The World's Most Expensive Wedding Ever Cost $55 Million

Most have a dream wedding for when they meet the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with. For some, it could be a simple gathering of loved ones and friends, but for others, it entails spending tens of millions to have the who’s who in town dining, partying and celebrating their union in an incredibly lavish ceremony.

The latter was the case for Indian sweethearts Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia. Their 2004 wedding set the record for the most expensive nuptials in the world, costing a whopping $55 million, according to Guinness World Records.

The bash featured six days of events held in some of France's most settings, including the Palace of Versailles. A reenactment of the then-23-year-old bride and then-25-year-old groom's courtship and an engagement ceremony were held at the historic estate — said to be the first private function ever to be held in the Palace of Versailles.

Guests were then treated to a lavish dinner at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris that was prepared by chefs flown in from India, Forbes reported. Further, a makeshift castle was also built at a park in Saint-Cloud for the occasion.

The wedding ceremony was finally held at the 17th century Chateau Vaux le Vicomte, which was described as the "finest chateau and garden" in France, per BBC.

Aside from the venues, Mittal and Bhatia's guests were also treated to a private performance from singer Kylie Minogue during a massive firework display held in the gardens of the Eiffel Tower, per South China Morning Post.

The outrageousness did not stop there. The Mittals were also reported to have flown in at least 1,000 high-profile guests from all over the world via 12 chartered Boeing jets, racking up a $2 million bill, per Industry Leaders Magazine. Bollywood heavyweights like Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar were among those who graced the event.

While the receipt for the wedding may raise eyebrows, it is a small feat for the bride’s father. Mittal is the only daughter of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.

The Mittals are owners of ArcelorMittal, the largest steel and mining company by output in the world. The patriarch is nicknamed “King of Steel” in India and has a net worth of $16.5 billion as of 2021, according to Forbes. Mittal joined her father’s company in 2004 as a member of the board of directors.

On the other hand, Bhatia is a London-based investment banker turned businessman. His career in the finance industry started with stints at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley in New York City before transferring to London to join Credit Suisse, according to his investment firm’s website.

He formed private equity Swordfish Investments and investment management firm Swordfish Capital Management in 2004. Aside from heading his businesses, he also served on the board of U.K.’s Metro Bank and currently serves on the Board for Internationalization of his alma mater, Cornell University.