Lauren Sánchez

Lauren Wendy Sánchez was born on December 19, 1969, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Ray Sánchez, an aviation businessman, and Eleanor Sánchez, a former Los Angeles assistant deputy mayor.{{cite web |last=Nilles |first=Billy |date=January 18, 2019 |title=Inside Lauren Sanchez's Life Before Jeff Bezos |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1006233/multiple-engagements-a-controversial-pregnancy-and-a-list-friends-inside-lauren-sanchez-s-life-before-jeff-bezos |access-date=February 1, 2025 |website=E! Online}}{{cite news |last1=Gomez |first1=Adrian |date=January 12, 2019 |title=Celebrity buzz centers on 2 ABQ natives |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/albuquerque-journal/20190112/281479277573394 |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Albuquerque Journal |page=A1}} A third-generation Mexican-American, she attended Del Norte High School, participating in cheerleading and student assembly, and working at The Beach water park. After graduating high school in 1987, Sánchez studied acting and speech at the University of New Mexico. She later moved to California and attended El Camino College, where she was diagnosed with dyslexia after a professor identified her learning differences. This diagnosis has led her to support the International Dyslexia Association and advocate for more inclusive educational systems. She subsequently studied communications at the University of Southern California.{{cite web |date=September 16, 2024 |title=Lauren Sánchez says she's taking all-women crew up to space |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/lauren-sanchez-jeff-bezos-all-women-crew-to-space |access-date=February 1, 2025 |publisher=FOX 11 Los Angeles |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Bitsky |first=Leah |date=September 10, 2024 |title=Lauren Sánchez tears up detailing heartbreaking experience with dyslexia that made her feel 'dumb' |url=https://pagesix.com/2024/09/10/celebrity-news/lauren-sanchez-tears-up-detailing-heartbreaking-experience-with-dyslexia-that-made-her-feel-dumb/ |access-date=February 1, 2025 |website=Page Six}}{{cite web |last=Lankston |first=Charlie |date=September 25, 2024 |title=Jeff Bezo's fiancée Lauren Sanchez visits humble Albuquerque home |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lauren-sanchez-visits-humble-albuquerque-home-but-she-and-jeff-bezos-have-plenty-of-real-estate-to-choose-from-5d1a1953 |access-date=February 1, 2025 |website=MarketWatch}} In 1990, she won the international Models World Magazine Cover Girl Competition.

Sánchez began her career as a desk assistant at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. She also held positions as an anchor and reporter at KTVK-TV in Phoenix before joining the syndicated entertainment show Extra as a reporter. From there, Sánchez moved to Fox Sports Net, where she earned an Emmy nomination as anchor and correspondent for the sports magazine Going Deep, served as an anchor for Fox Sports News Primetime and later was an entertainment reporter for FSN's Best Damn Sports Show Period.

In 1999, Sánchez returned to KCOP-TV to anchor UPN News 13,{{cite news | title =Sanchez tapped news anchor at UPN 13| work=Variety| date =December 27, 1999 | url =https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/sanchez-tapped-news-anchor-at-upn-13-1117760316/| access-date =April 2, 2020}} where her team won an Emmy Award.{{cite news | title =With 7 Wins, KTTV Is No. 1 at the L.A. Emmys| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date =June 25, 2001 | url =https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-25-ca-14321-story.html| access-date =April 2, 2020}} In 1999. Sánchez was co-host on KTTV Fox 11's Good Day LA and anchor on the Fox 11 News at Ten.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxla.com/news/lauren-sanchez-jeff-bezos-all-women-crew-to-space|title=Lauren Sánchez says she's taking all-women crew up to space|first=FOX 11 Digital|last=Team|date=September 16, 2024|website=FOX 11}} She was the runner-up in the nationwide hosting competition during season 2 of The View in February 2000. The position was ultimately given to Lisa Ling. In 2005, Sánchez became the original host of FOX's popular dancing competition So You Think You Can Dance. Sánchez left the show after one season to have her second child. In 2009, Sánchez returned to Extra as weekend anchor and special correspondent. Sánchez continues to occasionally work on Good Day LA, Extra and other TV shows.

