Lauren Sánchez is opening up about her relationship with fiancé Jeff Bezos and revealing how he popped the question.
The 53-year-old helicopter pilot and former news anchor is featured in Vogue's December 2023 issue. In the article, she shared details about her relationship with the Amazon founder, which began a few years ago.
According to the publication, Bezos proposed to Sánchez when they were aboard his massive yacht, called "Koru." They enjoyed a romantic dinner together and she found the ring under her pillow before going to bed.
"When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit,” she told Vogue.
She said the pair are far from finalizing the details of their nuptials.
"We’re still thinking about the wedding," she shared. "What it’s going to be. Is it going to be big? Is it going to be overseas? We don’t know yet. We’ve only been engaged five months!”
In May, Bezos, 59, and his bride-to-be confirmed to TODAY.com that they were engaged after four years of dating.
Although their wedding plans aren't set in stone, Sánchez is already sure of one thing: She will take her fiancé's last name.
"Uh, yes, one hundred percent," she replied when asked about changing her name. "I am looking forward to being Mrs. Bezos."
The executive chairman, former president and CEO of the world’s biggest e-commerce company was also interviewed for the article. He gushed about his relationship with Sánchez, complimenting her for being intuitive and empathetic.
"Lauren has amazing intuition, almost witchy powers in that regard. She sees things that other people don’t see. She’s really very sensitive to other people and what they’re thinking," he praised.
Bezos later explained how he has grown since they started dating.
"She has really helped me put more energy into my relationships," he said. "She’s always encouraging me: ‘Call your kids. Call your dad. Call your mom.’ And she’s also just a very good role model."
He continued, "I’ve never seen her put makeup on without calling somebody. Usually her sister."
Sánchez was equally impressed with her fiancé and his bubbly personality. She referred to him as “the life of the party."
"He’s just extremely enthusiastic, and extremely funny. He can be really goofy. I mean, you’ve heard him laugh, right?” she asked.
Celebrity friends like Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner were quoted in the article, too. Jenner applauded Sánchez's endless energy. In August, Jenner shared an Instagram post featuring a moment from the couple's engagement celebrations. Soon after, Sánchez chimed in with a series of posts from their festivities, which featured her in various bride-like white and silver outfits.
During her chat with Vogue, Sánchez also discussed her philanthropic efforts and being a mom. Read on to learn more about Sánchez and the life she has built with Bezos.
What is Lauren Sánchez known for?
Sánchez has had a wide-ranging career.
In her earlier days, she was a morning news anchor of the local Fox television news program “Good Day L.A,” according to a profile from The Hollywood Reporter. Sánchez was host on the first season of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and later hosted "Extra." She won an Emmy in 1999.
According to the outlet, before she was a host, Sánchez studied journalism at the University of Southern California while on a scholarship. She revealed to Vogue that she originally enrolled at El Camino College when she was 19 and struggled with dyslexia at the time.
One of her journalism professors at the California community college helped her transfer to USC. Sánchez expressed her gratitude for the former teacher when speaking to Vogue. "She literally changed the trajectory of my life," she said.
According to her credits on IMDB, Sánchez has also made various appearances in movie projects, including the 1999 movie “Fight Club” the 2006 film “Akeelah and the Bee" and the 2015 movie “Ted 2.”
Does Lauren Sánchez fly helicopters?
In her profile with The Hollywood Reporter, the media personality shared that she contributed to the Christopher Nolan film “Dunkirk” as an aerial filming expert.
Sánchez said that she grew up around flying. Her father was a flight instructor who also rebuilt planes.
According to Vogue, Sánchez’s father worked as a pilot and a mechanic. Meanwhile, her mother, who also obtained her pilot’s license, worked for the city of Albuquerque.
Following in her parents' footsteps, Sánchez went to flight school and earned her helicopter license in June 2016. Eventually, she launched Black Ops Aviation, an aerial filming company that supports film productions in capturing aerial footage.
Speaking about being a woman in the male-dominated helicopter and air space industries, Sánchez told The Hollywood Reporter, “There’s nothing physical about flying a helicopter. You can be 5-foot-1 or 6-foot-4. There’s no reason more women aren’t in this.”
Was Lauren Sánchez previously married?
Sánchez used to be married to Patrick Whitesell. The businessman is currently the executive chairman of Endeavor, an entertainment and media agency.While married to Whitesell from 2005 to 2019, Sánchez went by the name Lauren Sánchez-Whitesell.
She was in a previous relationship with former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Does Lauren Sánchez have children?
She is a mom of three. Sánchez shares daughter Ella, 15, and son Evan, 17, with Whitesell. She and Gonzalez also have a 22-year-old son named Nikko.
"I think people don’t realize how important being a mom is to me, because I don’t put it on social media, but it’s my most important job," she told the Wall Street Journal in January 2023.
Nikko spoke to Vogue for his mom's December cover story. He shared memories from his childhood and said Sánchez was the “team mom” every year when he played football in high school.
He also recalled going to work with his mom when she was a news anchor for "Good Day L.A." "Growing up it did feel like it was me and her against the world,” the proud son said.
In her interview with the publication, Sánchez said that Nikko's dad and his wife, October Gonzalez, are two of her closest friends.
Gonzalez, his wife, Bezos' children, Sánchez's children and more members of their families joined the couple at their home for Thanksgiving last year, Vogue reported.
Here's what she's said about her relationship with Jeff Bezos
Bezos and his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, filed for divorce in January 2019. Hours after the announcement, the National Enquirer published news of Bezos and Sanchez's relationship in an article that included text messages and leaked photos.
Since that rocky start, they have been open about their relationship, posting frequently about each other and celebrating each others' accomplishments.
After Bezos made his first trip to space with his company Blue Origin in July 2021, he mentioned Sánchez and his family in his post-flight press conference.
“We have a bunch of close friends here too, it just makes me realize how much I love you and how much I’m loved,” he said.
Posting about a family vacation with Bezos and her son Nikko, Sánchez wrote, "Nothing better than this."
For Bezos' birthday in 2023, she posted a heartfelt tribute: “Happy birthday to the man of my dreams, who lights up my world with his laughter and kind heart. You have shown me that no great love is not bravely fought for. Thank you for always being by my side and for being the most loving and supportive partner.”
The two frequently express their love for each other by saying the phrase, "Love you to space and back," according to Vogue.
