who owns hyperion yacht

Who Owns Which Superyacht? (A Complete Guide)

Have you ever wondered who owns the most luxurious, extravagant, and expensive superyachts? Or how much these lavish vessels are worth? In this complete guide, we’ll explore who owns these magnificent vessels, what amenities they hold, and the cost of these incredible yachts.

We’ll also take a look at some of the most expensive superyachts in the world and the notable people behind them.

Get ready to explore the world of superyachts and the people who own them!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

The ownership of superyachts is generally private, so the exact answer to who owns which superyacht is not always publicly available.

However, there are some notable superyacht owners that are known.

For example, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, owns the Rising Sun, which is the 11th largest superyacht in the world.

Other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Overview of Superyachts

The term superyacht refers to a large, expensive recreational boat that is typically owned by the worlds wealthy elite.

These vessels are designed for luxury cruising and typically range in size from 24 meters to over 150 meters, with some even larger.

Superyachts usually feature extensive amenities and creature comforts, such as swimming pools, outdoor bars, movie theaters, helipads, and spas.

Superyachts can range in price from $30 million to an astonishingly high $400 million.

Like most luxury items, the ownership of a superyacht is a status symbol for those who can afford it.

The list of superyacht owners reads like a whos who of billionaires, with names like Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The most expensive superyacht in the world is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

While some superyacht owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye, others have made headlines with their extravagant amenities.

Some of the most famous superyachts feature swimming pools, private beaches, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, and luxurious spas.

In conclusion, owning a superyacht is an exclusive status symbol for the world’s wealthy elite.

These vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from $30 million to over $400 million, and feature some of the most luxurious amenities imaginable.

Notable owners include the Emir of Qatar, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Who are the Owners of Superyachts?

From Hollywood celebrities to tech billionaires, superyacht owners come from all walks of life.

Many of the most well-known owners are billionaires, including Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Other notable owners include Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp.

However, not all superyacht owners are wealthy.

Many are everyday people who have worked hard and saved up to purchase their dream vessel.

Other notable billionaire owners include Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and former US President Donald Trump.

These luxurious vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from $30 million to over $400 million.

For many superyacht owners, their vessels serve as a status symbol of wealth and luxury.

Some owners prefer to keep their yachts out of the public eye, while others have made headlines with their extensive amenities – from swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas.

Many of these yachts are designed to the owner’s exact specifications, ensuring that each one is totally unique and reflects the owner’s individual tastes and personality.

Owning a superyacht is an exclusive club, reserved for those with the means and the desire to experience the ultimate in luxury.

Whether they are billionaires or everyday people, superyacht owners are all united in their love of the sea and their appreciation for the finer things in life.

The Most Expensive Superyacht in the World

When it comes to superyachts, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, certainly knows how to make a statement.

His luxury vessel, the 463-foot Al Mirqab, holds the title of the world’s most expensive superyacht.

Built in 2008 by German shipbuilder Peters Werft, this impressive yacht is complete with 10 luxurious cabins, a conference room, cinema, and all the amenities one would expect from a vessel of this magnitude.

In addition, the Al Mirqab features a helipad, swimming pool, and even an outdoor Jacuzzi.

With a price tag of over $400 million, the Al Mirqab is one of the most expensive yachts in the world.

In addition to the Emir of Qatar, there are several other notable owners of superyachts.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos all own luxurious vessels.

Bezos yacht, the aptly named The Flying Fox, is one of the longest superyachts in the world at a staggering 414 feet in length.

The Flying Fox also comes with a host of amenities, such as a helipad, swimming pool, spa, and multiple outdoor entertaining areas.

Bezos also reportedly spent over $400 million on the vessel.

Other notable owners of superyachts include Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who owns the $200 million Kingdom 5KR, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who owns the $200 million Rising Sun.

There are also many lesser-known owners, such as hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin, who owns the $150 million Aviva, and investor Sir Philip Green, who owns the $100 million Lionheart.

No matter who owns them, superyachts are sure to turn heads.

With their impressive size, luxurious amenities, and hefty price tags, these vessels have become a symbol of wealth and prestige.

Whether its the Emir of Qatar or a lesser-known owner, the worlds superyacht owners are sure to make a statement.

Notable Superyacht Owners

When it comes to the wealthiest and most luxurious owners of superyachts, the list reads like a whos who of the worlds billionaires.

At the top of the list is the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who holds the distinction of owning the most expensive superyacht in the world.

Aside from the Emir, other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

All of these owners have made headlines with their extravagant vessels, which are typically priced between $30 million and $400 million.

The amenities that come with these vessels vary greatly from owner to owner, but they almost always include luxurious swimming pools, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, and spas.

Some owners opt for more extravagant features, such as submarines, personal submarines, and even their own personal submarines! Other owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye, but for those who prefer a more showy approach, they can certainly make a statement with a superyacht.

No matter who owns the vessel, it’s no surprise that these superyachts are a status symbol among the world’s wealthiest.

Whether you’re trying to impress your peers or just looking to enjoy a luxurious outing, owning a superyacht is the ultimate way to show off your wealth.

What Amenities are Included on Superyachts?

Owning a superyacht is a sign of wealth and prestige, and many of the worlds most prominent billionaires have their own vessels.

The most expensive superyacht in the world is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The cost of a superyacht can range from $30 million to over $400 million, but the price tag doesnt quite capture the sheer extravagance and amenities of these vessels.

Superyachts come with all the comforts of home, and then some.

Many owners will equip their vessels with swimming pools, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, spas, and other luxury amenities.

The interior of a superyacht can be custom-designed to the owners specifications.

Some owners opt for modern, sleek designs, while others prefer a more traditional look.

Many of the most luxurious yachts feature marble floors, walk-in closets, and custom-made furniture.

Some vessels even come with a full-service gym, complete with exercise equipment and trained professionals.

Other amenities may include a library, casino, media room, and private bar.

When it comes to outdoor amenities, superyachts have some of the most impressive features in the world.

Many yachts come with outdoor entertainment areas, complete with full kitchens, dining rooms, and lounge areas.

Some owners even opt for hot tubs or jacuzzis for relaxing afternoons in the sun.

And, of course, there are the jet skis, water slides, and other exciting water activities that come with many of these vessels.

No matter what amenities a superyacht has, it is sure to be an experience like no other.

From the sleek interiors to the luxurious outdoor features, these vessels provide a unique, luxurious experience that is unrivaled on land.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape or an exciting adventure, a superyacht is sure to provide.

How Much Do Superyachts Cost?

When it comes to superyachts, the sky is the limit when it comes to cost.

These luxury vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from anywhere between $30 million to over $400 million.

So, if youre in the market for a superyacht, youre looking at an investment that could easily break the bank.

The cost of a superyacht is driven by a variety of factors, including size, amenities, and customization.

Generally, the larger the yacht, the more expensive it will be.

Superyachts typically range in size from 100 feet to over 200 feet, and they can be as wide as 40 feet.

The bigger the yacht, the more luxurious features and amenities it will have.

Amenities also play a significant role in the cost of a superyacht.

While some owners prefer to keep their yachts out of the public eye, others have made headlines with their extensive amenities.

From swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas, the sky is the limit when it comes to customizing a superyacht.

The more amenities a superyacht has, the more expensive it will be.

Finally, customization is another major factor that will drive up the cost of a superyacht.

Many luxury vessels have custom-designed interiors that are tailored to the owners tastes.

From custom furniture and artwork to lighting and audio systems, the cost of a superyacht can quickly escalate depending on the level of customization.

In short, the cost of a superyacht can vary widely depending on its size, amenities, and customization.

While some may be able to get away with spending a few million dollars, others may end up spending hundreds of millions of dollars on their dream yacht.

No matter what your budget is, its important to do your research and find out exactly what youre getting for your money before signing on the dotted line.

Keeping Superyachts Out of the Public Eye

When it comes to owning a superyacht, some owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye.

Understandably, these individuals are concerned with privacy and discretion, and therefore tend to take measures to ensure their yachts are not visible to outsiders.

For instance, some superyacht owners opt to keep their vessels in private marinas, away from the public areas of larger ports.

Additionally, some yacht owners may choose to hire security guards to patrol and protect their vessels while they are moored or sailing.

In addition to physical security, some superyacht owners also use technology to keep their vessels out of the public eye.

For example, a yacht owner may choose to install a satellite-based communications system that allows them to keep their vessel completely off-radar.

This system works by bouncing signals off satellites rather than transmitting them, making it virtually impossible for anyone to track the yachts movements.

Finally, some superyacht owners also choose to limit the number of people who have access to their vessels.

For instance, the owner may only allow family members and close friends to board the yacht.

Additionally, the owner may choose to employ a limited number of staff to help maintain the vessel and keep it running smoothly.

These individuals may be required to sign non-disclosure agreements to ensure they do not disclose any information about the yacht or its owner.

Overall, while some superyacht owners may choose to keep their vessels out of the public eye, there are still plenty of other ways to show off the opulence associated with owning a superyacht.

From swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas, there are many luxurious amenities that can make a superyacht the envy of any jet setter.

Final Thoughts

Superyachts are a symbol of luxury and status, and the list of yacht owners reads like a who’s who of billionaires.

From the Emir of Qatar’s world-record breaking $400 million yacht to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s vessel with a helicopter pad and on-board spa, the amenities of these luxury vessels are truly stunning.

With prices ranging from $30 million to over $400 million, owning a superyacht is an expensive endeavor.

Whether you’re looking to purchase one or just curious to learn more about the owners and their amenities, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to stay up to date with the superyacht scene.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

Yachting’s Dozen: Hyperion

By The Editors
Updated: October 4, 2011

Type : 155-foot sailing yacht designed by German Frers Builder : Royal Huisman Year : 1998 Original owner : Jim Clark

Why this yacht matters , From the pages of Yachting : Hyperion_ is the largest sailing yacht built by Huisman, and is pushing forward the frontiers, not just in electronics, but in rig and sail developments, engineering and controls. Her owner is not a man who does things by halves. The numbers attached to_ Hyperion_ are mind-boggling. …_ Hyperion_ represents one man’s vision of the future, but having already made such an indelible mark on the computer graphics and Internet industries, Clark’s electronic world of sailing may not be as far off as many of us think._ — Barry Pickthall, February 1998

View the rest of Yachting’s Dozen here .

