In the world of lavish Indian weddings, Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest man in Asia, is known for throwing extravagant celebrations. In March 2024, he hosted pre-wedding festivities for his 28-year-old son, Anant Ambani. It was a big event where they were sparing no expense. Anant is marrying his childhood sweetheart, Radhika Merchant, who is 29 years old and the daughter of another Indian billionaire named Viren Merchant. This wedding promises to be a truly special occasion.
Moreover their actual wedding in July, they planned a big celebration that lasted for three days. This celebration happened in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and it was fancy. They’ve invited a lot of important people from different industries like finance, technology, and entertainment.
The guests invited for the festivities are star-studded, with 1,200 prominent figures from all over the world set to attend. Among them is global icon Rihanna, who reached India on Feb. 29 and caused a buzz online due to her massive luggage. Other notable guests include Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Larry Fink of Blackrock, Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, as well as former Canadian PM Stephen Harper, former Australian PM Kevin Rudd, and Ivanka Trump. Indian business magnates Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla will also grace the event, moreover a lineup of Indian cricket stars and Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.
Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, is anticipated to grace the occasion following an announcement by Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, regarding an $8.5 billion merger with Disney for its Indian media assets earlier in March. This landmark deal is set to reshape India’s television and streaming landscape, securing the company’s stronghold in one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment markets.
People in India are interested in the fancy celebrations happening before the wedding. They’re taking place on a huge 3,000-acre garden at the Ambanis’ home. Famous people like Rihanna and David Blaine will be there. Guests are asked to wear special outfits for a fun party. They can also visit an animal rescue center. The gala will have a lot of food – more than 2,500 dishes made by 65 chefs! Guests can get their hair and makeup done and have someone help them put on a saree. They even get free flights on private jets from New Delhi and Mumbai.
Mukesh Ambani, aged 66, is currently the richest person in Asia and the 11th richest globally, with an estimated net worth of $111 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He oversees the Reliance conglomerate, originally founded by his father, Dhirubhai Ambani. Their business empire spans various industries, including petroleum refining, retail, telecommunications, food, and digital streaming services. Mukesh Ambani is married to Nita Ambani, and they have three children who are set to inherit their $243-billion fortune. Recently, Ambani has been actively planning for the future, involving his 31-year-old twins, Isha and Akash, as well as the soon-to-be groom, who joined the Reliance board in August last year.
Anant Ambani is currently serving as a director at Reliance’s new energy business and the Reliance Foundation. In January of last year, he got engaged to Merchant in a traditional ceremony held at the luxurious Ambani residence, Antilia, in Mumbai. Antilia, the Ambanis’ 27-story high home, has gained worldwide recognition for being the most expensive property ever built. Merchant also serves on the board of her father’s pharmaceutical firm, Encore.
In India, people spend a whopping $75 billion on weddings every year, and this lavish affair attracts celebrities, fashion icons, and influencers from the entertainment world. However, none quite match the extravagance of the Ambani family. In 2018, they made headlines with the most expensive Indian wedding on record, reportedly costing nearly $100 million. The grand celebration, held for Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha, took place in various locations including Lake Como, Mumbai, and Udaipur. The highlight of the event was the sangeet, a musical evening before the wedding, where superstar Beyoncé performed. Notable guests included former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.
