Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his long-term girlfriend Lauren Wendy Sánchez are engaged, according to reports.

As reported by Page Six, rumors of the 59-year-old billionaire and the 53-year-old journalist's engagement started after Sanchez was spotted with a diamond on her ring finger.

The alleged engagement - which a source confirmed to People magazine - also comes during the couple's vacation on the billionaire's new $500m yacht named Koru in the South of France for the Cannes Film Festival.

The yacht features a wooden sculpture that resembles Sánchez and is on the French Riviera for the latest stop in their European tour. Last week, the loved-up pair were seen sailing around the Spanish island Mallorca, according to the Telegraph.

The newly engaged couple took their relationship public in January 2019, after the business mogul announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott after 25 years of marriage.

Bezos's 53-year-old ex-wife - with whom he shares four children - was awarded a staggering $38 billion in their divorce settlement and pledged half of it to charity.

The settlement made her the third richest woman in the world with 25 percent of the joint stock in Amazon, however, Bezos kept voting control over her nearly 20 million shares.

Sánchez also ended her marriage with her husband of 13 years, businessman Patrick Whitesell, after reports came out that she was romantically involved with the rich entrepreneur.

The former Good Day LA co-host had two children with her former husband, as well as a son from a previous relationship with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez.

Over the years, Bezos and Sánchez have continued to grow together, with the couple going on family vacations, and being spotted at red-carpet events and other celebrity gatherings.

They also gush about each other on their social media pages, with the media personality writing a loving post for her partner's birthday on Instagram.

"Happy birthday to the man of my dreams, who lights up my world with his laughter and kind heart. You have shown me that no great love is not bravely fought for," Sánchez wrote in January. "I am so grateful for the memories we have made and the adventures yet to come," she added. "Here's to many more birthdays filled with love and laughter."

The couple also featured in a joint interview back in November where the Blue Origin founder - who stepped down as CEO of Amazon in February 2021 - revealed to CNN that he plans to give away most of his $124 billion fortune in his lifetime to fight climate change and support other causes.

"The hard part is figuring out how to do it in a levered way," he said of his philanthropic strategy. "It's not easy. Building Amazon was not easy.

"It took a lot of hard work, a bunch of very smart teammates, hard-working teammates, and I'm finding - and I think Lauren is finding the same thing - that charity, philanthropy, is very similar," he added, to which Sánchez stated that they make "really great teammates."

As of now, neither Bezos nor Sanchez have confirmed the news of their engagement.

Featured image credit: UPI / Alamy

In 1993, Princeton graduate Jeff Bezos opened an online bookstore. Browsing books on a website and then receiving them in the mail, he decided, made for a quicker and easier experience. Initially working out of his garage, he warned early investors that there was a 70 per cent chance that Amazon would fail.

Last year, for the first time, the company reached a valuation of $1 trillion (that’s 12 zeros, in case you were wondering). Diversifying into electronics and homewares, the company became a sprawling online marketplace before then expanding into entertainment. Today, Bezos himself is worth $137 billion.

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However, according to Bezos, he is being blackmailed by AMI (American Media Inc) and accused them of “weaponising journalistic privileges”. AMI own the National Enquirer which, arguably closer to a tabloid magazine than a newspaper, has been the subject of much controversy. However, being accused of blackmail by the world's richest man puts one in a tricky situation.

Furthermore, Bezos has been remarkably transparent about the situation. “Something unusual happened to me yesterday,” he wrote in a blog post. “Actually, for me it wasn’t just unusual — it was a first. I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse. Or at least that’s what the top people at the National Enquirer thought. I’m glad they thought that, because it emboldened them to put it all in writing.”

The National Enquirer has written about Bezos before, specifically his breakup from MacKenzie Bezos, from whom he announced his separation last month. Hours after the split was made public, the National Enquirer published details - including private messages - of an apparent affair with former TV host Lauren Sanchez.

