billionaire yacht tour

10 of the most impressive superyachts owned by billionaires

From a sailing yacht owned by a russian billionaire industrialist to the luxury launch of the patek philippe ceo, here are the best billionaire-owned boats on the water….

Words: Jonathan Wells

There’s something about billionaires and big boats . Whether they’re superyachts or megayachts, men with money love to splash out on these sizeable sea-going giants. And that all began in 1954 — with the big dreams of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

Onassis, keen to keep his luxury lifestyle afloat when at sea, bought Canadian anti-submarine frigate HMCS Stormont after World War II. He spent millions turning it into an opulent super yacht, named it after his daughter — and the Christina O kicked off a trend among tycoons. To this day, the world’s richest men remain locked in an arms race to build the biggest, fastest, most impressive superyacht of all. Here are 10 of our favourites…

Eclipse, owned by Roman Abramovich

Built by: Blohm+Voss of Hamburg, with interiors and exteriors designed by Terence Disdale. Launched in 2009, it cost $500 million (the equivalent of £623 million today).

Owned by: Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, the owner of private investment company Millhouse LLC and owner of Chelsea Football Club. His current net worth is $17.4 billion.

Key features: 162.5 metres in length / 9 decks / Top speed of 22 knots / Two swimming pools / Disco hall / Mini submarine / 2 helicopter pads / 24 guest cabins

Sailing Yacht A, owned by Andrey Melnichenko

Built by: Nobiskrug, a shipyard on the Eider River in Germany. The original idea came from Jacques Garcia, with interiors designed by Philippe Starck and a reported price tag of over $400 million.

Owned by: Russian billionaire industrialist Andrey Melnichenko, the main beneficiary of both the fertiliser producing EuroChem Group and the coal energy company SUEK. Though his current net worth is $18.7 billion, Sailing Yacht A was seized in Trieste on 12 March 2022 due to the EU’s sanctions on Russian businessmen.

Key features: 119 metres in length / 8 decks / Top speed of 21 knots / Freestanding carbon-fibre rotating masts / Underwater observation pod / 14 guests

Symphony, owned by Bernard Arnault

Built by: Feadship, the fabled shipyard headquartered in Haarlem in The Netherlands. With an exterior designed by Tim Heywood, it reportedly cost around $150 million to construct.

Owned by: French billionaire businessman and art collector Bernard Arnault. Chairman and chief executive of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods company, his current net worth is $145.8 billion.

Key features: 101.5 metres in length / 6 decks / Top speed of 22 knots / 6-metre glass-bottom swimming pool / Outdoor cinema / Sundeck Jacuzzi / 8 guest cabins

Faith, owned by Michael Latifi

Built by: Similarly to Symphony above, also Feadship. With exteriors designed by Beaulieu-based RWD, and interiors by Chahan Design, it cost a reported $200 million to construct in 2017.

Owned by: Until recently, Canadian billionaire and part-owner of the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team , Lawrence Stroll. Recently sold to Michael Latifi, father of F1 star Nicholas , a fellow Canadian businessman with a net worth of just under $2 billion.

Key features: 97 metres in length / 9 guest cabins / Glass-bottom swimming pool — with bar / Bell 429 helicopter

Amevi, owned by Lakshmi Mittal

Built by: The Oceanco shipyard, also in The Netherlands. With exterior design by Nuvolari & Lenard and interior design by Alberto Pinto, it launched in 2007 (and cost around $125 million to construct).

Owned by: Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, chairman and CEO of Arcelor Mittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company. He owns 20% of Queen Park Rangers, and has a net worth of $18 billion.

Key features: 80 metres in length / 6 decks / Top speed of 18.5 knots / On-deck Jacuzzi / Helipad / Swimming Pool / Tender Garage / 8 guest cabins

Odessa II, owned by Len Blavatnik

Built by: Nobiskrug, the same German shipyard that built Sailing Yacht A . Both interior and exterior were created by Focus Yacht Design, and the yacht was launched in 2013 with a cost of $80 million.

Owned by: British businessman Sir Leonard Blavatnik. Founder of Access Industries — a multinational industrial group with current holdings in Warner Music Group, Spotify and the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat — he is worth $39.9 billion.

Key features: 74 metres in length / 6 guest cabins / Top speed of 18 knots / Intimate beach club / Baby grand piano / Private master cabhin terrace / Outdoor cinema

Nautilus, owned by Thierry Stern

Built by: Italian shipyard Perini Navi in 2014. With interiors by Rémi Tessier and exterior design by Philippe Briand, Nautilus was estimated to cost around $90 million to construct.

Owned by: Patek Philippe CEO Thierry Stern. Alongside his Gulstream G650 private jet, Nautilus — named for the famous sports watch — is his most costly mode of transport. His current net worth is $3 billion.

Key features: 73 metres in length / 7 guest cabins / Top speed of 16.5 knots / Dedicated wellness deck / 3.5 metre resistance pool / Underfloor heating / Jet Skis

Silver Angel, owned by Richard Caring

Built by: Luxury Italian boatbuilder Benetti. Launched in 2009, the yacht’s interior has been designed by Argent Design and her exterior styling is by Stefano Natucci.

