- TV personality Lauren Sanchez, 54, is the partner of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
- READ MORE: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had a mid-life makeover and found a glamorous fiancée after divorce - but did his ex-wife get the last laugh by pursuing a very different path?
While the eyes of the world were on Donald Trump's historic inauguration yesterday, Lauren Sanchez managed to divert more than a few glances when she took off her coat.
Jeff Bezos' glamorous fiancée almost stole Trump's thunder with her racy inauguration day outfit, consisting of a white Alexander McQueen trouser suit revealing a generous flash of lacy white bustier - prompting a storm of criticism on X.
The daring outfit choice was in keeping with her theme for the inauguration events, during which she eschewed an elegant 'politician's wife' look most of her fellow attendees opted for, and went for full-on billionaire bombshell glamor.
However, those who have been following Ms Sánchez's trajectory from news anchor and journalist to fiancée of Amazon founder Bezos will have noted that her personal style used to be rather more demure.
The pair got engaged in May 2023, after Bezos popped the question on board his $500 million superyacht following an affair which led to his divorce from his wife of 25 years, Mackenzie Scott in 2019 and Ms Sánchez's split from her husband Patrick Whitesell.
During her 14-year marriage to the executive chairman of Hollywood talent agency Endeavor and while making a name for herself on TV, Ms Sánchez maintained a 'girl next door style', very much in keeping with the noughties trend for big belts and boho-inspired dresses.
While she was always a fan of strapless dresses to show off her curves, the hemlines were always below the knee and the style was flirty rather than overtly sexy.
It's in stark contrast to her current preference for corsets, lingerie-inspired ensembles and cleavage-baring outfits, which have attracted a storm of criticism.
While America stood back and watched Donald Trump become president for the second time, many eyes turned to Lauren Sanchez as soon as she took off her coat
Lauren Sanchez, who is now engaged to Jeff Bezos, attends a fundraiser in October in 2008 in Santa Monica
Ms Sánchez, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an Emmy winning journalist in her own right and has been a television personality for more than 20 years, working as a news anchor and entertainment reporter as well as TV host and contributor to shows like Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show and Showbiz Tonight.
But over the last two decades, the media personality has undergone a major transformation, from girl next door to racy rich fianceé.
In her younger days, Ms Sánchez seemed to dress much more modestly, donning floaty feminine frocks and fresh-faced makeup before she met Bezos.
In 2003, the TV star donned a strapless keyhole pink stripy dress, which fell to just below her knee, to the premiere of Bruce Almighty.
The simple ensemble didn't really stand out in a crowd or turn heads and wouldn't look out of place in a Walmart.
In the years that followed, she went on to continue wearing modest outfits that flew under the radar at many events.
In 2009, she embraced the late noughties style of chunky belts, pairing one with a bold, garish tangerine satin, a style so different from what she would opt for now, you'd question whether it was even Ms Sánchez or a lookalike.
The 54-year-old's looks and style have changed significantly in recent times, marking a departure from the style she had in earlier years (pictured with fiance Jeff Bezos in May 2024)
Lauren is pictured at the 2005 Macy's Passport Gala held at Barker Hanger on September 29 in Santa Monica (left) in a below the knee strapless dress. Lauren's new style is so racy, it has become something of a trademark, featuring low cut necklines, high hemlines, and see-through fabrics
Her appearance has changed dramatically in recent times, from her earlier more girl next door appearance (pictured)
On Sunday evening, the former TV host wore a daring strapless black Dolce and Gabbana gown
Throughout the 2000s, she would don rather gaudy attire, such as bright blue V-neck t-shirts and dresses with contrasting patterns, enough to make your eyes hurt.
Her choices from this time are extremely different from the sultry wardrobe she wears now, which are eye-catching enough to capture the attention of an entire room.
In fact, Ms Sánchez's new style is so racy, it has become something of a trademark, featuring low cut necklines, high hemlines, and see-through fabrics.
Ms Sánchez's herself has commented on her own style. Speaking to Vogue about dresses she was sent to look at for the Met Gala by designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, she said: 'If you saw them, you’d be like, "Oh, that’s very Lauren" — extremely sexy, low cut.
'I go, "No, I think I’m going to try something different".'
In fact, she ended up wearing a custom-made Oscar de la Renta gown with a modest sweetheart neckline and full skirt.
Her less racy-than-usual outfit followed rumours that Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is not to be fond of the ensembles Ms Sánchez typically wears.
