Mukesh Ambani booked the entire Italian village of Portofino for his son Anant and his fiancé, Radhika Merchant, for their pre-wedding celebrations, taking extravagance to a new level. While some billionaires spend lavishly on five-star resorts, others fly their entourage in for extravagant destination weddings.
According to the Hindustan Times, more than eight hundred guests gathered at the charming village for the culminating event of their four-day journey. The locals and tourists, who were denied access to the main attractions, were understandably less than thrilled, and they took to social media to express their displeasure, while the guests clearly reveled in luxury.
Everyone should be able to enjoy Portofino’s beauty, not just those who can afford to rent it. A user on X expressed disappointment that only locals and tourists were permitted entry, saying, “We weren’t even allowed to get close.” “Many billionaires have come here to party, but nobody has ever blocked access to the central area of the city,” raged another. Who believe they to be? They cannot simply barge in, throw a party, and make it impossible for people to go about their everyday lives.
A guide from the area bemoaned the effects on the travel and tourism sector. As a native Portofino tour guide, I find it depressing that our town closes for a private function. Our tourism is our lifeblood, and this past weekend was a major blow,” he wrote.
Shah Rukh Khan, Jeff Bezos, and internationally recognized Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli were among the star-studded attendees of the celebration, which took place in the main plaza. Bocelli’s mesmerizing vocals entertained the guests during a breathtaking sunset performance.
According to Mint, every little element of the lavish décor, which included elaborate floral arrangements, baskets of fresh fruit, and tables decked out with centrepieces and covers with an Italian theme, was painstakingly planned. The bride-to-be, Radhika, looked stunning in her strawberry pink dress with an eye-catching Hermes Kelly handbag, matching the Italian summer chic dress code. The matriarch of the Ambani family, Nita Ambani, caught attention while wearing what looked to be a custom Oscar de la Renta gown.
It was a laid-back event where the family mixed with their visitors and relished the evening in typical billionaire fashion, complete with speeches from members of the immediate family. On July 12, Anant and Radhika will tie the knot in Mumbai, and there’s no denying that the wedding will be even more spectacular than the pre-wedding events that led up to this amazing Italian party.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.