From the 1st to the 3rd (local time), Ambani held a grand ceremony party in his hometown of Gujarat ahead of his youngest son’s wedding. The event was attended by more than 1,200 world-famous people, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, former White House senior adviser Ivanka, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla, who attended a pre-wedding party for Anant Ambani (28), son of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani (66), Reliance Industries chairman, wore traditional costumes with MS founder Bill Gates. Ambani spent £120 million on a three-day wedding ceremony, of which he paid £5 million (about $8 million) only for pop star Rihanna’s casting, the British Daily Mail reported.
Rihanna took to the celebration stage on the 1st and sang 19 songs including her signature song “Umbrella.” It is the first time in eight years that she has sung in public since 2016 due to her clothing business and childbirth. Several foreign media reported that Rihanna received $9 million.Mr. Ambani invited Mr. Beyoncé to his daughter’s wedding in 2018, when he reportedly paid $6 million to hold a private concert for guests. Also in attendance were Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mr. Ambani leads Reliance Industries, an oil and telecommunications-based conglomerate. He is Forbes’ richest person in Asia, valued at more than $114 billion. The Ambani family also owns a 27-story private apartment building in Mumbai worth $1 billion. It features three helicopter takeoffs and landings, a parking lot for 160 vehicles, a private cinema, a swimming pool, and a fitness center. Anant, who is getting married this time, is the youngest of his three children, and Radika Merchant, 29, an heir to the renowned Indian pharmaceutical company Angkor Healthcare. Mr. Ambani’s eldest son Akash Ambani is now chairman of Reliance Jio and his daughter Aisha oversees the retail industry. Anant was named the head of the new energy business division. The festival is said to continue the Ambani family’s lavish and glamorous party traditions, while demonstrating the economic and political influence of the Indian billionaire. Ambani served 500 dishes made by about 100 chefs to guests arriving by charter flight and also served meals to 51,000 residents living near the area where the party takes place. Anant’s marriage, meanwhile, is due in July.
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
