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Photos: Kardashians, Priyanka Chopra among guests at billionaire heir Anant Ambani's wedding

Ambani married pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant on Friday in Mumbai. The star-studded guest list also included Nick Jonas and John Cena.

Portrait of Saman Shafiq Saman Shafiq
USA TODAY

The son of India's richest man tied the knot on Friday, and the marathon wedding that began months ago is almost at the end. Or is it?

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani and wife Nita Ambani, married his childhood sweetheart, pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant, in an opulent wedding ceremony in Mumbai.

Thousands of guests attended the ceremony, including celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra and John Cena, and some of Bollywood's most recognizable stars.

No expense was spared on the lavish ceremony, complete with a red carpet where the wedding party and guests posed for photos for international photographers.

Here's what you need to know.

Billionaire tycoon and Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani (C), wife Nita Ambani (R) and son Anant Ambani pose for photos as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of Anant and his fiancee Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.

Who are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant?

Anant Ambani, 29, is the youngest son of Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, the head of Indian conglomerate Reliance, and his wife Nita Ambani. A graduate of Brown University, Anant is a director at Reliance's energy businesses, which range from fossil fuels to developing solar panel manufacturing, according to BBC News.

Radhika Merchant, 29, is the daughter of Viren Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare, a pharmaceutical firm. She is a graduate of New York University and serves as a director in her family company.

The couple got engaged in a traditional ceremony at Anant's Mumbai home in January.

Anant Ambani and fiancee Radhika Merchant pose for a picture during their Sangeet Ceremony in Mumbai, on July 5, 2024.

When is Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding?

Months of celebrations in India and Europe culminated in a wedding reception weekend that will be held from July 12 to 14 in Mumbai. The actual wedding ceremony, according to the Hindu tradition, took place on Friday at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, owned by the Ambanis.

Traffic in and around the convention center in Mumbai's upscale neighborhood of Bandra has been closed for the public over the weekend for the wedding and commuters have been advised to take alternate routes, according to an advisory issued by Mumbai Police.

Friday's event will be followed by two more days of festivities, an event for seeking blessings for the newly weds and a wedding reception.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wedding guest list

For a wedding as grand as this one, the guest list must also match. Which is why it comes as no surprise that some of the world's most influential people were invited to the event besides pretty much the entire Indian film industry.

Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, John Cena, Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair are just some of the names that were spotted on the red carpet.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas pose for photos as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of billionaire tycoon and Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas pose for photos as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of billionaire tycoon and Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.
Hollywood actor John Cena gestures as he arrives to attend the wedding ceremony of billionaire tycoon and Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.
Hollywood actor John Cena poses as he arrives to attend the wedding ceremony of billionaire Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani and fiancee Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.
Stylist Law Roach poses for pictures on the red carpet on the day of the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, India, July 12, 2024.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair pose for pictures on the red carpet on the day of the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, India, July 12, 2024.
Actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan pose for pictures on the red carpet on the day of the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, India, July 12, 2024.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, his wife Leena Al Ashqar and their children Shania Serena Infantino, Alessia Infantino, Sabrina Infantino, Dhalia Nora Infantino at the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, India on July 12, 2024.
Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt pose for photos as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024. Bhatt recently made her Hollywood debut in Netflix's "Heart of Stone" with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan.
Former captain of the Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his wife Sakshi Singh and daughter pose for photos as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of billionaire tycoon and Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Kim and Khloe Kardashian arrived in Mumbai late Thursday night with hair stylist Chris Appleton and their camera crew in tow for the wedding celebrations. Kim later teased that the sisters are also filming for "The Kardashians" so that fans can also see "Kim and Khloe take India."

Justin Bieber performs

Justin Bieber was one in the long list of celebrity performers who serenaded guests on July 5 during one of the events leading up to the wedding. The singer was reportedly paid $10 million for this exclusive performance, Indian media outlet Times of India reported.

Anant and Radhika's pre-wedding functions

Anant and Radhika's wedding celebrations kicked off with pre-wedding functions in March in the family's hometown of Jamnagar in the western state of Gujarat, also the location of Ambani's oil refinery − the largest in the world. Global magnates such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner were in attendance, while Rihanna performed a full concert during one of the events.

The grand pre-wedding functions were followed by a luxurious cruise in Europe at destinations such as France and Italy and performances by Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys and Andrea Bocelli. While the pre-wedding functions in Jamnagar were a public affair with pictures and videos splashed across social media, the cruise was a more subdued and private event, though visuals did eventually make their way to Instagram and TikTok.

The bride, Radhika, told Vogue that the cruise "was a retreat for the people that have contributed to our life in different ways."

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani (L) along with his wife Nita (4L) pose with their elder son Akash (R), his wife Shloka (2R), daughter Isha (4R) her husband Anand Piramal (3R) and younger son Anant (3L) his fiancé Radhika Merchant (2L) during Anant's engagement ceremony in Mumbai on January 19, 2023.

What is Mukesh Ambani's net worth?

Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, has a net worth of $83.4 billion according to Forbes, making him the ninth richest person in the world.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.

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