Lou Zivanovic, 61, splashes $1million on extravagant wedding

Rugby league star turned wealthy businessman Lou Zivanovic splashed $1million on an extravagant three-day wedding celebration at the Whitsundays.

The former Penrith Panther star, 61, hosted 100 guests at the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort as he said ‘I do’ to his glamorous younger partner, Olivia Milazzo. 

The ceremony welcomed a number of famous faces including retired professional boxer Jeff Fenech, Panthers legend Greg Alexander, Penrith’s last premiership captain Craig Gower and former South Sydney football manager Shane Richardson.

The 100 wedding guests were put up at the $1,500-a-night luxury hotel for free and Anthony Callea sang at the reception, according to Fairfax columnist Danny Weidler.  

Footy great Lou Zivanovic married Olivia Milazzo in an extravagant three-day wedding celebration at the Whitsundays

The happy couple hosted 100 guests at the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort as they said ‘I do’

The pool at the resort was used by members of the Australian synchronised swimming team, who performed a routine during the nuptials. 

Pictures from the lavish wedding celebration showed Ms Milazzo stun in an off-white Steven Khalil gown, with a flowing glittery veil.

Ms Milazzo wiped away a tear as she walked into the reception venue, which was decorated with candles and countless flowers, hand-in-hand with Zivanovic.   

‘A magical moment for our couple Lou and Olivia,’ Diane Khoury weddings and events wrote on Instagram. 

‘Transforming this once upon a time restaurant into a fairytale setting on the beautiful remote Hayman Island. 

‘This was the formal wedding night celebration which was part of a three-day destination wedding. 

‘We love a challenge but what we love more is the outcome.’

Zivanovic is pictured with Olivia Milazzo before the pair married

Pictures from the lavish wedding celebration showed Ms Milazzo stun in an off-white Steven Khalil gown, with a flowing glittery veil

Zivanovic, who is now a successful businessman, was in the headlines back in 2014 amid a bitter fallout with his ex-wife Michelle.  

The pair were locked in a spat on Facebook over a string of allegations.

‘Totally mortified that we made The Daily Telegraph today with our Facebook posts of yesterday. consequences (sic) of actions I guess,’ Michelle wrote on the social media platform at the time.

‘Most bizarre turn of events yet. I knew I should have deleted all my ugly photos off Facebook lol.’

‘I hope your desire for fame and money is worth the pain and anguish it causes to your most dearest … congratulations … !!!” Zivanovic earlier wrote.

The ceremony welcomed a number of famous faces including retired professional boxer Jeff Fenech, Panthers legend Greg Alexander, Penrith’s last premiership captain Craig Gower and former South Sydney football manager Shane Richardson

Zivanovic was born in a little refugee camp in Italy in 1959 after his parents fled Yugoslavia.

He spent the first year of his life there before boarding a refugee boat that took the family to Sydney. 

Zivanovic admitted his new life in Australia ‘wasn’t easy’ as his parents separated when he was just four years old and his mother couldn’t speak a word of English.

‘At school the other kids knew I came from an orphanage and some put a lot of s*** on me. They called me a beggar and a wog,’ Zivanovic told League Whistle. 

‘But it gave me great determination and a desire to achieve equal status with others. And I did that through footy – the beauty is that sport is all about what you can do – not where you come from. 

‘Football was a great outlet and a way for me to compete on a level field with the other kids.’

Zivanovic was born in a little refugee camp in Italy in 1959 after his parents fled Yugoslavia. He spent the first year of his life there before boarding a refugee boat that took the family to Sydney