Lauren Sánchez Bezos arrived at the White House expecting a glamorous night alongside her billionaire husband.
The 56-year-old former journalist attended the state dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, wearing a figure-hugging black off-the-shoulder gown with a plunging neckline.
It was a look that was impossible to miss — and not everyone was impressed by what they saw.
Dramatic plunge
Lauren Sánchez Bezos, 56, arrived at the White House on September 24 alongside her husband, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, for the state dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Jeff kept things classic in a black tuxedo and bow tie, although his sunglasses added an unexpected touch to the otherwise traditional look.
Lauren, meanwhile, made a much bolder entrance.
The former journalist stepped out in a vintage black Alexander McQueen gown featuring an off-the-shoulder neckline and a dramatic plunge. She paired the figure-hugging dress with sparkling diamond drop earrings and a large statement necklace that immediately drew attention.
It was undeniably a glamorous look — but not everyone watching the arrivals saw it that way.
”Money does not buy one class”
As photos from the evening began circulating online, social media quickly divided over Lauren’s choice of dress. Some praised her appearance and defended her decision to wear whatever she wanted, while others questioned whether the revealing gown was appropriate for such a high-profile diplomatic event.
”Money does not buy one class. She dresses terribly. So inappropriate,” one user wrote on X.
Another asked, ”Why are they invited to an event and eating on the tax payer dime?”
And a third wasn’t holding back:
”Have some dignity for goodness sake. This is a state dinner and you are 56 years old.”
But not everyone agreed.
”Who else doesn’t care and thinks she should wear whatever she wants?!!!” one person asked.
Another wrote, ”She looks great, and Jeff is very lucky to be her husband.”
Enormous diamond necklace
And some of the online chatter went even further, with people suggesting that Lauren’s dramatic look had managed to steal attention from the evening’s host, First Lady Melania Trump.
Melania had taken a very different approach for the black-tie occasion, opting for a sophisticated black Dolce & Gabbana ensemble featuring tailored trousers, a silk cummerbund and a white Saint Laurent blouse with an oversized bow.
Fashion coverage noted the contrast between the two looks, with one outlet even going so far as to claim that Sánchez had “outshined and outdressed” the First Lady.
But it wasn’t just Lauren Sánchez’s dress that caught people’s attention. Her jewelry also became a talking point, especially the enormous diamond necklace around her neck — a piece that could reportedly be worth as much as $10 million.
Jewelry expert Ashleigh Bergman, founder of Milestones by Ashleigh Bergman, took a closer look at the eye-catching necklace when speaking with the Daily Mail.
“It appears to be slightly graduated emerald cuts estimated to be ranging from three to five cts per stone with a large emerald cut center stone, which probably ranges from 15 to 20cts,” Bergman explained.
The expert suggested the Riviera-style necklace may have been created by either Lorraine Schwartz or Samar Halimeh, two designers whose jewelry Sánchez has been seen wearing in the past.
As for its potential price tag, Bergman offered a staggering estimate:
”I would assume this necklace would be around $10 million.”
This wasn’t the first time Lauren’s fashion choices had sparked controversy. She faced similar backlash over the outfit she wore to President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
And in April 2024, she attended the state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko.
For the black-tie occasion, Sánchez wore a revealing crimson corset-style gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline, intricate lace detailing, structured boning and a floor-length skirt. She completed the look with metallic open-toe heels.
The dramatic red dress stood out at an event known for its traditionally formal dress code, with some describing it as one of the evening’s most daring looks.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have been together since 2019.
They got engaged in May 2023 and married on June 27, 2025, in a lavish ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy.