The Reason Lauren Sánchez's Mom Didn't Get A Wedding Invitation Is Heartbreaking (& Goes Back Years)

One of the most head-scratching and weird details surrounding Lauren Sánchez's wedding choices was her guest list. There were tons of A-listers and celebs, including people we never even knew Lauren was close to. But very few members of her actual family showed up, and one important relative in particular, her mom, was missing. This led us down the rabbit hole of the Sánchez family's drama, and what we found was heartbreaking. The rift between Lauren and her mother Eleanor Sánchez began when the Bezos' affair story broke in 2019, and it involved another family member: Lauren's older brother, Michael Sánchez.

According to Michael, he had a hand in Lauren and Bezos' relationship being leaked to the press, but only did it because he wanted to "get ahead of the story," per The New York Times. He admitted that he signed an NDA agreeing to confirm that his sister was having an affair, so he could "manage the timing of the story and the way in which the affair was portrayed." Needless to say, Lauren wasn't buying it, especially since Michael was paid $200,000. She said in a statement, "Michael is my older brother. He secretly provided my most personal information to The National Enquirer — a deep and unforgivable betrayal."

But Michael's part in the drama wasn't finished. When Jeff Bezos' head of security told reporters that they were investigating Michael, he retaliated by suing Bezos and accusing the billionaire of blaming him for the leak. We can imagine that this only strained Michael and Lauren's relationship more, not just because it can be stressful when your partner and sibling cannot get along, but because Lauren clearly had good reasons to pick sides. With their growing rift, their mother Eleanor stepped in to try to broker peace, but Michael later told the Sunday Times that it was last time mother and daughter spoke, so we know the meeting didn't go well. Eleanor wasn't invited to Lauren's bridal party or the wedding, and as far as we know, the pair no longer have a relationship.

Lauren Sánchez might have an outgoing personality, but she's kept any information about her mother to a minimum. In fact, she's never publicly addressed their rift. Lauren did, however, mention her during a 2024 interview with Elle: "My mom also worked extremely hard, so I would spend the night at my grandmother's a lot," she said. She also explained why she doesn't speak Spanish fluently. "My mom [didn't teach me] because she told me she didn't want me to have an accent, because she thought that would hurt me."

On the bright side, what Lauren lacks with her mother and brother, she seems to make up for with the rest of her family. Lauren is still close to her father Ray Sánchez, who divorced her mother when she was seven. He's the one who helped her find a flight instructor when she decided to follow in her parents' piloting footsteps. "One day I told my dad, 'I think I want to learn to fly.' It may have been the best day of his life," she joked to People.

She's also close to her brother Paul Sánchez, who has shared that they talk at least three times a week. But of all her family members, Lauren seems closest to her half-sister Elena Blair, who's spoken publicly about their bond multiple times. In 2023, Blair posted a heartfelt birthday tribute on Instagram: "My sister and I are so close that our relationship is sometimes hard for others to understand ... You aren't just my sister — you are my soul mate and my best friend. I love you more than any words could ever express." While some could view the family's rift as a red flag for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's relationship, the fact that she maintains a great relationship with everyone else is proof that they just might be alright.