Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is ensuring that the wedding of his youngest son, Anant Ambani, to Radhika Merchant, daughter of billionaire Viren Merchant, is truly an extravagant affair.
The celebrations began with Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Roka ceremony in December 2022. The family then spent over Rs 1200 crore (according to Hindustan Times) on a three-day pre-wedding extravaganza in Jamnagar in March. This was followed by a four-day celebration aboard a cruise in Italy. The main wedding is scheduled to take place on July 12, 2024 in Mumbai.
This is not the first time the Ambani family has hosted a lavish wedding. In December 2018, Mukesh Ambani’s daughter, Isha Ambani, married Anand Piramal, Executive Director of the Piramal Group, a global conglomerate with interests in pharma, real estate and financial services. The Piramals have a net worth of nearly Rs 35,000 crore, according to Financial Express.
In March 2019, Akash Ambani married Shloka Mehta, daughter of Russell Mehta, Managing Director of Rosy Blue India, one of the world’s largest diamond manufacturers. The Mehta family’s net worth is close to Rs 1844 crore, according to Financial Express. While the financial details of Akash’s wedding to Shloka remain undisclosed, the Ambanis spent close to Rs 700 crore on Isha’s wedding, according to Indian Express.
Mukesh and Nita Ambani splurged over Rs 700 crore for 3 grand functions in Italy, Rajasthan and Mumbai, for Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’s wedding in 2018
Childhood friends, Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal, who began dating in 2016, tied the knot in December 2018 after Anand proposed to Isha in May 2018. The couple’s wedding was a grand affair, marked by a series of events across multiple locations. The main wedding ceremony took place at Antilia, the Ambani family’s iconic 27-story residence in Mumbai. Earlier, the pre-wedding festivities spanned locations from Udaipur in India to Lake Como in Italy.
The wedding featured a private concert by Beyoncé and a star-studded guest list. Dignitaries such as Hillary Clinton, former India President Pranab Mukherjee, Sachin Tendulkar, and several Bollywood stars graced the occasion with their presence. More than 100 chartered flights were arranged to transport guests to and from various locations. Reports also said that the Ambanis got a custom app designed to help guests keep track of the wedding itinerary and other important updates.
1. Lake Como, Italy
On September 21, 2018, Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal celebrated their engagement with a three-day extravaganza at Lake Como in Italy. The festivities were held at some of the region’s most luxurious venues, including Villa Balbiano, Teatro Sociale Como, and Duomo di Como. About 500 close friends and relatives of the Ambani family attended the events, which set the stage for the couple’s grand wedding later that year.
2. Udaipur, Rajasthan
The pre-wedding festivities took place on December 8-9 at Udaipur’s City Palace which overlooks Lake Pichola. The sangeet ceremony was held at The Oberoi Udaivilas. The celebrations included a 45-minute performance by international superstar Beyoncé, who was paid around Rs 28 crore, according to Hindustan Times, and attracted prominent figures from the film, political, and sports world. The Ambanis also provided meals for 5,100 underprivileged people in Udaipur as part of the celebrations.
3. Mumbai, Maharashtra
The main wedding took place at Ambani’s 27-storey Mumbai residence, Antilia, which covers over 65,340 square feet. The second-most expensive house in the world, Antilia boasts an array of luxurious amenities, including a 168-car garage, nine lifts, a temple, a 50-seat theatre, a swimming pool, and a health centre. According to DNA, the value of Antilia is estimated to be over Rs 15,000 crore.
