Lauren Sánchez Bezos is ‘heartbroken,’ and one of her sons is the reason
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Lauren Sánchez Bezos is ‘heartbroken,’ and one of her sons is the reason
Lauren Sánchez Bezos sent her son, Evan Whitesell, off to college on Monday. She shared a photo of him building furniture for his new dorm at the University of Miami. She wrote that she was “proud, heartbroken, and grateful” for her son’s new chapter in life. She is also the mother of her eldest son, 24-year-old Nikko Gonzalez, from her previous relationship with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez. The proud mom has never shied away from sharing glimpses of her family life. In June, all three of her kids played key roles in her wedding to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in Venice, Italy.
In her caption, Sánchez Bezos’ summed up the moment with a raw honesty that resonates with every parent sending their child into the next chapter of life. “Dropped off Evan at college today,” she wrote. “Eighteen years of early mornings, late night snacks, and family dinners … and then there he was building his own dorm cabinet, a small thing, but in that moment I saw the start of his next chapter.”
© Best Image/The Grosby Group Lauren Sanchez Bezos in Saint-Tropez
She admitted she was feeling “proud, heartbroken, and grateful,” punctuating the post with a single heart emoji. David Bowie’s “Changes” was playing in the background of her story — a fitting soundtrack for the moment.
A New Chapter for Evan
Evan, who plans to study business, is the son of Sánchez Bezos’ and her ex-husband, Hollywood power broker Patrick Whitesell. The two were married from 2005 until 2019 and share two children: Evan and their 17-year-old daughter, Ella.
Sánchez Bezos’ is also the mother of her eldest son, 24-year-old Nikko Gonzalez, from her previous relationship with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez.
© Lauren Sánchez/Instagram Lauren Sánchez with her kids Nikko, Evan and Ella
The proud mom has never shied away from sharing glimpses of her family life. Just this past Mother’s Day, she posted a rare photo with all three of her children, writing, “Thank you for picking me as your mama! My whole world in one frame.”
Family Front and Center at Her Wedding
Sánchez Bezos’ children have also been there for her big life moments. When she married Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in June in Venice, Italy, all three of her kids played key roles in the ceremony. Evan and Nikko walked her down the aisle, while Ella served as her maid of honor.
Bezos, who has four children with his ex-wife, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, has kept his kids largely out of the public eye.
© Reuters/The Grosby Group Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos attend the Allen and Company Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at The Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S.
The Universal Tug at a Parent’s Heart
While Lauren Sánchez Bezos’ post was personal, the emotions she expressed are universal. The transition from daily life with a child under the same roof to watching them step out into independence is a moment that mixes pride with a deep, quiet ache. It’s the joy of seeing them succeed, shadowed by the realization that a chapter of family life has closed.