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The 15 Most Expensive Yachts in the World

These dream machines show what's possible when money is no object., rachel cormack.

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As superyachts continue to get bigger and more extravagant than ever before, so too do the accompanying price tags. According to the Boats Group’s market index, the average cost of a yacht above 80 feet in the US last year was $5.3 million. As you’ll see below, though, there are a handful of high-end vessels that blow that figure out of the water.

Although it’s difficult to get exact prices in what is a fiercely secretive industry, sales of luxury yachts have surged amid the pandemic and the ultra-wealthy are more willing than ever to fork out for ostentatious ocean goers. Case in point: Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reportedly parted with $485 million for his Oceanco megayacht that’s currently in build.

Believe it or not, that’s quite a modest price compared to at least half of the entries on this list. Lürssen’s Dilbar , for instance, is rumored to have cost in the ballpark of $800 million. As alluded to, the shipyards behind these lavish, nine-figure designs seldom share details regarding ownership or price. Therefore, the amounts cited here are estimates pulled together from Wikipedia and other reliable sources. Still, the 15 vessels here give you a good idea of what’s possible when money is no object and the best builders in the business are at your whim.

Lürssen: ‘Dilbar’ — $800 Million

Delivered in 2016, Lürssen’s Dilbar is the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. It’s also the most expensive with an original price tag in the ballpark of $800 million. Weighing in at 15,917 tons, the monolithic 512-footer is one of the most complex and challenging vessels the German yard has ever built. Penned by Espen Øino, Dilbar features a classic profile and a light ivory hull with bronze accents. Onboard, meanwhile, the elegant interiors were brought to life by Winch Design and outfitted with only the best luxury materials. The pièce de résistance is, of course, the 82-foot swimming pool. Lürssen says it is the largest pool ever to have been installed on a yacht. Seafarers also have access to 41,000 square feet of saloons, staterooms, spas and cinemas to explore. German authorities impounded Dilbar earlier this year after establishing it was linked to a Russian billionaire. According to the US Treasury Department, the yacht is now worth between $600 million and $700 million, with annual maintenance costs of about $60 million.

Blohm+Voss: ‘Eclipse’ — $600 Million

The epic 533-foot Blohm+Voss superyacht Eclipse took half a decade to come to fruition before it was finally delivered to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2010. At that time, it was the largest yacht in the world and certainly one of the most expensive. It has now been 20-odd years and Eclipse still sits at the top of both lists and is estimated to be worth over $600 million. Designed inside and out by Terence Disdale, the vessel is equipped with 17 staterooms, a 185-foot-long owner’s deck with a palatial owner’s suite, a giant swimming pool that doubles as a dance floor, a gym, a beach club and a spa. Other highlights include a helicopter hangar with space for three choppers and a garage that can hold six tenders. On top of that, Eclipse has a top-end speed of 21 knots, with a range of 6,000 nautical miles.

Lürssen: ‘Azzam’ — $600 Million

Lürssen has proven itself adept at delivering sizable (and expensive) vessels. In fact, the German yard is behind the world’s longest superyacht, which reportedly set one private owner back more than $600 million. Delivered in 2013, Azzam measures just shy of 593 feet and offers a volume of 13,136 GT. Penned by Nauta Yacht, the yacht’s exterior is characterized by a long, sleek forward area and a series of tiers ascending to the skydeck. The interior, meanwhile, was brought to life by Christophe Leoni and showcases luxurious decor inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century. Azzam is no slouch on the high seas, either, with a top speed of more than 30 knots. Astonishingly, the behemoth only took three years to build after one year of engineering. Azzam also underwent a refit in 2020 that likely resulted in a few more dollars being spent on her.

Lürssen: ‘Al Said’ — $600 Million

Another nine-figure Lürssen megayacht on the list is Al Saïd . Delivered in 2008, the 508-footer reportedly set the Sultan of Oman roughly $600 million and, well, you can tell. Designed by Espen Øino, Al Saïd ’s exterior is reminiscent of a classic cruise liner with the twin-exhaust stacks in the center of the superstructure. Sporting a steel hull and lightweight aluminum superstructure, the yacht is capable of 25 knots flat out, with a cruising speed of 22 knots. Inside, meanwhile, the contemporary interior was penned by Redman Whiteley Dixon. Highlights include a concert hall that can hold a 50-piece orchestra.