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Bezos now claims that individuals representing the interests of AMI are trying to blackmail him. The demands, according to Bezos, are that he immediately stops investigating how they obtained personal messages and that he makes a "false public statement" saying their coverage of the reported extramarital affair was not politically motivated.

It’s thought that Bezos’ ownership of the Washington Post, a paper which has not favoured President Trump, has become a key issue. AMI’s boss David Pecker is a close personal friend of the president and has gone to great lengths to try to maintain Trump’s public image.

“Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I’ve decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten,” Bezos continues. “AMI, the owner of the National Enquirer, led by David Pecker, recently entered into an immunity deal with the Department of Justice related to their role in the so-called ‘Catch and Kill’ process on behalf of President Trump and his election campaign. Mr. Pecker and his company have also been investigated for various actions they’ve taken on behalf of the Saudi Government.”

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The amount of information the tabloid seems to have is staggering. In explaining the intricate details of specific images, they were able to attempt to commit blackmail, it seems. Copied from the email Bezos claims to have received, the images are described below.

“In addition to the “below the belt selfie — otherwise colloquially known as a ‘d*ck pick’” — The Enquirer obtained a further nine images. These include:

· Mr. Bezos face selfie at what appears to be a business meeting.

· Ms. Sanchez response — a photograph of her smoking a cigar in what appears to be a simulated oral sex scene.

· A shirtless Mr. Bezos holding his phone in his left hand — while wearing his wedding ring. He’s wearing either tight black cargo pants or shorts — and his semi-erect manhood is penetrating the zipper of said garment.

· A full-length body selfie of Mr. Bezos wearing just a pair of tight black boxer-briefs or trunks, with his phone in his left hand — while wearing his wedding ring.

· A selfie of Mr. Bezos fully clothed.

· A full-length scantily-clad body shot with short trunks.

· A naked selfie in a bathroom — while wearing his wedding ring. Mr. Bezos is wearing nothing but a white towel — and the top of his pubic region can be seen.

· Ms. Sanchez wearing a plunging red neckline dress revealing her cleavage and a glimpse of her nether region.

· Ms. Sanchez wearing a two-piece red bikini with gold detail dress revealing her cleavage.”

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The aforementioned “catch and kill” campaign relates to hush money payments made from Trump to ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal. Knowing that Trump was bankrolling the operation, the National Enquirer was able to obtain the story by offering $150,000 to McDougal in exchange for exclusive rights (catch it) then “choose” never to publish the story “kill it”. In fact, the tabloid reportedly had a safe full of secrets relating to Trump's indiscretions. The demands which Bezos claims were made of him are as follows.

“1. A full and complete mutual release of all claims that American Media, on the one hand, and Jeff Bezos and Gavin de Becker (the “Bezos Parties”), on the other, may have against each other.

2. A public, mutually-agreed upon acknowlegdement from the Bezos Parties, released through a mutually-agreeable news outlet, affirming that they have no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AM’s coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces, and an agreement that they will cease referring to such a possibility.

3. AM agrees not to publish, distribute, share, or describe unpublished texts and photos (the ‘Unpublished Materials’).

4. AM affirms that it undertook no electronic eavesdropping in connection with its reporting and has no knowledge of such conduct.

5. The agreement is completely confidential.

6. In the case of a breach of the agreement by one or more of the Bezos Parties, AM is released from its obligations under the agreement, and may publish the Unpublished Materials.

7. Any other disputes arising out of this agreement shall first be submitted to JAMS mediation in California”

AMI have claimed that they “acted lawfully”. However, the National Enquirer has since made a statement to CNBC: "In light of the nature of the allegations published by Mr. Bezos, the Board has convened and determined that it should promptly and thoroughly investigate the claims."

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While Bezos attempts to weather the storm, it seems that AMI and the National Enquirer are likely to come off worse. The National Enquirer is known for publishing bizarre headlines about everyone from aliens to politicians. Less journalistically sound than other publications, they will also pay sources. However, it seems that this particular scandal is one they may struggle to outlive, let alone write about. Meanwhile, Amazon stock has dipped over the last 24 hours, but only by a marginal two per cent.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have come under fire following a recent interview in which the billionaires described their life as "pretty normal".

