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Bizarre Story of the History Supreme Yacht

Ian Fortey

You may have heard that the most expensive yacht in history is called the History Supreme. As near as I’ve been able to figure out, that’s not true. Not because the alleged $4.8 billion yacht wouldn’t be the most expensive – that’s far more than the next most expensive yacht. Instead, it’s not true because the History Supreme is not a real yacht. It doesn’t exist. But you wouldn’t know that from how the internet works.

The World’s Most Expensive Yacht

history supreme yacht real

If you Google the most expensive yacht nearly all the top results, whether they are lists or single topic articles, tell you about History Supreme. Every single one of these articles uses the same four photos. Keep that in mind because it will be important in a moment.

According to the stories, which all source their information from the same place, the History Supreme was designed by a man named Stuart Hughes. Hughes is famous for elevating common things to the extravagant. He had added hundreds of diamonds to things like iPhones and iPads, turning the everyday pieces of technology into multi-million dollar pieces of art.

Hughes himself states he designed the History Supreme for an anonymous Malaysian businessman back around 2011. 

What Made the History Supreme So Expensive?

history supreme yacht real

Hughes is famous for his excess so he was said to have gone all out with the History Supreme. One wall feature in the master suite was said to be made from meteoric stone (as in, harvested from a meteor) and included genuine dinosaur bone shaved from a Tyrannosaurus Rex found in Arizona. The dino bones alone were priced at $89,000.  There was even supposed to be a massive diamond housed in a luxury liquor bottle on display and a panoramic wall aquarium. So this ain’t your dad’s fishing boat , that’s for sure.

The big cost for the History Supreme was the solid gold and platinum. Hughes said he used 100,000 kg of precious metals to cover nearly every surface on the boat. The railings, the deck, the dining area, even the base of the boat was said to be wrapped in gold. Even the anchor was gold. And, for the record, 100,000 kg is about 220,000 pounds or 110 tons. Wow, right? Sounds like an amazing yacht.

Who Owns History Supreme?

history supreme yacht real

All photos of the History Supreme came from Hughes own website and since that time, in 2011 or so, not a single other photo of the boat has been taken. No one has reported seeing the boat and no one even knows who owns the boat.

People have assumed that the owner would be a man named Robert Kuok, the richest man in Malaysia. His fortune is around $14.5 billion. If he was indeed the man who purchased this boat, it means he spent one third of all of his money on it. That’s a lot of money to invest in a single boat. 

Why Is the History Supreme Fake?

history supreme yacht real

At the end of the day, there is no evidence History Supreme ever existed for real. The most damning evidence is those four photographs. Some internet sleuths who were unconvinced about the story of the History Supreme realized that the boat in Hughes photos looked a lot like the Baia One Hundred, a yacht made by Italian yacht makers Baia in 2008. 

The sales manager from Baia was contacted by a yachting news website back in 2011 to ask about the History Supreme. Because, in fairness, Hughes never claimed he was a yacht maker. He’s a man who makes normal things extravagant. He could have taken a One Hundred from Baia and made it into History One, right? Not so fast.

Baia’s sales manager said those photos were stolen from their website and doctored. So they were not new photos of an altered boat, but altered photos of an old boat. Moreover, and this is crucial, he also pointed out what should have been obvious to anyone working in boating news. If Hughes added 110 tons of gold to the boat, how the heck was it staying afloat?

The One Hundred has a displacement of 80 tons as is. Imagine adding an extra 110 tons of gold on top of that. There’s just no way. It would sink to the bottom like a stone. And honestly, how would that boat even work? Gold on the outside hull would get scraped off, assuming people didn’t strip it in the middle of the night. And a gold anchor? You’d risk the gold getting scraped and knocked off every time you used it. It just doesn’t make sense. 

While it seems like a cool story at first, I have to say it’s just beyond reason. It doesn’t make sense. No one has seen the boat in over a decade. Only four photos exist and they seem to have been photoshopped. And, finally, science itself stands in the way of the boat even working with the sheer mass of gold that’s supposed to be on board. For those reasons, we have to call this one a straight up hoax. There is no History Supreme.

The Bottom Line

For over a decade now, numerous websites have claimed History Supreme as the most expensive yacht in the world. But since no one has seen the yacht in over a decade, the pictures are apparently photoshopped, and it’s far too heavy to even work as a boat as it’s been described by the man who allegedly made it, we’re saying that the boat is just a hoax and never existed in the first place. 

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My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

Categories : Yachts

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Angel A on December 18, 2022

I’ve read about 10 000 kg gold, not 100 000. 100k is beyond ridiculous. Even 10k is. Here’s why: https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21969100

“His figure for the overall amount of gold in the world is 155,244 tonnes – 16,056 tonnes, or 10% less, than the assessment by Thompson Reuters GFMS. A relatively small disparity, perhaps, but one that at today’s prices comes to more than $950 billion.”

So 16 tonnes are 950 billion dollars… how about that? ;-))

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Anon on July 8, 2023

It says 16 thousand tonnes, not 16 tonnes.

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History Supreme Yacht Most Expensive: Exploring the Ultimate Luxury Vessel

The History Supreme yacht is a marvel in the world of luxury and wealth, often touted as the most expensive yacht ever built. At an astounding $4.8 billion, this gold-plated superyacht is said to have been purchased by an anonymous Malaysian businessman after taking three years to complete with over 220,462 pounds of precious metals used in its construction source . Measuring 30.48 meters in length, this opulent vessel stands as a symbol of ultimate extravagance, surpassing even the largest yacht in the world, the Eclipse.

However, despite its reputation and jaw-dropping price tag, the existence of the History Supreme yacht is shrouded in controversy. Reports have surfaced stating that the yacht is not actually a real vessel source . The internet is rife with conflicting information, raising questions about the authenticity of this luxurious superyacht and leaving enthusiasts to ponder over its true nature.

Regardless of the uncertainty that surrounds the History Supreme, its legendary status and the sheer extravagance of the materials used in its alleged construction have undoubtedly captivated the world's attention. Whether real or simply a myth, the History Supreme yacht continues to be a fascinating topic of discussion for yacht aficionados and luxury enthusiasts alike.

history supreme yacht real

History Supreme Yacht Overview

Design and features.

The History Supreme yacht, designed by renowned luxury designer Stuart Hughes, is one of the most exclusive and lavish vessels in the world. This stunning creation took over three years to complete and boasts many exquisite details[^( https://www.superyachts.com/news/story/history-supreme-the-andpound3-billion-gold-plated-yacht-1351^ )]. Designed with an emphasis on luxury and extravagance, it includes a variety of opulent amenities catering to the needs and desires of the world's elite.

Some of the standout features in the History Supreme yacht include a lavish dining area, meticulously crafted railings, and an impressive deck area for leisure and relaxation. With every inch of the yacht crafted to perfection and attention to detail, it ensures a truly unparalleled experience for its guests[^( https://www.boatsafe.com/yacht-history-supreme/^ )].

Materials Used

What sets the History Supreme yacht apart from other vessels is its extensive use of precious metals. An astounding 100,000 kg of gold and platinum were utilized in its construction, setting a new benchmark for opulence in the world of yachting[^( https://www.superyachts.com/news/story/history-supreme-the-andpound3-billion-gold-plated-yacht-1351^ )]. This extraordinary use of precious metals extends to nearly every surface on the boat, from the railings and deck to the dining area and even the anchor[^( https://www.boatsafe.com/yacht-history-supreme/^ )].

Purchased by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, the History Supreme yacht holds the title of the most expensive yacht ever sold[^( https://atlanticyachtandship.com/the-midas-touch-4-8-billion-history-supreme-most-expensive-yacht-ever-sold/^ )]. With its staggering use of 220,462 pounds of precious metals and unparalleled attention to detail, it is easy to see why the History Supreme yacht has garnered such acclaim and interest in the world of luxury yachting.

history supreme yacht real

Record-Breaking Price

Factors of supreme value.

The extravagant History Supreme yacht holds the title of the most expensive yacht in the world, with a staggering price tag of $4.8 billion . One of the key factors contributing to its supreme value is the abundance of precious metals used in its construction.

Renowned luxury designer Stuart Hughes designed the History Supreme, employing over 100,000kg of gold and platinum in its creation. The construction process took more than three years to complete, and the result is a breathtaking vessel that stands alone at the pinnacle of luxury.

Some of the extravagantly luxurious features of the History Supreme include:

  • Gold-plated rooms
  • Base of the boat, deck, and dining area adorned with precious metals
  • More than 220,462 pounds of gold and platinum materials

Comparison to Other Luxury Yachts

The History Supreme's incomparable price tag sets it in a league of its own, significantly surpassing even the most luxurious and expensive yachts on the market. By way of comparison, the fifth most expensive superyacht in the world is the Dubai , which has an estimated value of $400 million - a fraction of the History Supreme's monumental price.

In addition to the unmatched value of the precious metals used in the History Supreme, the exclusivity associated with owning the world's most expensive yacht and the remarkable design elements by the acclaimed Stuart Hughes place this vessel in a truly unique category of unparalleled luxury.

history supreme yacht real

Ownership and Origin

Current owner.

The current owner of the History Supreme yacht is Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok . Kuok, a self-made billionaire, runs the Kuok Group, an international corporation with operations all around the world. He reportedly spent a third of his $12.8 billion fortune when he paid $4.8 billion for the History Supreme.

Manufacturer and Designer

The History Supreme yacht is a product of extraordinary craftsmanship and design. It was designed by Stuart Hughes , a world-renowned luxury designer. The project took just over three years to complete, and it is reported to be worth over £3 billion.

Built with around 100,000 kg of gold and platinum, the yacht is truly one of a kind. The precious metals are used to cover nearly every surface on the boat, including the railings, the deck, the dining area and even the base of the boat. The anchor is also made of gold .

The sheer amount of precious metals used in the construction of this magnificent yacht justifies its title as the most expensive yacht in the world.

Controversies and Criticisms

Environmental concerns.

One of the primary criticisms surrounding the History Supreme yacht is its potential environmental impact. The vessel is said to be plated with around 100,000kg of gold and platinum , which raises questions about the sustainability of using such vast quantities of precious metals. Extraction of these metals often leads to environmental degradation, including deforestation and pollution.

Access and Usage Limits

Another controversy related to the History Supreme yacht is the access and usage limitations. As a vessel worth billions of dollars, it's likely that only a select few individuals will be able to enjoy it. The exclusivity of the yacht is often met with criticism, as it highlights the stark differences between the extremely wealthy and the rest of society.

