Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have weathered a tabloid scandal, a possible iPhone hack, and even a trip to space. Here's where their relationship began and everything that's happened since.

Avery HartmansAug 14, 2022, 17:26 IST

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez were publicly outed as a couple in January 2019.
Since then, they have both finalized their divorces and embarked on a multicontinental romance.

It's been a turbulent few years for Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez.

In January 2019, the bombshell news broke that the Amazon CEO and his wife, MacKenzie, were getting a divorce after 25 years of marriage. Hours later, the world learned that Bezos was in a relationship with Lauren Sanchez, a TV host and helicopter pilot who, along with her husband, had been friends with the Bezoses.

Despite a tumultuous few years that involved leaked texts, blackmail, a billion-dollar divorce, and maybe even interference from the Saudi Arabian government, Bezos and Sanchez are still going strong.

Here's how their relationship became public and how they've spent the last three years as a couple.

It all started on January 9, 2019. Shortly after 9 a.m., Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie Scott, issued a joint statement on Twitter that they were divorcing.

Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott.Dia Dipasupil / Staff

Hours later, a second bombshell dropped: Bezos was in a relationship with Lauren Sanchez.

Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

Bezos and Sanchez met through her then-husband, Patrick Whitesell, the co-CEO of Hollywood talent agency WME.

Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez and her husband, Patrick Whitesell.Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Amazon Studios

The National Enquirer said it had conducted a four-month investigation into Bezos and Sanchez's relationship and had obtained texts and photos the couple had sent to each other.

Jeff Bezos.Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The National Enquirer said it had conducted a four-month investigation into Bezos and Sanchez's relationship and had obtained texts and photos the couple had sent to each other.

The Enquirer said it had gotten its hands on "raunchy messages" and "erotic selfies," including a text that reportedly read: "I love you, alive girl."

Jeff BezosREUTERS/Gary Cameron

Almost immediately, questions arose about the Enquirer's motives for investigating Bezos and Sanchez and the tabloid's connection to Donald Trump.

David Pecker, former CEO of AMI.Marion Curtis via AP, File

Then, that February, Bezos dropped a bombshell of his own: an explosive blog post titled "No thank you, Mr. Pecker," in which he accused Pecker and AMI of trying to blackmail him.

Bezos speaks at the Economic Club of Washington DC on September 13, 2018.Reuters/Joshua Roberts

Then, that February, Bezos dropped a bombshell of his own: an explosive blog post titled "No thank you, Mr. Pecker," in which he accused Pecker and AMI of trying to blackmail him.

Things quieted down for Bezos and Sanchez publicly for a few months, until April 2019, when he and Scott finalized the terms of their divorce.

Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott.Danny Moloshok/Reuters

One day later, Sanchez and Whitesell filed for divorce.

Patrick Whitesell and Lauren Sanchez.AP Photo

The Bezos divorce was finalized that July. A few days later, Bezos and Sanchez made their first public appearance as a couple at Wimbledon.

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos at Wimbledon.AP Photo/Tim Ireland

The pair was spotted again in August on what appeared to be a fabulous European vacation.

The Rising Sun, a yacht that belongs to media titan David Geffen.Victor Fraile/Reuters

Bezos and Sanchez were then seen on fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg's sailing yacht off the coast of Italy.

Diane von Furstenberg and Jeff Bezos pose at the Statue of Liberty Museum opening on May 15, 2019.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

In December 2019, Bezos reportedly threw Sanchez an elaborate 50th birthday celebration.

Katy Perry and Orlando BloomPhillip Faraone/Getty Images

Around the holidays, the couple jetted off to French-speaking Caribbean island St. Barths.

Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

In January 2020, Sanchez accompanied Bezos on a trip to India.

Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez in India in January 2020.Prodip Guha/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Bezos had become embroiled in a legal spat with Michael Sanchez, Lauren Sanchez's brother.

John Sciulli/Getty Images for Politicon; Getty Images

In the lawsuit, Sanchez used the word "fiancé" to describe Bezos' relationship to Lauren Sanchez, implying that the couple is engaged.

Pawan Sharma/AFP via Getty Images

News broke in early 2020 that Bezos had purchased the Warner estate, a massive Beverly Hills compound, for $165 million. The purchase was the most expensive home sale in California history at the time.

An aerial view of the Warner estate.Los Angeles County/Pictometry

News broke in early 2020 that Bezos had purchased the Warner estate, a massive Beverly Hills compound, for $165 million. The purchase was the most expensive home sale in California history at the time.

In February 2021, Bezos made a major career move: He announced that he would step down as CEO of Amazon in the third quarter of that year.

Mike Blake/Reuters; Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Almost immediately after his departure from Amazon became official, Bezos headed for outer space.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A few months later, Bezos expanded his real estate empire once again when he and Sanchez purchased a home on Maui, Hawaii.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Bezos and Sanchez have continued traveling the world, most recently to London.

Ricky Vigil/Getty Images

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have weathered a tabloid scandal, a possible iPhone hack, and even a trip to space. Here's where their relationship began and everything that's happened since.

It all started on January 9, 2019. Shortly after 9 a.m., Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie Scott, issued a joint statement on Twitter that they were divorcing.

Hours later, a second bombshell dropped: Bezos was in a relationship with Lauren Sanchez.

Bezos and Sanchez met through her then-husband, Patrick Whitesell, the co-CEO of Hollywood talent agency WME.

The National Enquirer said it had conducted a four-month investigation into Bezos and Sanchez's relationship and had obtained texts and photos the couple had sent to each other.

The Enquirer said it had gotten its hands on "raunchy messages" and "erotic selfies," including a text that reportedly read: "I love you, alive girl."

Almost immediately, questions arose about the Enquirer's motives for investigating Bezos and Sanchez and the tabloid's connection to Donald Trump.

Then, that February, Bezos dropped a bombshell of his own: an explosive blog post titled "No thank you, Mr. Pecker," in which he accused Pecker and AMI of trying to blackmail him.

Things quieted down for Bezos and Sanchez publicly for a few months, until April 2019, when he and Scott finalized the terms of their divorce.

One day later, Sanchez and Whitesell filed for divorce.

The Bezos divorce was finalized that July. A few days later, Bezos and Sanchez made their first public appearance as a couple at Wimbledon.

The pair was spotted again in August on what appeared to be a fabulous European vacation.

Bezos and Sanchez were then seen on fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg's sailing yacht off the coast of Italy.

In December 2019, Bezos reportedly threw Sanchez an elaborate 50th birthday celebration.

Around the holidays, the couple jetted off to French-speaking Caribbean island St. Barths.

In January 2020, Sanchez accompanied Bezos on a trip to India.

Meanwhile, Bezos had become embroiled in a legal spat with Michael Sanchez, Lauren Sanchez's brother.

In the lawsuit, Sanchez used the word "fiancé" to describe Bezos' relationship to Lauren Sanchez, implying that the couple is engaged.

News broke in early 2020 that Bezos had purchased the Warner estate, a massive Beverly Hills compound, for $165 million. The purchase was the most expensive home sale in California history at the time.

In February 2021, Bezos made a major career move: He announced that he would step down as CEO of Amazon in the third quarter of that year.

Almost immediately after his departure from Amazon became official, Bezos headed for outer space.

A few months later, Bezos expanded his real estate empire once again when he and Sanchez purchased a home on Maui, Hawaii.

Bezos and Sanchez have continued traveling the world, most recently to London.