The surprising cost of the most lavish weddings

According to The New York Post, this 72-day marriage in 2011 cost around US$10 million. However, the couple managed to strike up deals, get discounts on items, and sell the rights to their photos, resulting in a profit of US$17.9 million. This means that they earned approximately US$248,611 for each day of their marriage.

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Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto -

The well-known basketball player and model tied the knot in 2013 at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Florida. Their wedding was witnessed by almost 300 guests, followed by an extravagant reception at an exclusive golf club, ultimately resulting in a hefty US$10 million bill.

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Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin -

According to reports, the wedding of the renowned soccer player in 2008 was said to cost around US$10 million. Notable highlights included a chartered flight to Genoa and a masked ball aboard a luxurious yacht worth US$120 million.

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Petra Ecclestone and James Stunt -

The estimated cost was US$5 million, but it was later revealed by the father of the British-born heiress, model, and socialite that it was in fact closer to £12 million in 2011, equivalent to US$19.7 million.

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Priya Sachdev and Vikram Chatwal -

Vikram Chatwal, who owns multiple luxury hotels, tied the knot with businesswoman Priya Sachdev in 2006. The extravagant wedding spanned 10 days and was attended by numerous guests, resulting in an approximate total expense of US$20 million.

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Aleksandra Nikolic and Andrey Melnichenko -

The 2005 wedding of the Russian billionaire to a model was a star-studded event. Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, and Julio Iglesias performed, reportedly earning US$3.6 million each. The total cost of the wedding was estimated at US$30 million.

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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West -

E! News reported the Italian wedding cost US$2.8 million, but as that excludes the extravagant pre-wedding festivities, IBTimes estimates the number is closer to US$30 million.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton -

The world watched this historical event, which had a price tag of approximately US$34 million. However, a whopping US$32 million of that was spent just on security.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle -

According to Express, the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a total cost of US$39 million. Security expenses accounted for approximately US$36.7 million of the overall budget.

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Prince Charles and Lady Diana -

The royal bill for the wedding of the century was reportedly US$48 million in 1981, which is closer to US$70 million with inflation today.

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Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock -

The 2011 wedding in Monaco is known as the largest celebration in 55 years, similar to Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III's nuptials. It was estimated to have cost US$65-70 million.

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Prince Felipe of Spain and Letizia Ortiz -

Another royal party. In 2004, Prince Felipe of Spain and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano were married in a grand ceremony in Madrid. The cost of this celebration, according to the Daily Mail, was around US$24 million dollars. Her dress alone cost US$8 million.

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Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia -

In 2005, the daughter of billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal celebrated a five-day event with a US$60 million budget, sealing the deal with her love.

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Princess Salama -

The prince of Abu Dhabi allegedly constructed a 20,000-seat arena dedicated to his seven-day wedding celebration with Princess Salama in 1981, reportedly worth US$100 million when adjusted for inflation.

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Khadija Uzhakhovs and Said Gutser -

In 2016, the wedding of Said Gutseriev, the son of an oil billionaire, and Khadija Uzhakhovs, a dentistry student, was a lavish affair. The star-studded event featured performances from celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Sting, and Enrique Iglesias. Khadija's dress was especially noteworthy, as it was heavily embellished and weighed nearly 30 lbs (13.6 kg).

See also: Royals who had the most stunning wedding dresses

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David and Victoria Beckham -

The wedding of the ex-Spice Girl and football star in 1999 allegedly had a price tag of US$800,000, which is a lot more when adjusted for inflation.

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Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas -

Their wedding in 2000, held at the Plaza Hotel in New York, included performances by Jimmy Buffett and Art Garfunkel. According to reports, it cost US$1.5 million.

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Elton John and David Furnish -

The couple got married immediately when civil unions became legal in Britain. Their wedding cost a staggering US$1.7 million. They're famous for their parties, and this was the ultimate occasion!

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Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky -

This famous 1991 wedding took place at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, where MJ himself played father of the bride to Taylor! It was estimated to cost around US$2 million.

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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes -

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Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman -

The reported cost of the wedding at Staglin Family Vineyard in 2005 was US$2 million.

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Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling -

The princess married her former fitness trainer, despite protests from her father, in an elaborate 2010 wedding that cost an estimated US$2.4 million.

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Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar -

The 2007 wedding featured two ceremonies. The first was at Suderly Castle in Gloucestershire and the next was at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, allegedly amounting to US$2.5 million in expenses.

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Paul McCartney and Heather Mills -

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Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault -

The couple got married in 2009 at the renowned Teatro La Fenice opera house in Venice, and the cost was approximately US$3.5 million.

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Liza Minnelli and David Gest -

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Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter -

The couple crossed paths on ABC's 'The Bachelorette' and tied the knot in 2003, witnessed by a large audience. Unsurprisingly, the network handled the expenses of US$4 million.

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Amal Alamuddin and George Clooney -

The couple wed in 2014 in Venice, with a wedding and party allegedly costing US$4.6 million. Approximately US$3 million was reportedly spent on guest accommodations at the renowned Cipriani hotel.

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Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky -

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Delphine Arnault and Alessandro Vallarino Gancia -

When one of the richest women in France marries the heir to an Italian wine dynasty, a US$7 million wedding seems almost appropriate. Almost.

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Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries -

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Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto -

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Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin -

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Petra Ecclestone and James Stunt -

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Priya Sachdev and Vikram Chatwal -

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Aleksandra Nikolic and Andrey Melnichenko -

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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West -

E! News reported the Italian wedding cost US$2.8 million, but as that excludes the extravagant pre-wedding festivities, IBTimes estimates the number is closer to US$30 million.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton -

The world watched this historical event, which had a price tag of approximately US$34 million. However, a whopping US$32 million of that was spent just on security.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle -

According to Express, the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a total cost of US$39 million. Security expenses accounted for approximately US$36.7 million of the overall budget.

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Prince Charles and Lady Diana -

The royal bill for the wedding of the century was reportedly US$48 million in 1981, which is closer to US$70 million with inflation today.

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Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock -

The 2011 wedding in Monaco is known as the largest celebration in 55 years, similar to Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III's nuptials. It was estimated to have cost US$65-70 million.

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Prince Felipe of Spain and Letizia Ortiz -

Getty Images

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Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia -

In 2005, the daughter of billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal celebrated a five-day event with a US$60 million budget, sealing the deal with her love.

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Princess Salama -

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Khadija Uzhakhovs and Said Gutser -

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The surprising cost of the most lavish weddings

A memorable wedding day is anything but priceless

18/09/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Expenses

In recent years, the average cost of a wedding in the United States has fluctuated slightly around US$30,000. This is a huge expense for most couples, but some spend that amount on the wedding cake alone!

When celebrities, royals, and other wealthy individuals tie the knot, their weddings become unforgettable spectacles. The amount of money poured into these events is astonishing, especially considering that many of these extravagant marriages end in divorce!

While money cannot buy love, it can certainly purchase a sumptuous ceremony that goes down in history. Take a look at the gallery to see the mind-boggling price tags associated with these weddings.