In a wedding that has redefined opulence, Anant Ambani, the youngest son of business magnate Mukesh Ambani, married his longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant on Friday, 12th July in Mumbai. The lavish three-day celebration, held at the Jio World Convention Center, saw an expenditure of a staggering ₹5000 crore, according to local news sources.
The pre-wedding festivities began in March in Junagadh, featuring a performance by Hollywood pop star Rihanna. The second pre-wedding celebration took place in France, complete with a cruise party and performances by international stars like Pitbull and Justin Bieber. These events set the stage for the grand wedding ceremony, which drew notable guests from around the world.
Among the illustrious attendees were Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and a host of Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and Ranveer Singh. The guest list also featured political figures like Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee, Boris Johnson, and Tony Blair, as well as celebrities such as Kim Kardashian.
The wedding, held across three floors of the Jio World Convention Center, included a dedicated floor for an elaborate vegetarian feast. More than 2500 vegetarian dishes from different parts of India were served, reflecting the Ambanis’ penchant for culinary excellence.
The Ambanis left no stone unturned in making the event memorable for their guests. Each attendee received luxurious gifts, including watches worth ₹2 crore, gold necklaces, designer shoes, and Louis Vuitton bags. The wedding invitations were equally grand, designed in a temple style and initially dedicated at the Kashi Vishwanath temple by Nita Ambani.
To manage the large number of guests, more than 14,000 in total, a meticulously organized system was put in place. Invitations included a Google Form for RSVPs, and a QR code was sent to guests six hours before the ceremony to facilitate entry. Guests were also given colored bands indicating their status, with VVIPs receiving pink bands, close friends of the couple receiving blue bands, and staff and security wearing different colors to ensure smooth operations.
Despite Mukesh Ambani’s personal invitation to the Gandhi family, they did not attend the wedding. However, Sonia Gandhi sent her best wishes to the newlyweds.
The wedding was officiated by Pandit Chandrasekhar Sharma, a renowned priest, astrologer, and spiritual guru, who guided the couple through the rituals.
Mukesh Ambani, whose wealth is estimated at ₹10,28,544 crore, spent approximately 0.05% of his fortune on this grand wedding. This lavish expenditure has set a new benchmark, surpassing even the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, which had held the record for the world’s most expensive wedding for over four decades.
The Ambani family’s extravagant celebration has undoubtedly left an indelible mark, showcasing their immense wealth and their ability to host an event of unparalleled grandeur.
