Red Flags We Can't Ignore In Lauren Sanchez & Jeff Bezos' Relationship

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos may be one of the richest couples in the world, but they're proof finances can't get rid of red flags. Ever since their relationship first hit headlines in 2019 it's been hard to ignore their potential issues — like things heating up while they were married to other people.

Bezos confirmed his split with his now ex-wife MacKenzie Bezos after 25 years on January 9, 2019, the same day a source at People claimed he'd been seeing Lauren Sanchez for a while. "Lauren and Jeff have been spending a lot of time together over the last year and especially the past few months. At first it was socially at parties... here and there. But their time together has definitely seemed to evolve, raising some eyebrows," they said.

And things were no less messy on Sanchez's side. She was married to Patrick Whitesell for 13 years, and their breakup came to light that same day. But things truly exploded on January 10, 2019, when National Enquirer leaked racy texts between Bezos and Sanchez, supposedly sent during their marriages. "Forming physical or emotional connections with others while still married is a huge red flag as it can indicate that both partners have issues staying faithful in a relationship," relationship expert Nicole Moore previously told us when pointing out Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's red flags. But that's hardly the only controversial aspect of this romance.

Jeff Bezos popped the question to Lauren Sanchez in May 2023, but they still hadn't tied the knot by February 2025. That put them several months outside the 12-to-18 month window it takes the average engaged couple to tie the knot in the U.S. Though many couples choose to be betrothed longer to save funds or to wait for their venue to become available, we can't imagine those factors hindering Bezos and Sanchez. The two have more than enough funds to pay for their dream day times over and the connections to make it happen quickly. They're even friendly with President Donald Trump, as Sanchez attended his inauguration in an outfit that missed the mark.

Their long engagement sparked whispers, with Daily Mail speculating in 2024 the delay could be because of his team preparing a prenup. "Jeff is so crazy about her that he would get married tomorrow if he could, but I hear that they are still sorting out a prenup. His lawyers won't let him move ahead without it," a source said.

Though a long engagement isn't always a definite red flag, it can be if one person wants to move things along and the other doesn't (or can't). Sanchez and Bezos haven't publicly confirmed if that's the case, but we know she's been making plans. "Very excited about it. Thinking about the dress, I have to say. I do have a Pinterest, I'm just like every other bride," she told Today in 2024.

It's not unusual for some family members to not get along with your spouse, but suing them takes things to a whole other level. In February 2020, Lauren Sanchez's brother Michael Sanchez accused the Amazon billionaire of defamation, claiming in legal documents that Bezos accused him of sharing nude photos of him with a media outlet. In a statement, Bezos's partner made it clear she was on his side amid the legal drama. "Michael is my older brother. He secretly provided my most personal information to the National Enquirer — a deep and unforgivable betrayal. My family is hurting over this new baseless and untrue lawsuit, and we truly hope my brother finds peace," she said (via People). The lawsuit was dismissed nine months later and, after some back and forth, the decision was upheld in 2022.

The former news anchor standing by Bezos isn't necessarily a bad thing if she felt her brother did wrong, but having your partner and family fighting isn't easy. Senior therapist Sally Baker told Metro it's important to have difficult conversations with your partner and family member to set expectations if you want them to spend time together. "Be clear about what they are and aren't willing to do to make a civil approach to coexisting in social events and gatherings," she said. Baker also suggested seeing a professional, such as a therapist, if they can't put their differences aside. "You can all do this together with a family therapist or counsellor if they are willing. Alternatively, you could seek it alone as situations such as this can be exhausting," she said.

After Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' eyebrow-raising relationship went public, they didn't wait long before getting serious. A source told People they were gathering moving boxes just over two weeks after their dating hit headlines. "They are very much together, and are planning to move in together," they claimed.

The problem is both had exited long-term marriages and jumped straight into their relationship. Because every person is different, there isn't a one-size-fits-all timescale for how long someone should hold off before getting serious with someone else. Nor is there a perfect time between getting into a new romance and moving in. But making a quick decision to live together can cause problems. As Neha Prabhu, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told MindBodyGreen, "Moving in together too soon can definitely create more conflict and stress in the relationship. When you live with someone, relational dynamics shift." If the two made the decision after truly thinking it through and having serious conversations about their expectations, they may not experience any issues. But if they combined their home lives on a whim because they got swept up in their new romance, they could see tension.

In 2023, Lauren Sanchez opened up about the very close relationship she has with Jeff Bezos. "We love to be together and we love to work together. We fly together. We work out together. We're together all the time," she told The Wall Street Journal. Though that may seem sweet on the surface, a couple living in each other's pockets isn't always healthy. As Nicole Moore explained to us while analyzing Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' relationship red flags, being attached at the hip could troublesome, particularly with work. "It becomes a red flag when one partner doesn't trust their creative vision enough without their partner's input," she explained.

Time apart outside of work is also imperative for a healthy relationship. It allows both people time to pursue their individual hobbies, spend one-on-one time with family and friends, and reflect on their relationship. It also gives couples something to talk about when the other returns home, often making the time they spend together feel more precious.

Though Lauren Sanchez amassed a very impressive net worth for herself, it's nothing compared to Forbes' third richest man in the world. Celebrity Net Worth claimed Sanchez is worth $30 million, while Bezos has amassed a seriously eye-watering $242 billion. Yes, billion. The possible red flag here is that their different funds could lead to a power imbalance. "While couples having disparate incomes is not always a problem, in some couples it turns into a power struggle dynamic," Nicole Moore previously told us. As the saying goes, more money, more issues.

In situations like this, Sanchez not being able to keep up with her partner's lavish lifestyle could leave her feeling inadequate. Equally, if Bezos feels he's always footing the bill for their adventures, that could lead to resentment. There's no doubting the businessman has been splashing the cash since he started dating Sanchez, either — and not in a way she could feasibly go halves on. In 2023, the businessman dropped $68 million and $79 million for two properties in Florida, almost five times Sanchez's net worth. In cases like these, it's important both show each other love outside of their finances, like spending time on creative Valentine's Day gifts that cost almost nothing but are incredibly sentimental.