s Mars-focused ambitions.

Supporters, however, say the wedding and the flight underscore Bezos’s ability to shape narratives — from empowering women in aerospace to redefining what a billionaire lifestyle looks like.

“This isn’t just a wedding,” said one event planner with knowledge of the festivities. “It’s a branding moment, a message about legacy, about power, and about what the future could look like when love and vision collide.”

What’s Next?

Following the wedding, the newlyweds are expected to spend several weeks cruising through the Mediterranean aboard the Koru, accompanied by a skeleton crew and a handful of close friends.

As for Blue Origin, more flights are planned before year’s end — and if Sanchez’s successful flight is any indicator, we may see more public figures (especially women) signing up to leave Earth for a few minutes.

Whether it’s in orbit or on opulent Italian waters, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are shaping their story — and taking everyone watching along for the ride.