Washington’s high society was shocked by news that remained a closely guarded secret until the very last moment. Baltimore Orioles owner and co-founder of the Carlyle Group, billionaire David Rubenstein, tied the knot with Caryn Zucker, the former wife of media mogul Jeff Zucker. This event came as a real surprise even to the most sophisticated social observers, accustomed to big announcements and lavish celebrations.
The wedding ceremony itself, which took place last Friday, was organized with astonishing secrecy. Insiders note that even the professionals involved in the preparations didn’t realize the true scale of the event until the very end. Photographer Tony Powell admitted on social media that only fifteen minutes before the ceremony began, he realized he was about to photograph the wedding of the year, which had become the capital’s “best-kept secret.”
The official ceremony took place at the U.S. Supreme Court building, where the couple was married by none other than Chief Justice John Roberts. Following this, the couple celebrated their union at the Sixth and I Synagogue, where the ceremony was performed by Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt, head of the Zionist Rabbinical Coalition. According to the couple’s representatives, only family members attended the celebration, further emphasizing the newlyweds’ desire for privacy.
The history of Rubenstein and Zucker’s relationship was shrouded in secrecy for four years. Despite regularly appearing at high-profile events—whether the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, the prestigious Hadrian Gala, or the Prostate Cancer Foundation gala in the Hamptons—they managed to keep their feelings away from the glare of intrusive cameras. A recent party in New York City to celebrate the release of Ben Mezrich’s book “Checkmate” was one of the couple’s rare public appearances, where they appeared harmonious and calm.
For Caryn, whose previous marriage to Jeff Zucker was surrounded by years of public discussion and rumors, this union seems to mark the beginning of a new, quieter chapter. The Zuckers’ union, which ended in divorce in 2017, was repeatedly at the center of media scandals. Now, rumor has it, the newlyweds have embarked on a romantic trip to Europe to celebrate the beginning of their family life away from prying eyes.
David Rubenstein, with a net worth of $4.1 billion, is not only an influential businessman but also a renowned philanthropist. His contributions to culture and the arts are immense: he has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and the restoration of the Lincoln Memorial. His private collection of historical documents, including copies of the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence, is regularly loaned to museums. Despite the recent political upheavals surrounding his departure from the Kennedy Center, Rubenstein remains a key figure in the American establishment, and now, with Caryn, he is beginning a new chapter free of headlines.
