As Venice prepares to host what's being dubbed the "wedding of the year", all eyes are not just on billionaire Jeff Bezos but also on the woman by his side, Lauren Sanchez. While the glamour of the guest list includes names like Beyoncé, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, and Bill Gates, many are now asking: who exactly is Lauren Sanchez?
And the answer is that she's not just the fiancée of one of the richest men on Earth; she's a media trailblazer, a licensed pilot, a mother, and a woman who's charted her course long before stepping into the spotlight as Bezos' partner. Keep reading to know.
Who is Lauren Sanchez?
Born in 1969, Lauren Wendy Sanchez hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and identifies as a third-generation Mexican‑American. She began her career in local newsrooms before rising to prominence as a reporter and anchor on Fox Sports Net, Extra, and Good Day L.A. An Emmy‑winning media personality, she later became the first Hispanic woman to anchor KCOP‑TV’s late‑night news.
According to People, in 2016, Sanchez obtained her helicopter pilot licence, founded Black Ops Aviation, a female‑led aerial film production company, and worked with directors like Christopher Nolan. She's also a bestselling author with her children's book The Fly Who Flew to Space, inspired by her journey with dyslexia.
As vice-chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, Sanchez also plays an active role in environmental initiatives. Earlier this year, she made history by leading Blue Origin's all-female spaceflight alongside Gayle King and Katy Perry on April 14, 2025.
Sanchez is the mother of three children: a boy and a daughter from her marriage to Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell and a son born in 2001 with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez.
The story of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez
Bezos and Sanchez reportedly started dating in 2019, after Bezos announced his divorce from his former wife, MacKenzie Scott. Around the same time, Sanchez also parted ways with her then-husband, talent agent Patrick Whitesell. Though rumours swirled, both Sanchez and Bezos took their time stepping into the public eye as a couple.
By 2023, their relationship had grown stronger, and Bezos proposed to Sanchez during a romantic getaway on his yacht off the Amalfi Coast. She later revealed in Vogue that she was so overwhelmed, she "blacked out a bit" when he showed her the dazzling 30-carat diamond ring.
Now, in June 2025 their relationship is stronger than ever and the two are all set to make things official!