According to reports, the soon-to-be Mrs Bezos was only allowed to attend the $350,000 per table ball if the Vogue editor had a say in what she wore.
Lauren is pictured in September 2024, wearing the same ensemble that she chose to wear for Trump's inauguration on Monday
Ms Sánchez (pictured attending the world premiere of Bruce Almighty in 2003) has been in the media spotlight for more than 20 years
In 2009, she embraced the late noughties style of chunky belts, paring one with a bold, garish tangerine satin, a style so different from what she would opt for now
The media star's outfit for the recent Met Gala marked a departure from her normal racy looks, following rumours that Anna Wintour is not keen of Ms Sánchez's style (pictured with Jeff Bezos)
An insider recently told Ms Wintour's biographer Amy Odell the famously exacting editor knows Ms Sánchez has 'poor taste,' and was keen to personally help her select a dress.
'Anna doesn't always get personally involved in what guests wear,' the author wrote, adding that she was working with Ms Sánchez to choose between custom designs by the classically stylish Oscar de la Renta and two other as-yet-unnamed designers.
And Ms Wintour isn't the only person to have made negative remarks about the 54-year-old's personal style.
Megyn Kelly recently said she 'looked like a hooker' in Milan and just weeks ago, restaurateur Keith McNally unleashed a rant about her outfit choices.
The Balthazar owner posted a seemingly unprovoked, posted a series of pictures of the couple on April 15, along with the caption, 'Does anybody else find Jeff Bezos' New wife - Lauren Sanchez - ABSOLUTELY REVOLTING?'
'What an ugly and F***ing SMUG - LOOKING couple they make. Is this what having 1000 Billion dollars does to people?'
However, criticism over what she chooses to wear didn't stop Bezos popping the question to Ms Sánchez.
Their engagement follows the couple having an affair, which Bezos has admitted to, leading to his divorce from wife of 25 years, Ms Scott in 2019 and Ms Sánchez's split from husband Mr Whitesell, who she married in 2005, and shared a son and daughter with.
Ms Sánchez also has a son with former flame once-NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, Nikko, who was born in 2001.
Lauren shows off her former, less racy style, donning a black halter neck frock at the ET/GLAMOUR Emmy Party Celebrating a Night of GLAMOUR
Ms Sánchez is pictured with her first-born child, Nikko, who she shares with former flame once-NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ms Sánchez has enjoyed a range of jobs in during her media career, but is now focussed on her aerial film production company
Four years after their affair was revealed to the world by the National Enquirer, Bezos asked Ms Sánchez to marry him, with a pear diamond estimated to be worth at least $2 million.
Since then, the couple have flaunted their love around the world, holidayed aboard Bezos's megayacht and enjoyed a dinner date with former celebrity couple Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson.
Those are just some of the glamorous perks Ms Sánchez has enjoyed over the course of their four-year relationship.
As well as their luxury yacht trips, the couple take holidays to five-star resorts, private jet flights, and beach side getaways.
They dine in the sought-after restaurants, attend elite parties, and mingle with some of Bezos's celebrity friends.
It's a far cry from Ms Sánchez's earlier life, when she began her media career at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, working as a desk assistant.
She moved to KTVK-TV in Phoenix where she worked as an anchor and reporter, before then working for entertainment show Extra as a reporter.
Ms Sánchez went onto earn an Emmy nomination as anchor and correspondent for the sports magazine Going Deep while working at Fox Sports Net. She worked as an anchor for Fox Sports News Primetime, then an entertainment reporter for the network's Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Further positions included hosting So You Think You Can Dance and entertainment reporting for KTTV.
Ms Sánchez (seen with Jeff in 2021) has seen her personal style become racier during her relationship with the mogul
Henry Simmons and Lauren Sanchez (pictured at the premiere of Welcome To Collinwood in 2002), long before the TV personality adopted her current personal style
Lauren enjoys wearing clothes she describes as 'extremely sexy', like this low cut gown with a thigh high split (pictured in Mumbai, India, in January 2020 at an Amazon event with Jeff)
While Ms Sánchez still occasionally works on TV shows, in 2016, she founded Black Ops Aviation.
As the first female-owned aerial film and production company, it allowed her to use her skills as a licensed pilot while she focuses on film and television projects.
She has previously said she wants to fly to space with all-female crew.
