Josh Weiner
Rihanna and Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta chief, were among the high-profile guests in India on Friday, March 1, attending a lavish celebration thrown by Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest individual in Asia. The event, spanning three days, is set to draw an impressive roster of attendees from various sectors, including global technology leaders, Bollywood celebrities, international pop stars, and prominent politicians, all convened by the billionaire magnate Ambani.
The festivities are in honor of the pre-wedding ceremonies for Ambani’s younger son, Anant, and his fiancée Radhika Merchant, who hails from a distinguished family of pharmaceutical magnates. Indian media outlets have already circulated photos confirming the arrival of notable figures such as Rihanna, Zuckerberg, and his wife, Priscilla Chan, in Jamnagar, Ambani’s hometown.
Rihanna, the renowned “Umbrella” singer who recently welcomed her second child in August, is expected to headline the entertainment on Friday. This marks her first public performance since her appearance at last year’s Superbowl, with reports suggesting she might have been offered up to US$9 million for her performance at the event.
Mukesh Ambani, the 66-year-old chairman of Reliance Industries, spans his business from oil to telecommunications and is listed as the world’s 10th wealthiest person by Forbes, boasting a net worth exceeding US$116 billion. The Ambani family initiated the celebrations with a three-day feast for the residents of the Reliance Township in Jamnagar, located in the western state of Gujarat. They are also in the process of constructing a Hindu temple complex in the city, as announced by the Reliance Foundation on social media.
Anant Ambani, 28, serves on the boards of several Reliance-owned companies and is set to marry Radhika Merchant, 29, later in the year. The Ambani family previously hosted India’s most extravagant wedding for their daughter in 2018, featuring a performance by US pop superstar Beyonce and reportedly costing around US$100 million.
The guest list for this weekend’s event includes illustrious figures such as US illusionist David Blaine, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and a mix of current and former political leaders. Disney’s Bob Iger is also among the attendees, following a recent merger between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney’s Indian media businesses, forming an entertainment powerhouse valued at US$8.5 billion.
Invitations have extended to a wide array of VIPs, including Ivanka Trump, Carl Bildt the former Swedish Prime Minister, Stephen Harper the former Canadian Prime Minister, and the King of Bhutan. Bollywood legends Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, and business magnate Gautam Adani are also on the prestigious guest list, highlighting the event’s status as a gathering of India’s elite.
The celebration, which will continue until Sunday, promises a series of themed events, dress codes, and unique experiences, including a “jungle fever” day featuring a visit to an animal rescue center run by Ambani, as reported by the Hindustan Times newspaper.