Bezos, 59, has an estimated net worth of $166 billion - more than most people could ever dream of having - with his business success having come from founding the e-commerce platform Amazon, as well as founding the aerospace manufacturer and space technology firm Blue Origin.

He has been engaged to Sánchez, 53, since May 2023, with the couple having met in 2018, before their divorces from their previous partners.

The couple's latest interview with Vogue has stirred up some intense feelings among readers, after the pair showed off their multimillion-dollar ranch and a helicopter tour of the Blue Origin base while claiming they lead "pretty normal" lives.

In the profile, Sánchez claimed to the reporter: "Our lives are pretty normal," adding that: "daily life mostly revolves around our kids."

They revealed that their day usually starts with whoever wakes up first making the other a cup of coffee, with Sánchez sometimes making them fried eggs on flour tortillas for breakfast, while Bezos sometimes brings out the deep fat frier and makes churros.

The pair say they work out regularly together, and say that their day usually ends around 9:30PM as they watch some TV, and even have family movie nights on Saturdays.

They say they have dinner as a family "every night" after the children are picked up and their extracurricular activities such as piano lessons are done.

Bezos and Sánchez say their weekdays revolve around their children, going between Los Angeles where their youngest kids are based, to their Lake Washington estate, and visiting the older children at university, with Sánchez claiming she personally drives her child to school.

And while much of that does sound like average life in a blended family, it's a little bit different when you're one of the richest men in history compared to the everyday person struggling through a cost of living crisis.

The couple has been engaged since May. Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for This Is About Humanity

Bezos is currently the second-richest person in the world and owns over 420,000 acres of land as of 2022, making him the 24th largest landowner in the nation, according to Hayden Outdoors’ 2022 Land Report.

The couple's bimonthly trips between LA and Lake Washington are also reportedly done on a chartered flight, and the couple has staff to help run their homes.

Readers took to Twitter (now known as X) to share their thoughts on Bezos claiming to live a "normal" life, without ever having to worry about childcare costs, rising bills, or the other issues affecting most American - and worldwide - citizens.

One particular image in the photoshoot showing the couple wearing blue jeans while Bezos donned a cowboy hat as they sat in a car together especially riled people up.

They commented: "Look at them cosplaying blue collar. Disgusting. Eat the rich," and: "Wtf? How tone deaf to you have to be?"

The couple claimed that they live pretty "normal" lives despite their enormous wealth. Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Another added: "It's soooooo bad. Who was in the room when it was decided that this was a good idea?"

Others wrote on Instagram: "BILLIONAIRES COSPLAYING AS WORKING CLASS PEOPLE please… be for real", and: "I think we should be allowed to criticize the things we love. I’ve been a fan of this publication for a long time. But this is a remarkably unflattering and tone deaf post and the timing is uncanny. Do better Vogue!!!"

Another commented: "'she sees things that other people don’t see' - you mean the views from your $500 million dollar yacht? or do you mean from the comfy high up place of being an untouchable billionaire? smh, get out of here trying to relate to normal people."

Featured image credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images

 

Jeff Bezos has sent shockwaves on social media with his very impressive physique.

The billionaire Amazon founder, 57, proved he's no stranger to the gym as he showed off his rock-hard abs during a romantic getaway with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez.

The pair jetted off to St. Barts, where they are soaking up the sun on a luxury yacht on the island's crystal clear waters.

Wearing no more than a pair of Hawaiian swim trunks, sunglasses, and a necklace, Bezos - who purchased a $78million estate in Hawaii in November - seemed to be no stranger to the island life.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend was seen donning a floral bikini after taking a dip in images obtained by Daily Mail.

Bezos and Sanchez have vacationed together in St. Barts before. In 2019, they were joined by Sanchez's son, Nikko Gonzalez, 20.

The couple recently made headlines after Sanchez's exchange with actor Leonardo DiCaprio went viral on social media.