Moreover, the fact that the yacht has been rarely seen since its unveiling has led to speculation and skepticism around its legitimacy and existence. The lack of public access and the secretive nature of its whereabouts have only fueled concerns and criticisms, making the History Supreme yacht a controversial figure in the world of luxury vessels.

history supreme yacht real

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history supreme yacht real

The Midas Touch: $4.8 Billion History Supreme Most Expensive Yacht Ever Sold

We’ve seen some opulent yachts, but the 100-foot History Supreme takes the gold-encrusted cake. Stuart Hughes, a British purveyor of luxury gadgets, took a break from his role as an iPad alchemist to create the $4.8 billion superyacht, covered in platinum and gold from bow to stern.

Purchased by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, History Supreme is the most expensive yacht ever sold, according to Luxury Launches. The Daily Mail reports that the impressive vessel took three years to complete and used over a staggering 220,462 pounds of precious metals. Everything – from the base of the boat, to the deck, dining area, rails and anchor – were decked out in gold and platinum.

history supreme yacht real

The exorbitant price tag is also the result of the lavish master bedroom, adorned in platinum with a wall feature that is made from meteoric stone and a genuine T-Rex dinosaur bone. It is rumored that Robert Kuok purchased the superyacht, worth 10 times the amount Roman Abramovitch (previous title holder for world’s most expensive yacht) paid for the Eclipse megayacht. Kuok is one of only three Malaysians with a net worth of $5 billion or more, according to Forbes billionaire’s list . If the purchase price is accurate, “the most likely buyer is Robert Kuok , the richest man in Malaysia, with a net worth of $12.5 billion,” reports Business Insider .

history supreme yacht real

We may not have any gold-fringed yachts for sale , but Atlantic Yacht & Ship features a wide variety of yachts and boats for sale that will suit even the most distinguishing tastes. Check our listings and contact a sales rep today to tour any vessel at 1-888-230-0439.

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history supreme yacht real

History Supreme: The £3 Billion Gold Plated Yacht

By Ben Roberts

Intriguing reports have emerged regarding the world’s most expensive superyacht today. Worth almost ten times more than Eclipse, the largest yacht in the world, the 30.48m Gold plated superyacht, History Supreme, has now apparently hit the water.

History Supreme has been a well kept secret in the Superyacht Industry, which is understandable as the yacht itself is reportedly worth over £3 billion. Containing around 100,000kg of gold and platinum, History Supreme was designed by Stuart Hughes, the world renowned luxury designer, and took just over three years to complete.

Her hull and exterior design are both wrapped in the most sought after precious metals on the planet, coating elements of the deck, dining area, rails and even the anchor.

History Supreme also holds one of the most unique interior features to ever grace a yacht; a wall feature which is made from meteor stone and Tyrannosaurus Rex bone.

However, we feel it is highly unlikely that a superyacht adorned to this level will ever actually grace the waters, and if the reports are in fact true, it would be far better suited to a museum exhibit than a life on the ocean.

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What Is Yacht History Supreme? (The Fascinating Story Behind It)

history supreme yacht real

For centuries, luxury yachting has been a long-time favorite among the wealthy, a symbol of their wealth and success.

Today, one yacht stands out among the rest for its sheer opulence and grandeurthe Yacht History Supreme.

This remarkable vessel has been at the center of attention for its luxurious amenities and features, as well as its mysterious owner.

This article will explore the fascinating story behind the Yacht History Supreme, from its history of luxury yachting to its recent sightings.

Get ready to explore the world of super yachts and experience the grandeur of the Yacht History Supreme!.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Yacht History Supreme is a luxury yacht constructed by the Australian company, History Supreme.

It was designed by the British designer, Luiz de Basto, and is constructed from 100,000 kg of solid gold and platinum.

It is said to be the most expensive yacht in the world, with an estimated cost of $4.

The yacht features a master bedroom that is made from a single piece of 24-carat gold, and a sculpture of a T-Rex dinosaur made from bone-like material.

History of Luxury Yachting

The history of luxury yachting dates back centuries, when wealthy European families would use their ships to explore the world, show off their status, and even host extravagant parties.

The history of luxury yachting has evolved over time, as advances in technology have made it easier to build bigger and more luxurious vessels.

Today, luxury yachting is a billion-dollar industry, with people from all over the world investing in some of the most expensive and extravagant yachts ever built.

One of the most iconic yachts in the luxury yachting world is the Yacht History Supreme.

Built in 2011 by the Dutch-based firm, Lrssen Yachts, the Yacht History Supreme is one of the worlds most expensive and luxurious yachts.

It measures over 100 meters in length and features a gold-plated exterior, diamond-encrusted furnishings, and a helipad.

It also has a master suite, two VIP cabins, and other luxurious amenities.

The yacht is owned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman and is often seen off the coast of Monaco.

The Yacht History Supreme is a testament to the advances in technology and luxury that have been made in the world of yachting over the years.

It is a stunning symbol of the progress that has been made in the luxury yachting industry and a reminder of the importance of creating the most luxurious and opulent experiences for those who can afford it.

Yacht History Supreme Overview

history supreme yacht real

Yacht History Supreme is a luxury yacht that stands out from the rest.

Built in 2011 by the prestigious Dutch-based firm, Lrssen Yachts, the vessel is one of the worlds most expensive and luxurious yachts, featuring a golden exterior, diamond-encrusted furnishings, and a helipad.

Measuring over 100 meters in length, the yacht has a master suite, two VIP cabins, and other luxurious amenities.

Its owner is an anonymous Malaysian businessman who has chosen to remain anonymous and is often seen off the coast of Monaco.

The interior of the yacht is just as stunning as its exterior.

The main deck features a luxurious salon and a dining room with an impressive glass table.

The yacht also features a gym and a sauna, as well as a private movie theater.

The upper deck is also filled with luxurious amenities, such as a bar and a jacuzzi.

The exterior of the yacht is just as luxurious and impressive.

The golden exterior is encrusted with diamonds, and the yacht also features a helipad.

The vessel is powered by two MTU diesel engines and is capable of reaching a top speed of 17 knots.

Yacht History Supreme is a symbol of luxury and extravagance, and its impressive features make it stand out from the rest.

Its golden exterior and diamond-encrusted furnishings make it one of the most luxurious yachts in the world.

Its no wonder that this yacht is often seen off the coast of Monaco, as its owner enjoys the luxury and extravagance of the vessel.

Features of Yacht History Supreme

Yacht History Supreme is a marvel of luxury and engineering, built in 2011 by the renowned Dutch-based firm Lrssen Yachts.

This luxurious yacht is an impressive 100 meters in length, and features a golden exterior, diamond-encrusted furnishings, and a helipad.

Inside, the yacht is outfitted with an opulent master suite, two VIP cabins, and other luxurious amenities.

The interior is decorated with fine woods, marble floors, and crystal fixtures.

The exterior features a large area for sunbathing, a Jacuzzi, and an outdoor bar.

The yacht also includes a spa, gym, and cinema.

The Yacht History Supreme is owned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman and is often seen off the coast of Monaco.

This impressive vessel is powered by twin MTU 20V4000 M93L engines and boasts a top speed of 16 knots.

It is equipped with the latest navigation, communications, and entertainment systems, making it the perfect choice for a luxurious, stylish getaway.

Luxurious Amenities of Yacht History Supreme

history supreme yacht real

The Yacht History Supreme is truly one of the worlds most luxurious vessels.

Its golden exterior is complemented by its diamond-encrusted furnishings, making it a sight to behold.

The yacht is over 100 meters in length and boasts a master suite, two VIP cabins, and other lavish amenities.

The interior of the yacht is as luxurious as its exterior.

The master suite features a private balcony and a stunning view.

Guests can relax in the VIP cabins, which are equipped with private lounges and bathrooms.

The yacht also has a helipad, allowing for easy access to the vessel.

Other amenities include a spa with a sauna and massage rooms, a gym, a wine cellar, and an outdoor cinema.

It is one of the most expensive yachts in the world, and its luxurious amenities are sure to make any voyage a memorable one.

Whether youre looking to relax in a private balcony or enjoy a movie under the stars, the Yacht History Supreme has something for everyone.

The Yacht’s Owner

The Yacht History Supreme is owned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, who has chosen to remain unknown to the public.

However, details of the owner have been slowly revealed as the yacht has been seen in various ports around the world.

The yacht is estimated to have cost somewhere between $4.

5 billion dollars, making it one of the most expensive yachts ever built.

This is a testament to the wealth and extravagance of its owner who, it is thought, is a successful businessman from Malaysia.

What makes the Yacht History Supreme so unique is its luxurious design and amenities.

It boasts a golden exterior, diamond-encrusted furnishings, and a helipad, which make it stand out from the rest.

It also measures over 100 meters in length, making it one of the largest yachts ever built.

Inside, the yacht features a master suite, two VIP cabins, and other luxurious amenities.

The Yacht History Supreme is often seen off the coast of Monaco and other locations around the world.

This is believed to be due to its anonymous owner’s preference for privacy and luxury.

The yacht has become a symbol of the wealth and power of its owner, who remains anonymous to this day.

The Yacht’s Grandeur

history supreme yacht real

The Yacht History Supreme is truly a sight to behold.

From the outside, it is coated in a gold-plated finish, giving it a regal and luxurious feel.

The yacht is over 100 meters in length and features a master suite, two VIP cabins, and other luxurious amenities.

Its interior is adorned with diamond-encrusted furnishings, making it one of the most luxurious yachts in the world.

The yacht also has a helipad, allowing its owner to come and go in grand style.

It is the perfect combination of grandeur and luxury, making it the perfect vessel for the well-heeled traveler.

Recent Sightings of Yacht History Supreme

Yacht History Supreme has become a regular sight off the coast of Monaco, often spotted by tourists and locals alike.

Its impossible to miss, with its shining golden exterior and gleaming diamond-encrusted furnishings.

The yacht measures over 100 meters in length, and has a master suite, two VIP cabins, and many other luxurious amenities.

Its owner, an anonymous Malaysian businessman, has been seen on board numerous times, enjoying the sunshine, crystal-clear water, and the sounds of Monaco.

This yacht is often seen in the company of other luxury vessels, including mega yachts, super yachts, and even the occasional cruise liner.

Its a sight to behold, and one thats enjoyed by many who are lucky enough to witness it.

Yacht History Supreme has become an iconic symbol of wealth and luxury, and its not hard to see why.