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"The Titan Hyperion, we are told, fathered Helios, Selene and Eos, gods of the sun, moon and dawn respectively. The Yacht 'Hyperion' has engendered an advance in the science and art and craft of shipbuilding. The yachting cosmos is richer for it." (Boat International USA)

Indeed it can be said that Hyperion's 'milestones' include her carbon fiber mast at 59 m length, exerting some 200 compressive tons at its base, or her computer, powered with some 500 billion bytes. Consider 59 km of wiring and 13,000 square feet of sail area, or a temperature controlled wine rack for some 200 bottles, and it is with great pride that Royal Huisman Shipyard received the prestigious Showboats International Award for the best sailing yacht over 38 m.

"Probably the only shipyard in the world that could put together such a complex and diverse set of engineering disciplines". "And to think all this is encaded in rich golden mahogany hand inlaid with intricate marquetry, a gentle reminder - the more you look the more you see."

Powered by a 1,100 hp MTU diesel engine driving a LIPS variable pitch propeller, Hyperion's 9.56m beam and 4.8m draft (7.3m - carbon centerboard down) can easily be driven through the water at 16 knots, and during her maiden transatlantic voyage she managed a sailing speed of 19 knots.

Yacht Builder Royal Huisman No profile available
Naval Architect German Frers No profile available
Exterior Designer Pieter Beeldsnijder Design No profile available
Interior Designer Pieter Beeldsnijder Design No profile available

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A high-tech, award-winning sailing yacht with multiple design features, Hyperion provides the ideal charter for intrepid voyagers keen to explore the world. Built in 1998 by renowned Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman, Hyperion is a stunning 47.42m sloop sail yacht with a displacement hull. A refit in 2023 saw a complete overhaul of her teak decks, exterior paint and machinery, followed by a new suit of North Sails in 2016. Boasting a carbon dagger board and (at the time of launch) the tallest ever single rig, Hyperion is a unique yacht. Designed inside and out by Pieter Beeldsnijder Design, her interior includes ornate woodwork, bespoke fabrics and an entertainment centre. She features an unusual two level main saloon, which houses a piano and formal dining area, while her versatile pilothouse has the option of being open while under sail. Immaculately maintained, Hyperion accommodates up to six guests in three cabins, including a master suite with a relaxation area and an opulent marble bathroom, one double cabin and one twin cabin.

Build Year 1998

Flag Marshall Island

Registry Port

Builder Royal Huisman

Cabin Layout

Double Cabins 2

Twin Cabin 1

Draft 4.70m

Length 47.42m

Accommodation

Crew Members 8

Cruising Capacity 6

Fishing Gear

Inflatable Toys

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Catering and beverage may be charged in addition to the charter fees

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The Luxury Boats Owned By Some of the Wealthiest People in Tech, from a Yacht So Big It Has Its Own Support Boat to Superyachts with Swimming Pools and Basketball Courts Tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have all purchased mini vacation hubs at sea.

By Grace Kay and Sindhu Sundar • Jul 3, 2023

Key Takeaways

Many billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson enjoy spending their time on luxurious yachts.
The boats are decked out with amenities that many Americans can only dream of.
Here are some of the billionaires in tech who own private yachts.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider .

A regular Jane celebrating a personal renaissance after a long-term relationship might commemorate the new era with an ankle tattoo of a spiritual saying. When you're a billionaire, you could do it instead with a $500 million megayacht .

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made waves in May riding around the roughly 127-meter "Koru," a Māori term that may signify a fresh start, with his reported fiancée Lauren Sanchez. (In 2019, Bezos finalized his divorce from MacKenzie Scott, whom he was married to for 25 years).

Beyond the private planes occupying the hangars of billionaires, yachts have come to symbolize the highly private sites of leisure and networking reserved for the ultra-wealthy .

Tech billionaires like Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have all purchased their own mini vacation hubs at sea, decking their boats with amenities like gyms, spas, pools, nightclubs, and movie theaters.

For those wishing to experience life aboard these multi-million-dollar yachts, some are available to rent out for a few nights or weeks at a time. Late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's yacht can be booked for $2.2 million per week or more, according Bloomberg .

Chartering yachts owned by billionaires like Alphabet cofounder Sergey Brin has previously cost customers anywhere from $773,000 a week to $1.2 million .

It remains to be seen how these vessels will fare against the apparent Orca uprising.

Take a look at some of the yachts that have been owned by tech billionaires.

A mystery buyer bought a 414-foot superyacht that was once owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $278 million. Allen had the boat, which was named "Octopus," built in 2003 for $200 million. Since the tech billionaire's death in 2018, the boat had been listed for as much as $325 million.

Octopus in Canary Wharf, London, in 2012. Ki Price/Reuters Source: SuperYacht Times

The wealthy can book the yacht for a weekly rate of $2.2 million or more, through the luxury company Camper & Nicholsons, Bloomberg reported last year.

414ft luxury yacht 'Octopus' owned by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, is moored to fuel up at Ege Ports in Kusadasi district of Aydin, Turkey on April 27, 2015. Ibrahim Uzun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Sources: Bloomberg; Insider .

Amazon founder Bezos' $500 million megayacht, the roughly 127-meter "Koru," sparked attention in May for its artistic decor. A sculpture of a woman on the boat appeared to observers to be the likeness of Bezos' reported fiancée Sanchez, who was also seen that month on the yacht sporting a large ring.

Jeff Bezos was spotted aboard his megayacht "Koru" in May. Lift Aircraft.

Even before its completion, "Koru" drew the ire of Dutch people vowing to hurl eggs at the boat if it would require a historic bridge in Rotterdam to be taken apart to let it through. An egg crisis was averted however, as the company making the ship found a less-irksome alternative.

Nighttime view of De Hef bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands

View of the Koningshaven Bridge, known as De Hef in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Peter Dejong/AP

Bezos has long been interested in yachts. In 2019, he was spotted aboard entertainment mogul David Geffen's superyacht.

David Geffen's superyacht Flickr via BI

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison owns a 288-foot yacht named Musashi that he acquired in 2013. The yacht has several amenities, including an elevator, swimming pool, movie theater, and both an indoor and outdoor gym.

rulenumberone2/Flickr, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: Yacht Bible

Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun.

Courtesy of Lurssen Source: Forbes .

The Oracle cofounder also has a knack for competitive yacht racing, and helped to found and back a racing team, called Oracle Team USA, in 2000. The team has found success and won several prestigious titles over the years.

Xaume Olleros/Getty Images Sport Source: Telegraph

Ellison previously owned a bigger, 454-foot yacht called Rising Sun, which was designed specifically for the CEO in 2005. That yacht reportedly has 82 rooms, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and a basketball court. However, Ellison sold off the Rising Sun to Geffen for a reported $300 million.

Kimberly White/Getty Images Source: Forbes , Boat International

Ellison's boat, Musashi, is a sister ship to the yacht of another billionaire, former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert. However, the yacht, named Fountainhead, is often mistaken for belonging to billionaire investor Mark Cuban. "The guy who owns the boat tells everyone that it's mine," Cuban told Page Six in 2016. "It's so crazy ... I don't even own a boat."

Mark Cuban. Steve Marcus/Reuters

Source: Page Six

Ellison's yacht reportedly influenced the decision of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs to get a boat himself. However, Jobs never set foot on the boat — the yacht was commissioned in 2008, but wasn't completed until 2012, a year after his death.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

When Jobs died in 2011, his yacht — along with his $14.1 billion fortune — was inherited by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of a social-impact nonprofit called the Emerson Collective. The 256-foot yacht is named Venus, and is worth $130 million.

AP Photo/Peter Dejong Source: Business Insider

Google's billionaire cofounders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are known to splurge. An Insider feature in December documented some of the trappings of their luxury, including planes and yachts.

Sergey Brin (left) and Larry Page. Getty / Michael Nagle

Source: Insider .

Page owned a yacht named Senses, a $45 million, 194-foot boat that he bought in 2011 from a New Zealand businessman. He's since sold the yacht, Insider reported in 2021, a vessel that had a private beach club with a Jacuzzi and sun beds, both indoor and outdoor dining areas, and a helicopter pad. It's unclear what other sea vessels he owns, though Insider has previously reported he might have another yacht.

Larry Page superimposed with Senses yacht

Ari Helminen/Flickr, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Sources: Boat International; Insider .

Brin meanwhile owns a number of yachts and vessels including the 73-meter Dragonfly, and the 40-meter Butterfly, Insider reported in January.

Abell Point Marina/YouTube Source: Insider .

Dragonfly, the $80 million boat that has a movie-theater, shares a name with Google's once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Google said in 2019 it had officially terminated the project.

Eric Risberg/Associated Press Source: Insider , Forbes .

The former Google CEO picked up the Alfa Nero yacht for nearly $68 million in an auction in June, according to a Bloomberg report. The yacht had apparently been left amid Russia's war in Ukraine, according to the report.

Eric Schmidt REUTERS/Brian Snyder Source: Bloomberg .

For Skype cofounder Niklas Zennstrom, his interest in yachts skews toward racing and competitive sailing. Zennstrom has gone through a succession of boats all named Ran.

Co-Founder and CEO of Skype Technologies, United Kingdom Niklas Zennstroem listens during a plenary entitled 'Digital 2.0:Powering a Creative Economy' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, AP Photo/Michel Euler

Source: CNN

The Ran VII yacht is among the most advanced of Zennstrom's boats. The racing yacht uses electrical power, which Zennstrom has said makes it "lighter, less drag, quieter, and most importantly it is environmentally friendly."

Carkeek Design Partners/YouTube Source: CNN

The 40-foot yacht has been meant to compete in regattas through the racing team owned by Zennstrom and his wife, Catherine. The Ran racing team launched in 2008, and has won some prestigious regattas.