Sánchez was featured in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" issue in 2010 and Us Weekly's "Hot Bodies" issue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/who-is-lauren-sanchez-the-new-woman-in-jeff-bezos-life-amazon-ceo/20190112.htm|title=Who is Lauren Sanchez, the new woman in Jeff Bezos' life?|website=Rediff|language=en|access-date=March 3, 2020}}{{Failed verification|date=May 2022}}

In 2016, after learning to fly at age 40 and getting her pilot's license, she founded Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial film and production company.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/how-lauren-sanchez-became-pilot-at-40-wants-inspire-other-women-exclusive-8704074|title=Lauren Sánchez Became a Pilot at 40. Now She Wants to Inspire Other Women to Fly (Exclusive)|website=People.com}} Sánchez focuses on film and television projects which allow her to use her skills as a licensed pilot.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/meet-tv-anchor-turned-pilot-who-flies-helicopters-movies-1053207|title=Meet the TV Anchor Turned Pilot Who Now Flies Helicopters for Movies|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=December 12, 2017|language=en}} In 2024, she received the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award at the Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards for her expertise as a helicopter pilot and aviation businesswoman.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/lauren-sanchez-honored-aviation-award-8546684|title=Lauren Sánchez Hits the Red Carpet as the Pilot Is Honored with Aviation Award: 'Thrilled'|website=People.com}}

In 2024, Sanchez released her first children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, a story about a fly named Flynn who doesn't do well in school but is curious about life and accidentally gets stuck in the cockpit of a rocket that heads into space. The story is inspired by Sanchez' life and her struggles with dyslexia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/lauren-snchez-talks-new-childrens-book-fly-flew-113685396|title=Lauren Sánchez talks new children's book, 'The Fly Who Flew to Space'|first=Good Morning|last=America|website=Good Morning America}} It debuted on the New York Times Bestseller list on September 29, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2024/09/29/picture-books/|title=Children's Picture Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 29, 2024 - The New York Times|work=The New York Times |via=NYTimes.com}}

In February 2025, Sánchez was announced as a passenger for the first all-female flight aboard the New Shepard rocket, dubbed NS-31.{{Cite web |author1=Tariq Malik |date=2025-02-27 |title=Katy Perry will launch to space with historic all-female crew on Blue Origin rocket |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/katy-perry-and-historic-all-female-crew-will-launch-to-space-on-blue-origin-rocket |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Space.com |language=en}} The mission flew on April 14, 2025.