The yachts helipad is also a popular spot for tourists to take pictures, as it provides a spectacular view of Monacos coastline.

Final Thoughts

Yacht History Supreme is an impressive feat of luxury yacht engineering and craftsmanship.

Its golden exterior, diamond-encrusted furnishings, and other luxurious amenities make it one of the most expensive and luxurious yachts in the world.

Owned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, Yacht History Supreme has been seen off the coast of Monaco and is a sight to behold.

To truly appreciate the grandeur of Yacht History Supreme, we suggest taking a trip to Monaco and seeing it for yourself.

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.

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How The World’s Most Expensive Superyacht ‘History Supreme’ Disappeared: $7 Billion Gold-Plated Boat That Vanished

If it sounds too golden to be true...

How The World’s Most Expensive Superyacht ‘History Supreme’ Disappeared: $7 Billion Gold-Plated Boat That Vanished

Image: Supercar Blondie

In the world of luxury yachts , one name has captivated the internet for years: History Supreme , the supposed most expensive yacht in history.

Despite all the news about  Jeff Bezos ‘ superyacht that has been making headlines of late — from the  controversial $723m vessel  finally being seen  under sail for the first time , before its  dark and bloody secrets  were quickly unveiled — you might be surprised to hear that his extravagant vessel is far from being the most expensive ever to grace the high seas… or so we’ve been told.

Said to be priced at a jaw-dropping $7 billion AUD (~$4.8 billion USD), History Supreme was designed by the renowned Stuart Hughes, a man known for elevating everyday objects to the epitome of opulence. From diamond-studded iPhones to gold-plated iPads, Hughes’ creations have long garnered attention worldwide and this superyacht was no exception, as reported by Boat Safe .

WATCH: The History Supreme almost makes Jeff Bezos’ $720m Superyacht look paltry…

According to Hughes himself , the History Supreme was commissioned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman back in 2011, much to the excitement of media around the world. Hughes really let loose with its design, making mind-boggling extravagance part and parcel of the vessel. From wall art made from meteoric stone to interior design detailing made from genuine dinosaur bones — shaved from a Tyrannosaurus Rex uncovered in Arizona, USA — Hughes took the notion of ‘no expense spared’ to a whole new level.

The real show-stopper, however, was the liberal — some might say excessive to the point of sickly — use of solid gold and platinum throughout the yacht. Hughes claimed to have used a staggering 10,000 kg of precious metals across pretty much every inch of the boat, from the railings and deck to the dining area and even the hull. It was even rumoured that the anchor was set to be cast in gold.

As fascinating as the story of the History Supreme may be, we’re sad to say that it may have turned out to be nothing more than a rich man’s fantasy. All information about the yacht, including the measly four photos in existence, came exclusively from Hughes’ own website, and no other images of the boat have surfaced since 2011. In fact, no one has ever reported seeing the yacht, while its supposed owner — the wealthiest man in Malaysia, Robert Kuok — has never actually confirmed his association with it.

history supreme yacht real

Despite this, the yacht still regularly tops lists of the most expensive yachts in Asia or around the world, such as this one at SCMP . And still, the plot thickens: as doubts began to emerge about the authenticity of the History Supreme , online obsessives took things into their own hands and discovered that the few photos of the yacht that do exist bear an uncanny resemblance to the Baia One Hundred , a yacht manufactured by Italian yacht makers Baia in 2008.

A quick call to Baia’s sales manager cleared things up: He revealed that the photos were stolen from their website and manipulated, meaning that History Supreme was nothing more than a photoshop-phantom. Moreover, the ability of a yacht plated in so much beautiful but exceptionally heavy gold, as well as the more practical issues of keeping such a vessel in good condition and secure from potential thieves, caused yet more doubts.

In short, the History Supreme appears to be nothing more than an elaborate hoax. With no sightings or credible evidence to support its existence, its legacy is a mythical one, left to float forever in the sea of online intrigue and healthy scepticism.

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Inside The Most Expensive Yacht Ever Sold

superyacht upper deck corridor

Billionaires are seemingly always seeking to top one another and themselves when it comes to buying jaw-droppingly expensive and ridiculous objects. In 2011, an anonymous Malaysian man, rumored to be business tycoon Robert Kuok, may have moved to the head of the pack when he allegedly bought the hilariously named History Supreme, a yacht made of such materials as solid gold, platinum, meteoric stone, and the bone of a tyrannosaurus rex. According to Business Insider , Kuok is a notoriously private self-made billionaire who heads the Kuok Group, a multinational conglomerate that owns assorted businesses around the world. When he bought the History Supreme for $4.8 billion, he reportedly spent a third of his $12.8 billion fortune. According to Forbes , in 2021 the 97-year-old is the 171st richest person in the world with a net worth of $12.6 billion.

As reported by the Daily Mail , the History Supreme is made up of over 100,000 kg (that's over 220,000 pounds) of platinum and gold; the entire base of the boat is wrapped in solid gold and the precious metals are used throughout, while the aforementioned meteoric stone and dinosaur bone make up a "wall feature" in the master bedroom. Additional features, per Jetset Magazine , include a luxury liquor bottle adorned with a rare 18.5 carat diamond, a custom iPhone encrusted in 500 diamonds, including two special interchangable home button diamonds, and a panoramic Aquavista wall aquarium made from 24-carat gold, presumably setting a new standard when it comes to panoramic yacht aquariums.

Is the History Supreme a hoax?

Robert Kuok

The History Supreme yacht is the handiwork of British designer Stuart Hughes who per his website has also made such collectibles for the ultrarich as the world's most expensive suit, the world's most expensive iPhone, the world's most expensive model car, and a solid gold Rolls Royce Phantom. According to Jetset Magazine , the "anonymous Malaysian business man" (probably Robert Kuok, shown above) commissioned Hughes via a friend in his yachting circle; Hughes never met the person for whom the yacht was intended, but was given completely  free reign in terms of the ship's design and construction. The project took three years to complete. 

To add to the History Supreme's mystique, some people don't believe it exists at all. Autoevolution says it "was never real, it was never made and no, it does not exist," noting that Italian company Baia Yachts issued a statement claiming the pictures of History Supreme's interior on Hughes' website were stolen from their site and used without permission. MoneyInc and YachtHarbor also lay out the case for the entire story being a hoax, with MoneyInc noting that at one point Kuok deconstructed his Hong Kong mansion into several smaller homes to avoid an ostentatious display of wealth, which makes his commission of the world's most luxurious yacht seem unlikely. Furthermore, as Kuok is known for staying out of the public eye, perhaps Hughes chose him as the supposed customer because he is hard to reach and therefore will not confirm or deny the yacht's existence. The History Supreme section of Hugh's website remains intact. 

Did the Eclipse get eclipsed?

Eclipse yacht on water

Before the possible existence of the History Supreme, the title of world's most luxurious yacht belonged to the Eclipse (shown above). Per the Sydney Morning Herald , it was purchased in 2009 by Russian business tycoon Roman Abramovich for $590 million and includes two helipads, a movie theater, a sports complex, its own mini-submarine, and a missile defense system. Created by German shipbuilding company Blohm + Voss, an anonymous Russian yachting expert described it as a "big mansion on water ." When asked why it looked like a military frigate, the expert replied "It's a trend. Private yachts look like military boats these days. The yacht is a statement for many people. It's a statement about power." For those who wanted to try out that sort of morally dubious power without committing, the Eclipse was at one point available for commission for up to 30 guests and 75 crew members via SuperYachtsMonaco at $2 million per week, as reported by Business Insider . It's no longer listed on the site.

Per Robb Report , the world's largest yacht since its construction finished in 2013 has been the Azzam, which comes in at 592 feet and six inches long and can travel at a speed up to 30 knots. Built by yacht company Lürssen , it was commissioned by United Arab Emirates president Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (per Super Yacht Fan ) and has an interior described as sophisticated and luxe. 

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Yacht or Knot: History Supreme – The World’s Most Expensive Yacht

history supreme yacht real

A glimpse of the Most Expensive Yacht, History Supreme | Photo Courtesy Stuart Hughes

Have you ever seen a vessel of floating gold? If you’re in the right place at the right time, you may just run into the History Supreme , the most expensive and arguably the most unique yacht ever designed and built.

Since the beginning of time, the world’s elite have flaunted their affluence, but this floating masterpiece may just blow every other show-and-tell yacht extravagance out of the water.

history supreme yacht real

The History Supreme was created and built by Stuart Hughes, a British purveyor of frilly gadgets and the creator of both the most expensive suit and most expensive iPhone in the world. This supreme boat was sold to an anonymous ultra-wealthy Malaysian business man, assumed to be Robert Kuok.

You have to see it to believe it, as this almost implausible work of floating golden art took Hughes 3 years to complete and cost $4.8 billion. Mr. Hughes was ecstatic when approached by a friend in the yachting circle to design the luxury liner. He had free creative reign to design and construct the yacht as he wished. Hughes never met the purchaser of his creation, Mr. Kuok, who is reported to be the richest man in Malaysia with a net worth of $12.5 billion.

history supreme yacht real

At 100 feet long, and weighing-in at staggering 220,462 pounds worth of precious gold and platinum, all the extraordinary features are on deck and opulently on display.

The dining area, rails and anchor are all made from priceless metals, and the base of the vessel is wrapped in pure gold. The superyacht’s lavish interior features central sleeping quarters and is adorned with platinum accents, including wall features made from meteoric stones and authentic T-Rex Dinosaur bones.

This astounding and innovative abundance continues on board with a luxury liquor bottle featuring an 18.5 carat diamond, one of the rarest in the world. Also, wrap your head around the custom iPhone that’s covered in 500 cut diamonds which include two interchangeable diamonds fitted over the phone’s “home button”. If you forget that you’re at sea, a reminder might also be the yacht’s superbly ordained panoramic wall aquarium made of 24 carat gold.

history supreme yacht real

The History Supreme has maintained the title of most expensive yacht on the high seas for nearly a decade now, with no other luxury liner able to surpass its mammoth price tag. Too good to be true, or knot?

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The most expensive super yacht in the world $4.8 b.

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The yacht, named History Supreme, is covered in 100,000 kg of gold, platinum and jewels and has a statue made from genuine Tyrannosaurus Rex bones.

The most Expensive Super yacht in the world $4.8 Billion "History Supreme" 

  Shireen Khalil for News.com.au

Yes, you read right. The master bedroom has genuine dinosaur bone shaved from a skeleton was sourced from Arizona, USA. Pieces of the thigh bone alone come in at about £68,000.