The Ran racing team. Carkeek Design Partners/YouTube Source: CNN

Barry Diller, chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns a $70 million yacht with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Diane von Furstenberg, left, and Barry Diller. Scott Olson/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

The sailing yacht, named Eos, is 350 feet long with six bedrooms. The power couple has hosted many celebrities over the years — a few that have been spotted aboard Eos include model Karlie Kloss, actor Bradley Cooper, journalist Anderson Cooper, and singer Harry Styles.

snowwahine/YouTube Source: W Magazine

For Jim Clark, the cofounder of Netscape, one yacht hasn't been enough. Clark has owned boats for more than 30 years, and in 2012, he put up two of his sailing yachts for sale.

Jim Clark, right. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

Clark listed the boats for a combined $113 million: the 136-foot Hanuman for $18 million, and the 295-foot Athena for $95 million. However, Clark has yet to offload Athena. Clark also previously owned a 155-foot yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a sloop called Hanuman.

The yacht Athena. Fosnez / Wikimedia Commons Source: Boat International , Forbes

Charles Simonyi worked at Microsoft until 2002, and oversaw the creation of Microsoft Office software. A few years before he left, Simonyi decided to purchase a yacht. He told the designer that wanted his yacht to be "home away from [his] home in Seattle."

Reuters/Sergei Remezov Source: Boat International

The product of that conversation in 1999 is Simonyi's yacht named Skat, meaning "treasure" in Danish. The yacht measures 233 feet long, and is unique with its nontraditional design and gray color. Skat features a matching gray helicopter, a gym, and motorcycles.

Christopher Hunt/Getty Images Source: Yacht Charter Fleet

Opulent British billionaire Richard Branson owned a yacht until he sold it in September 2018. The 105-foot catamaran sold for $3 million, significantly lower than the $9.6 million price Branson listed the boat for in 2014.

Anthony Harvey/Getty Images, Virgin Source: Business Insider

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, bought the boat in 2009. He named it Necker Belle, a nod to his private Caribbean island, Necker Island.

Necker Island Source: Business Insider

Additional reporting by Paige Leskin.

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The luxury boats owned by some of the wealthiest people in tech, from a yacht so big it has its own support boat to superyachts with swimming pools and basketball courts

Many billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson enjoy spending their time on luxurious yachts.
The boats are decked out with amenities that many Americans can only dream of.
Here are some of the billionaires in tech who own private yachts.

Beyond the private planes occupying the hangars of billionaires, yachts have come to symbolize the highly private sites of leisure and networking reserved for the ultra-wealthy .

Chartering yachts owned by billionaires like Alphabet cofounder Sergey Brin has previously cost customers anywhere from $773,000 a week to $1.2 million .

It remains to be seen how these vessels will fare against the apparent Orca uprising.

Take a look at some of the yachts that have been owned by tech billionaires.

A mystery buyer bought a 414-foot superyacht that was once owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $278 million. Allen had the boat, which was named "Octopus," built in 2003 for $200 million. Since the tech billionaire's death in 2018, the boat had been listed for as much as $325 million.

Source: SuperYacht Times

The wealthy can book the yacht for a weekly rate of $2.2 million or more, through the luxury company Camper & Nicholsons, Bloomberg reported last year.

Sources: Bloomberg; Insider .

Amazon founder Bezos' $500 million megayacht, the roughly 127-meter "Koru," sparked attention in May for its artistic decor. A sculpture of a woman on the boat appeared to observers to be the likeness of Bezos' reported fiancée Sanchez, who was also seen that month on the yacht sporting a large ring.

Sources: Insider ; People .

Even before its completion, "Koru" drew the ire of Dutch people vowing to hurl eggs at the boat if it would require a historic bridge in Rotterdam to be taken apart to let it through. An egg crisis was averted however, as the company making the ship found a less-irksome alternative.

Source: Insider .

Bezos has long been interested in yachts. In 2019, he was spotted aboard entertainment mogul David Geffen's superyacht.

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison owns a 288-foot yacht named Musashi that he acquired in 2013. The yacht has several amenities, including an elevator, swimming pool, movie theater, and both an indoor and outdoor gym.

Source: Yacht Bible

Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun.

Source: Forbes .

The Oracle cofounder also has a knack for competitive yacht racing, and helped to found and back a racing team, called Oracle Team USA, in 2000. The team has found success and won several prestigious titles over the years.

Source: Telegraph

Ellison previously owned a bigger, 454-foot yacht called Rising Sun, which was designed specifically for the CEO in 2005. That yacht reportedly has 82 rooms, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and a basketball court. However, Ellison sold off the Rising Sun to Geffen for a reported $300 million.

Source: Forbes , Boat International

Ellison's boat, Musashi, is a sister ship to the yacht of another billionaire, former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert. However, the yacht, named Fountainhead, is often mistaken for belonging to billionaire investor Mark Cuban. "The guy who owns the boat tells everyone that it's mine," Cuban told Page Six in 2016. "It's so crazy ... I don't even own a boat."

Source: Page Six

Ellison's yacht reportedly influenced the decision of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs to get a boat himself. However, Jobs never set foot on the boat — the yacht was commissioned in 2008, but wasn't completed until 2012, a year after his death.

Source: Business Insider

When Jobs died in 2011, his yacht — along with his $14.1 billion fortune — was inherited by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of a social-impact nonprofit called the Emerson Collective. The 256-foot yacht is named Venus, and is worth $130 million.

Google's billionaire cofounders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are known to splurge. An Insider feature in December documented some of the trappings of their luxury, including planes and yachts.

Source: Insider .

Page owned a yacht named Senses, a $45 million, 194-foot boat that he bought in 2011 from a New Zealand businessman. He's since sold the yacht, Insider reported in 2021, a vessel that had a private beach club with a Jacuzzi and sun beds, both indoor and outdoor dining areas, and a helicopter pad. It's unclear what other sea vessels he owns, though Insider has previously reported he might have another yacht.

Sources: Boat International; Insider .

Brin meanwhile owns a number of yachts and vessels including the 73-meter Dragonfly, and the 40-meter Butterfly, Insider reported in January.

Dragonfly, the $80 million boat that has a movie-theater, shares a name with Google's once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Google said in 2019 it had officially terminated the project.

Source: Insider , Forbes .

The former Google CEO picked up the Alfa Nero yacht for nearly $68 million in an auction in June, according to a Bloomberg report. The yacht had apparently been left amid Russia's war in Ukraine, according to the report.

Source: Bloomberg .

For Skype cofounder Niklas Zennstrom, his interest in yachts skews toward racing and competitive sailing. Zennstrom has gone through a succession of boats all named Ran.

Source: CNN

The Ran VII yacht is among the most advanced of Zennstrom's boats. The racing yacht uses electrical power, which Zennstrom has said makes it "lighter, less drag, quieter, and most importantly it is environmentally friendly."

The 40-foot yacht has been meant to compete in regattas through the racing team owned by Zennstrom and his wife, Catherine. The Ran racing team launched in 2008, and has won some prestigious regattas.

Barry Diller, chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns a $70 million yacht with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

The sailing yacht, named Eos, is 350 feet long with six bedrooms. The power couple has hosted many celebrities over the years — a few that have been spotted aboard Eos include model Karlie Kloss, actor Bradley Cooper, journalist Anderson Cooper, and singer Harry Styles.

Source: W Magazine

For Jim Clark, the cofounder of Netscape, one yacht hasn't been enough. Clark has owned boats for more than 30 years, and in 2012, he put up two of his sailing yachts for sale.

Clark listed the boats for a combined $113 million: the 136-foot Hanuman for $18 million, and the 295-foot Athena for $95 million. However, Clark has yet to offload Athena. Clark also previously owned a 155-foot yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a sloop called Hanuman.

Source: Boat International , Forbes

Charles Simonyi worked at Microsoft until 2002, and oversaw the creation of Microsoft Office software. A few years before he left, Simonyi decided to purchase a yacht. He told the designer that wanted his yacht to be "home away from [his] home in Seattle."

Source: Boat International

The product of that conversation in 1999 is Simonyi's yacht named Skat, meaning "treasure" in Danish. The yacht measures 233 feet long, and is unique with its nontraditional design and gray color. Skat features a matching gray helicopter, a gym, and motorcycles.

Source: Yacht Charter Fleet

Opulent British billionaire Richard Branson owned a yacht until he sold it in September 2018. The 105-foot catamaran sold for $3 million, significantly lower than the $9.6 million price Branson listed the boat for in 2014.

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, bought the boat in 2009. He named it Necker Belle, a nod to his private Caribbean island, Necker Island.

Additional reporting by Paige Leskin.

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The fabulous life of billionaire Netscape founder Jim Clark

Source: The Almanac

Clark is a high school dropout from Plainview, Texas. After getting his GED, B.S. and ph.D., he went on to become a professor of electrical engineering at Stanford. He founded visual effects company Silicon Graphics in 1982 and Netscape with Marc Andreessen in 1994.

Source: Forbes

With the success of Netscape and its incredibly popular Navigator browser, Clark and Andreessen became the first to capitalize on the World Wide Web. Clark's wealth grew after the company's extremely successful IPO in August 1995. He later became a billionaire thanks to timely investments in Apple and Facebook.

Source: Daily Mail

Clark has developed a number of expensive hobbies in the 20 years since Netscape's IPO. As a former Navy man, sailing is perhaps his number one passion. His latest watercraft is the new 100-foot monohull sailboat he named "Comanche." Though he hasn't shared how much the boat cost to build, he told the Australian Associated Press, "Boats of this type are sort of like building a Formula 1 car. They are expensive."

"Comanche" faced its first test in December, when Clark's crew competed in a 630-mile race from Sydney, Australia to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. Though the boat finished second in the race, Clark has big plans for the next few months. "I do think it will break quite a few records," he said to the Australian Associated Press.

Source: Wired , "The New New Thing"

Clark's first yacht was "Hyperion," which he customized to essentially be a computer on the water. The 157-foot J-class yacht, which has since been sold for an undisclosed amount, has 22 touchscreens and a total 40 miles of wiring.

Source: Wired , "The New New Thing"

Source: Forbes , Yachting

He also owns two other J-class yachts: 136-foot "Hanuman" and 295-foot "Athena." He listed them for a combined $113 million in 2012, though the listing price for "Athena" recently dropped from $95 million to $75 million.

Source: Palm Beach Illustrated

Clark has been married four times. He married current wife Kristy Hinze in an exclusive ceremony on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands in 2009. 35-year-old Hinze is an Australian model and TV personality who has appeared in Sports Illustrated and the Victoria's Secret catalogue. The couple has two young daughters together.

