Lauren Sánchez was sunbathing on her fiancé Jeff Bezos’ $500 million yacht, Koru, on New Year’s Eve when their peaceful day was interrupted by customs officers who conducted a three-hour search. Photos obtained by Page Six showed Sánchez, a former TV reporter, smiling and posing on the luxury ship’s top deck in a Versace bikini and large hat while officers searched another area. The officials, dressed in uniforms and life jackets, were seen speaking to a stewardess who appeared to instruct them on where to search.
The yacht was sailing near St. Barts at the time, a popular destination for celebrities during the holidays. Despite the lengthy inspection, the search was considered routine according to a source. Customs officials in St. Barts did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bezos was not present on the yacht during the search, and his representatives were unreachable. Guests on the yacht, including Sanchez’s ex-boyfriend Tony Gonzalez, did not seem overly disturbed by the officers’ visit, with Gonzalez even taking a dip in the ocean.
Sanchez, who shares a 23-year-old son with Gonzalez and two other children with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, reportedly considers Gonzalez to be one of her best friends. Her representatives did not immediately provide comment to Page Six. This incident occurred after Sanchez and Bezos had previously partied together in Aspen, Colo., sparking rumors of a potential wedding. However, Bezos quickly shut down the rumors of a lavish $600 million wedding planned for New Year’s Eve weekend, stating that it was entirely false.
Bezos and Sanchez got engaged in May 2023 after being together for five years. In August of the same year, they celebrated their engagement with a star-studded event aboard the Koru. Despite the interruption during their sunbathing session, Sánchez appeared to be enjoying the day with pals and her ex-boyfriend onboard the yacht. The incident marked a minor disturbance in their luxurious lifestyle, but it did not dampen the spirits of the guests, as they continued to enjoy their time on the yacht. Bezos and Sanchez’s relationship has been in the public eye since their engagement, with rumors and speculation surrounding their future plans.
