In the realm of grand Indian weddings, Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s wealthiest individual, is renowned for elevating celebrations to extraordinary levels. Presently, he is orchestrating the pre-wedding celebration of Anant Ambani, promising an opulent affair with no expense spared. Anant is set to marry Radhika Merchant, the 29-year-old daughter of Indian billionaire Viren Merchant, and the three-day pre-wedding celebration is scheduled to commence on March 1 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, at the Ambani family’s refinery township.
The actual wedding is slated for July, and notable figures from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and the entertainment industry grace the guest list. Among them, global icon Rihanna is set to perform, creating a buzz with her arrival in India on February 29. Other distinguished guests include Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Fink, Sundar Pichai, Stephen Harper, Kevin Rudd, Ivanka Trump, Gautam Adani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and a lineup of Indian cricket stars and Bollywood luminaries like Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.
Disney‘s CEO, Bob Iger, is expected to attend following Mukesh Ambani’s announcement of an $8.5 billion merger with Disney over its Indian media assets. This strategic move is poised to reshape the country’s television and streaming services, solidifying Reliance Industries’ dominance in the rapidly growing entertainment market.
The extravagant pre-wedding celebrations, set in a sprawling 3,000-acre garden with a mango orchard on the Ambani estate, have captivated the attention of Indians. The festivities feature performances by illusionist David Blaine and a glitzy cocktail party with a “jungle fever” theme, as well as visits to the Ambanis’ animal rescue centre. A lavish gala offers over 2,500 dishes prepared by a team of 65 chefs, complemented by personalized services such as hair styling, makeup, saree draping, and charter jet flights for guests from New Delhi and Mumbai.
Mukesh Ambani, with an estimated net worth of $111 billion, currently tops Asia’s richest list and holds the 11th position globally. Leading the Fortune 500 company Reliance Industries, his business empire spans petroleum refining, retail, telecommunications, food, and digital streaming services. The Ambani family, including Mukesh’s wife Nita and their three children, is poised to inherit the $243 billion empire. In recent years, Ambani has meticulously planned the succession, involving 31-year-old twins Isha and Akash, as well as Anant, who joined the Reliance board in August.
Anant Ambani, currently a director at Reliance’s new energy business and the Reliance Foundation, became engaged to Radhika Merchant in a traditional ceremony at Antilia, the Ambani residence in Mumbai, last January. Antilia, a 27-storey high home, attracted global attention for being the world’s most expensive property at the time of its construction.
India’s luxury wedding market witnesses an annual expenditure of over $75 billion, drawing celebrities, fashion designers, and influencers. However, the Ambanis’ celebrations stand out, with their 2018 wedding for Isha Ambani becoming the most expensive Indian wedding, reportedly costing almost $100 million. Spanning Lake Como, Mumbai, and Udaipur, the extravaganza featured a sangeet with a performance by Beyoncé, and esteemed guests including former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.
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