Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s OTT pre-wedding bash: Asia’s richest man’s son and his wealthy fiancée celebrated 3 days of events with Rihanna, Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump and Bill Gates

Mar 6 , 2024

Mark Zuckerberg (center) with billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani (right) and Radhika Merchant at their pre-wedding bash in Jamnagar, India, on March 2. Photo: Reliance group via AP

Tycoons, heads of state, and Hollywood and Bollywood stars headed to Jamnagar, India – but not even a US$6 million performance bill was enough to ensure Rihanna didn’t get Merchant’s name wrong

The guest list included Bill Gates and Paula Hurd, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan – who admired Anant’s US$1 million Richard Mille watch – Sundar Pichai, and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

When you’re pocketing a cool US$6.3 million to perform at a wedding bash, you might assume basic name recall would be part of the package. But apparently not for Rihanna, who only managed to remember half of the lovebirds’ names.

During the pop star’s performance at the multimillion-dollar pre-wedding (yup, pre-wedding, not even the actual wedding) of Anant Ambani, son of Asia’s richest man, and Radhika Merchant, she mispronounced the bride-to-be’s name while congratulating the couple.

“Good evening everyone. It is my honour to be here tonight. I have never been to India. And thanks to the Ambani family, I am here tonight. Anant and Radiki [Radhika], thank you for having me here,” she said.

Whoops. Anyhow, it looks like she had a blast – as did the hosts and all of their 1,000-plus guests at the three-day prenuptial bash taking place four months before the actual ceremony.

Rihanna poses for a picture before she leaves after performing at the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, at the airport in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, on March 2. Photo: Reliance Industries/Handout via Reuters

Tycoons from around the world and heads of state, as well as Hollywood and Bollywood stars, descended on the small western Indian city of Jamnagar on Friday where billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani kick-started a big fat wedding celebration for his youngest son.

All eyes were on Anant, 28, and his long-time girlfriend Radhika, 29, who will tie the knot in July. Radhika is the daughter of Viren Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., and entrepreneur Shaila Merchant.

Jared Kushner, daughter Arabella and Ivanka Trump posing for a photograph with billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani at a pre-wedding bash of Mukesh’s son Anant Ambani in Jamnagar, India, on March 1. Photo: Reliance group via AP