Imagine watching the sunset away from all the coasts, with nothing but the sea in front of you…And a helicopter behind you, a green golf course, a pool for you to have fun, and Michelin-starred restaurants serving 24/7 whenever you want to eat. This is just a snippet of billionaires’ lives on their superyachts.
This luxury marine life is no longer available to some Russian oligarchs whose superyachts have been or may soon be confiscated.
Although we usually hear about Russian-connected ones, there are thought to be around 10,000 superyachts in the world, with owners ranging from Gulf riches to American billionaires.
How does a yacht become a superyacht?
There is no simple answer to this question. A term generally used for the most expensive, most luxurious and largest yachts with a custom-built and professional crew.
Technically, the lengths of superyachts range from 24 to 180 meters. As yachts grow, so do the terms used to describe them. Some talk about mega yachts and giga yachts.
Prices for superyachts range from hundreds of millions of dollars to over a billion dollars.
These floating palaces provide a unique experience and total secluded privacy. This is especially desirable for the rich and famous.
The world’s largest superyacht
Since 2013, the title of the world’s largest superyacht belongs to the 180-meter Azzam. The research vessel REV Ocean, which was launched in 2019, is three meters longer, but it is not intended for recreation or sport.
Azzam is owned by Sheikh Khalifa Zayed al Nahyan, leader of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi. Estimated construction price of $600 million.
It is currently moored in the Gulf, according to data provider MarineTraffic. It can accommodate 36 people in complete luxury and has a crew of 80.
The interior design and furnishings of the superyacht are kept secret. However, a 29-metre open-plan hall, a pool, a cinema, a gym and helipads are its well-known features.
The most expensive superyacht
The Eclipse is thought to be the most expensive superyacht in the world, with a construction and design cost of over one billion dollars and an estimated price of 700 million dollars, and said to be associated with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Eclipse has features like a nightclub, a beauty salon, a pool, and a gym. It’s also safe. It’s very safe. It has a submarine, three helicopters and an anti-missile defense system.
Eclipse is also said to be “paparazzi protected”. According to some yacht magazines, the technologically advanced ship has a “laser shield” that detects the use of digital cameras and distorts photos with infrared rays.
Eclipse is anchored in Marmaris, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Turkey, which currently does not impose an embargo on Russia.
My Solaris, worth 600 million dollars, in connection with Abramovic, is also anchored in Bodrum. This superyacht also has a luxury dock and radar-controlled missile detection system, bulletproof windows and armor protection. It is also an open-air beach club.
The biggest pool on a superyacht
A leading large and expensive superyacht is the 162m long, $400 million ‘Dubai’ yacht. Its owner is Rashid Al Makdum, Emir of Dubai and Vice President of UAE. Another is the superyacht Dilbar, owned by Uzbek-born Russian billionaire oligarch Alisher Usmanov.
It is unclear whether Dilbar has been seized, but maritime traffic data shows it is moored in Hamburg.
Dilbar is considered one of the largest superyachts in terms of volume. It has larger open spaces than many and a 25-metre pool, one of the largest ever built on a yacht.
Putin’s Scheherazade?
Another large and expensive superyacht is Scheherazade. Russian dissident Alexei Navalni says this superyacht is linked to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The owner of the superyacht moored in the Italian town of Marina di Carrara is being investigated by the US authorities.
Speaking to the New York Times, the superyacht’s British captain denied any connection to Putin and said: “I have never seen or met him.”
According to some reports, the owner of the yacht lives in the Middle East.
Scheherazade is 140 meters long and is believed to be worth $700 million, according to yacht magazines and websites.
The mysterious superyacht is said to have a helipad, a large pool, a cinema, entertainment areas and a “drone drop system”.
Celebrities on deck
Yacht vacations are a way of escape for many celebrities. Many do this aboard the superyacht Rising Sun, owned by American media giant David Geffen.
The cost of the 138-meter-long superyacht is reportedly over $200 million.
According to American W magazine, guests of the superyacht included Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.
Marine traffic data shows it is currently moored in the Caribbean. The superyacht has a wine cellar, basketball court and cinema.
Another superyacht that was in the news in 2014 was the A+, formerly known as Topaz. The guests of the superyacht created controversy: American actress and climate activist Leanordo DiCaprio and his friends.
It is stated that the 145-meter-long superyacht, worth over $500 million, belongs to the UAE politician and royal billionaire Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan.
Not much is known about this superyacht, but it is noted to have luxuries like a pool, helipads and jacuzzis.
Saying that he is environmentally conscious, DiCaprio’s charter of this superyacht in 2014 was criticized and said to contradict environmental activism.
According to environmental news site Ecowatch, a superyacht with a permanent crew, helipads, submarines and pools produces more than 7,000 tons of carbon a year, or as much as 1,500 cars.