Making a splash! Lauren Sanchez pals around with surfer Laird Hamilton in a string bikini while aboard her fiancé Jeff Bezos' superyacht in St. Tropez - before jetting off on a helicopter
- Sanchez, 53, was spotted hanging out with Hamilton, 59, on the Koru Saturday
- A few days later, she was seen leaving the yacht's support vessel via helicopter
- Sanchez and Bezos have been traveling the Mediterranean for about a month
Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, were spotted hanging out with surfer Laird Hamilton in St. Tropez over the weekend while vacationing on the Amazon founder's $500 million superyacht Koru.
The former news anchor, 53, was clad in a black string bikini and a matching sarong as she palled around with their guest on the vessel, which was parked off the coast of the resort town in the South of France on Saturday.
Hamilton, 59, was shirtless and wearing swim trunks while he chatted with Sanchez, who shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of classic aviator sunglasses.
They were both barefoot as they stood on the back of the boat, where a pile of paddle boards was stacked.
![Lauren Sanchez was spotted palling around with surfer Laird Hamilton aboard her fiancé Jeff Bezos' $500 million superyacht Koru on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341751-12215821-image-m-27_1687291022153.jpg)
Lauren Sanchez was spotted palling around with surfer Laird Hamilton aboard her fiancé Jeff Bezos' $500 million superyacht Koru on Saturday
![They were both barefoot and in their swimsuits as they hung out on the back of the boat](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341743-12215821-image-m-21_1687290799447.jpg)
They were both barefoot and in their swimsuits as they hung out on the back of the boat
![Sanchez, 53, was dressed in a black string bikini and a matching sarong](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341737-12215821-image-m-23_1687290896139.jpg)
Sanchez, 53, was dressed in a black string bikini and a matching sarong
Hamilton took advantage of the yacht's water toys and enjoyed some solo paddle boarding on the Mediterranean Sea.
Bezos, 59, didn't appear to be outside with them, but he was seen riding one of Koru's speedboats with a group of people, including Hamilton.
The surfer was also with the couple and their guests when they were spotted walking St. Tropez on Saturday.
A few days later, Sanchez was photographed leaving the Koru's $75 million support vessel, Abeona, on a helicopter, while in Antibes, France, on Monday.
The Black Ops Aviation founder, who is a helicopter pilot, was dressed casually in a white tank top, blue cargo pants, and sneakers.
Her raven hair was worn loose around her shoulders, and she had on a pair of aviator sunglasses. Her bags were packed, but it's unclear if their vacation has officially come to an end.
Bezos was not with her when she hopped aboard the chopper.
The couple has spent roughly a month vacationing in the Mediterranean on his new superyacht, making stops in a number of resort towns in Spain, France, and Italy.
![Bezos, 59, didn't appear to be outside with them, but he was seen riding one of Koru's speedboats with a group of people, including Hamilton](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341723-12215821-image-a-24_1687290917403.jpg)
Bezos, 59, didn't appear to be outside with them, but he was seen riding one of Koru's speedboats with a group of people, including Hamilton
![Another man who was wearing swim trunks and a helmet was also outside with them](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341745-12215821-image-m-28_1687291048453.jpg)
Another man who was wearing swim trunks and a helmet was also outside with them
![Sanchez shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of classic aviators](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341739-12215821-image-m-30_1687291075550.jpg)
Sanchez shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of classic aviators
![A shirtless Hamilton showed off his tan while soaking up the sun in his swim trunks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341747-12215821-image-m-51_1687292197716.jpg)
A shirtless Hamilton showed off his tan while soaking up the sun in his swim trunks
![The surfer was seen pointing to something off in the distance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341735-12215821-image-m-52_1687292352379.jpg)
The surfer was seen pointing to something off in the distance
They were first seen on the deck of the floating mansion on May 18 after flying into Europe on a private jet.
Bezos and Sanchez were joined by Sanchez's two teenage children, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Patrick Whitesell. The mom also has a 22-year-old son, Nikko Gonzales, with her former NFL star ex Tony Gonzales.
There was a third teen with them who appeared to be one of the billionaire's sons.
Bezos has four children with his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott. Their oldest son, Preston Bezos, was born in 2000, and they also have two younger sons and a daughter they adopted from China.
Little is known about their three younger children, including their names and ages.
It's unclear if the kids were with them throughout the entire trip.
As the third richest man in the world, Bezos is no stranger to taking his ladylove on lavish vacations, but this will likely be a summer for the books.
The Amazon boss popped the question to the Emmy Award-winning journalist on board his new superyacht last month, sources told DailyMail.com.
![Sanchez was smiling as she leaned against a stack of paddle boards](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341731-12215821-image-m-53_1687292382878.jpg)
Sanchez was smiling as she leaned against a stack of paddle boards
![Hamilton took advantage of the yacht's water toys and enjoyed some solo paddle boarding on the Mediterranean Sea](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341727-12215821-image-m-38_1687291306935.jpg)
Hamilton took advantage of the yacht's water toys and enjoyed some solo paddle boarding on the Mediterranean Sea
![Sanchez didn't appear to go into the water with Hamilton](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341725-12215821-image-a-35_1687291251668.jpg)
Sanchez didn't appear to go into the water with Hamilton
![Sanchez and Bezos have been traveling on the Koru for about a month. They were first spotted on the deck of the floating mansion on May 18](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341741-12215821-image-m-39_1687291318253.jpg)
Sanchez and Bezos have been traveling on the Koru for about a month. They were first spotted on the deck of the floating mansion on May 18
![Bezos popped the question to Sanchez on board his new superyacht last month, sources told DailyMail.com](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341729-12215821-image-a-47_1687291670188.jpg)
Bezos popped the question to Sanchez on board his new superyacht last month, sources told DailyMail.com
![Bezos and Sanchez have been spotted both alone and with guests during their travels](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341733-12215821-image-a-48_1687291672892.jpg)
Bezos and Sanchez have been spotted both alone and with guests during their travels
Early on in the inaugural voyage, they were seen kissing and canoodling on board the Koru while Sanchez was wearing a massive gemstone on her ring finger — sparkling proof that she said, 'Yes.'