It took world-renowned UK designer Stuart Hughes just over three years to complete.

The yacht, named History Supreme, is covered in 100,000kg of gold, platinum and jewels and has a statue made from genuine Tyrannosaurus Rex bones.

Mr Hughes told news.com.au that he was quite excited when approached by a friend in the yachting circle to design the luxury liner. He had free reign to construct it how he liked.

 Worth £3 billion, the History Supreme has been nicknamed the world’s most expensive yacht

The History Supreme has been dubbed the “ world’s most expensive yacht ”, worth £3 billion.

Mr Hughes said much of the staggering sum is owed to its gold and dinosaur bone features.

The base of the yacht as well as the deck, dining areas, rails and anchor are wrapped in solid gold and the sleeping areas are covered in platinum.

Also on board is a luxury liquor bottle featuring an 18.5 carat diamond, one of the world’s rarest, along with a panoramic wall aquarium made from 68kg of 24 carat gold.

 On-board features include an iPhone wrapped in 500 cut diamonds

If you were contemplating a purchase, it’s too late.

The yacht was bought by an anonymous Malaysian businessman for £2.53 billion back in 2011 — Mr Hughes never got to meet him but said he would have like to.

 The yacht was bought by an anonymous Malaysian businessman for £2.53 billion back in 2011

It is unknown if the mystery buyer still has the luxurious boat.

Since the boat’s creation the History Supreme has remained “king bling of the high seas” with no other luxury liner reported to have exceeded its mammoth price tag.

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history supreme yacht real

Luxatic

History Supreme is the world’s most expensive yacht

By Adrian Prisca

Updated on July 1, 2015

History Supreme

The renowned luxury goods designer Stuart Hughes has created the world’s most unique and probably most expensive yacht called History Supreme or Baia 100 Supreme that’s apparently worth 3 billion GBP or close to $5 billion. This yacht has been apparently designed for an anonymous leading businessman from Malaysia who probably won’t be that anonymous after getting on this beauty.

History Supreme is made of 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum and took over three years to be completed. It’s 100 ft long and wherever you look you’ll see the precious metals it was made of. Even the dining area, deck and anchor have been made using real precious metals.

The base of the yacht is wrapped with solid gold and the wall feature is specially crafted from meteoric stone along with a genuine dinosaur bone shaved in from the raptor T-REX. The main sleeping area has platinum accents just like many other rooms of this amazing yacht.

Update: A lot of people have been emailing us about the History Supreme yacht and we have to mention that this yacht concept was actually fake, even though I’m sure a lot of billionaires would dream of owning a lavish yacht as this concept was announced to be.

History Supreme

About Adrian Prisca

Founder of Luxatic and countless other projects, Adrian has shaped this website into a go-to source for discerning readers looking for the latest in luxury products and experiences. He has over 15 years of experience in creating, managing and publishing lifestyle content across numerous platforms and he’s considered a leading voice in the luxury industry. Learn more about Luxatic's Editorial Process .

1 thought on “History Supreme is the world’s most expensive yacht”

For me the most importnat on my yacht is extreme good AUDIO STAFF. I have bought for my yacht audio ZETA ZERO cinema system (the company is from http://www.audio-high-end.com ) Now I think we have one of the most luxary and one of the best avialable audio staff on ANY YACHT in The World!!!! this is ONLY for reach as us ! but live is great now!! yahhhhhhhhhhh We may listen our lovely music and films now at the middle of ocean as in paradise. Zeta Zero is really greattttt!!!!!!!! I love this system for its sound. We found it in Dubai but producers are frm old Europe!

Ana Esmeralda Thurk and Markos Osama

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history supreme yacht real

Is the History Supreme Yacht Real?

 Looking for the best yacht insurance ? Buy your sailing yacht insurance online at Admiral, or contact our expert team for advice.

Is the History Supreme Yacht Real? 

For most boat owners, it’s enough that their boat is sea-worthy, clean, and running smoothly. But for the designer of the History Supreme yacht, a few extras were in order. With the existence of the famous yacht under debate, we delve under the surface to find out if the boat reigns supreme, or if it’s myth is history. 

Why is the History Supreme Yacht So Expensive? 

While a lot of information about the yacht is up in the air, most agree that the high price tag is due not only to its size (a reported one hundred feet in length), but also what it’s made of. The boat is supposedly loaded with precious metals. Gold and platinum were said to be used to line the entire boat. 

How Much is the History Supreme Yacht Worth? 

The boat is listed with a price tag of $4.8 billion, easily making it the most expensive yacht ever to exist. The next most expensive luxurious yacht would be the Eclipse, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The Eclipse mega yacht is valued at $1.5 billion, making it only a third of the value of the History Supreme. 

history supreme yacht real

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Who Owns the Yacht History Supreme? 

The name most often linked with the History Supreme is Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok. His fortune is currently listed as $11 billion on Forbes. If the boat is indeed real, would someone really spend over a third of their money on it? 

The other name linked to the boat is the reported designer, Stuart Hughes. Hughes is best known for designing luxury gadgets such as solid gold games consoles, or black diamond iPhones. He describes the yacht on his website as having been sold to an anonymous Malaysian businessman, which may or may not be Kuok. 

Inside the History Supreme Yacht 

Other features of opulence on the boat include a T-rex bone mounted on the wall of the master bedroom, along with meteor rock features. The whole interior is decked out with gold and platinum. The dining area, the deck itself and even the boat’s anchor are said to be either solid gold, or gold-lined. 

Does the History Supreme Really Exist? 

While it’s been long discussed online and in boating circles, it seems unlikely the golden yacht actually exists. Whether a deliberate hoax in the industry, or just a rumour that got out of hand, it seems likely that the boat isn’t real. The few existing photos appear to be fake or doctored, and the reported weight of the boat, given all that precious metal, is around 100,000kg. 

Any yacht owner worth their salt could tell you that a boat of that weight would struggle to stay afloat, let alone get you from coast to coast.  

Yacht Insurance

If you’re looking to get insurance for your yacht – gold-lined or otherwise – we are here for you and can provide a wealth of expertise. Take a look at our pages on insurance for sailing yachts and motor boats , for more information on how we can help.

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If you wish to register a complaint, please contact the Compliance and Training Manager on  [email protected] .  If you are unsatisfied with how your complaint has been dealt with, you may be able to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).  The FOS website is  www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

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The World’s Most Expensive Yachts—Including Some That Cost Billions

most expensive yachts

Though superyachts are already among the most costly consumer items available, the prices of the most expensive yachts in the world are still astounding. In recent decades, those with money to burn have settled on these floating palaces as an ideal locus for demonstrating their prosperity, and, as such, the global luxury yacht industry is undergoing a golden age. The world’s überwealthy think of their motor yachts as toys, and they’re constantly trying to outdo each other in scale, design, amenities, materials, and sheer profligacy.

Knowing this, what features does it take to own one of the most expensive yachts in existence? And how much do these opulent vessels actually cost? To that end, AD has compiled a list of the five priciest superyachts currently out on the water. As with many things connected to the very wealthy, details are shrouded in secrecy—often intentionally—to shield the assets from taxation or seizure, or to protect privacy.

Below, dive into the five reportedly most expensive yachts in the world.

5. Dubai ($400 million)

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This 531-foot yacht is reportedly owned by United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai. Though it was originally planned for another Middle Eastern potentate, Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei, he suddenly voided the contract in 2001. With exteriors designed by Andrew Winch and interiors by Platinum Yachts, this German-built Blohm + Voss vessel features several Jacuzzis, a pool inlaid with handmade mosaic tiles that is reportedly large enough to hold 115 people, a circular staircase, a discotheque with an appropriately sized dance floor, squash courts, a movie theater, a dining room for 90 guests (the other 25 presumably have to eat in the pool?), a helipad, and a submarine.

4. Topaz ($527 million)

most expensive yacht

Resembling a stealth bomber, this 483-foot ship is reportedly owned by Russian fertilizer and coal oligarch Andrey Melnichenko. With exteriors by Tim Heywood Design Ltd. and interior designs by Terence Disdale Design, this German-built Lürssen Yacht features a 2,500-square-foot primary bedroom, six guest suites (with moveable walls so they can be transformed into four grand staterooms), glassware and tableware fashioned from French crystal, a helicopter hangar, a 30-foot speedboat tender, and three swimming pools, including one with a glass-bottom dangling menacingly above a disco.

3. Azzam ($600 million)

most expensive yachts

This 590-foot ship is currently thought to be the largest private yacht in the world and one of the fastest, with a top speed of 35 miles per hour. To achieve this immense scale and speed, it required a pair of gas turbines and two stratospherically potent diesel engines, rendering it very difficult to build. It is reportedly owned by a member of the royal family of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. With exteriors by Nauta Yacht and interiors by French decorator Cristophe Leoni, this yacht was also built by Lürssen in Germany. The vessel is set apart by its early 19th-century Empire-style veneered furniture, as well as its state-of-the-art security systems, including a fully bulletproof primary suite and a high-tech missile deterrence capabilities.

2. Eclipse ($1.5 billion)

most expensive yachts

In addition to being the second-costliest, this 533-footer is thought to be the world’s second-largest private yacht. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich , the ship was claimed to be located in Turkey and may be impounded as part of the United Kingdom’s sanctions against Russia. Designed by Terry Disdale and built by Blohm + Voss, it features two-dozen guest cabins, two swimming pools, two helipads, and multiple hot tubs. For privacy and security reasons, it hosts a missile detection system, bulletproof windows in the primary bedroom and on the bridge, an anti-paparazzi shield, and, when all of that fails, a mini-submarine that can take a few VIPs 164 feet under the ocean’s surface.

1. History Supreme ($4.8 billion)

History Supreme has never actually been seen in a major port, and rumors suggest that the yacht may not be real and instead just a publicity stunt. Reportedly owned by Malaysia’s richest man, Robert Kuok, and designed by Stuart Hughes in the UK, the yacht is only a paltry 100 feet long. Its worth is said to be derived from its lavish finishes, including a statue constructed from genuine Tyrannosaurus rex bones, a liquor bottle embedded with an 18.5-carat diamond, and a primary bedroom with one wall made from meteorite and another from a 24-karat gold Aquavista Panoramic Wall Aquarium. If you see it somewhere, let us know.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Jeff Bezos’s yacht?