Sánchez is the vice-chairperson of Bezos Earth Fund, and helped promote their Greening America's Cities initiative, a seven-year $400 million commitment to help create and enhance greenspaces in underserved communities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-honored-conservation-international-2024|title=Conservation International Honors The Bezos Earth Fund's $10 Billion Pledge to Protect the Planet|first=Freya|last=Drohan|date=April 26, 2024|website=Vogue}}{{Cite web|url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/bezos-earth-fund-commits-400-million-for-urban-greenspace-across-u.s|title=Bezos Earth Fund commits $400 million for urban greenspace across U.S.|website=Philanthropy News Digest (PND)}} In March 2024, she pledged to donate $60 million to create centers that would focus on biomanufacturing and climate change.{{cite news |last1=Bohannon |first1=Molly |title=Bezos Earth Fund Invests $60 Million In Centers To Improve Alternative Meats |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/03/12/bezos-earth-fund-invests-60-million-in-centers-to-improve-alternative-meats/?sh=7e1ac27259fa |access-date=March 15, 2024 |work=Forbes |date=March 12, 2024 |language=en}} In October 2024, Sánchez and Bezos pledged $60 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to enable the restoration and improved management of {{Convert|1,600,000|acre|sqmi|abbr=off}} of land across more than a dozen states.{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2024/10/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-60m-donation-us-land-restoration/|title=Jeff Bezos and Fiancée Lauren Sánchez Are Donating $60M to Restore Land Across US|website=The New York Observer |date=October 23, 2024}} Sanchez was also honored by American nonprofit environmental organization Conservation International with its Global Visionary Award for her commitment to supporting pressing nature issues. Sánchez is part of the Bezos Courage and Civility Award which as of 2024 has granted $400 million to philanthropists.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63619512|title=Country star Dolly Parton gets $100m award from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos|work=BBC News|date=2022-11-14|access-date=2022-11-14}}{{cite news |title=Eva Longoria and Bill McRaven Receive $100 Million From Jeff Bezos |url=https://republicreporter.com/2024/03/eva-longoria-and-bill-mcraven-receive-100-million-from-jeff-bezos/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |work=The Republic Reporter |date=March 15, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |title=Jeff Bezos, At Post-Space Flight Press Conference, Says He's Giving $100 Million Each To Van Jones And José Andrés To Donate To Charities Of Their Choice |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/jeff-bezos-van-jones-jose-andres-1234796581/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |work=Deadline |date=July 20, 2021}} She also works with the Bezos Day One Fund, which helps homeless families with housing and free preschool education.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-donate-110-million-combat-homelessness-8749062|title=Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Donate $110 Million to Combat Homelessness: 'It's a Privilege to Help'|website=People.com}} Sánchez makes trips across the United States–Mexico border with This is About Humanity, an organization dedicated to providing support for separated and reunified families at the border.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/lauren-sanchez-volunteers-in-mexico-7852133|title=Lauren Sánchez Shares Photos of Her Volunteer Work in Mexico: 'An Incredibly Moving Experience'|website=People.com}} She was honored by the organization at their annual fundraising event in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/lauren-sanchez-thanks-fiance-jeff-bezos-this-is-about-humanity-event-1235575585/|title=Lauren Sanchez Thanks Fiancé Jeff Bezos for "Inspiring Me to Go Out Into the World and Make a Difference" at This Is About Humanity Event|first=Kirsten|last=Chuba|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 27, 2023}}

Sánchez's first son was born in February 2001. His father is former National Football League tight end Tony Gonzalez.

In August 2005, she married Patrick Whitesell, a Hollywood agent and founding partner of Endeavor talent agency.{{cite web | title=Dance Host Sanchez Weds Hollywood Agent | website=People.com | date=2008-03-20 | url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1097870,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809185039/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1097870,00.html | archive-date=2009-08-09 | url-status=dead | access-date=2023-01-01}} Their son was born in 2006, and their daughter was born in 2008.{{cite web | title=Dance Host Lauren Sanchez Has a Boy | website=People | date=2007-05-17 | url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1207512,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602095202/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1207512,00.html | archive-date=2009-06-02 | url-status=dead | access-date=2023-01-01}}{{cite web | title=Lauren Sanchez and Patrick Whitesell Welcome a Girl | website=People | date=2008-03-14 | url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20171868,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204231031/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20171868,00.html | archive-date=2009-02-04 | url-status=dead | access-date=2023-01-01}}

