Mukesh Ambani is India’s wealthiest man. His son’s marriage to the daughter of another super-wealthy family was never going to be modest.
The Ambani family, known for its extravagant lifestyle, has a history of grandeur. In 2018, they spent nearly $100 million on their daughter’s wedding, which featured a performance by Beyoncé. Their latest venture, the wedding of Mukesh Ambani’s son, is set to surpass even this.
India’s financial and cinematic center, Mumbai, is set to host the wedding ceremony over three days, starting this Friday. The extensive coverage of the event in Indian media has further solidified the Ambani family’s privileged position, earning them the title of ‘India’s own royal wedding.’ Their influence extends to many prominent Indians, including Bollywood stars and politicians.
Attendees will include Narendra Modi, the prime leader of India. The likes of David and Victoria Beckham, Hillary Clinton, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian, and a slew of Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan will reportedly be there as well, along with business magnates, foreign ministers, and Instagram celebrities who want to make sure everyone sees every moment. There have been rumors that Drake and Adele may be performing, and hundreds of private jets have been chartered to transport attendees from all around the nation.
The pre-wedding bash that dwarfed even the most extravagant celebrity weddings kicked off in March. The 1,200 attendees, which included Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Mark Zuckerberg, were treated to a light show involving 5,500 drones and a jungle-themed celebration that came with a nine-page dress code. Rihanna was reportedly paid $6 million to perform her first concert in over eight years.
In May, there was a $150 million wedding celebration cruise in the Mediterranean that included 800 guests and featured performances by Andrea Bocelli, Katy Perry, and the Backstreet Boys. Locals in the Italian city of Genoa contacted the police due to the excessive noise from the aboard celebrations; similarly, the fishing community of Portofino was enraged by the same.
Leher Kala, a cultural and social blogger for the Indian Express, made a comparison to the extravagant celebrations hosted by ancient Indian royal families, who would host massive weddings as a means of both showing off their wealth and distributing it among the populace.
The wedding extravaganza is expected to cost more than $600 million, a staggering amount that still only represents a fraction of the Ambani fortune.