Most Expensive Yachts

This is why people like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos work to keep their yachts out of the public eye. Though we are not including Jeff Bezos’s yacht, Koru (Maori for “coil”), in this list because it is a sailing yacht and thus excluded from the realm of these motor yachts, it created controversy in the Netherlands when its presence became known. Jeff Bezos’s abided the $500 million price tag of Oceanco, the Dutch custom yacht builder, to create the 417-foot megayacht. But when the company, at Bezos’s behest, requested that a local bridge be dismantled to make way for its gigantic mast on its journey from the shipyard, public sentiment turned against the cento-billionaire, and Oceano shelved its request. Maybe a port like Monaco would be more accommodating?

Also not on this list is the world’s largest private yacht, reportedly owned by Alisher Usmanov. Though size and cost typically scale in the world of superyachts, this is not always the case (see #1 in this list.) Also, Somnio, the 728-feet dream-monikered yacht liner that tops our list of the world’s largest private yachts , isn’t quite done being constructed. And it is not, like most of the largest superyachts, privately owned by one individual or family—it’s a kind of floating condo, with 39 eight-figure homes available to potential owners solely by invitation.

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Money Inc

A Closer Look at the $4.8 Billion History Supreme

Most of us do not wish for much money; a million dollars is enough to make us turn our lives around, but there are always people who are looking for more. While you are praying for a car, another wants a private jet; while you are looking for more space in your garage, another is preparing to buy an entire house. We are not equal, and that is the reason why when you hear that someone is willing to buy a yacht for $4.8 billion, you have to ask who it is. A yacht that goes by the name “History Supreme” has you thinking that it contains lots of history either in its construction or decorations yet the only thing historical about the $4.8 billion yacht is the use of extinct bones. Stuart Hughes made the headlines eight years ago with the declaration that he had taken three years to complete building History Supreme, so we had to learn more about it.

Why be valued so highly?

Multi-billionaires have competed against each other to see whose yacht is the longest and when we think that we have found the winner another boat is made and it outshines the rest. History Supreme was not about being the longest; it only was going to be 100 feet long, but the materials used to make it would ensure that no other yacht ever came close to its price. Manufacturers value their products depending on the cost of production and for Stuart, the boat which he also claimed the buyer had given him free rein to make, the construction meant going all out hence the astronomical price. History Supreme was reportedly made from:

Precious metals

As little girls boast of wearing nothing but gold-coated earrings since any other will cause them to have allergic reactions, they already feel like they own the world with their jewelry all because it has a touch of gold. Well, imagine owning a vessel whose base is made from solid gold. The anonymous businessman who bought the History Supreme took pride in owning a yacht whose base was made from gold; a thin layer is formed to coat its entire base, according to Stuart Hughes.

The sleeping quarters were allegedly made from platinum and together, both the platinum and gold used weighed 100,000 kilograms. As if that is not enough of the costly expenses, holding down the vessel was an anchor also made from precious metals while the railings, dining area, and deck also were constructed from precious metals, according to Luxury Launches.

Bones of an extinct animal

The moment you learn that something no longer exists, you can be sure that finding it is going to be nearly impossible and when you do, the value will be too high for you to afford probably. Such is the case with the History Supreme, which only a multi-billionaire would dare think about buying. Stuart allegedly used the bones of an extinct dinosaur named “Tyrannosaurus Rex” or simply “T. Rex.” Why anyone would choose to have the bone shavings of a carnivorous dinosaur in their bedroom is a question that only Stuart can answer given that he supposedly came up with the design.

Meteoric stone

Stuart was looking to outdo renowned yacht designers when he said that History Supreme also contained Meteoric stones in the construction of the walls of the main sleeping quarters. The significance of having meteoric stones is still about driving the price of History Supreme upwards. Although Stuart did not reveal the exact meteoric stones used, maybe the fact that they are rarer than gold and a pound could be worth as much as $1 million is enough to make us believe that History Supreme is worth every penny included in its high cost.

Time spent constructing it

Everyone values their time differently; Josh Turner sang that time is love, but to a businessman, time is money. Stuart valued his time so much that he must have factored in the three years spent constructing History Supreme in the price when he quoted the £3 billion cost.

Too good to be true

In 2011, mainstream media went into a frenzy with the news that Stuart Hughes was going to make the most expensive in the world after Stuart claimed the project had been commissioned from an anonymous Malaysian businessman. The cost of the project was £3 billion according to Stuart Hughes and at such an amount is was apparent that someone somewhere was ready to splurge on a luxurious yacht, but the question remained as to who the mysterious buyer was.

As always when questions are unanswered, curiosity gets the better of us as we wonder if what we are being told is the truth or fabricated stories. Business Insider had assumed that the billionaire who bought the yacht was Robert Kuok but later discovered that the businessman whose net worth stood at a staggering $12.5 billion at the time, had deconstructed his Hong Kong mansion to avoid displaying his wealth. Now, that is not the behavior of someone who would spend $4.8 billion on a yacht.

We are always warned that if it sounds or looks too good to be true, it usually is, and in this instance, that was the case. Upon investigations, it was discovered that the whole project was but a hoax which the media had been gullible enough to believe in without doing their due diligence before reporting the lies to the public. It is shocking how far people are willing to go to make a name or themselves because Stuart Hughes was desperate enough to be noticed. According to Yacht Harbour, he went to the website of Baia Yachts and took pictures from there which he used to try and fool the public into believing he was making the most expensive yacht worldwide.

Our instincts should, however, have told us that billionaires are not interested in having a connection with the extinct animals by building a yacht with their bones. It is all about ego and for a billionaire a yacht should be something that gives him personal satisfaction, like Roman Abramovich’s Eclipse which he had built to eclipse every other boat in the sea with regards to length.

Dana Hanson

Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement. She also enjoys creative writing, content writing on nearly any topic (particularly business and lifestyle), because as a lifelong learner, she loves to do research and possess a high skill level in this area. Her academic degrees include AA social Sci/BA English/MEd Adult Ed & Community & Human Resource Development and ABD in PhD studies in Indust & Org Psychology.

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The $4.8 Billion Vessel: Here's What Makes History Supreme The Most Expensive Yacht In The World

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Billionaires appear to be constantly trying to outdo each other and themselves when it comes to purchasing ridiculously expensive and extravagant items . As such, it's possible that in 2011, an unidentified Malaysian, reported to be business billionaire Robert Kuok , may have gone to the top of the pack by purchasing History Supreme, a yacht composed of solid gold, platinum, meteoric stone, and a tyrannosaurus rex bone. Kuok is the self-made billionaire who runs the Kuok Group, an international corporation with operations all over the world. He reportedly spent a third of his $12.8 billion fortune when he paid $4.8 billion for the History Supreme. It's estimated that the 97-year-old will have a net worth of $12.6 billion by 2021, according to Forbes.

Gold-plated rooms are the norm on boats, where every luxury is taken care of for their guests. There are numerous swimming pools, dance floors, cinema halls, bars, and lounges, as well as a variety of other amenities for the billionaires who own these wonders of architectural design. But that's not all; owners board in helicopters that land on the deck of the boat for added panache. One of the world's top engines powers each yacht, which is a sleek and attractive craft. No one on board notices a jot of discomfort as they soar through the waves at top speed. In order to ensure that their sheen and durability are worth the price tag, the ships are built using the best materials available.

RELATED:  What Makes Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition The Most Expensive Suit In The World

History Supreme is the most expensive boat in the world. A Malaysian businessman, who wishes to remain unknown, commissioned Stuart Hughes to create it. According to media reports, the guy is Robert Kuok, the billionaire creator of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. When finished, the 30-meter yacht took three years to build and required about 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum. On the boat's base, a thin film of gold metal has been applied to give it a luxurious look. The deck, dining area, railings, and even the anchor all feature a touch of gold trim. As one example of the yacht's lavish interior design, the major sleeping quarter features a T-Rex bone set on a meteoric stone wall.

A remarkable 220,462 pounds of precious metals were used during the vessel's three-year construction, according to the Daily Mail. It was all gold and platinum: the base of the boat, the deck, dining area, rails, and anchor. As Roman Abramovitch spent ten times as much for Eclipse, it has been believed that Robert Kuok bought the superyacht. The Forbes billionaires' list ranks Kuok as one of only three Malaysians with a net worth of $5 billion or more. The most likely bidder is Robert Kuok, the wealthiest man in Malaysia, with a net worth of $12.5 billion, according to the Business Insider.

There are precious metals used in the eating room, rails, and anchors; the vessel's base is covered in pure gold. In the superyacht's luxurious interior, there are central sleeping quarters and platinum embellishments, including wall features created from meteoric stones and actual T-Rex Dinosaur bones. One of the world's rarest diamonds , an 18.5-carat one, is featured in a luxury liquor bottle on board the ship. Take a look at the diamond-encrusted bespoke iPhone, which features two diamonds that can be swapped out for the home button. It's possible to forget that you're at sea if you don't notice the 24-carat gold-plated panoramic wall aquarium on board the boat.

There has been no mention of the superyacht's performance or other qualities as you may have realized this by now. Despite the thorough quality of the features discussed, it felt like they were just a random assortment of stuff they gave to justify such an excessive price tag. The fact that none of it was real was an even more ridiculous claim than the rumored price of $4.8 billion for a yacht.

When news of History Supreme spread, many representatives for Hughes acknowledged to various media sites, including in emails sent to Business Insider , that the reports contained accurate information. After that, there was complete and utter stillness coming from their end. The name History Supreme made the yacht sound like an insane vessel that not even a wealthy villain would buy, and there's a good reason for it. It was never a thing, and nor was it ever created, and no, it is not out there. History Supreme is likely the biggest boating fraud in the industry, despite what Google and a few reputable yachting websites want you to think.

Baia Yachts, based in Italy, issued a statement saying that the photos allegedly showing History Supreme posted on Hughes' website were stolen from its website and appropriated without permission at some point after the initial story was published. Hughes has not removed the post for whatever reason, and if it were up to him, he would still have you believe that he developed and sold the world's most costly boat, which the manufacturers constructed with more than 220,000 pounds of 24-carat gold.

