Lauren Sánchez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lauren Sánchez Bezos
|
|
|---|---|
Sánchez in 2023
|
|
| Born |
Lauren Wendy Sánchez
December 19, 1969 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1997–2025 |
| Spouse(s) |
Patrick Whitesell
(m. 2005; div. 2019) |
| Children | 3 |
Lauren Wendy Sánchez Bezos (born December 19, 1969) is an American philanthropist, former TV journalist, and a licensed pilot. A philanthropist is someone who gives money and time to help make life better for other people. She is married to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.
Sánchez is also the founder of Black Ops Aviation, a company that films movies and TV shows from the air. She has appeared on many television shows, including as a guest host on The View and a co-host on Good Day L.A.
In 2024, she wrote her first children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, which became a New York Times bestseller. In April 2025, Sánchez flew into space on the New Shepard rocket as part of an all-female crew.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lauren Wendy Sánchez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her father, Ray Sánchez, was a flight instructor, and her mother was Eleanor Sánchez. Lauren has described herself as a third-generation Mexican-American.
In high school, she was a cheerleader. After graduating in 1987, she moved to California to study. At El Camino College, a professor noticed she had trouble with her studies. She was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning difficulty that can make reading and writing challenging. Because of her experience, she now supports organizations that help people with dyslexia.
Later, she studied communications at the University of Southern California. In 1990, she won a cover girl competition for an international magazine.
Career in Television and Aviation
From News Reporter to TV Host
Sánchez started her career at a TV station in Los Angeles. She later worked as a reporter and anchor in Phoenix, Arizona, before joining the entertainment show Extra. She also worked for Fox Sports Net, where she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on the sports show Going Deep.
In 1999, she returned to a Los Angeles TV station to anchor the news, and her team won an Emmy Award. She was also a co-host on the popular morning show Good Day L.A. In 2005, she was the first host of the dance competition show So You Think You Can Dance. She left after one season to have her second child.
Flying High as a Pilot
After learning to fly and getting her pilot's license at age 40, Sánchez started her own company in 2016 called Black Ops Aviation. The company specializes in filming from the air for movies and television.
In 2024, she received a special award from the Living Legends of Aviation for her skills as a helicopter pilot and for her success in the aviation business.
Author and Astronaut
In 2024, Sánchez published her first children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space. The book is about a curious fly named Flynn who accidentally travels to space on a rocket. The story was inspired by her own life and her challenges with dyslexia. The book was very successful and appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list.
On April 14, 2025, Sánchez flew into space on a Blue Origin rocket. She was part of an all-female crew that included singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King. This flight made Sánchez and King the first female journalists to travel to space.
Helping Others Through Philanthropy
Sánchez is the vice-chairperson of the Bezos Earth Fund, an organization that works to protect the environment. She helped launch a project that gives $400 million to create more parks and green spaces in communities that need them.
She and Jeff Bezos have also promised millions of dollars to other causes. They gave $60 million to help restore over 1.6 million acres of land in the United States. Sánchez also works with the Bezos Day One Fund, which helps families experiencing homelessness and provides free preschools.
She also supports This is About Humanity, a group that helps families at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Personal Life
Lauren Sánchez has three children. Her first son was born in 2001 from her relationship with former National Football League player Tony Gonzalez.
In 2005, she married Patrick Whitesell, a Hollywood agent. They have a son, born in 2006, and a daughter, born in 2008. Sánchez and Whitesell divorced in 2019.
In 2018, Sánchez began a relationship with Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. At the time, they were both married to other people. Both Sánchez and Bezos later divorced their spouses. The couple got engaged in May 2023 and married in Venice, Italy, on June 27, 2025.
See also
In Spanish: Lauren Sánchez para niños