To celebrate Clark's 70th birthday last year, Hinze threw a three-day party at the luxurious Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic. The soiree included a live performance from Jason Mraz.

Source: TIME

Clark's family has many connections to the tech community. Kathy Clark, his daughter from a previous marriage, is married to YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley.

Source: The Cove

Clark is also well-known in some Hollywood circles. He was the executive producer of "The Cove," a documentary that exposes secret dolphin-hunting practices taking place in a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2009. Here he poses with actor Ben Stiller at a special screening of "The Cove" in New York City.

Click here to see the townhouse »

Clark certainly has the real estate portfolio you'd expect from a billionaire. He recently paid $37 million for the Upper East Side townhouse that previously belonged to Listerine heiress Bunny Mellon.

Click here to see the townhouse »

Source: New York Post

And last month the New York Post revealed that the Netscape billionaire was the mystery buyer of Ron Howard's Armonk, N.Y. home, which he paid $37.5 million for in July 2014. The home has plenty of luxurious amenities, including a pool, sports facility, barn, greenhouse, and observatory.

Source: New York Times , Palm Beach Illustrated

In 1999, Clark paid $11 million for the opulent Il Palmetto estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Originally built in 1930 by noted architect Maurice Fatio, the mansion has been extensively renovated by Clark.

Source: Business Insider , Miami New Times

He also previously owned a 6,200-square-foot apartment at Miami's posh Setai Resort and Residences. He sold the penthouse for $21.5 million in 2011.

Source: Businessweek

Though he spends much of his time in Florida and New York and on the high seas, he previously made his home in the ritzy Silicon Valley town of Atherton. According to local legend, Clark once had to come up with a creative solution when he discovered that his neighbors could see directly into his home. He wanted to build a taller fence, but since that would be against Atherton zoning rules, he brought in enough dirt to build a hill in his backyard, raising the height of the fence.

Source: Sotheby\'s , Sotheby\'s

But homes aren't the only things this billionaires collects. A longtime wine connoisseur, he has a collection that's rumored to contain as many as 40,000 bottles, mostly from the Burgundy region of France. "I may have gotten overly enthusiastic about it," Clark told Sotheby's. "I have more wine than I can ever drink." In November 2014, he sold a selection of wines that fetched nearly $2.6 million at a Sotheby's auction.

Source: Sotheby's , Sotheby's

He also has an extensive art collection and is rumored to own pieces by such big names as Monet, Matisse, Picasso, and Van Gogh.

Source: Daily Mail , "The New New Thing"

He owns a Gulfstream jet, which he uses for both business and pleasure.

Source: Daily Mail , "The New New Thing"

Source: "The New New Thing"

According to a particularly memorable account from Michael Lewis' book "The New New Thing," Clark owned a McDonnell Douglas helicopter that he learned to fly himself. According to Lewis, Clark loved the helicopter so much he had considered buying the company that made it.

Source: "The New New Thing"

Source: Stanford News Service

Clark is a noted philanthropist as well. In 1999, he donated $150 million to fund a biomedical engineering center at Stanford. That donation remains one of the largest gifts the university has ever receieved. He also makes yearly donations to New York's Perlman Music Program.

The fabulous life of Notch, the hard-partying founder of Minecraft »

Now read about another wealthy tech founder..

The fabulous life of Notch, the hard-partying founder of Minecraft »

I was poached and then laid off 60 days later. I was embarrassed to talk about it, but doing so helped me get my next job.

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More From Forbes

Billionaire businessman herb chambers talks about owning one of hottest superyachts in the world, the 263-foot-long excellence.

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Herb Chambers' 263-foot-long award winning yacht Excellence underway in the Med.

Superyacht owners are often, um, how should we say, pretty aloof . And I can’t say I blame them. But every now and then, I meet a superyacht owner who loves his new yacht, and loves the process of designing and building something so unique , and appreciates the incredibly talented designers and engineers and builders who can make his dreams a reality so much, that he’s willing to share some of the experience with me (on the record).

The mirrored windows on Herb Chambers' 263-foot-long supuperyacht are some of the largest ever used ... [+] on a private yacht.

But I’ve never met anyone in the superyacht world quite like the owner of radical, new, 263-foot-long Excellence that was designed by Winch Design , built by Abeking & Rasmussen , and fresh off winning both the “Best Exterior Design” and “Finest New Superyacht” awards at the Monaco Yacht Show .

Herb Chambers' 263-foot-long yacht has massive windows and custom-built furniture designed by Winch ... [+] Design

He’s a straight taking American who’s smiling face and common sense one-liners are on nearly every billboard near where I live in downtown Boston. His name is Herb Chambers . And he’s on all those billboards because he owns (and is the face of) numerous car dealerships in New England that bear his name.

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The bow of the 263-foot-long superyacht Excellence was inspired by the beak of an American Bald ... [+] Eagle

But we couldn’t have been further from Boston when we met on board his new yacht in Monaco recently. And he couldn’t have been more gracious or forthcoming either.

Herb Chambers at one of his many car dealerships in New England.

“Well, I've had six yachts,” he says when I ask about how he came to own of one of the hottest superyachts in the world. “I built two in Holland and then I started building them in Germany at Abeking & Rassmussen.”

“Why so many?” I ask.

The windows are mirrored and massive on Herb Chambers' superyacht, Excellence

“It's fun to build a boat” he says with a twinkle in his eye. “As a matter of fact, from my standpoint, it's probably more fun to build them than it is to use them.

“You're creating something. You're watching something grow,” he continues. I think people who develop real estate know what I’m talking about. Watching a project grow.

Here's what it looks like behind the mirrored glass of the 263-foot-long megayacht Excellence

“I'm in the automobile business, so it’s quite not the same. But building a boat gives you an excuse to go to Europe every three or four months so you see the progress and what's going on at the yard. And that, to me is very exciting.

“Then you have the opportunity to make a lot of choices.”

Tall glass sections on board the megayacht Excellence brings the outside in.

When it comes Excellence ’s radical (and award-winning) design, “choices” may be a bit of an understatement. Chambers’ design brief called for his new yacht to be “extraordinary” and to create a seamless feeling of openness and connection to the outside world. “I also wanted the boat to be what I'll call a ‘happy boat.’ There are many boats out there that are overdone. They become an exercise in excess. I didn’t want that.”

He just needed to meet the designer that could create what he wanted.

Herb Chambers superyacht Excellence lights up the night.

“So how did you decide to build such a radical new yacht,” I ask.

“We were at a boat show when I still owned my previous boat [ a 198-footer also named Excellence and built by Abeking & Rasmussen ] but I was thinking about building something new. Then I walked into the Abeking & Rasmussen stand. And they had a rendering on the wall. And ‘he,’ Chambers’ says pointing at the man who just sat next to him at the bar on the lower deck of his award-winning new yacht, “had done the rendering.”

We conducted our interview at Chambers' poolside bar aboard his 263-foot-long superyacht Excellence ... [+] in Monaco.

(The “he” Chambers is referring to was Andrew Winch, the founder of Winch Design and the head of the design team that designed every element , from the striking exterior and complicated naval architecture to every detail in the interior of the yacht.)

The owner's apartment onboard Excellence has a forward-facing wrap-around view thorugh large ... [+] windows.

“I was thinking about a boat with lots of glass. And then I stopped and said, ‘I like that boat,” he says pointing at the imaginary rending he saw that day. “I like that boat a lot." At the time, the rendering was just a concept Abeking & Rasmussen and Winch Design were collaborating on. Soon Chambers was making changes and making it his own. And not too long after that, the boat was being built.

Winch describes the process with Chambers like this: “Herb trusted us to design and build something that was so new it was way beyond the comfort zone of most people. He had the courage to do it.”

The massive glass on board the megayacht Excellence is a work of art.

In fact, the team at Winch Design came up a superstructure that’s so unique it’s no wonder Excellence has been so well received. The reverse bow instantly identifiable and the yacht’s profile that’s built around huge areas of mirrored and curved floor-to-ceiling glass that Abeking & Rassmussen executed brilliantly, may point to where the future of superyacht design and construction is headed.

Watch this space.

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Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Takes High Tech to the High Seas

By Evantheia Schibsted

Sept. 7, 1998

When people on Wall Street think these days about the entrepreneur Jim Clark -- founder of Silicon Graphics in 1982 and co-founder of Netscape Communications in 1994 -- their thoughts most likely involve his third start-up, the Healtheon Corporation. That is because Healtheon, an on-line service for the health care industry, is planning a widely anticipated public offering in late September.

But Mr. Clark, chairman of Healtheon and a major investor in it, seems nearly as intent on a separate autumn launching, set for mid-November. That is when the 155-foot sailboat Hyperion, a highly computerized vessel that Mr. Clark began planning in 1995, is to start its maiden voyage from a port in Amsterdam, to the Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy.

''I've been working harder on this project than I have any time since the beginning of Netscape,'' Mr. Clark, a 54-year-old, 6-foot-4-inch lanky blond, said in a recent interview in a modest office here in a dissonant setting: above a Jenny Craig Weight Loss Center, enveloped in the fast-food aromas of a nearby Arby's roast beef restaurant.

Though work on the Hyperion has involved long hours lately and frequent trips to the Netherlands by chartered jet, Mr. Clark shows no signs of travel fatigue as he speaks excitedly about the yacht, which outside experts estimate is costing him $30 million to build. (He declined to discuss such matters.)

''It's an R.V. -- a luxurious R.V.,'' Mr. Clark said. ''A self-contained, extremely sophisticated vehicle made for a harsh environment. And it has the most complex nonindustrial automation system that's ever been built.''

If this last superlative sounds like a sales pitch, someday it just might be. More than the expensive hobby of a man with an estimated net worth of $600 million, the Hyperion has begat yet another Clark start-up -- Seascape Communications, a venture in which he and three former Silicon Graphics engineers have been developing the technological guts of the sailboat. Someday, Mr. Clark said, some of their work may find its way into marketable products.

Because no commercial system existed for the completely computerized operating and navigational system that Mr. Clark had envisioned for Hyperion, he decided to create his own. ''I had a particular idea in mind,'' Mr. Clark said. ''I wrote 20 percent of the Hyperion's software code. I built an underlying set of tools, and the engineers used that as a nucleus.''