When exactly Bezos and Sanchez first got together remains unknown, but their affair was exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019.
Soon after, the entrepreneur and investor split from Scott, his wife of over 25 years. Following their divorce, Scott became one of the richest women in the world, with a four percent stake in Amazon.
Sanchez was married to Whitesell when her relationship with Bezos was outed. Her then-husband was reportedly the one who introduced her to Bezos in the first place.
Whitesell, a powerful man in his own right, is the executive chairman of Endeavor, the parent company of talent agency William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME).
Bezos and Scott finalized their divorce in April 2019 — the same month that Sanchez and Whitesell ended their marriage.
The couple made their first public appearance together in May 2019, before jetting off to St. Barts for the holidays.
![A few days after Sanchez was seen with Hamilton, she took a speedboat to the Koru's $75 million support vessel, Abeona, while they were in Antibes, France](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341755-12215821-image-a-32_1687291169065.jpg)
A few days after Sanchez was seen with Hamilton, she took a speedboat to the Koru's $75 million support vessel, Abeona, while they were in Antibes, France
![The helicopter pilot was dressed casually in a white tank and royal blue cargo pants](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341759-12215821-image-a-40_1687291616520.jpg)
The helicopter pilot was dressed casually in a white tank and royal blue cargo pants
![Sanchez stores her helicopter on the Abeona, which is fitted with a helipad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341769-12215821-image-a-41_1687291621706.jpg)
Sanchez stores her helicopter on the Abeona, which is fitted with a helipad
![The Black Ops Aviation founder was seen leaving without Bezos on Monday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341767-12215821-image-a-42_1687291624954.jpg)
The Black Ops Aviation founder was seen leaving without Bezos on Monday
Their trip on the yacht, which is named the Koru after the Maori word for 'new beginnings,' comes more than five years after it was commissioned.
Known then as 'Project 721,' the ship was built in the historic port of Zwijndrecht, close to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, by sailboat specialists Oceanco.
Previous designs include the 350-foot Black Pearl, an all-black aluminum sailing yacht designed for Russian billionaire Oleg Burlakov, who died of Covid in 2021 and whose family still owns the ship.
The Koru is the second largest sailing ship in the world, surpassed only by the Philippe Starcke-designed Sailing Yacht A, which is owned by Russian fertilizer billionaire Andrey Melnichenko.
Bezos may have been paying homage to Sanchez when he designed the megayacht, which features a wooden sculpture of a Roman goddess carved into the ship's bow that looks strikingly similar to his bride-to-be.
It is unclear when the gold-burnished sculpture became part of the vessel's design, but it was commissioned in 2018, a year before their affair was exposed.
The yacht was finally handed over to Bezos in April after undergoing sea trials in February.
![Sanchez was all smiles as the crew packed up her bags before she took off](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341765-12215821-image-a-44_1687291632971.jpg)
Sanchez was all smiles as the crew packed up her bags before she took off
![Bezos and Sanchez have gotten plenty of use out of the helicopter during their trip](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341757-12215821-image-a-45_1687291638450.jpg)
Bezos and Sanchez have gotten plenty of use out of the helicopter during their trip
![The couple has made stops in a number of resort towns in Spain, France, and Italy, since the start of their inaugural voyage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341753-12215821-image-a-46_1687291645452.jpg)
The couple has made stops in a number of resort towns in Spain, France, and Italy, since the start of their inaugural voyage
![Sanchez's raven hair was worn loose around her shoulders, and she had on a pair of aviator sunglasses](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/21/72341763-12215821-image-a-43_1687291629934.jpg)
Sanchez's raven hair was worn loose around her shoulders, and she had on a pair of aviator sunglasses
![Sanchez's bags were packed, but it's unclear if their vacation has officially come to an end](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/20/20/72341761-12215821-image-a-31_1687291095597.jpg)
Sanchez's bags were packed, but it's unclear if their vacation has officially come to an end
Last year, before the Koru had even been launched, the vast size of her masts sparked an international controversy when Rotterdam announced that the middle section of the 100-year-old Koningshaven Bridge would be removed so the superyacht could make its way into the North Sea.
According to reports, Bezos had said he would pay to have the bridge dismantled and rebuilt again, but his request was refused.
Locals created a petition to pelt the boat with rotten eggs on its maiden voyage, which garnered thousands of signatures.
In response to the backlash, Rotterdam's Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said no permit had been applied for, and the masts were eventually attached downstream in Rotterdam harbor.
The three-masted schooner yacht was finally delivered at the end of April and sailed from the Netherlands to Mallorca via Gibraltar.
Along with a private submarine, Koru sails with a smaller 250-foot support vessel that has been kitted out with a helipad and is stocked with a collection of speedboats and supercars for Bezos and Sanchez to enjoy.
The main ship, which is painted midnight blue and has gold accents, boasts three decks, a pool, and a huge sun terrace.
The interior is reportedly inspired by Eos, a 305-foot yacht owned by former Fox CEO Barry Diller that costs $25 million a year to maintain.
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