Owned by: Richard Caring, British businessman and multi-millionaire (his wealth peaked at £1.05 billion, so he still makes the cut). Chairman of Caprice Holdings, he owns The Ivy restaurants.

Key features: 64.5 metres in length / Cruising speed of 15 knots / 7 guest cabins / Lalique decor / 5 decks / Oval Jacuzzi pool / Sun deck bar / Aft deck dining table

Lady Beatrice, owned by Frederick Barclay

Built by: Feadship and Royal Van Lent in 1993. Exteriors were created by De Voogt Naval Architects, with interiors by Bannenberg Designs. She cost the equivalent of £63 million to build.

Owned by: Sir David Barclay and his late brother Sir Frederick. The ‘Barclay Brothers’ had joint business pursuits including The Spectator , The Telegraph and delivery company Yodel. Current net worth: £7 billion.

Key features: 60 metres in length / 18 knots maximum speed / Monaco home port / Named for the brothers’ mother, Beatrice Cecelia Taylor / 8 guest cabins

Space, owned by Laurence Graff

Built by: Space was the first in Feadship’s F45 Vantage series , styled by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design and launched in 2007. She cost a reported $25 million to construct.

Owned by: Laurence Graff, English jeweller and billionaire businessman. As the founder of Graff Diamonds, he has a global business presence and a current net worth of $6.26 billion.

Key features: 45 metres in length / Top speed of 16 knots / Al fresco dining area / Sun deck Jacuzzi / Breakfast bar / Swimming platform / Steam room

Want more yachts? Here’s the handcradfted, homegrown history of Princess…

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$250M superyacht Liva O draws 'big' attention on Seattle's Lake Union

SEATTLE - The superyacht LIVA O, owned by billionaire Stephen Orenstein , has made a notable appearance on Seattle's Lake Union . 

Measuring 387 feet, LIVA O is the largest superyacht ever built by the esteemed German shipbuilder Abeking & Rasmussen . For comparison, a Washington state Olympic Class ferry measures 362 feet.

Launched as the shipyard's latest masterpiece, LIVA O represents a significant achievement for Abeking & Rasmussen, which has been in operation for over 115 years. "We have once again succeeded in building an exceptional yacht," said Matthias Hellmann, CEO at Abeking & Rasmussen. "By upholding our values of innovation, quality, and client satisfaction, we have created a yacht that sets new industry standards."

Designed by Joseph Dirand Architecture in Paris, the yacht features a sleek black hull and offers luxurious amenities, including a Neptune Lounge with an underwater view, a swimming pool, a helicopter pad and a crow’s nest. The vessel also employs a diesel-electric propulsion system for quiet navigation and maneuvering. 

So how much does a yacht of this size cost? According to Superyacht Fan , Orenstein bought the yacht in 2023 for $250 million and estimates its annual running cost to be $15 to $25 million. 

According to Forbes , Stephen Orenstein is a German-American business executive with extensive commercial real estate holdings in Germany, Italy, the U.K. and the U.S., and holds a stake in the German soccer team Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Formerly owning 75% of Supreme Group, a logistics firm that supplied food and water to the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, Orenstein took over the company in 1985 after his father's death. 

Forbes estimates his net worth at $2 billion. 

The yacht's presence in Lake Union is drawing attention from locals and yacht enthusiasts alike, marking a significant milestone in Seattle's maritime scene.

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The 242-foot 'Cloud 9' is priced at $95,709,000 and is also available for charter.

Delivered in 2017, Cloud 9 sleeps 16 in eight cabins

The Cloud 9 VIP cabin.

The Cloud 9 Owner's Cabin features an office, private outdoor deck and an outdoor cinema.

The 213-foot yacht 'Eternity' is available for charter in the Bahamas, priced at $392,000 per week.

'Eternity' boasts seven guests cabins, an elevator, gym and more.

Natural light floods into 'Eternity's' main and bridge deck salons through oversize picture windows.

A covered back deck on 'Eternity.'

Burgess Yachts director Richard Lambert, based in Monaco.

The yacht 'Flag' sails the western Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter.

Contemporary elements of the 'Flag' combine with beautiful traditional wood for a classic appeal.

Charters for the 'Flag' begin at 378,000 Euros for summer sailing on the Med.

The 'Flag' sleeps seven and has a crew of 17.

Traditional guest rooms aboard the 'Flag'

The upper deck of 'Flag'

The 'Flag' is outfitted with all manner of water toys including the slide.

The 190-foot Lady Sheridan is offered for sale and charter beginning at $315,000 per week in the Med.

Dramatic interior design of the 'Lady Sheridan' was executed by the owner's talented wife.

Indoor dinning is an elegant affair aboard the 'Lady Sheridan.'

The master suite aboard the 'Lady Sheridan'

The VIP cabin aboard the 'Lady Sheridan'

The asking price for the 170-foot yacht 'Lazy Z' is $16.9 million.

Living aboard the 'Lazy Z' is comfy and cozy.

