Billionaire's time in India - The most expensive wedding in the world begins
Anant Ambani (29), son of the richest man in Asia, is getting married today to his long-term girlfriend Radhika Merchant (29). The wedding celebrations are reaching unprecedented dimensions, with reports suggesting that the couple has invested over 600 million US dollars since March to entertain themselves and their guests. Over 1,200 guests are reportedly unable to miss the most expensive wedding in history. And countless business, political, and social elites have confirmed their attendance.
Billionaire father-in-law
Menu or buffet? Solo entertainer or music from the band? Such mundane questions from other engaged couples held no sway over Anant Ambani and his bride-to-be. After all, Anant is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani (67), the chairman of the Indian multinational Reliance Industries. Ambani senior is said to have a fortune of over 113 billion US dollars. Radhika Merchant, too, need not worry about the Rupee: she is the daughter of pharmaceutical magnate Viren Merchant (58) and, like Anant, works in her father's company.
A-list guests
The guest list for today's wedding at the firm's "Jio World Centre" in Mumbai is long and extravagant. Politicians like former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson (60) and Tony Blair (71), and former First Lady Hillary Clinton (76), have RSVPed. FIFA President Gianni Infantino (54) and the Kardashian sisters Kim (43) and Khloé (40) are also in attendance, along with sports legends Miky Tyson (58) and David Beckham (49), and singer Adele (36). The dress code for the wedding is "traditionally Indian." For the well-being of the 1,200 guests, the Ambanis are serving 2,500 different dishes over the weekend. Even a rival was shown generosity: Asias second-richest man, Gautam Adani (62), received an invitation along with gifts worth 6,500 Euro.
Wedding trilogy since March
The wedding weekend begins today with the Shubh Vivaah ceremony. This is followed by the ceremony for the divine blessing on Saturday, and the wedding reception on Sunday. However, the wedding weekend is just a fraction of the entire wedding marathon. In March, the couple invited Mark Zuckerberg (40), Bill Gates (68), Ivanka Trump (42), and leading politicians from around the world to their father Mukesh Ambani's western Indian hometown of Jamnagar. For the event, the Ambanis had a glass palace built, in which Rihanna (36) later performed.
Cruise ship controversy and Justin Bieber
The second pre-wedding party was held with a four-day sea voyage with 800 guests on a cruise ship between Italy and France. The Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry (39), and Andrea Bocelli (65) provided the diverse and loud onboard entertainment - much to the chagrin of other tourists in the Portofino bay. The third part of the party trilogy began last weekend. With the traditional Sangeet ceremony, the family and friends of the bride and groom came together for the wedding. Justin Bieber (30) flew in for a reported fee of 10 million US dollars for a private gig. He sang hits like "Love Yourself."
The grand peak of what is likely the most extravagant and expensive wedding in history has begun. For the 1,200 guests, numerous private jets are available for both arrival and departure. Indian top designer Manish Malhotra (57) is in charge of the wedding design. The party locations are designed to immerse the guests in an atmosphere of joy, love, and celebration. The bride and groom are wished that amidst all the chaos, they find some time for themselves and that mutual love remains the focus.
- Despite the vast sum invested, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are still deliberating between a tailored menu or a buffet for their guests.
- With a promise to entertain, the couple has invited renowned musicians for the weekend, including Adele and Justin Bieber, who is reportedly earning $10 million for his performance.
- On the political front, former US Presidential candidates Boris Johnson and Hillary Clinton have accepted their invitations, joining Asian business tycoons like Gautam Adani and the Ambani family's rival Gautam.
- Evidently, the Ambanis are not just billionaires, but philanthropists as well; they've extended an invitation and lavish gifts to Asia's second-richest man, Gautam Adani.
- In March, the couple hosted a grand pre-wedding event, inviting Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump, and other world leaders, including Bill Gates, for a celebration that included Rihanna's live performance.
- Radhika Merchant's father, Viren Merchant, is the head of a pharmaceutical company, like Anant's father, Mukesh Ambani, who is the chairman of Reliance Industries.
- The wedding trilogy began with a pre-wedding ceremony in Jamnagar, India, followed by a four-day cruise with entertainers like the Backstreet Boys and Katy Perry.
- As the wedding weekend commences, the Guardian Media Group reports an estimated 600 million US dollars spent on the wedding celebrations, eclipsing even Kim Kardashian and David Beckham's lavish New Year's Eve wedding in 2014.
- Celebrating the union of two powerful families, the wedding's primary location is the "Jio World Centre" in Mumbai, promising an unforgettable experience for everyone, from the A-list guests to the local traditional musicians playing their tunes through the weekend.