The pair attended the LACMA Art+Film Gala in Los Angeles last month, where they were seen in conversation with the Titanic actor.

A clip taken during the event, which was later shared on social media, sparked a mass reaction from social media users, who began to question Sanchez's interaction with the actor.

Many even went as far as labeling their brief exchange as flirtatious, as Sanchez appeared to have her arm briefly around the actor who she can be seen smiling at while Bezos stands by her side.

The clip, which has been viewed millions of times since it was posted to Twitter by Barstool Sports, was captioned: "Leo is Mr Steal Yo Girl."

The clip prompted a response from Bezos himself on Monday, November 8, as the billionaire tweeted a photo of himself alongside a danger sign warning of a "fatal drop".

"Leo, come over here, I want to show you something… @LeoDiCaprio," he captioned the photo, which sees him leaning over the sign that reads: "Danger! Steep cliff. Fatal drop."

Bezos and Sanchez have been publicly dating since early 2019, with news of their relationship coming shortly after the second-richest man in the world announced the end of his marriage to his ex-wife, MacKenzie, after 25 years.

Featured image credit: Erik Pendzich / Alamy

Jeff Bezos is set to tie the knot with Lauren Sanchez today, and one request on their wedding invite has caused intrigue.

Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. Credit: Dia Dipasupil / Getty

The couple's wedding week in Venice has turned into the ultimate billionaire spectacle - complete with celebrity chaos, and local protests.

The billionaire Amazon founder and the former journalist are reportedly set to tie the knot this week in Venice, with a lavish celebration bringing out the world’s biggest stars, per the Mirror.

But a leaked wedding invite has already caused a stir, showing a cartoon-filled design with butterflies, doves, canals, gondolas, and feathers - and one notable request: “We’re excited for you to join us! We have one early request: please, no gifts.”

Instead, the invite revealed: “Donations on your behalf are being made to the UNESCO Venice Office to safeguard the city’s irreplaceable cultural heritage, to CORILA to restore the lagoon habitats that protect Venice’s future, and to Venice International University to support research and education for sustainable solutions.”

It ends with: “This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories. Our hope is that through these efforts and by you joining us, Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come.”

Fans were quick to mock the design, with comments like: “Wow! Did they just send an evite for their multi million dollar wedding?” and: “Wow what an ugly announcement/invitation. With all the money he has they could have at least done something pretty and classy."

Another joked: “Was the invitation made in microsoft paint?”

Others noted that not having gifts is a good idea, because what do you possibly buy a billionaire?

But it’s not just the invite causing drama. Venice residents and business owners are fuming over the chaos caused by the couple’s pre-wedding festivities.

Local business owners claimed canals were shut down and bridges closed off, leaving tourists stranded and forcing last-minute cancellations.

“We had a party of clients booked for Thursday night. But they were unable to get through to us because the bridges were all closed off,” one business owner said, per the Daily Mail.

“Despite them having booking, the police wouldn’t let them pass. It was party of five Americans, and they had booked an hour and a half for $100 each and so we had to cancel. The party involved was on a tight schedule and couldn’t rebook so we will have to refund them and so we have lost money.”

They added that police on jet skis turned people away, stating: “There was no real notification from the council that the canal would be closed,” and added: “I don't begrudge [Jeff and Lauren] for getting married, but this has cost us money and of all the places in Venice they had to choose the one by us.”

Meanwhile, protesters in St Mark’s Square held signs reading: “We are the 99 percent we have the power,” and “the planet burns,” while others waved Extinction Rebellion flags, accusing Bezos of “paying a 1.1% true tax rate” and demanding “IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX.”

Celebs have arrived for the wedding. Credit: Andrea Carrubba/Anadolu via Getty Images

Despite the protests, the celebrations kicked off in full billionaire style with a star-studded welcome party at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters on Thursday evening.

A-list guests, including Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ivanka Trump, descended upon Venice for the festivities.

Featured image credit: Michael M. Santiago / Getty