Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani‘s son Anant Ambani‘s pre-wedding celebrations have sparked outrage among locals in Portofino, Italy. The lavish event, which included a luxury cruise and exclusive access to the bay area, has left businesses and residents fuming.

What Happened: Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, hosted a four-day luxury cruise from Palermo to the south of France and back to celebrate his son’s engagement to Radhika Merchant. The cruise included visits to Rome, Portofino, Genoa, and Cannes, where the celebrations took place, reported India Times.

However, the closure of the bay area for the event, a first in the history of the picturesque town, has caused significant inconvenience to local businesses and residents. Several restaurants were approached to cater to the event, with menu items priced between €7,000 and €10,000 (₹6.3 lakh – ₹9 lakh).

Despite the high prices, the short notice given to the restaurants, including the renowned Il Puny, has been deemed insulting and inappropriate by the manager, Andrea Miroli. Miroli expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that the last-minute offer was offensive and disrespectful to the restaurant’s reputation and its patrons.

"We were offered €10,000 just 20 days before the event. I find this offensive, bad mannered and incorrect. I have my customers and an illustrious history to protect," Miroli said.

Locals and visitors have taken to social media to express their frustration over the inaccessibility of various locations in Portofino. The closure of the bay area, a significant tourist attraction, has inconvenienced many, sparking widespread criticism.

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Why It Matters: The Ambani family’s pre-wedding celebrations have been the talk of the town, with a string of high-profile events leading up to the wedding.

From a performance by pop sensation Rihanna to the grand entrance of Anil Ambani in a Warren Buffett-backed Chinese EV, the celebrations have been nothing short of extravagant.

The Ambani family’s opulent celebrations have also attracted high-profile guests from the business and tech sectors, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: WEF