In the ancient waters of Venice, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are exchanging vows this week aboard Koru, a 417-foot sailing yacht whose very name — drawn from Māori tradition — means new beginnings. The $500 million vessel, the largest sailing yacht in the world, has quietly witnessed every milestone of their courtship, from a proposal sealed with a pink diamond to ports of call across the Mediterranean. That a ship built for private luxury became briefly entangled in a public dispute over a century-old Dutch bridge speaks to the way extraordinary private wealth inevitably brushes against the
Bezos weds Sanchez aboard $500M Koru superyacht in Venice
A place where a couple has already written their most significant chapters
Mark
So they're actually getting married on the boat itself? That's not just a party venue—it's where he proposed?
Mimi
Exactly. The yacht is where their relationship has unfolded. He proposed with a $2.5 million pink diamond ring aboard Koru, so choosing it as the wedding venue makes sense—it's already loaded with meaning for them.
Luke
Do we know if the wedding is actually happening this week, or is that the source's reporting from June 25th? The article says "this week" but doesn't give a specific date.
Mark
That's a fair catch. What about the yacht itself—is it really the largest sailing yacht in the world?
Mimi
According to the specifications, yes. It's 417 feet long, designed by Dutch architects, and built by Oceanco. The name Koru comes from Māori and means new beginnings.
Luke
The design and amenities are well-documented—nine cabins, glass-bottom pool, smart glass windows. But I want to flag the bridge controversy. The source says reports claimed the bridge "might" be dismantled. Do we know who made those claims, or is that secondhand?
Mark
So it was never actually going to happen?
Mimi
Right. Oceanco solved it by transporting the yacht without the masts. The bridge stayed intact. It became a non-issue, but it was a real moment of tension with the public.
Luke
The cost figures are substantial—$500 million for Koru, $75 million for Abeona, $30 million annually to operate both. Those numbers come from reporting, but I'd want to know if they're independently verified or if they're estimates from yacht industry sources.
Mark
Does the yacht have any other notable features?
Mimi
Three hot tubs, a cinema room, a sauna, and the interiors were designed by a London studio called Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi. It's styled for comfort and privacy, not flash.
Luke
The crew capacity is 36 people. That's a detail worth noting—it's not just a luxury vessel, it's a floating operation.
The Pulse
- A $500 million superyacht is now the setting for one of the most watched weddings of 2025, anchored in Venice with a guest list as curated as the ship's interiors.
- The vessel's sheer scale — 417 feet, 36 crew members, nine guest cabins, a glass-bottom pool, and smart glass that frosts on command — makes it less a boat than a floating private city.
- Before it ever sailed, Koru ignited a transatlantic controversy when locals feared Rotterdam's beloved century-old Koningshaven Bridge would be dismantled to let the yacht's masts pass — a flashpoint between private ambition and collective heritage.
- Oceanco defused the standoff by shipping the yacht without its masts, preserving the bridge and delivering Koru to Mallorca in 2023 without further incident.
- The couple, who have since sailed it through Portofino, St. Barts, and the French Riviera, now transform their floating home into a wedding venue — the place where their most defining chapters have already been written.
In the ancient waters of Venice, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are exchanging vows this week aboard Koru, a 417-foot sailing yacht whose very name — drawn from Māori tradition — means new beginnings. The $500 million vessel, the largest sailing yacht in the world, has quietly witnessed every milestone of their courtship, from a proposal sealed with a pink diamond to ports of call across the Mediterranean. That a ship built for private luxury became briefly entangled in a public dispute over a century-old Dutch bridge speaks to the way extraordinary private wealth inevitably brushes against the shared inheritance of history.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are marrying this week in Venice aboard Koru, the $500 million superyacht that has served as the backdrop for their most significant moments together, including the proposal Bezos made with a $2.5 million pink diamond ring. The ship, in many ways, carries as much story as the couple it belongs to.
