“It’s almost like a Democratic Party summit.”
Last month, Jeff Bezos’ wedding to his wife, MacKenzie Bezos, was a grand affair that rocked Venice with an investment of 400 million dollars.
Similarly, in June, a significant wedding quietly took place in New York City.
The bride, Humaid Abdeen, is the personal assistant to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; the groom, Alex Soros, is the son of renowned investor George Soros and has just inherited a $25 billion foundation from his father.
· Abdeen (left) and Alex.
The wedding was held at Soros’ family’s private estate on Long Island, New York, which is very private.
The dress was a simple backless design, with only the hand-embroidered olive branches around the hemline featuring the couple’s initials.
The Soros couple did not accept gifts for the wedding but invited guests to donate their contributions to a foundation supporting girls’ education.
Guests were a “full roster” of Democrats: former President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary, former President Obama and wife Michelle, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Harris… all attended.
Media commented that the wedding was “almost like a Democratic Party summit.”
· Bill Clinton (second from right) and Hillary (first from left) attend the wedding.
Hillary’s “second daughter”
The connection between Abdeen and Alex began in 2023 when Alex fell in love with Abdeen at a private gathering and pursued her relentlessly.
After Abdeen agreed to date him, they participated in many fashion events together and announced their relationship on social media. During a trip to Italy, Alex officially proposed to Abdeen.
The bride, Abdeen, comes from an immigrant family, with her father from India and her mother from Pakistan, both university professors specializing in Muslim culture.
At the age of 20, Abedin was about to graduate from Washington University and applied for a White House internship, hoping to join the news department but unexpectedly ended up in Hillary Clinton’s staff.
In 2000, during Hillary Clinton’s campaign for US Senator, Abedin became her most effective campaign advisor, later appointed as an assistant and personal consultant.
Working together, they were almost inseparable. American Vogue magazine commented that their time together far exceeded Clinton’s time with Chelsea.
As Hillary’s closest subordinate, Abedin knew her habits like the back of her hand. For example, she was aware that Hillary carried pepper powder, netted bags, cosmetics, and private photos in her handbag; when Hillary chatted with people at public events, Abedin would whisper reminders to her, informing her of the other person’s identity.
· Abedin (left) with Hillary.
With Hillary participating in multiple campaigns, Abedin gradually ascended, successively holding senior positions such as deputy director of the office and team chief.
In her memoirs, Hillary wrote: “I have only one daughter, Chelsea, but if there were another, it would be Abedin.”
Abedin entered the White House work that year, while Clinton was deeply involved in the “Lewinsky incident,” making Hillary a focal point of public opinion. Coincidentally, Abedin’s first marriage also led her through a similar experience.
In 2010, Abedin married then-US Congressman Anthony Weiner.
At that time, Abedin was very optimistic about this relationship: “Being with him, I felt that all the bad things in the world wouldn’t happen to me.”
· Clinton (center) as the officiant, presiding over Abedin and Weiner’s wedding.
However, a year later, during Abedin’s pregnancy, Weiner was exposed for sending indecent photos to a woman via social media.
Initially, Weiner falsely claimed that his account had been hacked, but faced evidence, he had to admit his actions in a press conference and subsequently resigned from his position as a congressman.
To help her husband regain his reputation, Abdeen joined him on a show and expressed that her husband was making efforts to improve their marriage.
However, Weiner soon found himself embroiled in scandals again.
In 2013, he made a high-profile comeback for the Mayor of New York City, only to be exposed for sending indecent photos under a pseudonym, ultimately suffering a crushing defeat in the mayoral election.
In 2016, Weiner once again ran for Senator, and media exposure revealed that he had sent inappropriate messages to a minor girl multiple times. This “failure” not only ended his political career completely but also impacted Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign efforts.
After the incident was exposed, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intervened in the investigation. When FBI agents went to Weiner’s home to collect evidence, they took servers from Abdeen’s house and Weiner’s computer.
The FBI claimed that during the search of the computers, they discovered new emails related to Hillary’s “emailgate” scandal, thus announcing the resumption of the investigation into “emailgate.” This occurred just 11 days before the U.S. presidential election.
Media analysis later suggested that this unexpected incident completely disrupted Hillary’s campaign plans, indirectly leading to her loss in the election.
In 2017, Abdeen announced her divorce from Weiner, after which Weiner gradually faded out of the Democratic Party political scene.
“More Political Than His Father”
Compared to his bride Abdeen, Alex came from a family entirely different from hers.
Born in 1985, Alex was already making a name for himself in the financial world when old Soros had already emerged as a prominent figure. In the following years, he accumulated vast wealth by shorting currencies in multiple countries.
Raised in a privileged environment, Alex seemed somewhat dismissive at an early age. He was active in the circles of New York’s elite and artistic circles, often appearing in media coverage due to his public social activities.
At that time, he had several brief romantic relationships, none of which developed into stable ones, hence he was labeled a “playboy”.
In terms of inheritance, as the fourth child of Soros, Alex was not initially favored by his father. His half-brother Jonathan, who shared the same father but was born out of wedlock, was once seen as the preferred successor to Soros.
Jonathan graduated from Harvard University and began working at his father’s Soros Fund Management Corporation (SFM) in 2002, serving as Chief Investment Officer. Unlike his impulsive and radical father, Jonathan was more rational. There were many disagreements between them on many issues.
By 2011, the conflict between father and son reached its peak, and Jonathan eventually left the family company. Thus, the responsibility of inheriting the family business fell on Alex.
To fulfill the role of an heir, Alex changed his previous flamboyant style, not only becoming more conservative in his dress but also focusing on building his social image.
In 2012, a report by The New York Times mentioned that after struggling with money and growing up, Alex was stepping onto the stage in his own way.
He initiated a foundation for environmental protection and education, investing millions of dollars, hoping to transform his public image from a “playboy” to a “philanthropist”.
Meanwhile, Alex began appearing frequently in political events. According to Fox News, since 2021, Alex has visited the White House at least 17 times.
· Alex (right) with Obama.
Alex candidly stated: “Given my background, I have many ways that led me astray. But instead, I became a workaholic, my life is my work.”
Ultimately, his efforts won the trust of his father. In 2023, old Soros announced that he would hand over the $25 billion Open Society Foundation to Alex.
· Alex and Abeidin’s wedding, in 2024, was a significant event in the political landscape of the United States. The “Open Society Foundation” had been Alex’s largest financial backer, contributing $15.2 million to his campaign. Following Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 election, the Soros family immediately endorsed Harris. In a social media announcement, Alex stated, “We are now united around Harris; she is the most outstanding and qualified candidate for this position.”
Alex has expressed that he shares his father’s passion for philosophy and politics. However, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he candidly mentioned, “I am more politically inclined than my father.”
The wedding between Abedin and Alex has sparked various interpretations among the public.
The New York Times described it as a “wedding of liberal nobility.” A Democratic member pointed out that Abedin has always longed to become a “Royal Member” of America.
A commentator who has long followed American politics told Global Personnel: “The Democratic Party is a diverse coalition. This wedding reflects the integration of specific circles.”
This echoes the observation made by American sociologist C. Wright Mills in his book “The Power Elite”: “Power elites are not isolated rulers… They are interdependent, understanding each other, and marrying into similar families for work and thought.”
· Alex (left) and Abedin.
Abedin’s political career and Soros’ financial strength have been notable elements in this marriage.
It is worth noting that another wedding featured Bezos and Sanchez, who were also invited to Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
This highlights the extensive connections between money and politics, offering a perspective on the American political ecosystem.