Venice Protesters Demand Higher Taxes from Jeff Bezos Ahead of Wedding

Protesters in Venice, Italy, are calling on billionaire Jeff Bezos to pay more in taxes, just before his luxurious wedding to Lauren Sánchez. Greenpeace staged a demonstration by hanging a giant banner at St. Mark’s Square, featuring a photo of Bezos laughing with the message: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”

The environmental group criticized Bezos, accusing him of underpaying his staff and avoiding taxes. They also plan to disrupt the upcoming wedding festivities, which are expected to attract many A-list guests, including Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Venetian residents and activists have plastered posters around the city with slogans such as “Veniceland: A playground for oligarchs” and “No space for Bezos.” They aim to block canals and streets to protest issues like over-tourism and capitalism’s impact on the city. In response, the wedding planners assured that Bezos and Sánchez directed them to keep the event minimally disruptive, emphasizing their efforts to support local businesses by sourcing 80% of wedding supplies from Venetian vendors.

According to local officials, the wedding is expected to bring a “multi-million dollar” boost to Venice’s economy. Bezos and Sánchez — engaged since May 2023 — aim to exchange vows in an intimate ceremony in front of several prominent celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio.

For charity, the couple reportedly made donations to Venetian organizations in April, partly as a gift to guests. Despite the protests, the wedding is proceeding with assurances from event organizers that they have worked to minimize any negative impact on the city.