The result is an aluminum-hulled vessel housing 20 powerful Silicon Graphics computers, 37 miles of network cables and 500 billion bytes of storage for an electronic log that will automatically record everything that happens with the ship, from changing the oil to hoisting sails totaling 13,000 square feet.

''Jim is shooting over the horizon and our objective is to meet him on the horizon,'' said Jan Bokxem, who as technical project manager is overseeing the installation of the ship's computer systems at the 114-year-old Royal Huisman Shipyard in the Netherlands. ''The industry isn't ready yet for some of what he's requesting. Everything on Hyperion needs to be controlled and interfaced to computers.''

The ship's data and control systems are automated on a central server computer, where all monitoring data is formatted and entered into a data base that becomes part of the ship's memory. The idea is for this data base to help teach the ship, its captain and crew to sail better, using past experience to determine optimal sail settings for specific wind conditions, for example. (Not that Mr. Clark is expecting Hyperion's captain, Alan Prior, who has been a crew member in the America's Cup and Whitbread races, to require much tutoring.)

Each of the touch-screen computer terminals throughout Hyperion will offer passengers amenities like activating towel heaters in bathrooms, selecting wine from the cellar, or choosing a CD from the 700-plus titles in a music library with selections from Beethoven to U2.

But most noteworthy may be Hyperion's bridge -- the control deck, which on most yachts is where the various gauges and monitoring instruments are arrayed. On many modern ships, these devices tend to be a hodgepodge of systems from various vendors, with readouts that are difficult to consolidate to provide a single look at overall operations.

By contrast, Hyperion's streamlined bridge has six 20-inch-diagonal computer screens displaying virtual instruments designed to look like conventional ones and using software that can automate all of these monitoring functions and integrate them into a single operational system. This approach makes it possible for the captain on the bridge, the owner from a remote location and the crew members from various positions on the ship to have access to the information and to give commands -- assuming they have personal-identification numbers that authorize them to do so.

''Even though Hyperion's system is sophisticated and complex, it's simple in terms of what the user sees,'' Mr. Clark said. ''Simplicity is the cornerstone of everything technical.''

Mr. Clark has been an avid sailor since one of his Silicon Graphics colleagues introduced him to the sport in 1986. In 1996, he helped raise money for the San Francisco-based St. Francis Yacht Club's backing of America One, a hopeful for the America's Cup challenge in 2000.

Sailing is an enthusiasm shared by other members of the Silicon Valley technocracy, including Tom Perkins and John Doerr, partners in the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Larry Ellison, chairman of the data base software giant Oracle. In June, Mr. Ellison's 78-foot maxi-racer, the Sayonara, won the ILC Maxi World Championship, beating Morning Glory, a yacht owned by Hasso Plattner, co-founder and chief executive of Oracle's rival SAP A.G.

Yet none of the Valley's other yachtsmen have been as personally involved in creating their sailing vessels as Mr. Clark.

His inspiration for Hyperion came in the summer of 1995, as Netscape's phenomenally successful initial public offering was making headlines, when Mr. Clark happened to see a ship called Juliet, built by the Royal Huisman Shipyard, whose exquisite craftsmanship caught his eye.

Mr. Clark hired the ship designer German Frers to do Hyperion, with another highly regarded designer, Pieter Beeldsnijder, to do the interior styling. ''The craftsmanship is impeccable,'' Mr. Clark said. Because of his schedule, Mr. Clark does not plan to be on board when Hyperion leaves Amsterdam on its maiden voyage, though he may join it when it stops in the Canary Islands en route to St. Barthelemy. Though the later itinerary is still to be arranged, eventually the ship is to reach San Francisco, where the Hyperion's 194-foot carbon-fiber mast -- the world's tallest, the Huisman shipbuilders say -- will clear the Golden Gate Bridge by a mere 30 feet.

Though Mr. Clark does not intend to be aboard Hyperion for its entire voyage, he will not need to be. Through a satellite link, the ship is designed to enable him to monitor operations. He would even have the ability -- although he says he never intends to usurp his crew by doing so -- to remotely take Hyperion's helm via computer terminal from his Seascape office in Menlo Park, or his part-time residence in Atherton, Calif., his permanent home in Palm Beach, Fla., or virtually anywhere else in the world.

Early in 2000, Mr. Clark plans to be aboard to sail the ship to Auckland, New Zealand, to watch the America's Cup race. And when might he plan to formally launch Seascape as his fourth company?

Between preparing for Healtheon's initial public offering and Hyperion's first voyage, Mr. Clark said he had scant free time to chart the start-up's future. He does plan to keep Seascape's engineers employed for at least a year after Hyperion sets sail, initially to debug the system and then to explore the potential for commercializing the software.

He said he doubted that Seascape would pursue the obvious niche for Hyperion's system, the yachting industry, because he sees the market as too narrow. More likely, he said, the software would be marketed to complex environments like petroleum processing plants, where many sophisticated operations must be monitored over a wide area.

About the only thing that is virtually certain for Mr. Clark, who calls himself a ''half-entrepreneur, half-venture capitalist,'' is that something more than a fancy sailboat lies over the horizon. ''I don't like spending this much time and energy on just a hobby,'' he said.

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Billionaire fights to dock his boat on water behind his house. His 164-foot boat, that is.

The love of the water, and a mega-yacht to enjoy it, is putting one resident at odds with village of north palm beach leaders..

For some people, the ultimate Florida lifestyle is a waterfront house , a private dock and a boat parked next to it. But what if that boat is a mega-yacht , and the mega-yacht stretches 164 feet?

That's the conundrum facing the Village of North Palm Beach.

This tiny community in northern Palm Beach County, with only 13,000 full-time residents, has an identity so tied to the water that a ship's steering wheel is the village's emblem.

But it's that love of the water that is putting one resident at odds with village leaders.

For the past several years, homeowner Michael Bozutto has been battling the village for the right to park his 164-foot Westport, dubbed Honey, behind a home he owns at 932 Shore Drive.

The house, built in 1961, is a one-story, ranch-style property with three bedrooms on a half-acre lot. Bozzuto paid $840,247 for the house in 2014, according to Palm Beach County property records.

Lawsuit rooted in dispute over where to dock mega-yacht

What makes this plain house special is its location. It's on a rare corner bordered on the north and east by navigable waters that provide access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Lake Worth Inlet. The east-facing dock is large enough to accommodate Bozzuto's motor yacht.

Since Bozutto bought Honey for an undisclosed sum a decade ago, he mostly has parked it at the Old Port Cove Marina, near Tiger Woods' 155-foot showy mega-yacht, ironically dubbed Privacy.

More recently, Bozzuto has wanted to park Honey alongside his Shore Drive house, one of four houses he owns in the village. While Bozzuto keeps some personal property at the Shore Drive house, he lives at a house he owns at Harbour Isles Court.

Village officials warned Bozzuto he can't park Honey at 932 Shore Drive because boats can only be parked on docks behind houses that are occupied by the homeowner.

But village rules do not define the word "occupied." For instance, the rules do not state that occupied means the house is a residence where the owner lives. Village rules also contain no restrictions on the size of boats that can be kept at private docks.

After years of pushing back against what he believes are fuzzy rules, Bozzuto in March filed a lawsuit against the village.

More: Cannonsport Marina sells for $58.5 million in big deal for tiny Palm Beach Shores

He alleged the municipality is illegally depriving him of his property rights because nothing in the village code prevents him from mooring Honey at his house. He is asking a Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge to rule that he has a constitutional right to dock Honey there.

Gregory Coleman, Bozzuto's West Palm Beach attorney, said the village has plenty of waterfront homes with yachts parked behind them. But Coleman said the village is illegally blocking Bozzuto from docking Honey at his house because the village is bending to pressure from a handful of neighbors who think the boat is too big.

The selective enforcement is wrong, said Coleman, a former president of the Florida Bar.

"He's a very under-the-radar guy who doesn't cause anybody any problems," Coleman said of Bozzuto. "He pays his property taxes, and he wants to be left alone by the village of North Palm Beach. Unfortunately, they are singling Mike out."

Neither Leonard Rubin, the village's longtime attorney, nor Village Manager Chuck Huff responded to requests for comment.

Eric Stettin, a Fort Lauderdale-based attorney who is representing the village in the Bozzuto lawsuit, said he could not comment on pending litigation.

What good is a man's castle if he can't have a boat in his moat?

Coleman's lawsuit describes the conflict as a battle over property rights, but real estate and yachting experts say it's also a sign of the times.

As wealthy new residents pour into the county wanting all the perks of the Sunshine State, they want a boat to go along with their waterfront homes and golf club memberships. Some longtime residents fear Palm Beach County is turning into a playground for billionaires, to the detriment of everyday people who also want to live in sunshine and peace.

This conflict between Old Florida and new money is an ever-present tension, but even seasoned yacht brokers say they've never seen interest in luxury yachts quite as strong as it is now.

More: Illegal boat slips are popping near Palm Beach Gardens. Residents want regulators to act

"What we've seen in the marketplace right after COVID in the yachting industry, and especially the superyacht segment, is the most incredible growth ever seen in the history of yachting to date," said Shannon McCoy, a luxury yacht advisor and broker with Worth Avenue Yachts in Palm Beach.

"A lot of people are moving here with serious money," added Pascal Savoy, U.S. managing director of Camper & Nicholsons International yacht brokers in Fort Lauderdale.

While in the past Palm Beach County was not considered lively enough for some buyers, Savoy said the county's growing sophistication is putting it on the map in a way never seen before.

"It's a mini-Monaco for us," Savoy said.

Prices for mega-yachts can range from $18 million to $60 million, or many times that, for the largest and most decked-out mega-yachts, Savoy said.

While some yachts can be glitzy, a 164-foot Westport is considered a more low-profile boat, Savoy added.

Michael Bozzuto's interests: Houses, boats and philanthropy

Bozzuto is no newcomer to North Palm Beach. He's been a resident of the village for 20 years.

He is the billionaire owner of a family-owned supermarket wholesaler in Connecticut, and an investor and philanthropist who likes to collect houses and yachts, Coleman said.