In 2018, Sánchez had an affair with businessman and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, while each was married to other people.{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2021 |title=Court Docs Reveal Big New Claims in the Jeff Bezos Affair Blowup |url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/jeff-bezos-affair-national-enquirer/}} In January 2019, Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie Scott, released a joint statement that they would seek a divorce, after 25 years together.{{Citation |last=Snider |first=Mike |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and wife MacKenzie to divorce after 25 years of marriage |date=January 9, 2019 |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2019/01/09/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-wife-mackenzie-divorce-after-25-years/2523544002/ |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109190914/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2019/01/09/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-wife-mackenzie-divorce-after-25-years/2523544002/ |archive-date=January 9, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos are getting divorced after 25 years of marriage |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/09/tech/jeff-bezos-wife-divorce/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109154741/https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/09/tech/jeff-bezos-wife-divorce/index.html |archive-date=January 9, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |publisher=CNN}} In February 2019, Bezos published allegations that National Enquirer publisher American Media, Inc. had attempted blackmail and extortion in connection with Bezos's relationship with Sánchez.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/technology/jeff-bezos-national-enquirer-blackmail.html|title=Jeff Bezos Accuses National Enquirer of 'Extortion and Blackmail'|last=Weise|first=Karen|date=February 7, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 8, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} In April 2019, the court finalized Bezos's divorce from Scott,{{cite news |title=Jeff Bezos to keep 75 percent of couple's Amazon stock after finalizing divorce |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/mackenzie-bezos-to-keep-25-percent-of-couples-amazon-stock-after-finalizing-divorce.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404173118/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/mackenzie-bezos-to-keep-25-percent-of-couples-amazon-stock-after-finalizing-divorce.html |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=March 4, 2019}} and a court granted divorce to Sánchez and Whitesell in October 2019.{{cite web |date=April 6, 2019 |title=Lauren Sanchez Files for Divorce After Bezos Split Finalized |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-06/lauren-sanchez-files-for-divorce-after-bezos-split-finalized |publisher=Bloomberg.com}}{{cite news | last=Murphy| first=Helen| title =Lauren Sanchez and Ex Patrick Whitesell Reach Divorce Agreement Months After Filing| work=People| date =October 19, 2019 | url =https://people.com/movies/lauren-sanchez-patrick-whitesell-divorce-agreement/| access-date =April 2, 2020}} In 2020, the media referred to Sánchez as Bezos's girlfriend.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/amazon-bezos-girlfriend-lawsuit-lauren-sanchez-deposed-nude-photos/2454810/|title=Jeff Bezos' Girlfriend, Former LA TV Anchor Lauren Sanchez, Cannot Be Deposed Over Nude Photo Leak|date=November 4, 2020|website=NBC Los Angeles|access-date=January 4, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-relationship-timeline-photos-2020-1|title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, have weathered a tabloid scandal, a lawsuit, and maybe even interference from a foreign government. Here's where their relationship began and everything that's happened since.|first=Avery|last=Hartmans|date=December 26, 2020|website=Business Insider|access-date=January 4, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-have-evidence-bezos-girlfriend-gave-texts-to-brother-who-leaked-to-national-enquirer-11579908912|title=WSJ News Exclusive | Prosecutors Have Evidence Bezos' Girlfriend Gave Texts to Brother Who Leaked to National Enquirer|first=Joe Palazzolo and Corinne|last=Ramey|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=January 25, 2020|via=www.wsj.com}} On May 22, 2023, CNN reported the engagement of Sánchez to Bezos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/22/entertainment/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-engaged/index.html|title=Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are engaged|date=May 22, 2023|website=CNN}}

Sánchez has also made cameo appearances in films and television series, including in the following:

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• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808105025/http://laurensanchez.com/ |date=August 8, 2014 |title=Official website of Lauren Sánchez}}
• {{IMDb name|761078|Lauren Sánchez}}

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{{Jeff Bezos}}

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Category:1969 births

Category:American film actresses

Category:American infotainers

Category:American reporters and correspondents

Category:American sports announcers

Category:Living people

Category:Television anchors from Los Angeles

Category:Participants in American reality television series

Category:People from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Category:American women sports commentators

Category:American television personalities of Mexican descent

Category:American women television journalists

Category:American women aviators

Category:Whitesell family

Category:21st-century American women

Category:American actresses of Mexican descent

Category:Bezos family

Category:Television presenters with dyslexia

Category:People who have flown in suborbital spaceflight

Category:New Shepard passengers

Category:Space tourists