Lürssen: ‘A+’ (Topaz) — $527 Million

Lürssen megayacht A+ , previously known as Topaz , reportedly cost approximately $527 million (€400 million) to come to fruition. It is the fourth-largest yacht ever built by the German shipyard and was launched back in 2012. It’s rumored that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, the deputy prime minister of the UAE and owner of Manchester City Football Club, took delivery of the vessel and is the current owner. A+ ’s exterior was penned by Tim Heywood Designs, while her interior was brought to life by Terence Disdale. She is equipped with cabins for 62 guests and 72 crew, as well as two helipads, a pool and a large swim platform. What more do you need?

Fincantieri: ‘Serene’ — $444 Million

Fincantieri’s first superyacht turned out to be big in terms of both proportions and price. The 439-footer was the largest yacht ever launched in Italy when it hit the water in 2011 and cost approximately $444 million (€450 million) to complete. Designed by Espen Øino, the seven-deck vessel is characterized by a sleek blue hull, a contrasting white superstructure and a ton of racy curves. She’s brimming with amenities, too, including an enclosed winter garden for dining in any season, a tender garage large enough to house a submarine and a supersized swimming pool for soaking. She also has two helipads and a hangar to facilitate comings and goings. Although the details of Serene ’s interior remain tightly under wraps, we do know Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design penned the 43,056-square-foot living quarters.

Platinum Yachts: ‘Dubai’ — $400 Million

Dubai was, quite literally, built for royalty at a princely fee of roughly $400 million. The superyacht was originally commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei as a joint project between Blohm+Voss and Lürssen. The duo only got to finish the bare hull and skeletal superstructure before construction was halted in 1998. The incomplete design was then sold to the government of Dubai and turned into a royal yacht for the country’s ruler. The 532-footer, which was finished off by Platinum Yachts, was delivered to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2006. Penned by Winch Design, Dubai spans seven decks and can sleep 24 guests and 88 crew. Befitting a sheikh, she is also equipped with a landing pad for a Black Hawk helicopter, a submarine garage, a disco and a cinema.

Blohm+Voss : ‘Motor Yacht A’ — $300 Million

Legend has it that architect Philippe Starck sketched the design for Motor Yacht A on a napkin in a matter of minutes. Blohm + Voss then sold the superyacht for approximately $300 million. Commissioned by Russian industrialist Andrey Melnichenko, the 390-footer is characterized by a minimalist exterior and a highly distinctive pelican bow that cuts a striking silhouette. With a beam of 62 feet, the vessel offers a generous interior volume of 5,500 GT. She offers accommodation for 14 guests and 42 crew. She also has no less than three swimming pools, one of which has a glass bottom that creates a wow factor on the deck below. Melnichenko kept  Motor Yacht A for nearly a decade before replacing it with Nobiskrug’s Sailing Yacht A . The 468-footer is not only the largest sailing yacht in the world, but also the most expensive with an estimated value of $578 million .

Lürssen: ‘Radiant’ — $300 Million

The tale behind Radiant ’s price tag is almost as long as the 360-footer itself. Rumor has it, the superyacht was built for Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky at a cost of roughly $149 million (€148.5 million). After Berezovsky ran into financial difficulties, he asked Edmiston to list the vessel for $352 million (€350 million) and it eventually sold for a hair under that. Delivered in 2010, Radiant sports a steel hull, an aluminum superstructure and gorgeous teak decking. She can comfortably accommodate up to 20 guests in 10 suites, as well as up to 44 crew. Her top-tier amenities include a movie theatre, a beauty salon, a beach club, a gym, a pool, a Jacuzzi, a helipad and a fully stocked tender garage. Certainly sounds worthy of $300 million to us.

Lürssen: ‘Pelorus’ — $300 Million

In the late ‘90s, Saudi Arabian businessman Abdulmohsen Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh commissioned Lürssen to create Pelorus . The 377-footer hit the seas in 2003 and was the 11th-largest yacht in the world at the time. During her maiden voyage, Pelorus was sold to Roman Abramovich. The Russian entrepreneur had it altered by Blohm & Voss, adding a second helipad and other lavish amenities. Fast forward to 2009, Irina Abramovich received the yacht as part of her divorce settlement from Roman. She sold it to David Geffen in 2011 via broker Merle Wood for $300 million. Pelorus features a sleek exterior designed by Tim Heywood and a beachy chic interior penned by Terence Disdale. She has several terraces with doors that open out to the sea to create a true indoor/outdoor feel.