Ms Sánchez is also a philanthropist, and the vice-chairperson of Bezos Earth Fund.
Earlier this year, she pledged to donate $60 million which would help create centres that focus on biomanufacturing and climate change.
And she is also involved in the Bezos' Courage and Civility Award, which honours people who serve their community.
Bezos and Ms Sánchez are said to have met in 2016, after being introduced by her husband Mr Whitesell at an Amazon studios party for the movie Manchester By the Sea.
Her production team was then hired to film footage for Bezos's rocket company, Blue Origin, in 2018
'Patrick and Lauren have socialised with Jeff Bezos and his wife for a few years, because both [now former] couples have houses in Seattle,' a source told Page Six after their affair was first brought to light.
The trip during which Bezos proposed was just one of the luxury getaways the couple has enjoyed over the course of their relationship
According to reports, Bezos and Lauren (both pictured) first met in 2016 after they were introduced by Lauren's then-husband Patrick at a party
'Then Lauren was hired to work on one of Jeff's projects, Blue Origin, a space-launch company. She has been shooting aerial shots for Jeff.'
Ms Sánchez previously revealed to Wall Street Journal that she and Bezos connected over their shared love of flying.
She got her helicopter pilot's licence in 2016, and once said being in the air her 'calling,' while Bezos is in the process of getting his own pilot's licence.
They were seen for the first time together publicly in May 2019, when photographers caught them enjoying a romantic date night in New York City, and they made their first official appearance as a couple at Wimbledon that July.
In the months that followed, the couple enjoyed a slew of lavish getaways together - heading to popular celebrity hotspot Saint-Tropez in France, enjoying some time on fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg's yacht in Italy, and vacationing on the glamorous Caribbean island St. Barths.
It was also reported in December 2019 that Bezos threw a huge birthday celebration for his girlfriend at his sprawling Beverly Hills mansion, which was attended by tons of stars like Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Scooter Braun, and Timothée Chalamet.
Ms Sánchez was by Bezos's side during his work trips too. She was present at an Amazon Prime Video event with him in Mumbai, India, in January 2020, and was with him when he met the French President a few weeks later in Paris.
Around that time, the couple was seen house hunting together around Los Angeles. And a few weeks later, news hit the web that Bezos had bought a new home in Beverly Hills for $165 million - which they seemingly moved into together.
Bezos bought the new home in Beverly Hills (pictured) for a staggering $165 million. The couple are thought to live together in the property
The couple (seen left at Formula 1 and right on a ski trip) is often seen dining in top restaurants, hanging out with A-listers, getting VIP treatment, and vacationing in lavish spots
The couple (seen in 2022) enjoy an extremely glamorous lifestyle, which includes five-star holidays, a portfolio of luxury property, and Lauren's huge engagement ring, estimated to be worth at least $2 million
The 13,600-square-foot mansion sits on 9.4 acres of land and comes complete with a tennis court, swimming pool, nine-hole golf course, and motor court (which boasts its own service garage and gas pumps).
As well as enjoying a luxury home, Ms Sánchez has also been expanding her wardrobe since her romance with Bezos began, and the TV personality is now often seen toting around designer handbags and donning exquisite jewellery pieces that are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
During a 2023 trip to London, Ms Sánchez was seen wearing a slew of pricy accessories, including a $28,500 Jacquie Aiche necklace combo, a $105,000 Birkin bag, and a pair of $1,045 Cartier sunglasses.
She was also seen sporting a sparkling diamond teardrop necklace, which is believed to be custom and estimated to be worth up to $400,000.
Ms Sánchez has also expanded her property portfolio. In addition to their California mansion, the couple bought another home together in October 2021 - this time, in Maui, Hawaii - for $78 million.
The 4,500-square-foot home sits on four acres and has a 700-square-foot swimming pool.
With the couple's glamorous lifestyle, it comes as no surprise that Bezos spent a lot of money on Ms Sánchez's engagement ring. Mike Fried, CEO of The Diamond Pro, estimated that the rock is likely worth $2 million.
He told DailyMail.com exclusively: 'A ring of this caliber is no small feat or expense. Based on the photos, the ring appears to accentuate the colossal center stone with a thin band and fine detailing.
'Lauren's gargantuan diamond appears to be between 15 and 20 carats. I'd estimate the value at a whopping $2million, if not more.
'To find a natural diamond in that carat weight is exceptionally rare. It was likely months of preparation to make this ring a reality.'