The massive main deck master cabin on the 'Lazy Z' features a dedicated raised lounge with expansive 180 degree views.

A bath aboard the 'Lazy Z'

The 'Lazy Z' sleeps 12 in richly appointed cabins.

Inside the World of Mega Yachts — How the Super Rich Find Their Dream Boats

Why giga-yachts are the next big thing in the billionaires' playground.

S uper-yachts, mega-yachts, giga-yachts — the billionaires’ play toys keep getting bigger and bigger, not to mention more costly.  Just ask Burgess Yachts head of sales director Richard Lambert. The dashing businessman, based in Monaco, made a swift visit through Houston on his way to the Miami Yacht Show  and shared his insights on the surprisingly burgeoning world of private yachting.

He noted that yacht charters already booked for the coming year, exceed 2018 bookings by 20 percent. With a stable of 750 yachts available for charter and 35 offered for sale, Burgess, which was founded in 1975, is one of, in not the, largest company of its kind worldwide. Count 13 offices globally and 200 employees.

Lambert allows that the United States is the firm’s largest market and that Dallas and Houston are strong. In fact, chartering and sale of the Houston-owned 190-foot   Lady Sheridan is handled through Burgess.

Just how do the mega rich distinguish between these hyperbolic yacht descriptions, we asked. While there are no rules for describing these floating palaces, Lambert says that, generally speaking, a super-yacht measures in at nothing less than 100 feet, while mega-yachts stretch to 250 feet and the largest private vessels afloat, or the recently-coined giga-yachts , push the limits at 300 feet and well beyond.

Among those earning the Olympian status are the 593-foot Azzam , owned by the Emir of Abu Dhabi, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s 533-foot Eclipse,  and the Sultan of Oman’s 509-foot Al Said .

Of these immense yachts, Burgess recently sold the 361-foot Jubilee , originally built for the Emir of Qatar, which had an asking price of $310 million. This beauty boasts 16 guest cabins and a crew of 45. It was the most expensive vessel in Burgess’ portfolio which has offerings for lesser yachts that begin at $5 million.

Luxurious Bath & Candles

For those not interested in the pleasures of ownership but want to live large for a while, Burgess’ charters  range from $250,000 to $300,000 a week plus APA (or advance provisioning allowance) which includes fuel, food and drink, mooring and harbor fees as well as the recommended 10 percent tip.

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Inside the 'Fly Fleet': billionaire Google founder Sergey Brin's growing flotilla of megayachts, boats, and jet skis

In a quiet harbor in California's Redwood City, 30 miles south of San Francisco, there often sits a gleaming 40-meter yacht flying the flag of the Marshall Islands.

The sleek, silver-and-white vessel sits among a smattering of other high-end cruisers, but this boat is a bit different: Butterfly, as the yacht is known, is owned by the world's 13th-richest person, Google's cofounder Sergey Brin.

Butterfly isn't the tech mogul's only oceangoing investment. Brin has quietly collected a fleet of luxury yachts and water-sports vehicles that those in his inner circle call the "Fly Fleet," a recent Insider investigation into the post-Google lives of the 49-year-old and his fellow Google founder, Larry Page, found.

The blossoming armada is just one part of how he's keeping busy since stepping back from Google's parent company, Alphabet, in 2019 — along with a string of high-flying parties , an effort to build a new generation of zeppelins, and hundreds of millions of dollars in philanthropic donations .

According to people close to Brin, the Fly Fleet consists of three major vessels and a coterie of small craft and water-sports equipment. First, there's Dragonfly — a 73-meter flagship yacht that features a helipad and movie theater and that was once described by Boat International as the "fastest, most fuel-efficient long-range cruising superyacht on the water."

There's also the 40-meter Butterfly, which is often moored in the Bay Area, can sleep up to eight guests, and was built by Danish Yachts .

According to associates of Brin, Butterfly's crew members often spend their afternoon downtime kitesurfing in the bay off Redwood City and have gotten involved in the local community, from helping out with scientific research to giving swimming lessons to kids.

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Rounding out the main trio is a smaller pleasure craft called Firefly, the lowest profile of the three vessels.

To maintain the fleet, along with a whole flotilla of jet skis, dinghies, kiteboards, and other sports vessels that Brin splashes around on, the Google founder employs a 50-person team around the globe, led by the master mariner Mike Gregory.

Many of Brin's smaller water-sports toys — as well as Page's — have been supplied by Kai Concepts, a startup that builds high-tech aquatic vehicles, including foilboards and a kite-propelled boat. Based in Alameda, California, the company is run by the world-champion windsurfer Don Montague, who cofounded a wind-power company called Makani, which Google acquired in 2013 and later shut down.

Brin is believed to have put money into the business — and Kai employees have helped out with manufacturing projects for Page's now defunct flying-car startup Kittyhawk, two people familiar with the arrangement said.

Page is taking a different approach to boating, sources said. While he spends much of his time at his collection of tropical islands around the world, he has sold his superyacht Senses and downsized to an assortment of smaller vessels.

Read Insider's full investigation into Sergey Brin's and Larry Page's post-Google lives»

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