Amazon founder Jeff Bezos marked his latest victory in the billionaire space race by ensuring that there was absolutely no space between himself and his rumored fiancée Lauren Sanchez on Friday, when the pair were pictured enjoying a very intimate public embrace during a day out in New York City.
Bezos, 57, and his 51-year-old partner looked as though they were in a universe all their own as they locked lips in the middle of a bustling Manhattan street, seeming oblivious to the hoards of people passing by as they shared their romantic kiss.
Both Bezos and Sanchez were grinning from ear-to-ear as they separated from their public embrace – which left the billionaire Amazon tycoon with a smear of his girlfriend’s pink lipstick across his face.
The couple, whose romance was publicly revealed just hours after Bezos announced that he was divorcing his then-wife Mackenzie Scott in January 2019, looked as though they may have been reuniting for the first time since the Amazon founder traveled to Texas to watch Blue Origin’s second successful passenger flight into space.
Wednesday’s space flight marked a milestone moment not only for Bezos, but for Star Trek actor William Shatner, 90, who officially became the oldest person to ever travel into space when he joined the three other passengers on-board the New Shepard rocket.
Although Bezos’ beaming expression on Friday indicated that he is thrilled with his latest atmospheric accomplishment, his quest to win the space race and beat rivals like Tesla founder Elon Musk and Virgin mogul Richard Branson has drawn ire from critics, including Prince William.
The royal bashed the ultra-wealthy tycoons on Thursday, insisting that they should be focusing their energies and their finances on ‘trying to repair this planet’ rather than conquering new heights.
Pucker up: Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez were pictured putting on a very public display of affection on a busy New York City street on Friday – amid ongoing criticism of his involvement in the billionaire space race
No need to re-Kindle this romance! Bezos, 57, and Sanchez, 51, appeared oblivious to the crowds of people around them as they locked lips
Celebrations? The couple’s public display of affection comes just two days after Bezos launched another successful Blue Orbit passenger flight – a journey that gave actor William Shatner, 90, the title of oldest person to ever go into space
Happy as can be: The ongoing space race between billionaires like Bezos, Richard Branson and Elon Musk has drawn ire from critics, including Prince William, who slammed the competition, insisting they should focus on ‘trying to repair this planet’
Hours after Shatner and the other three passengers on New Shepard returned safely to Earth – where they were personally greeted by Bezos – Prince William appeared to rebuke the billionaire space race during an interview with the BBC.
Bling thing: Sanchez was pictured showing off a large diamond ring on her wedding finger as she grabbed the back of Bezos’ head and pulled him into the kiss
While discussing the current issues facing the climate, the Duke of Cambridge, 39, said: ‘We need some of the world’s greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live.’
However on Friday it looked as though any backlash over Bezos’ involvement in the space race couldn’t have been further from his mind, or his partner’s.
Sanchez was dressed to the nines for the couple’s sun-filled day in the city, with the mother-of-three taking full advantage of the balmy Manhattan weather in a short, figure-hugging orange dress that bared her toned legs.
She dressed up the ensemble with several high-price designer pieces, including a tan Hermes Birkin handbag that is worth upwards of $30,000, and a pair of $580 Alexander McQueen sneakers.
Despite the warm weather in the city on Friday, she also added a white jacket over the look.
However the most eye-catching aspect of her look was the large diamond ring that she was seen sporting on her wedding finger – a stunning accessory that she has been seen wearing on several occasions in the past, sparking ongoing speculation that she and Bezos are secretly engaged.
Although they have yet to address those rumors, they made sure that everyone in their orbit could see just how in love they are as they embraced in the street, with Sanchez pulling her partner in for another kiss on the cheek as they walked along the street together.
In place of the bold Blue Orbit jumpsuit he was seen modeling in Texas on Wednesday, Bezos opted instead for a casual pair of jeans, a black polo shirt, and a pair of black Chelsea boots.
Dolled up: As well as her dazzling accessory, Sanchez added several high-priced designer pieces to her look, including an Hermes Birkin handbag, which is worth upwards of $30,000, and a pair of $580 Alexander McQueen sneakers
Oh hey there: The mother-of-three was pictured grinning from ear to ear as she and Bezos reunited on the sidewalk
Reunion? Bezos traveled to Texas for the launch of Blue Origin’s New Shephard rocket, which carried four people – including Star Trek star Shatner – into space on Wednesday
Summer fling! Sanchez was dressed to impress for her reunion with Bezos, wearing a short, figure-hugging orange dress – allowing her to take full advantage of the balmy Manhattan temperatures on Friday
The royal’s comments came as Shatner, who is famed for his role as Captain Kirk in the 1960s sci-fi series, ventured 351,186 feet above Earth’s surface where he spent three minutes in weightlessness with astronauts Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries and Audrey Powers.
As a shaky Shatner emerged from the capsule, he instantly wrapped his arms around the Blue Origin and Amazon founder and said he was struck by the vulnerability of Earth and the relative sliver of its atmosphere.
‘Everybody in the world needs to do this,’ he said.
‘To see the blue color whip by and now you’re staring into blackness, that’s the thing.
‘The covering of blue, this sheath, this blanket, this comforter of blue that we have around, we say, ”Oh, that’s blue sky.” And then suddenly you shoot through it all, and you’re looking into blackness, into black ugliness.’
Take the lead: Sanchez took Bezos’ arm as they navigated the busy sidewalk together
Young love: Both of them looked ecstatic to be in New York together on the gorgeous fall day
Ready for a call? Bezos held hands with Sanchez as they walked and used his free hand to carry his cellphone
Talk about love! The billionaire appeared to have a picture of his ladylove as his screensaver on his phone
Family fun: The couple was joined by Sanchez’s son Nikko Gonzalez when they went to lunch
Safety first: Bezos, Sanchez, and her son were seen leaving the restaurant wearing masks, with the entrepreneur opting for black one that matched his polo shirt
Happy as can be: The couple seemed to be enjoying each other’s company as they chatted on the sidewalk
Check it out: They both had smiles on their faces as Bezos pointed to something off in the distance
‘As you look down, there’s your blue down there with the black up there. There is Mother Earth and comfort and there is — is there death? I don’t know. Is that the way death is?’
‘I don’t know. Was that death? Is that the way death is?’
Breaking into tears, Shatner told Bezos: ‘I’m so filled with emotion with what just happened. I hope I never recover from this.’
‘It’s so much larger than me and life, and it hasn’t got anything to do with the little green hand or the little blue orb.’
The space venture came just a week after Musk, 50, whose SpaceX Mars program aims to place humans on Mars, said that the idea of an ‘off-planet factory’ for his cars may not happen in the near future, but it was a possibility in his lifetime.
During Tesla’s shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas, Musk said: ‘So, we are many years before Tesla’s first off-planet factory.
‘I mean, I would like to see one before I am dead. That would be cool.