Indian billionaire's son holds epic multi-million dollar wedding

The wedding of Anant Ambani, son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, which attracted stars and politicians from all over the world, cost nearly $600 million.

The Guardian newspaper reported, citing available data, that the engagement party, which precedes the wedding by several months, will cost more than $600 million, which is roughly equivalent to 0.5% of Ambani's total wealth.

According to the newspaper, the grand finale of the wedding ceremony will be held from July 12 to 14, after which Anant Ambani, 29, will finally marry Radhika Merchant, also 29.

The event has dominated headlines in India and around the world for months, with estimates suggesting the 5-month-long wedding is likely to cost over $600 million.

Among the Mumbai residents who were caught up in the glamour of the party was Karima Sethi, 26, who braved the rain in the hope of seeing some of the famous guests.

“People talk about big Indian weddings, but there has never been anything like this before, with so many big celebrities coming from all over the world,” she said.

"It feels like the Oscars and a royal wedding at the same time," she added. "It's great that the world gets to see this rich, cultural side of India for once, instead of it just being known as a country of poverty."

Lear Kala, a columnist for the society and culture section of the Indian Express, linked the event to the lavish parades of ancient Indian royal families, when the rulers of princely states would throw lavish weddings to show off and share their wealth with the kingdom.

“It was a crazy show, a statement that the Ambani family has arrived not just in India but globally,” Kala said, adding: “They seem to want to re-brand themselves as the Windsors of India.”

She says Mukesh Ambani's status as a self-made man, who rose from humble beginnings to become the head of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, gives the family a unique status among the public, who widely view them as aspirational icons despite claims of massive political support.

“The Ambani family is the only family that can get away with such massive extravagance,” Kala adds. “No one else in India has that kind of power and social capital.”

The wedding was also attended by the brightest stars of art, politics and sports, as the celebration lasted for four days. Among the names that attended were: Rihanna, Justin Bieber, former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin Nasser, singer Adele, Lana Del Rey, Drake, David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, John Cena, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and many others.