In addition to the four North Palm Beach houses and several yachts he owns, Bozzuto in February paid a whopping $31.1 million for a house in the Town of Palm Beach Shores. The house, which has two docks, sits just north of the Palm Beach/Lake Worth Inlet.

Twin City Mall: North Palm clears way for redevelopment, taller buildings at landmark site

Coleman said there is plenty of room for other boaters to navigate the waterway when Honey is parked at the Shore Drive house in North Palm Beach. And while other people may not have as large a yacht, there are other sizeable yachts parked on docks behind other North Palm Beach homes, too, he added.

At a 2017 village council meeting, then-Mayor Darryl Aubrey commented on the issue, according to the complaint.

"When I didn't live here full time, I had a boat sitting in my dock, I was gone nine months of the year. I don't see how you can say that someone has to be in a residence year-round, seems to be some interpretation of occupant, there would be an enormous number of violations," Aubrey said.

Another member of the village council asked if the village had a definition now, the complaint said.

Rubin, the village attorney, replied: "No, we don't," according to the lawsuit.

Show me the money? Here it is: West Palm and Palm Beach rank in top 5 as cities with fastest growth in millionaires

Palm Beach County's waterways run deep, and they are popular

The yacht docking dispute is particularly timely, given the scarcity of dock space for boats of all sizes.

The most convenient place to park a boat is on the water behind a house, brokers say. But not every waterway or channel can accommodate the draft, or depth, of a mega-yacht.

However, the dock behind Bozzuto's Shore Drive house can.

Not only is the Westport not known for its deep hulls, but the waterway also is typical of northern Palm Beach County, which boasts deep water and easy access to the ocean via the Lake Worth Inlet, said Coleman, a lifelong boater.

"In Palm Beach County, they have deeper water, and it allows people to have larger yachts," Savoy agreed.

But not every waterway is deep enough for every boat.

McCoy said she specializes in helping advise potential yacht owners about the county's varied water depths before they buy a house, if they plan to dock their yacht behind it.

If yacht owners don't have a private dock, the other option is a marina. But marina space is hard to find, with many dock berths reserved for months in advance, McCoy said.

Despite the challenges of owning a boat and finding a place to dock it, yacht brokers say demand continues.

They see interest continuing from business executives moving here with their families as they relocate their companies to Palm Beach County. There's also a growing demand for yachts among female buyers, McCoy added.

They also see younger mega-yacht buyers, some even in their early 30s. This is in sharp contrast to the mostly older buyers in the past, Savoy said.

Palm Beach County may not be as go-go as Miami-Dade County when it comes to showy ships, but if interest continues, "it's coming," Savoy said. "You're going to attract bigger yachts."

Put another way: "No one needs a boat, but everyone needs a boat," McCoy said. "It's the ultimate lifestyle."

Alexandra Clough is a business writer and columnist at The Palm Beach Post . You can reach her at [email protected] . Twitter: @acloughpbp . Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

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royal-huisman-sailing-yacht-athena-was-launched-in-2004

Athena: Inside the 79m Royal Huisman flagship yacht

To celebrate the news that the Royal Huisman schooner Athena will be attending to this year’s Monaco Yacht Show , we speak to owner Jim Clark about his enduring love for this 79.25 metre sailing yacht.

“Let’s face it,” says Jim Clark, “you have to be a little bit nuts.” The Silicon Valley legend, founder of Netscape, WebMD and Silicon Graphics, is talking about building his triple-masted schooner, Athena .

There were a few people at Royal Huisman who would have agreed: the shipyard hadn’t even launched Clark’s previous yacht, 47.4 metre Hyperion , when he started talking about a much, much bigger boat. “I guess I was just thinking it would be nice to have something a little more roomy,” he says. “I could easily have built a 50 or 60 metre motor yacht that would have had the same space as Athena , but I was never really interested in building a motor yacht.”

The clipper-bowed beauty that was born of this thinking ranks as one of the all-time great superyachts; as big a hit today as she was when launched in 2004. Twelve years on and Clark is still smitten with Athena . “I love her proportions. To my eye, she’s one of the most gorgeous large sailing yachts, maybe the most gorgeous large sailing yacht in the world.”

The 72 year old didn’t stop with Athena . He went on to build the J Class Hanuman at Royal Huisman and the 30.4 metre carbon weapon Comanche at Hodgdon Yachts (which recently broke the Transatlantic sailing record ). But it’s Athena with which he’s most closely identified, a 90 metre nod to a more refined age, yet packed with the kind of tech you’d expect from a man who has made a fortune inventing the future.

We’re talking shortly after a bittersweet period for Clark. He was honoured with the Legacy Award at the 2016 World Superyacht Awards , which followed shortly after the sad news of Pieter Beeldsnijder’s death. The Dutch designer was responsible for the exterior and interior styling of Hyperion , and worked closely with Clark on the interiors of Athena , creating a series of rich but comfortable spaces with a classic edge.

“He was one of my all-time favourite people,” says Clark. “He and I were even talking about doing some other projects together. I would have enjoyed seeing him another time.”

Such was Beeldsnijder’s success in delivering Clark’s vision for the yacht that, all these years later, Clark says he wouldn’t change a thing. “I would design a new boat before I would change Athena . If I was forced to change something, I would convert the office on the lower deck into a children’s room because it’s next to the master stateroom. I didn’t anticipate children when designing this boat, but all that’s changed now! People who come on board can’t believe she’s 12 years old. She’s been very well cared for.”

Clark proudly recounts a story from a few days before our interview. He had been invited aboard a “very large” motor yacht in Monaco’s Port Hercules and, when leaving to tender back to Athena , a young couple got in the boat thinking it was a ferry to shore. “It turns out they were Dutch and I invited them aboard and they were just effusive about Athena compared to the motor yacht.”

The story of how Athena came to be starts on the Amalfi Coast, where, in the 1990s, Clark first laid eyes on Creole . The 63 metre wooden schooner, owned by the Gucci family, was built in 1927 to designs by Charles E Nicholson. “I looked at her and said, ‘that’s a beautiful boat’. Athena as a concept started along the lines of Creole .”

“Prior to even building Hyperion I had also chartered [J Class yacht] Endeavour , so I was always intrigued by that kind of boat. When I went back and thought about building a bigger boat [than Hyperion ], I thought why not build a more traditional-looking boat? That’s where Pieter and I started.”

There was never a question about which yard would build it. Jim Clark and Royal Huisman were wed with Hyperion , which at that point was the yard’s biggest launch. Now double it, Clark demanded. But it wasn’t as easy as simply saying “yes”, recalls Alice Huisman, former MD of the company and daughter of the legendary Wolter Huisman.

“When Jim started to think about Athena , I don’t really think we understood his vision,” she says. “Where we saw limits and constraints, he saw none. For example, he pushed her physical dimensions to the point where we had to build a whole new construction hall that would be large enough to accommodate her size.” It was the boat that kept on growing, both parties remember. For Clark, though, it was just about nailing the proportions.

“I wanted it to look right, and it sort of came out where it was,” he says. “I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the actual size, but it needed to have the right accommodations and plenty of headroom. The only thing is I made a conscious effort to connect the cabins with the crew area forward, so I made a passage through the engine room that’s soundproofed; it allows you to walk through and see Athena ’s engines. It’s a great feature.”

What Clark could never have foreseen is how Athena would perform as a family boat, which she has ended up becoming. Clark married Australian model and TV personality Kristy Hinze in 2008 and together they have two children. “It’s turned into a very useful boat for children,” he says. “I have a little girl that’s not quite two and a girl that’s four, and on the main deck the side railings are really solid, so you never have to worry. And we put this netting along the poop deck. It’s now a pretty child-friendly boat. We spend a lot of time on board with the kids.”

As well as being the biggest build ever undertaken at Royal Huisman (a record that still stands), Athena was to be Wolter Huisman’s swan song. He died not long after her launch in July 2004. Alice Huisman remembers that her father was “very, very proud” and probably also partly relieved to see her on the water. Athena pushed his shipyard – and him – to the limit.

“As the length approached 90 metres, my father became more and more anxious about how much further he could extend the build hall,” says Huisman. “He even suggested to Jim that he consider another shipyard, but Jim not only knew exactly what he wanted, he also knew with whom he wanted to build it. He was very convincing!”

Clark calls Athena his “world travelling boat”, with three circumnavigations under her belt. “What better way to travel?” His love of scuba diving means itineraries have been dictated by what’s beneath the water. “I spent two one-month periods in Papua, which has some of the best diving in the world. We enjoyed diving in the Andamans. I’ve been in the Red Sea and out through there. In fact, I think we passed through about a week before that first notorious hijack [in 2009, of French yacht Tanit ].”

Such extensive cruising is off the table for the time being, with more domestic responsibilities taking priority (“I’ve got a child about to start kindergarten”), but the ambition is still there to explore remoter regions with his family. “I’d like them to get into that 12, 13, 14 age range and then they can be taught to scuba dive.”

Clark’s favourite memory associated with Athena is actually an underwater one. “It’s unquestionably doing underwater photography with my friend Louie Psihoyos. We worked together on the film The Cove , which I financed. We spent many, many hours on Athena doing underwater photography. I learned a lot from him and we came up with some phenomenal pictures.”

He’s got a few good above-water anecdotes, too. “I remember one of our first sails, overnight from Rangiroa in the Tuamotus. I had a bunch of fun movie people on board Athena — Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Griffin Dunne, Fisher Stevens. We were just screaming along downwind on a broach reach, heeled over easy 15 or maybe even 20 degrees. We were having so much fun in the protected aft area, dancing and listening to music. There’s a funny video of that. It was a memorable sail and went all night – we sailed all the way from Rangiroa to Bora Bora.

“Then there was a time in the Med. We had a big party with a bunch of friends in Positano, and in the late afternoon there you get a sea breeze that picks up and blows west to east and you can sail with a slight heel and be doing 12 knots. Sails like that are very nice because it doesn’t even feel like you’re moving. But you’re up on the netting on the bowsprit, looking down and the dolphins start chasing you. Those experiences are unique.”

With naval architecture and rig design from Dykstra Naval Architects , Athena was always going to be a performer, which Clark happily confirms – even if that performance is sometimes unexpected. “One time we were coming off the Turkish coast and the meltemi was blowing and the boat heeled over so far we got thrown out of bed!”

