Venice turned into the playground of the global jet set as billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates caused a stir at a lavish three-day wedding. While Bezos and his new wife Lauren Sanchez basked in the spotlight, Bill Gates showed that gentlemanly manners might not be his forte. When his partner Paula Herd tried to board a gondola, Gates stood a few steps behind, doing nothing to help, leaving the security team to handle it. This scene shocked and angered many — where have all the old-school manners and chivalry gone?
The couple was dressed in coordinated black outfits, strolling through Venetian streets and enjoying 19th-century art at the Gallerie dell’Accademia museum. Gates stuck to his signature simple style — black polo shirt, bermuda shorts, a hat, and sneakers — while Paula dazzled in an elegant two-piece set with diamond jewelry. Despite the luxury event, they seemed to prefer staying in the shadows, unlike other guests like Ivanka Trump, who sparked security concerns by sharing her hotel room location.
The wedding faced pressure from local protests and tensions following recent US attacks on Iran, forcing a last-minute venue change. Famous guests included members of the Kardashian family and actor Orlando Bloom. Gates and Paula Herd first appeared publicly as a couple in February, after Gates and Melinda Gates ended their 27-year marriage. The divorce was painful, with Melinda revealing details in her book, including Gates’ connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
This event once again highlights how the rich and powerful often ignore manners and social norms while the world watches and comments. Is it time for billionaires to learn how to be gentlemen? Or is it a luxury they can afford to ignore? Got thoughts? Drop them in the mix — maybe together we’ll uncover what really goes on behind the glitz and glam of these high-profile events!
