As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez prepare to tie the knot in Venice this week, local activists have unveiled a massive protest banner in St. Mark’s Square, condemning the billionaire’s extravagant celebration and calling for increased taxation on the ultra-wealthy.
The 65-by-65-foot banner, installed by the activist group Everyone Hates Elon in collaboration with Greenpeace, featured a bold message aimed at Bezos, urging him to “pay more taxes” amid growing public frustration over inequality and economic strain.
The protest comes as large sections of Venice face restricted access to accommodate the high-profile wedding, a move that has sparked criticism from both locals and activists.
“While ordinary people struggle to pay the bills, there are more billionaires than ever before. These two things are obviously connected—they’re getting richer at our expense,” a spokesperson for the campaign said. “It’s not rocket science: tax billionaires like Jeff Bezos now.”
Bezos, currently the world’s third-richest person with a net worth estimated at $220 billion, is facing growing scrutiny for the lavish event amid Italy’s ongoing economic challenges and widespread public service cuts.
Public Backlash Intensifies
This latest protest is part of a broader wave of dissent that has seen posters and anti-billionaire slogans appear across Venice in recent weeks. Despite the backlash, Bezos and Sánchez have not publicly addressed the criticism and are proceeding with their wedding plans.
The couple and their high-profile guests are reportedly staying at the Aman Venice hotel, which is fully booked from June 25 to 29 for the celebration.
While the wedding is expected to draw global media attention, the presence of protest banners in the city’s most iconic square underscores the tension between wealth-driven spectacle and local discontent.
Venetian officials have yet to respond to the protests, but the imagery and message behind the banner have already gone viral online, amplifying the call for a global conversation about wealth inequality and taxation.