Despite Athena being for sale , Clark is still getting maximum use out of her. The day we speak, he is on board in Monaco, sitting in the bridge. “I tend to work here, at what you might otherwise call a chart table, although there are no charts any more.”

When not working, his favourite spot on board Athena is all the way aft, where there’s a large sunbed covered by an awning. “It’s fun to get under there, out of the breeze, and hang with the children and people and have laughs and drinks. There’s another spot on the upper deck, which is covered and probably one of the nicest spots on the boat.”

The reason she’s for sale is simply time. “I’ve got too many boats,” he says. “I’m particularly afflicted with this disease. I mean, good God, how many boats have I had? A 17 metre Baltic , a 27 metre Jongert , a 47 metre Frers , Hanuman , Athena , Comanche . I have a fishing boat, a 70 foot sport fisher. That’s enough boats but I have loved them all, one way or another. It just comes down to having too many irons in the fire.”

He reserves a special affection for Athena — the biggest boat in his fleet — and if she was to sell tomorrow it would clearly be a painful parting. “I would miss all of her,” he says. And if she doesn’t sell? Well, there’s still a few destinations on his bucket list. “I never made it to Madagascar, and I understand there’s some incredible diving there. And I’ve never been to the Seychelles or South Africa.” Sounds like Athena territory.

First published in the August 2016 edition of Boat International

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68m charter yacht ICON sold and renamed LOON

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By Steph Loseby 11 May 2023

Delivered by Icon Yachts in 2010, the 68m (221ft) superyacht ICON has recently been sold and renamed LOON . Built for ocean-going cruising, the luxury motor yacht is offering once-in-a-lifetime charter vacations in the Mediterranean this summer.

Sporting an attractive exterior designed by RWD and naval architecture from Jouke van der Baan, the yacht is home to an abundance of spacious social areas that are perfect for relaxing, socializing and entertaining.

Characterized by her clean exterior lines and anthracite-gray paintwork, the 1,295 GT yacht LOON offers accommodation for 12 guests across 7 well-appointed cabins.

Key features onboard the impressive four-deck superyacht include her aft deck infinity swimming pool, her whirlpool on the bridge deck, a fully-equipped gym, a massage room, and sauna.

Motor yacht LOON is also renowned for its exceptional watersports program so guests can look forward to thrilling activities such as kitesurfing, wakeboarding, e-foiling and diving activities during their vacation.

In terms of performance, motor yacht LOON is equipped with twin MTU engines, comfortably cruising at 13 knots and reaching a maximum speed of 16 knots with a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles.

Interested in a Mediterranean yacht charter?

The sun-dappled gems of the Mediterranean are simply beautiful all year round. Whether you're exploring the glistening isles of Greece or the sophisticated and elegant St Tropez or Cannes , a superyacht charter allows you to see serene anchorages, beautiful bays and glittering cities fizzing with life in total private luxury.

beautiful landscape in the Mediterranean

To find out more about chartering in the region, check out our Mediterranean yacht charter guide . For some inspiration, browse our selection of itineraries handpicked by experts with in-depth knowledge of the region.

If you’d like to learn more about chartering superyacht LOON this summer, please speak with a recommended yacht charter broker .

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COMMENTS

Hyperion (yacht)
Hyperion (yacht) Hyperion is the name of a 155.5-foot (47.4 m) sailing yacht built by the Royal Huisman in the Netherlands in 1998 and designed by German Frers. At the time of her launch, she was the largest sloop ever built, and had the tallest mast. The 194-foot (59 m) carbon-fiber mast clears the deck of the Golden Gate Bridge by only 30 ...
Hyperion Yacht
Hyperion is a motor yacht with an overall length of m. The yacht's builder is Hargrave Custom Yachts from United States, who launched Hyperion in 2021. The superyacht has a volume of. GT.. Hyperion features exterior design by Hargrave Custom Yachts and interior design by Yacht Interiors by Shelley. Hyperion has a GRP hull and a GRP superstructure. She is powered by 2 Caterpillar Inc engines.
HYPERION Yacht Charter Price
The 47.42m/155'7" 'Hyperion' sail yacht built by the Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman is available for charter for up to 6 guests in 3 cabins. This multi-award winning yacht features interior styling by Pieter Beeldsnijder Design. For the ultimate sailing experience, Hyperion offers the perfect mix of luxurious living coupled with plenty of ...
Who Owns Which Superyacht? (A Complete Guide)
Short Answer. The ownership of superyachts is generally private, so the exact answer to who owns which superyacht is not always publicly available. However, there are some notable superyacht owners that are known. For example, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, owns the Rising Sun, which is the 11th largest superyacht in the world.
Hargrave Custom Yachts launches 35.5m Hyperion
Fort Lauderdale based builder Hargrave Custom Yachts has announced the launch of the 35.5 metre yacht Hyperion from the HSY Shipyard in Turkey. Designed in-house, the yacht features a GRP high performance hull penned by Jack Sarin Naval Architects. The interior meanwhile comes from the boards of Yacht Interiors by Shelley.
HYPERION yacht (HSY Yachts, 35.35m, 2021)
HYPERION is a 35.35 m Motor Yacht, built in Turkey by HSY Yachts and delivered in 2021. She is one of 3 Hargrave 116 models. Her top speed is 21.0 kn, her cruising speed is 18.0 kn, and she boasts a maximum cruising range of 1200.0 nm at 11.0 kn, with power coming from two Caterpillar diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 ...
HYPERION Yacht
Shallow draft and fast speeds for reef exploration. The 35.5m/116'6" motor yacht 'Hyperion' (ex. B116/ 01) was built by HSY Yachts at their Antalya shipyard. Her interior is styled by design house Yacht Interiors by Shelley and she was delivered to her owner in August 2021. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Hargrave.
Yachting's Dozen: Hyperion
Type: 155-foot sailing yacht designed by German Frers Builder: Royal Huisman Year: 1998 Original owner: Jim Clark. Why this yacht matters, From the pages of Yachting: Hyperion_ is the largest sailing yacht built by Huisman, and is pushing forward the frontiers, not just in electronics, but in rig and sail developments, engineering and controls.Her owner is not a man who does things by halves.
47.4m Hyperion Superyacht
Powered by a 1,100 hp MTU diesel engine driving a LIPS variable pitch propeller, Hyperion's 9.56m beam and 4.8m draft (7.3m - carbon centerboard down) can easily be driven through the water at 16 knots, and during her maiden transatlantic voyage she managed a sailing speed of 19 knots. Hyperion is a luxury sail yacht built in 1998 by Royal ...
HYPERION Superyacht
DESCRIPTION. Term Charter. A high-tech, award-winning sailing yacht with multiple design features, Hyperion provides the ideal charter for intrepid voyagers keen to explore the world. Built in 1998 by renowned Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman, Hyperion is a stunning 47.42m sloop sail yacht with a displacement hull. A refit in 2023 saw a complete ...
Billionaire Yachts: Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Sergey Brin
Clark also previously owned a 155-foot yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a sloop called Hanuman. The yacht Athena. Fosnez / Wikimedia Commons Source: Boat International, Forbes.
Royal Huisman sailing superyacht Hyperion for sale
The 47.2 metre sailing yacht Hyperion has been listed for sale by Alex Busher at Edmiston & Company.. Designed by German Frers, Hyperion was built in aluminium by Dutch yard Royal Huisman to Lloyd's class and delivered in 1998 as a cutter rigged auxillary sloop with a full refit in 2015. A timeless interior by Pieter Bieldsnijder accommodates six guests in three cabins comprising a full-beam ...
Which billionaire has the biggest superyacht? Amazon's Jeff Bezos
Clark also previously owned a 47-metre (155-foot) yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a racing yacht named Comanche. Microsoft's Charles Simonyi wanted a yacht good enough to live on.
Legendary Tech Billionaire's Iconic Luxury Yacht Is Still an Awe
Described as an ideal option for luxury charter, the Hyperion is also ready for a new owner (it only had two owners until now, including Jim Clark), according to IYC, where it's listed for ...
Yachts Owned by Billionaires, From Jeff Bezos to Larry Page
Advertisement. A mystery buyer bought a 414-foot superyacht that was once owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $278 million. Allen had the boat, which was named "Octopus," built in ...
Sailing yacht Hyperion
Hyperion is a 47.42 m / 155′7″ luxury sailing yacht. She was built by Royal Huisman in 1998. With a beam of 9.56 m and a draft of 4.7 m, she has an aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 305 tons. She is powered by MTU engines of 1100 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 15 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots. The sailing yacht can accommodate 6 ...
Clark's first yacht was "Hyperion," which he customized to essentially
Source: Wired, "The New New Thing"
Billionaire Businessman Herb Chambers Talks About Owning One ...
Herb Chambers' 263-foot-long award winning yacht Excellence underway in the Med. Guillaume Plisson for Abeking & Rasmussen. Superyacht owners are often, um, how should we say, pretty aloof.And I ...
HYPERION Yacht Video
Hic Salta. 42m | Valena Yachting. from $46,000 p/week. Videos of HYPERION, the 47m Royal Huisman super yacht, designed by Pieter Beeldsnijder Design with an interior by Pieter Beeldsnijder Design.
The Top 40 of the World's Richest Yacht Owners • 2024
42. Gianluigi Aponte. Gianluigi Aponte. Amo. 47m. All yacht owners are 'rich', but some are richer than others. For example, when a wealthy person is able to purchase a US$ 10 million yacht. His net worth is probably between US$ 50 million and US$ 100 million.
Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Takes High Tech to the High Seas
Jim Clark, founder of Silicon Graphics and co-founder of Netscape, is building high-tech sailboat, 155-foot Hyperion, in Netherlands at cost of $30 million; all systems on boat, including ...
Mega-yacht owner fights to dock boat behind North Palm Beach home
For the past several years, homeowner Michael Bozutto has been battling the village for the right to park his 164-foot Westport, dubbed Honey, behind a home he owns at 932 Shore Drive. The house ...
Athena: Inside the 79m Royal Huisman flagship yacht
To celebrate the news that the Royal Huisman schooner Athena will be attending to this year's Monaco Yacht Show, we speak to owner Jim Clark about his enduring love for this 79.25 metre sailing yacht. "Let's face it," says Jim Clark, "you have to be a little bit nuts." The Silicon Valley legend, founder of Netscape, WebMD and Silicon Graphics, is talking about building his triple ...
British billionaire fined $5M, sentenced to 3 years probation for ...
He owns homes in several countries including the Bahamas, where he currently lives, a $200 million art collection and a 98-meter $250 million yacht that he used as surety for a bail bond following ...
68m charter yacht ICON sold and renamed LOON
Loon 68m Icon Yachts 2010 from $540,000 per week + expenses. Delivered by Icon Yachts in 2010, the 68m (221ft) superyacht ICON has recently been sold and renamed LOON. Built for ocean-going cruising, the luxury motor yacht is offering once-in-a-lifetime charter vacations in the Mediterranean this summer.
Supercar Blondie to Sell Million-Dollar Supercars, Yachts in SBX Online
SBX Cars has confirmed more than $100 million in consignments prior to launch, says Hirschi. The 38-year-old Australian runs the Supercar Blondie brand with her husband Nik out of Dubai; the ...

