Just weeks after Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez held their lavish $50 million wedding in Venice, Italy, the couple filed a court motion in California seeking nearly $190,000 in legal fees from Michael’s estranged brother, Michael Sánchez. This July 2025 filing revives a bitter family dispute that began six years ago over leaked private messages. The ongoing battle has cost millions and deeply divided the siblings, transforming a media scandal into a drawn-out courtroom fight.
Scandal Begins
The trouble started in January 2019 when the National Enquirer published private text messages between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, both married to other people at the time. The story triggered a wave of investigations and lawsuits that continue today. Bezos accused the tabloid’s publisher, American Media Inc., of trying to blackmail him by threatening to release nude photos unless he dropped his inquiry into the source of the leak.
Bezos made his claims public by sharing emails from the company. He vowed to expose those responsible, stating he would “roll this log over and see what crawls out.” This bold response set off a chain of events that pulled in family members and security experts. The affair also led to Bezos’s divorce from his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Scott, adding to the public scrutiny.
Suspicions Point to Michael
Private investigators hired by Bezos, led by security expert Gavin de Becker, soon zeroed in on Michael Sánchez as the likely source of the leak. Reports showed Michael had signed a $200,000 nondisclosure agreement with the National Enquirer just before the story broke. While Michael admitted working with the tabloid, he denied handing over any explicit photos.
The investigation strained ties within the Sánchez family right away. Michael, a Hollywood talent manager and Lauren’s brother, faced accusations of betraying his sister’s privacy for personal gain. He called his deal with the tabloid a “deal with the devil” to control how the story came out and shield the couple. These revelations turned suspicion into open conflict, widening the family divide.
Family Feud Deepens
By February 2020, Michael sued Bezos and de Becker for defamation, claiming they wrongly accused him of leaking nude photos and ruined his reputation. Lauren’s legal team fired back with a strong statement, labeling his actions a “deep and unforgivable betrayal” for sharing her private details with the press. Michael’s case leaned on reports from journalists, but it lacked solid proof.
No contact has existed between Michael and Lauren since 2019, despite efforts by their mother, Eleanor, to mediate. The feud showed starkly at the couple’s June 2025 Venice wedding, attended by stars like Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, and Tom Brady, but not Michael or their mother. This exclusion underscored the lasting hurt from years of accusations and silence.
Court Rulings and New Demands
In November 2020, Judge John Doyle threw out Michael’s lawsuit under California’s Anti-SLAPP law, which protects free speech on public matters. The judge ruled Michael’s evidence was hearsay from reporters and inadmissible, with no proof Bezos or de Becker shared the claims publicly. Bezos then asked for $1.7 million in fees to cover over 2,000 hours from multiple lawyers.
Doyle cut the award to $218,385 in fees plus $36,000 in costs in March 2021, calling the original bill too high for seven partners and 11 associates. The fight did not end there. In July 2025, shortly after their honeymoon in Ibiza, Bezos and Sánchez demanded $182,374 more in fees and $8,182 in costs, with lawyer rates from $549 to $1,225 per hour. Their filing calls Michael’s suit a “multi-year campaign of harassment” aimed at forcing a payout.
Added Layers to the Dispute
Complicating matters, Bezos claimed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hacked his phone in 2018 via WhatsApp, with a UN report citing “reasonable certainty” of involvement, though the FBI later scaled back due to weak evidence. The Anti-SLAPP law helped Bezos by shifting the burden to Michael to prove his claims quickly. Michael’s team has called the fee requests excessive, but the courts have sided with the couple so far.
This saga shows how privacy fights among the rich can destroy family bonds and rack up huge bills with no end in view. As demands for payment grow, questions linger about any chance of mending ties amid the anger and expense. The case remains a vivid example of wealth, media, and personal grudges colliding in court.
Sources
Jeff Bezos accuses tabloid of extortion. The Guardian, February 2019
LA Court dismisses Michael Sánchez defamation case. Los Angeles Times, November 2020
Details on Bezos $1.7 million legal fees request. Reuters, January 2021
California Anti-SLAPP law explained by legal experts. Stanford Law Review, 2022
United Nations report on Saudi hack allegation. UN News, January 2020
Vanity Fair interview with Michael Sánchez. Vanity Fair, February 2019