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Sources: Super Yacht Times , Boat International , Lifestyle Asia

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The HISTORY SUPREME

history supreme yacht real

£ 3,000,000,000.00

Description

The worlds most unique yacht â HISTORY SUPREME â probably the most expensive.This project was commissioned for Stuart Hughes of Liverpool U.K. from an anonymous leading Malaysian business man.At 100ft the yacht took 3 years to complete , a circa of 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum were added to make this an exciting project.All features inc deck , dinning area , rails , anchor , made from precious metals.The base of the vessel was wrapped in gold , a thin layer was formed to embrace this huge section.The main sleeping quarter was adorned with platinum accents of which included , wall feature , made from meteoric stone , with genuine Dinosaur bone shaved in from the raptor T – REX. A cost of £3 billion , the most exclusive yacht was born !Similar unique designs can be found on our other site www.goldstriker.co.uk

With great sorrow, we announce the passing of Stuart Hughes, the heart and soul behind Goldstriker International. Stuart’s journey came to a peaceful end, leaving a void in our hearts and an enduring legacy in the realm of luxury and craftsmanship.

Born on March 23, 1971 in the historic city of Liverpool, England, Stuart’s early life was steeped in the rich cultural tapestry of his hometown, known for its contribution to arts, music, and sports. These elements profoundly shaped Stuart, inspiring him to create Goldstriker International, a symbol of exclusivity, innovation, and extraordinary artisanship. Each creation was a testament to Stuart’s meticulous attention to detail, from the items themselves to the handmade boxes that presented them.

Stuart’s warmth and gracious spirit were as remarkable as his professional achievements. He navigated life and business with a serene confidence, an effortless charm that made every interaction memorable. His genuine kindness and approachable demeanor endeared him to all, leaving lasting impressions that went beyond the exquisite creations he brought into the world.

As we bid farewell to Stuart, we also acknowledge the closing of Goldstriker International. Without Stuart’s unique vision and passion, the continuation of the business he so lovingly built is unthinkable. This decision, though difficult, honours the fact that Goldstriker was a reflection of one man’s dream and exceptional talent.

Our hearts go out to Stuart’s family — his mother Helen, his children Daniel and Harry, Uncle Philip, Marie and Zara, and his beloved granddaughter Summer. We share in your sorrow and offer our unwavering support during this trying time.

As we reflect on Stuart’s remarkable life and legacy, we invite our cherished clients and friends to join us in celebrating the indelible mark he has left on our lives and the luxury industry. Stuart’s spirit and values will continue to inspire us, reminding us of the beauty of pursuing one’s passions with kindness, humility, and a gentle spirit.

With deepest sympathy and respect,

Stevan Brash Webmaster and Friend

Luxurylaunches -

History Supreme is the world’s most expensive yacht for $4.8 billion

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Watch CBS News

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says she's open to enforceable ethics code for Supreme Court

By Melissa Quinn

Updated on: September 1, 2024 / 10:14 AM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she does not "have any problem" with an enforceable ethics code for the Supreme Court, as the nation's highest court continues to face questions over its ethics practices amid calls from Democrats for stricter rules.

In an interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell for "CBS Sunday Morning," Jackson suggested she is open to a means of enforcing the code of conduct issued by the Supreme Court in November 2023.

"I am considering supporting it as a general matter," she told O'Donnell of an enforcement mechanism. "I'm not going to get into commenting on particular policy proposals. But from my perspective, I don't have any problem with an enforceable code."

Jackson's remarks were made during her first broadcast interview since she joined the court in June 2022. She is the first Black female justice. The interview came ahead of the release of her memoir, "Lovely One," which will be available Tuesday.

ketanji-brown-jackson-ethics-1280.jpg

Jackson said a binding ethics code is "pretty standard" for judges on the nation's district and appeals courts. Federal judges have been subject to a code of conduct since 1973, but it does not cover Supreme Court justices. The court, for the first time in its history, implemented its own conduct code last November after years of weighing whether to have one, but it does not contain an enforcement mechanism.

Jackson noted that she was bound by an enforceable code during her time on the lower courts. 

"And so I guess the question is, 'Is the Supreme Court any different?' And I guess I have not seen a persuasive reason as to why the court is different than the other courts," she said.

The lack of a way to enforce the Supreme Court's ethics rules has prompted scrutiny from President Biden, who last month proposed a binding code of conduct as part of a trio of plans to reform the high court. The president has called the court's current ethics measures "weak and self-enforced."

Justice Elena Kagan became the first sitting member to publicly advocate for a way to enforce the new rules when she said such a system "would make sense" during remarks at an annual judicial conference last month.

Ethics at the Supreme Court

Over the last 16 months, the Supreme Court has come under scrutiny from Congress over its ethics practices, driven by a series of articles from the investigative news outlet ProPublica about Justice Clarence Thomas' relationship with Harlan Crow, a Texas real estate developer and billionaire Republican donor.

ProPublica found that Thomas accepted luxury vacations from Crow and traveled aboard his private jet and yacht during his tenure on the Supreme Court, trips that were not included on his annual financial disclosure forms.

Thomas said last year that he did not believe he had to list the trips, since he had been advised they were considered personal hospitality from a close friend and therefore not reportable under the rules at the time. Disclosure guidelines were changed last March by the Judicial Conference, the policy-making body of the federal judiciary, and the justice pledged to comply with the new requirements.

In his 2023 financial disclosure report , Thomas listed trips aboard Crow's private jet and a stay at his property in the Adirondacks, and reported a 2014 real estate transaction with the Republican megadonor. His most recent disclosure form , released to the public in June, included an amendment listing two trips taken with Crow in 2019: to Bali and Monte Rio, California.

Still, Democratic senators investigating Thomas' compliance with ethics policies said they uncovered even more undisclosed travel, including three trips the justice took on Crow's private jet between 2017 and 2021 and a roundtrip flight from Hawaii to New Zealand in November 2010.

Justice Samuel Alito has also faced criticism for a fishing trip taken with a wealthy Republican donor in 2008 and for two flags flown outside his Virginia home and New Jersey vacation house. Both kinds of flags — an upside-down American flag and "Appeal to Heaven" flag — were carried by rioters who breached the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Alito maintained that he was not involved in the flying of the flags and did not know their meaning. He rejected calls to recuse himself from cases before the court related to Jan. 6.

The scrutiny over the Supreme Court's ethics practices has led to heightened interest in the justices' disclosure forms, which are filed annually and reflect their outside positions, income, reimbursements, gifts and investments for the prior calendar year.

For her part, Jackson reported receiving four concert tickets from singer Beyoncé, valued at $3,711, and artwork for her chambers worth $10,000 and $2,500 in 2023. She also disclosed receiving congratulatory flowers from Oprah Winfrey valued at $1,200, a designer dress and jacket worn in a Vogue photo shoot worth $6,580 and a $580 painting in 2022, the year Jackson joined the Supreme Court .

The reporting of the gifts was in compliance with federal ethics rules that require judges to list information on items they receive that are valued at $480 or more.

Jackson told O'Donnell that she believes it's important to follow the rules regarding ethical obligations because it ensures the public can trust that judges are being impartial when hearing and deciding cases.

"It really boils down to impartiality. That's what the rules are about," she said. "People are entitled to know if you're accepting gifts as a judge so that they can evaluate whether or not your opinions are impartial. And I think that's sort of standard in the law."

Jackson told O'Donnell that it is "very concerning" that public trust in the Supreme Court has fallen in recent years. An August survey from the Pew Research Center conducted just after the court issued the final decisions of its term found that fewer than half of Americans, 47%, have a favorable opinion of the high court. It's a slight uptick from 2023, when 44% of Americans viewed the Supreme Court favorably — a historic low.

"The Supreme Court is the branch of government that doesn't have the power of the military. We don't have the power of the purse. We have no way to get people to follow our rulings," Jackson said, echoing the view of retired Justice Stephen Breyer, her mentor. "What we have or should have is a commitment to the rule of law by the people of this country, and a trust that the court is doing what is necessary to safeguard the rule of law." 

See also: 

  • Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Supreme Court ethics and the future of the court ("Sunday Morning")

Watch more of Norah O'Donnell's interview with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on "Person to Person," streaming on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ . 

For more info: 

  • "Lovely One" by Ketanji Brown Jackson (Random House) , in Hardcover, Large Print, eBook and Audio formats, available September 3 via Amazon , Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • Ketanji Brown Jackson

Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts.

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The Morning

Affirmative action news is coming.

We’re covering college admissions after the Supreme Court’s decision.

People walk on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

By David Leonhardt

The Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling last year upended admissions at selective colleges. Because they could no longer consider race, admissions officers — with oversight from their lawyers — had to overhaul their processes.

In coming weeks, we will learn about the results. With students back on campus, more colleges will report the racial makeup of their freshman classes. The colleges already have the data; they just haven’t yet announced it ( with the exception of M.I.T. ).

I’ve spoken frequently with university administrators about this subject in recent months. Today, I’ll offer a preview of the post-affirmative action landscape, organized around four points.

1. Variation is likely

Because M.I.T. reported its results first and experienced a sharp drop in Black and Latino students, it may be natural to assume that M.I.T. will be the norm. I’m not sure it will be, though.

M.I.T. isn’t a typical elite college. It focuses on STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — an area where Black and Latino underrepresentation is stark. M.I.T.’s recent announcement also contained a statistical anomaly that may have exaggerated the decline in Black and Latino students (as I explain below).

As more colleges report data, people inside higher education expect a wide variety of outcomes. Some colleges will probably have big declines. Others may have only modest changes.

2. Diversity isn’t cheating

Many conservatives are worried that colleges will cheat by continuing to consider race. Admissions decisions, after all, are subjective, and colleges often know an applicant’s race even though there is no longer a box to check. An article in The Atlantic last year even urged universities to defy the Supreme Court .

But it would be a mistake to conclude that any college that maintains high diversity levels has broken the law.

The court’s decision explicitly allows colleges to weigh the effects of race. “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. The key, Roberts added, was that the student “must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual.”

Remember, there are huge racial gaps in the U.S. — in health, wealth, school resources, incarceration and more. Any college that truly accounted for socioeconomic disadvantage, as more now promise to do , would end up giving credit for overcoming adversity to many underrepresented minorities. That wouldn’t be breaking the law; it would be following Roberts’s orders.

Of course, it’s plausible that some colleges did cheat and secretly gave extra credit for race itself. The distinction is likely to be the subject of future lawsuits.

3. Class isn’t race

There was a detail in the numbers M.I.T. released last week that might seem surprising: Even as Black and Latino representation in this year’s entering class fell sharply, the number of lower-income students rose modestly. About one quarter of M.I.T.’s first-year students come from the bottom half of the U.S. income distribution.

Together, this data suggests that the Supreme Court’s decision may have most hurt upper-income Black and Latino applicants at M.I.T. — and most benefited lower-income Asian applicants. (The number of Asian students rose significantly.)