Koru is the world's largest sailing yacht at 417 feet, commissioned in 2018 from Dutch naval architects Dykstra and built by Oceanco in the Netherlands before its delivery in 2023. Its name is drawn from Māori tradition and means new beginnings — a quietly meaningful choice. At the bow stands a sculpture of Freyja, the Norse goddess of love and fertility. The yacht runs on a hybrid diesel-and-sail system capable of 17 knots, designed with fuel efficiency in mind.
The interiors, styled by London's Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi, favor natural wood, neutral tones, and understated elegance over spectacle. Nine guest cabins sleep up to 18 people, served around the clock by a crew of 36. Amenities include three hot tubs, a glass-bottom swimming pool set into teak decking, a cinema room, a sauna, and smart glass windows that shift from clear to frosted at the touch of a button.
Before Koru ever launched, it became the center of a public controversy in Rotterdam, where reports suggested the historic Koningshaven Bridge — nearly a century old and deeply beloved — might need to be temporarily dismantled to allow the yacht's tall masts to pass. The backlash was swift and fierce. Oceanco resolved the standoff by transporting the vessel without its masts, leaving the bridge untouched.
Beyond Koru, Bezos spent an additional $75 million on a companion vessel, Abeona, with combined annual operating costs estimated at $30 million. The couple has since been spotted aboard in Portofino, St. Barts, and along the French Riviera. Now, as they prepare to marry on its decks, the yacht completes its transformation from floating home to wedding venue — the place where their story, chapter by chapter, keeps returning.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are marrying this week in Venice aboard Koru, a $500 million superyacht that has become the vessel where they've marked every major moment of their relationship—including the proposal, which came with a $2.5 million pink diamond ring. The ship itself carries as much story as the couple does.
Koru is the world's largest sailing yacht, stretching 417 feet from bow to stern. It was commissioned in 2018 by Dutch naval architects Dykstra and built by Oceanco in the Netherlands, finally delivered in 2023 after years of construction. The name comes from Māori and means new beginnings or growth—a fitting choice for a couple embarking on marriage. At the yacht's bow sits a sculpture of Freyja, the Norse goddess of love and fertility. The vessel is powered by two diesel engines and sails, capable of cruising at 15 knots with a top speed of 17, and it runs on a hybrid system designed to reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact.
Inside, the interiors were styled by the London design studio Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi, who created spaces defined by natural wood, soft neutral tones, and carefully selected fabrics. The effect is calm and quietly elegant rather than ostentatious. The yacht accommodates nine guest cabins that sleep up to 18 people, each outfitted with soft lighting, substantial beds, private bathrooms, and ocean views. A crew of 36 trained staff members work around the clock to maintain five-star service. Beyond the cabins, Koru features three hot tubs scattered across its decks, a glass-bottom swimming pool set into a polished teak deck where guests can watch the ocean move beneath them, a full cinema room, and a sauna. The yacht's smart glass windows can shift from clear to frosted at the push of a button, allowing occupants to control privacy and light instantly.
Before Koru ever touched water, it became entangled in a public controversy that nearly derailed its launch. During construction, reports emerged that Rotterdam's historic Koningshaven Bridge—known locally as De Hef—might need to be temporarily dismantled to allow the yacht's tall masts to pass through. The bridge, nearly 100 years old, is a cherished landmark, and the prospect of its removal sparked swift and fierce public backlash. Locals mobilized against the idea. Oceanco ultimately avoided the confrontation by transporting Koru without its masts, keeping the bridge intact and untouched. The finished yacht was delivered to Mallorca in 2023.
Bezos reportedly paid $500 million for Koru alone, with an additional $75 million spent on a second vessel, Abeona. The annual operating cost for both yachts runs approximately $30 million. Since taking delivery, Bezos and Sanchez have been spotted enjoying the yacht in ports including Portofino, St. Barts, and the French Riviera. Now, as they prepare to marry aboard it this week, Koru transforms from a floating home into a wedding venue—a place where a couple has already written their most significant chapters and will now write another.
Notable Quotes
The name Koru comes from Māori and means new beginnings or growth— Yacht specifications and design documentation
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