Who Owns Which Superyacht? (A Complete Guide)

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Overview of Superyachts

Who are the Owners of Superyachts?

The Most Expensive Superyacht in the World

Notable Superyacht Owners

What Amenities are Included on Superyachts?

How Much Do Superyachts Cost?

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Key Takeaways

A mystery buyer bought a 414-foot superyacht that was once owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $278 million. Allen had the boat, which was named "Octopus," built in 2003 for $200 million. Since the tech billionaire's death in 2018, the boat had been listed for as much as $325 million.

The wealthy can book the yacht for a weekly rate of $2.2 million or more, through the luxury company Camper & Nicholsons, Bloomberg reported last year.

Even before its completion, "Koru" drew the ire of Dutch people vowing to hurl eggs at the boat if it would require a historic bridge in Rotterdam to be taken apart to let it through. An egg crisis was averted however, as the company making the ship found a less-irksome alternative.

Bezos has long been interested in yachts. In 2019, he was spotted aboard entertainment mogul David Geffen's superyacht.

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison owns a 288-foot yacht named Musashi that he acquired in 2013. The yacht has several amenities, including an elevator, swimming pool, movie theater, and both an indoor and outdoor gym.

Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun.

The Oracle cofounder also has a knack for competitive yacht racing, and helped to found and back a racing team, called Oracle Team USA, in 2000. The team has found success and won several prestigious titles over the years.

Ellison previously owned a bigger, 454-foot yacht called Rising Sun, which was designed specifically for the CEO in 2005. That yacht reportedly has 82 rooms, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and a basketball court. However, Ellison sold off the Rising Sun to Geffen for a reported $300 million.

Ellison's yacht reportedly influenced the decision of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs to get a boat himself. However, Jobs never set foot on the boat — the yacht was commissioned in 2008, but wasn't completed until 2012, a year after his death.

When Jobs died in 2011, his yacht — along with his $14.1 billion fortune — was inherited by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of a social-impact nonprofit called the Emerson Collective. The 256-foot yacht is named Venus, and is worth $130 million.

Google's billionaire cofounders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are known to splurge. An Insider feature in December documented some of the trappings of their luxury, including planes and yachts.

Brin meanwhile owns a number of yachts and vessels including the 73-meter Dragonfly, and the 40-meter Butterfly, Insider reported in January.

Dragonfly, the $80 million boat that has a movie-theater, shares a name with Google's once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Google said in 2019 it had officially terminated the project.

The former Google CEO picked up the Alfa Nero yacht for nearly $68 million in an auction in June, according to a Bloomberg report. The yacht had apparently been left amid Russia's war in Ukraine, according to the report.

For Skype cofounder Niklas Zennstrom, his interest in yachts skews toward racing and competitive sailing. Zennstrom has gone through a succession of boats all named Ran.

The Ran VII yacht is among the most advanced of Zennstrom's boats. The racing yacht uses electrical power, which Zennstrom has said makes it "lighter, less drag, quieter, and most importantly it is environmentally friendly."

The 40-foot yacht has been meant to compete in regattas through the racing team owned by Zennstrom and his wife, Catherine. The Ran racing team launched in 2008, and has won some prestigious regattas.

Barry Diller, chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns a $70 million yacht with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

The sailing yacht, named Eos, is 350 feet long with six bedrooms. The power couple has hosted many celebrities over the years — a few that have been spotted aboard Eos include model Karlie Kloss, actor Bradley Cooper, journalist Anderson Cooper, and singer Harry Styles.

For Jim Clark, the cofounder of Netscape, one yacht hasn't been enough. Clark has owned boats for more than 30 years, and in 2012, he put up two of his sailing yachts for sale.

Clark listed the boats for a combined $113 million: the 136-foot Hanuman for $18 million, and the 295-foot Athena for $95 million. However, Clark has yet to offload Athena. Clark also previously owned a 155-foot yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a sloop called Hanuman.

Charles Simonyi worked at Microsoft until 2002, and oversaw the creation of Microsoft Office software. A few years before he left, Simonyi decided to purchase a yacht. He told the designer that wanted his yacht to be "home away from [his] home in Seattle."

The product of that conversation in 1999 is Simonyi's yacht named Skat, meaning "treasure" in Danish. The yacht measures 233 feet long, and is unique with its nontraditional design and gray color. Skat features a matching gray helicopter, a gym, and motorcycles.

Opulent British billionaire Richard Branson owned a yacht until he sold it in September 2018. The 105-foot catamaran sold for $3 million, significantly lower than the $9.6 million price Branson listed the boat for in 2014.

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, bought the boat in 2009. He named it Necker Belle, a nod to his private Caribbean island, Necker Island.

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The luxury boats owned by some of the wealthiest people in tech, from a yacht so big it has its own support boat to superyachts with swimming pools and basketball courts

A mystery buyer bought a 414-foot superyacht that was once owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $278 million. Allen had the boat, which was named "Octopus," built in 2003 for $200 million. Since the tech billionaire's death in 2018, the boat had been listed for as much as $325 million.

The wealthy can book the yacht for a weekly rate of $2.2 million or more, through the luxury company Camper & Nicholsons, Bloomberg reported last year.

Even before its completion, "Koru" drew the ire of Dutch people vowing to hurl eggs at the boat if it would require a historic bridge in Rotterdam to be taken apart to let it through. An egg crisis was averted however, as the company making the ship found a less-irksome alternative.

Bezos has long been interested in yachts. In 2019, he was spotted aboard entertainment mogul David Geffen's superyacht.

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison owns a 288-foot yacht named Musashi that he acquired in 2013. The yacht has several amenities, including an elevator, swimming pool, movie theater, and both an indoor and outdoor gym.

Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun.

The Oracle cofounder also has a knack for competitive yacht racing, and helped to found and back a racing team, called Oracle Team USA, in 2000. The team has found success and won several prestigious titles over the years.

Ellison previously owned a bigger, 454-foot yacht called Rising Sun, which was designed specifically for the CEO in 2005. That yacht reportedly has 82 rooms, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and a basketball court. However, Ellison sold off the Rising Sun to Geffen for a reported $300 million.

Ellison's yacht reportedly influenced the decision of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs to get a boat himself. However, Jobs never set foot on the boat — the yacht was commissioned in 2008, but wasn't completed until 2012, a year after his death.

When Jobs died in 2011, his yacht — along with his $14.1 billion fortune — was inherited by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of a social-impact nonprofit called the Emerson Collective. The 256-foot yacht is named Venus, and is worth $130 million.

Google's billionaire cofounders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are known to splurge. An Insider feature in December documented some of the trappings of their luxury, including planes and yachts.

Brin meanwhile owns a number of yachts and vessels including the 73-meter Dragonfly, and the 40-meter Butterfly, Insider reported in January.

Dragonfly, the $80 million boat that has a movie-theater, shares a name with Google's once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Google said in 2019 it had officially terminated the project.

The former Google CEO picked up the Alfa Nero yacht for nearly $68 million in an auction in June, according to a Bloomberg report. The yacht had apparently been left amid Russia's war in Ukraine, according to the report.

For Skype cofounder Niklas Zennstrom, his interest in yachts skews toward racing and competitive sailing. Zennstrom has gone through a succession of boats all named Ran.

The Ran VII yacht is among the most advanced of Zennstrom's boats. The racing yacht uses electrical power, which Zennstrom has said makes it "lighter, less drag, quieter, and most importantly it is environmentally friendly."

The 40-foot yacht has been meant to compete in regattas through the racing team owned by Zennstrom and his wife, Catherine. The Ran racing team launched in 2008, and has won some prestigious regattas.

Barry Diller, chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns a $70 million yacht with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

The sailing yacht, named Eos, is 350 feet long with six bedrooms. The power couple has hosted many celebrities over the years — a few that have been spotted aboard Eos include model Karlie Kloss, actor Bradley Cooper, journalist Anderson Cooper, and singer Harry Styles.

For Jim Clark, the cofounder of Netscape, one yacht hasn't been enough. Clark has owned boats for more than 30 years, and in 2012, he put up two of his sailing yachts for sale.

Clark listed the boats for a combined $113 million: the 136-foot Hanuman for $18 million, and the 295-foot Athena for $95 million. However, Clark has yet to offload Athena. Clark also previously owned a 155-foot yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a sloop called Hanuman.

Charles Simonyi worked at Microsoft until 2002, and oversaw the creation of Microsoft Office software. A few years before he left, Simonyi decided to purchase a yacht. He told the designer that wanted his yacht to be "home away from [his] home in Seattle."

The product of that conversation in 1999 is Simonyi's yacht named Skat, meaning "treasure" in Danish. The yacht measures 233 feet long, and is unique with its nontraditional design and gray color. Skat features a matching gray helicopter, a gym, and motorcycles.

Opulent British billionaire Richard Branson owned a yacht until he sold it in September 2018. The 105-foot catamaran sold for $3 million, significantly lower than the $9.6 million price Branson listed the boat for in 2014.

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, bought the boat in 2009. He named it Necker Belle, a nod to his private Caribbean island, Necker Island.

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