I’ll leave it to others to argue about whether this combination is good, bad or some of each . It’s certainly complicated.

4. The 120% anomaly

M.I.T., like many colleges, allows students to identify as having more than one race. As a result, its racial categories add up to more than 100 percent; any mixed-race student — both Black and Asian, say — counts in both categories.

Still, there was a strange pattern in M.I.T.’s data. The number of mixed-race freshmen this fall plunged compared with previous years, as you can see from these numbers:

M.I.T.’s Changing Demographics

Share of M.I.T. students who identify as each race

history supreme yacht real

Classes of:

(current freshmen)

Black/African American

International

Asian American

history supreme yacht real

How could this be? There are two leading possibilities.

First, a disproportionate number of the upper-income minority students whom M.I.T. didn’t admit this year may have been multiracial. Mixed-race families are increasingly common in well-off high schools. When these students were admitted in the past, they were counted twice in the data. And each one who no longer enrolls looks like two students in the data.

Second, the timing of M.I.T.’s data collection changed this year in a notable way. In the past, M.I.T. asked students to list their race when applying . This year, it asked about race only after students decided to enroll . It’s possible, then, that students who had a real claim on being a minority but didn’t identify strongly with that group — a white student with one parent from Argentina, say, or a multiracial student with some African heritage — might have been less likely to identify as Black or Latino this year than last year, when race-based affirmative action existed.

The numbers suggest that this anomaly might explain fully half the decline in underrepresented minorities. Regardless, the Black and Latino shares fell significantly, but the drop was probably smaller than the top-line data suggests.

The bottom line

If the overall number of Black and Latino students at selective colleges plummets this year, it will be cause for consternation. It would aggravate racial inequality because these colleges provide big economic benefits and have an outsize role in shaping the American elite. For now, the full picture remains uncertain. As we get more information, I’ll update you.

THE LATEST NEWS

The Harris Interview

Kamala Harris, in her first major TV interview since becoming the Democratic nominee, defended President Biden’s record. She touted the administration’s efforts to boost manufacturing and lower prescription drug costs.

Harris offered few specifics for her own policies or Day 1 plans, but she spoke generally about seeking to strengthen the middle class. See a video of the interview from CNN .

She said she had no regrets about defending Biden’s competency for the job and evaded questions about her race and gender. Read more takeaways .

Tim Walz, who sat alongside Harris through the interview, spoke proudly of the viral moment with his son, Gus, during the convention. But he did not engage on questions about Republican attacks on his military record.

2024 Election

The Harris campaign has benefited from a surge of interest from Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Some of those donors are now pressing her to drop her support for a tax on the ultrawealthy .

After firefighters in Boston booed when JD Vance mentioned Donald Trump, Vance joked : “Once upon a time I was not a Trump guy either. Trust me, the president never lets me forget it.”

Trump’s reposts of racially and sexually charged insults of Harris have some people asking: Will he alienate the voters he needs?

Harris and Trump both have plans to address America’s affordable housing shortage : Hers include tax cuts and a benefit for first-time buyers, and his include deportations and lower interest rates.

Biden’s former Senate colleagues played a more prominent role than was previously reported in pushing him out of the race .

More on Politics

The former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s car passed near a pipe bomb on Jan. 6, new video shows .

Conservative legal challenges have blocked many of the policies that Biden saw as critical to his legacy, on issues like immigration and student loans .

Trump tried to move his Manhattan criminal case into federal court , filing an unusual request three months after he was convicted in state court.

Namibia plans to butcher elephants and zebras for meat, as nearly half the country suffers a hunger crisis during a drought.

Israel’s major West Bank raid killed 17 people , most of whom were militants, Israeli officials said.

Kiingi Tuheitia, the king of the Maori in New Zealand, died at 69 . He spent 18 years on the throne and called for unity among the country’s Indigenous tribes.

Honduras will terminate its extradition treaty with the United States, after the U.S. ambassador criticized a meeting between Honduran and Venezuelan officials.

The investigation into the yacht that sank off Sicily broadened to include two other crew members .

Other Big Stories

New York City’s transit authority is addressing fare evasion. Officers are writing tickets for people who skip paying . (The Morning wrote about the problem this week).

A Boar’s Head deli meat plant linked to nine deaths had black mold, water dripping over meat and dead flies , inspectors found.

More than 40 horses died on a breeding ranch in Oklahoma after eating possibly contaminated feed.

The founder of Backpage, a website that promoted ads for prostitution, received a five-year sentence in a case that shut down the website.

Want to empower American workers? Restrictions on both immigration and outsourcing are the best way to do so — better even than labor unions , Oren Cass argues.

Trump should be scared — very scared — of debating Harris, Frank Bruni writes.

Here are columns by Paul Krugman on cryptocurrency in campaign finance and John McWhorter on Harris, “joy” and race .

MORNING READS

Homelessness: He was determined to rescue his son from the streets . The journey was more difficult that he had imagined.

Health: How does mpox spread, and who is most at risk? Here’s what scientists know .

A secret history: Arjav Ezekiel is an acclaimed restaurateur. Few knew about his past as an undocumented immigrant .

Wildfires: Scientists are studying how exposure to smoke might harm our health .

Lives Lived: Sister Theresa Kane surprised Catholics when she delivered an address that publicly challenged Pope John Paul II to let women serve as priests. Her stand made her a leading figure among progressive Catholic women. She has died at 87 .

Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time Grand Slam winner this year, is out at the U.S. Open. Read a recap .

College football: Deion Sanders and Colorado beat lower-tier powerhouse North Dakota State .

N.F.L.: The San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract extension, ending months of angst between the two sides.

ARTS AND IDEAS

“Life reviews” — which help people systematically review their past — have been popular for decades, mostly among those at the end of their lives. Now, younger people are doing them, too.

Researchers have found they help people transition between life phases, appreciate where they are and decide where they want to go. Read more about how do to a life review .

More on culture

A biopic about Maria Callas, the opera singer, could be Angelina Jolie’s Oscar comeback. It’s getting rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival .

In a new memoir, “Never Saw Me Coming,” Tanya Smith recounts her youth as a prodigy scam artist .

THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …

Slice peaches (or any fruit) for this upside-down cake .

Brave these new horror novels .

Repel mosquitoes .

Find relief with a good foam roller .

Take our news quiz .

Here is today’s Spelling Bee . Yesterday’s pangram was hawthorn .

And here are today’s Mini Crossword , Wordle , Sudoku , Connections and Strands .

Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. —David

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox . Reach our team at [email protected] .

David Leonhardt runs The Morning , The Times’s flagship daily newsletter. Since joining The Times in 1999, he has been an economics columnist, opinion columnist, head of the Washington bureau and founding editor of the Upshot section. He is the author of “Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream." More about David Leonhardt

Mike Lynch won a dramatic 12-year legal battle over his tech company. Weeks later, he and his top lawyer are dead.

  • Mike Lynch won an unexpected jury acquittal after a dramatic 12-year legal saga.
  • HP accused him of cooking the books of his company Autonomy to make it seem worth billions more.
  • He finally won — and then he, his lawyer, and his codefendant all died within days.

Insider Today

In 2011, Mike Lynch was the toast of the tech world.

Hailed as Britain's Bill Gates, Lynch sold Autonomy, his groundbreaking data-management company, to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Shareholders and business commentators were puzzled about what HP, a hardware company, would do with Autonomy, a software company — and why the latter was worth $11 billion. HP's executives said at the time that Autonomy had the potential to transform HP and usher the Silicon Valley titan into a new generation.

None of that happened. A year after the acquisition, HP wrote down $8.8 billion of the purchase value and accused Lynch of lying about Autonomy's finances.

The claim led to a vicious decadelong series of legal disputes.

Another Autonomy executive, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted of fraud in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison. Federal prosecutors brought criminal charges against Lynch and Stephen Chamberlain, the company's former vice president of finance.

Lynch's court battles concluded with a three-month criminal trial in San Francisco. After just two days of deliberation, jurors found Lynch and Chamberlain not guilty on all counts.

"The truth has finally prevailed," his lawyer Chris Morvillo said.

Within months, Lynch, Chamberlain, and Morvillo were all dead.

A takeover doomed from the start

Lynch, who studied neural networks for his Ph.D. at Cambridge University, spun off Autonomy from a previous company, Cambridge Neurodynamics, in 1996.

Using sophisticated algorithms, Autonomy allowed users to organize and search through large amounts of unstructured data. It was a bright spot in Britain's tech industry and was listed on the country's stock-market index.

Autonomy's clients included Oracle, Adobe, Cisco, AT&T, and HP itself. But HP's purchase of Autonomy was controversial.

The hardware company's CEO, Léo Apotheker , who had been in the position for less than a year, tried to shift the company's direction. HP had struggled to sell printers and servers as part of its traditional hardware business. Apotheker wanted to spin off HP's personal-computing division and make a big bet on moving the company into software, which had higher margins.

Analysts hated the idea. Shareholders sued. HP's value dropped by more than half. The company's board fired Apotheker within weeks of the decision to buy Autonomy, before the deal even closed.

Related stories

His successor, Meg Whitman, fired Lynch and wrote down the value of Autonomy by $8.8 billion, which indicated HP paid nearly four times what it should have. The New York Times columnist James B. Stewart floated the case that it was the worst acquisition in corporate history — even worse than AOL's ill-fated purchase of Time Warner.

In a stunning move, HP accused Lynch of fraud the following year. The company alleged he and Hussain, a former CFO, inflated Autonomy's sales figures. The FBI and the UK's Serious Fraud Office both opened investigations.

Lynch fervently denied accusations of wrongdoing. He pointed out that Autonomy was audited by Deloitte, which hadn't found issues. Lynch said HP stifled Autonomy with mismanagement and bureaucracy that pushed out employees and stymied sales.

The culture at HP, he said, was poisonous.

"It was like boarding a plane, realizing the engine is on fire, and then going up to the cockpit only to find that the pilots are having a fight," he told The Telegraph at the time .

According to The New York Times, lawyers representing shareholders in the lawsuit against HP obtained a copy of the company's own KPMG-prepared due-diligence report. The report said that Autonomy wasn't transparent enough with its finances, but Apotheker moved forward with the takeover anyway, deciding that Autonomy's potential was worth it.

A legal morass

The UK's Serious Fraud Office announced in January 2015 that it closed its investigation into Autonomy, finding insufficient evidence for legal action, though it referred some issues to the US Justice Department.

