In a union that merges billionaire wealth with international glamour, Yoni Nahmad – heir to one of the world’s most valuable private art collections – married Israeli model Eden Polani in an opulent €5 million celebration in Cannes this past Thursday, September 11.
The wedding showcased the extraordinary lifestyle that accompanies serious wealth. Nahmad, 25, whose family’s art empire spans six decades and includes over 300 Picasso works, spared no expense for the three-day celebration at Château de la Croix des Gardes, a €200 million estate considered among the French Riviera’s most exclusive venues.
The Nahmad family’s story reads like a modern Medici tale. Founded by the late Ezra Nahmad and his brother David, both Syrian-born Jewish immigrants, the dynasty built what experts consider the world’s largest private art collection. Their meticulously curated portfolio includes masterworks by Monet, Matisse, Renoir, and Rothko, stored in a heavily secured duty-free warehouse near Geneva airport.
Unlike traditional billionaire heirs content to manage family assets, Yoni has pursued an aggressive diversification strategy. Armed with a real estate degree from the prestigious University of Westminster, he has expanded the family’s three-decade real estate portfolio across multiple continents while making strategic moves into Israel’s burgeoning high-tech sector over the past two years.
The Ultimate Luxury Wedding
The celebration epitomized contemporary luxury lifestyle trends among the global elite. Five hundred carefully selected guests – a mix of art world luminaries, tech entrepreneurs, and international socialites – were treated to performances by Israeli singer Nasrin Kadri and Colombian reggaeton superstar J Balvin, whose appearance fees reportedly reach $1 million.
World-renowned chefs flown in from France and the Middle East crafted bespoke culinary experiences, while Israeli production company Sky Productions orchestrated every detail of the Orthodox Sephardic ceremony and subsequent celebrations.
Nahmad’s commitment to Israel extends beyond romance. Last year, he acquired one of Tel Aviv’s most expensive residential properties – a 320-square-meter apartment on the 37th floor of the luxury Rothschild 10 development for 47 million Shekels ($12.5 million). The purchase signals his broader business ambitions in Israel’s dynamic economy.
Despite maintaining his primary residence at London’s ultra-exclusive One Hyde Park (purchased for £60 million in 2019), Nahmad visits Israel quarterly to explore business opportunities and maintain family connections.
A Modern Power Couple
Bride Eden Polani, 21, represents the new generation of international models building global brands. Born in Paris to a French mother and Israeli father, she has starred in campaigns for major brands including Flormar and Sweet Pants, and served as a presenter for Israeli fashion retailer Renuar.
The couple, who met 18 months ago, plan to establish their primary residence in Monaco—the tax haven that has served as the Nahmad family’s base for decades. This strategic location offers proximity to their Swiss art storage facilities while maintaining access to Europe’s luxury lifestyle circuit.
As the youngest son of Ezra Nahmad (who passed away in early 2024 at 79), Yoni represents the third generation of a family that transformed from Syrian refugees into art world royalty. His diversification into real estate and technology suggests a modern approach to wealth preservation and growth, moving beyond the traditional art dealing that built the family fortune.
The lavish wedding serves as both personal celebration and business statement – demonstrating the family’s continued prominence in elite international circles while signaling Yoni’s emergence as a major player in his own right across multiple industries.
For a generation of young billionaires increasingly focused on tech investments and lifestyle brands, the Nahmad-Polani wedding sets a new standard for luxury celebrations that seamlessly blend traditional wealth with contemporary glamour.
