Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the head of Indian conglomerate Reliance and Asia’s wealthiest individual with a Forbes-estimated net worth of $114 billion, is hosting an extravagant three-day pre-wedding celebration for his youngest son, Anant Ambani. Known for his grand events, Ambani‘s festivities include charter jets for tycoons and celebrities, a performance by Rihanna, and a unique dress code – “jungle fever” outfits – for a visit to an animal rescue center.
The pre-wedding celebration, taking place in Jamnagar near Reliance’s main oil refinery in Gujarat, is set to entertain 1,200 guests and commenced with a communal dinner for local villagers attended by Anant and his bride-to-be, Radhika Merchant. Notable performances include Rihanna and US magician David Blaine, alongside traditional ceremonies in a temple complex.
Expected attendees at Anant’s pre-wedding bash include Bill Gates, Meta’s Zuckerberg, Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla, cricketers, and Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. Disney CEO Bob Iger is also likely to attend following the announcement of a $8.5 billion merger of Disney’s India media assets with Reliance’s.
Anant Ambani is a director at Reliance’s new energy business and one of Ambani’s three heirs. His bride, Radhika Merchant, is a director at India’s Encore Healthcare. The pre-wedding celebrations, known for their opulence, echo the grandeur of Ambani’s daughter Isha’s wedding in 2018, attended by global figures.
Guests will enjoy 500 dishes created by around 100 chefs and have access to pampering services such as hair styling and makeup artists on a “first come, first serve basis.” The celebration includes a visit to a rescue center with a “jungle fever” dress code, advising guests to wear animal print clothing or Hawaiian shirts.
Charter jet flights from New Delhi and Mumbai are offered, with guests limited to two luggage items or three suitcases per couple. The document cautions that exceeding this limit may result in items not arriving on the same flight. Guests have also been asked to be reasonable in their expectations for laundry services, with a commitment to return steamed clothes within three hours.
