Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, were seen climbing the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. The couple arrived in Sydney on Friday afternoon via a US$80-million private jet after a three-day visit to Fiji.
Bezos, who Forbes ranks as the fourth-richest person in the world, and Sanchez were accompanied by American film producer Brian Grazer and his wife, Veronica Smiley Grazer, as part of a group climb. This marks Bezos's first reported trip to Sydney since 2016.
The couple was also seen dining at an upscale restaurant in eastern Sydney on Friday evening, preceded by a security detail. The specific purpose of their visit to Australia has not been publicly disclosed, and it remains unclear if the trip has a business objective beyond sightseeing.
BridgeClimb Sydney offers climbs of the Harbour Bridge, with prices starting at $248 per person for standard climbs and $3,900 for private sessions.
Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in mid-2021 but continues as executive chairman. His current focus is largely on his aerospace company, Blue Origin, which is a competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX. Blue Origin's satellite division secured a contract last year to provide internet to rural and regional Australia, replacing the NBN Co's existing satellites. Amazon's Web Services also operates 13 data centers in Australia, primarily located in Sydney.