In the subsequent months, HP and Lynch sued each other in the UK. As those cases wound their way through the British court system, US prosecutors continued investigating HP's purchase of Autonomy. In 2016, they brought fraud charges against Hussain, who was found guilty in a 2018 jury trial. British regulators formally barred him from the financial industry earlier this year after he completed a five-year sentence in the US.

HP unloaded Autonomy altogether, selling parts of it in 2016 and 2017.

In November 2018, Justice Department prosecutors went directly after Lynch and Chamberlain.

Their indictment accused Lynch and Chamberlain of falsifying financial documents, lying to auditors and regulators, and suppressing the voices of people who criticized Autonomy's financial practices.

Lynch was no longer looking at civil fights over money. He was facing the prospect of up to 20 years in prison.

For years, Lynch fought extradition to the US. Powerful in British political circles — he had advised David Cameron when Cameron was prime minister and served on the boards of the BBC and the British Museum — he and his lawyers argued that his legal issues should play out in the UK, not the US. American criminal laws were unfairly stacked against him, his lawyers said.

HP's lawsuit against Lynch — still churning in the background — finally went to trial in 2019. Apotheker testified he would have abandoned the Autonomy acquisition if he had a better understanding of its finances. Lynch argued that the whole morass was orchestrated by Whitman, Apotheker's successor, who harbored political ambitions (she ran for governor in California and is currently the US ambassador to Kenya) and wanted to shift the blame for Autonomy's failures to someone else.

Robert Hildyard, the judge who oversaw the case, ruled mostly in HP's favor. In a 2022 decision that ran over 1,700 pages, he wrote that HP overpaid for Autonomy because of deceit from Lynch and Hussain. Hildyard hadn't yet decided how much they would owe in damages, but he wrote it would be "substantially less" than the $5 billion HP asked for.

When he wasn't fighting legal battles, Lynch continued to be an entrepreneur. He founded a venture-capital firm, Invoke Capital, and invested in and helped run the cybersecurity firm Darktrace, which,  Politico reported, has deep ties  to Britain's intelligence agencies.

Financial disclosures Lynch filed last year as part of his criminal case indicated he was worth about $450 million.

The criminal trial

The UK finally extradited Lynch to the US in May 2023 , where he prepared for his trial — alongside Chamberlain as a codefendant — while under house arrest in San Francisco.

Lynch had a top-shelf legal team, but after the British court loss and Hussain's conviction, the chances of an acquittal seemed bleak.

Lynch testified at the end of his three-month trial, which began in March, telling jurors he wasn't involved in day-to-day financial oversight of the company. Misunderstandings, he said, could be chalked up to the differences between British and American accounting practices.

"A lot of what we've been looking at is like peering through the door of a kitchen and seeing the sausage-making machine, and that's how it really works," he told jurors, according to The Times of London . "If you take the microscope into even the most spotless kitchen, you'd find bacteria. If it wasn't there, that'd be something very abnormal. I don't think Autonomy was any different."

Jurors believed him. In June, they declared Lynch not guilty of the 15 charges against him, clearing Chamberlain as well.

Morvillo, one of Lynch's lawyers in the trial — as well as in the preceding decade of legal disputes — praised the jury, saying it had rejected "the government's profound overreach in this case."

"This verdict closes the book on a relentless 13-year effort to pin HP's well-documented ineptitude on Dr. Lynch," Morvillo said in a joint statement with his attorney colleague Brian Heberlig. "Thankfully, the truth has finally prevailed."

In an interview with The Times of London after the trial , Lynch reflected on how, with a great burden lifted off him at the age of 59, he could remake his life.

He mourned the deaths of his brother and mother, who both died ahead of the criminal trial. He mused about using his fortune to start a British version of the Innocence Project, which prevents wrongful convictions in the US.

"Now you have a second life," he told The Times. "The question is, what do you want to do with it?"

But first, a celebration. Lynch; his wife, Angela Bacares; one of his two daughters; Morvillo and his wife, Neda; and several others went on a superyacht, the Bayesian , which was anchored outside Sicily and owned by Bacares.

Chamberlain moved back to the UK. While running near his home, a driver hit him with a car . He died in a hospital on Saturday.

On Monday, a sudden storm struck the Bayesian. The yacht capsized.

Of its 22 passengers, 15, including Bacares, were rescued.

But rescuers have pulled five bodies from the wreckage, including Morvillo's and Lynch's . A sixth remains trapped inside the boat. Lynch's daughter Hannah remains missing.

Correction: August 22, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misnamed Lynch's lawyer. His name was Chris Morvillo, not Charles Morvillo.

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  1. Bizarre Story of the History Supreme Yacht

    At the end of the day, there is no evidence History Supreme ever existed for real. The most damning evidence is those four photographs. Some internet sleuths who were unconvinced about the story of the History Supreme realized that the boat in Hughes photos looked a lot like the Baia One Hundred, a yacht made by Italian yacht makers Baia in 2008.

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    History Supreme has been a well kept secret in the Superyacht Industry, which is understandable as the yacht itself is reportedly worth over £3 billion. Containing around 100,000kg of gold and platinum, History Supreme was designed by Stuart Hughes, the world renowned luxury designer, and took just over three years to complete.

  6. What Is Yacht History Supreme? (The Fascinating Story Behind It)

    Yacht History Supreme is a luxury yacht constructed by the Australian company, History Supreme. It was designed by the British designer, Luiz de Basto, and is constructed from 100,000 kg of solid gold and platinum. It is said to be the most expensive yacht in the world, with an estimated cost of $4. 5 billion.

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    Inside the $4.8 Billion History Supreme YachtSubscribe to Jess's Top 10 Reviews: https://bit.ly/3mapVq2We have seen some opulent yachts, but the gold-encrust...

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    The History Supreme Yacht is adorned with over 100,000 kilograms of gold and platinum, making it a true masterpiece of craftsmanship. The sheer amount of precious metals used in the yacht's adds to its allure and exclusivity. Furthermore, the yacht's value is enhanced by its unique design and luxurious amenities.

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    The History Supreme yacht is the handiwork of British designer Stuart Hughes who per his website has also made such collectibles for the ultrarich as the world's most expensive suit, the world's most expensive iPhone, the world's most expensive model car, and a solid gold Rolls Royce Phantom. According to Jetset Magazine, the "anonymous Malaysian business man" (probably Robert Kuok, shown ...

  11. Yacht or Knot: History Supreme

    The History Supreme was created and built by Stuart Hughes, a British purveyor of frilly gadgets and the creator of both the most expensive suit and most expensive iPhone in the world. This supreme boat was sold to an anonymous ultra-wealthy Malaysian business man, assumed to be Robert Kuok. You have to see it to believe it, as this almost ...

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    The yacht, named History Supreme, is covered in 100,000kg of gold, platinum and jewels and has a statue made from genuine Tyrannosaurus Rex bones. Yes, you read right. The master bedroom has genuine dinosaur bone shaved from a skeleton was sourced from Arizona, USA. Pieces of the thigh bone alone come in at about £68,000.

  13. History Supreme is the world's most expensive yacht

    History Supreme is made of 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum and took over three years to be completed. ... deck and anchor have been made using real precious metals. The base of the yacht is wrapped with solid gold and the wall feature is specially crafted from meteoric stone along with a genuine dinosaur bone shaved in from the ...

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    How Much is the History Supreme Yacht Worth? The boat is listed with a price tag of $4.8 billion, easily making it the most expensive yacht ever to exist. The next most expensive luxurious yacht would be the Eclipse, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The Eclipse mega yacht is valued at $1.5 billion, making it only a third of the ...

  15. The $4.8 Billion GOLD History Supreme Yacht

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  16. The World's Most Expensive Yachts—Including Some That Cost Billions

    History Supreme ($4.8 billion) History Supreme has never actually been seen in a major port, and rumors suggest that the yacht may not be real and instead just a publicity stunt. Reportedly owned ...

  17. History Supreme Superyacht Makes History—Historic Fiction, That Is

    A real gold yacht, not just colored paint. But three years later, a UK-based designer claims he and the Malaysian owner of the History Supreme superyacht have done it. Trouble is, the story simply isn't true. In fact, the photos purporting to support the claims aren't real, either.

  18. A Closer Look at the $4.8 Billion History Supreme

    A yacht that goes by the name "History Supreme" has you thinking that it contains lots of history either in its construction or decorations yet the only thing historical about the $4.8 billion yacht is the use of extinct bones. Stuart Hughes made the headlines eight years ago with the declaration that he had taken three years to complete ...

  19. The History Supreme: A Look Inside the World's Most Luxurious Yacht

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  20. The $4.8 Billion Vessel: Here's What Makes History Supreme ...

    The fact that none of it was real was an even more ridiculous claim than the rumored price of $4.8 billion for a yacht. Rumors And Speculations On The History Supreme When news of History Supreme spread, many representatives for Hughes acknowledged to various media sites, including in emails sent to Business Insider , that the reports contained ...

  21. The HISTORY SUPREME

    Description. The worlds most unique yacht â HISTORY SUPREME â probably the most expensive.This project was commissioned for Stuart Hughes of Liverpool U.K. from an anonymous leading Malaysian business man.At 100ft the yacht took 3 years to complete , a circa of 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum were added to make this an exciting ...

  22. History Supreme is the world's most expensive yacht for $4.8 billion

    So the man with the Midas touch, Stuart Hughes has taken it upon himself to move away from the fancy iPhones, iPads and laptops to create a 100 feet luxury yacht called History Supreme with 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum. Three years in the making, the yacht is said to have a deck, dining area, rails, anchor, all crafted from ...

  23. A tour of the yacht- History Supreme

    History Supreme, an opulent yacht conceived by the acclaimed designer Stuart Hughes, boasts an unprecedented level of grandiosity. Its impressive 100-foot le...

  24. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says she's open to enforceable ethics

    It's a slight uptick from 2023, when 44% of Americans viewed the Supreme Court favorably — a historic low. "The Supreme Court is the branch of government that doesn't have the power of the military.

  25. Affirmative Action News Is Coming

    Together, this data suggests that the Supreme Court's decision may have most hurt upper-income Black and Latino applicants at M.I.T. — and most benefited lower-income Asian applicants. (The ...

  26. Mike Lynch Yacht Sinking Came Weeks After Tech Tycoon's Big Legal Win

    Mike Lynch won an unexpected jury acquittal after a dramatic 12-year legal saga. HP accused him of cooking the books of his company Autonomy to make it seem worth billions more. He finally won ...