Peters Werft: ‘Al Mirqab’ — $300 Million

The 436-foot Al Mirqab is one of the largest yachts in the world and has a price tag to match. Launched in 2008, the $300 million vessel was built for Qatar’s former prime minister under the supervision of Kusch Yachts in the Peters Werft shipyard in Germany. Penned by Tim Heywood, the elegant exterior pairs a long, navy-blue hull with a contrasting white superstructure. The interior, meanwhile, was brought to life by Andrew Winch and has won several awards. Arguably, the most striking feature is the Arabic-influenced motifs on the marble floors. Another highlight is the swimming pool on the lower deck, which can be opened up to the sea via side hatches in the hull. Al Mirqab has staterooms for 36, and crew quarters for 45. She was also treated to a refit in 2014 and thus looks fresher than your average 14-year-old vessel.

Abeking & Rasmussen: ‘Aviva’ — $250 Million

Abeking & Rasmussen’s Aviva shows what kind of lavish amenities you can get with $250 million. The 323-footer, which was delivered in 2017, features the largest gym on any yacht. It’s so big, in fact, that it houses a full-size paddle tennis court that pulls double duty as a soccer field when the nets are down. Penned by Toby Silverton and Reymond Langton Design, Aviva pairs a curvacious blue exterior with a chic modern interior. She is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system that enables her to reach up to 11 knots using only electric motors or 20 knots with the addition of diesel power. The yacht is reportedly the sequel to another smaller Aviva that was delivered to British billionaire Joe Lewis in 2007. The yacht was launched just 33 months after the signing of the contract, which is quite an impressive feat given the complexity and scope of the project.

Lürssen: ‘Octopus’ — $200 Million 

Launched in 2003 at a cost of approximately $200 million, Octopus was built by Lürssen for late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The 414-footer is regularly loaned out for expeditions and scientific research initiatives. A true explorer, it features a dive center with a hyperbaric chamber, a yellow submarine named Pagoo and a remotely operated vehicle that can dive thousands of feet below the surface. Of course, this is complemented by state-of-the-art research technology. In addition, Octopus features two helipads, a hangar and seven tenders to facilitate comings and goings. She is also equipped with 13 staterooms, several bars, a recording studio, a cinema, a spa, a gym, a library and a basketball court. (You might remember Allen once owned the Portland Trail Blazers.) What’s more, Octopus appears to be climbing in price as time goes on. In 2019, the vessel was listed for sale for a cool $325 million .

Lürssen: ‘Rising Sun’ — $200 Million

Rising Sun was designed by one of the brightest minds in the industry: the late, legendary Jon Bannenberg. In fact, it was the last yacht the Australian designer penned before he died in 2002. The $200 million vessel was built by Lürssen and delivered to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison two years later in 2004. The 138-footer is characterized by large expanses of glass that let in plenty of the sun’s rays. In addition, it offers 86,000 square feet of living space brought to life by Seccombe Design. There are nine cabins for up to 18 guests and generous crew quarters for up to 46 crew. Elsewhere, you’ll find a gym, a cinema, a wine cellar and a basketball court. As for grunt, Rising Sun promises a maximum speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 26 knots. She was last refitted in 2011 and is currently owned by billionaire David Geffen.

Lürssen: ‘Solandge’ — $150 Million

Lürssen’s Solandge is rumored to have cost $150 million to come to fruition, and you can tell. Delivered in 2013, the 279-footer is replete with the finest materials. The floor, for example, sports no less than 50 types of exotic wood. There are also around 50 samples of natural stone in the bathrooms. Designed by Espen Øino, Solandge has a sleek exterior with elegant, clean lines. Aileen Rodriguez’s interior, meanwhile, is full to the brim with extravagant amenities. The spa comprises multiple pools on different decks, along with a hammam and a sauna. In addition, the yacht features a beauty salon is equipped with a sink and crane that together creates “snow” à la a snow room, as well as a gym and a massage room. As Lürssen puts it, Solandge was built with pure yachting pleasure in mind.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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The World's Most Expensive Yachts (And The Billionaires Who Own Them)

10. al mirqab is worth $250 million..

Al Mirqab is owned by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Muhammad Al Thani, the former Prime Minister of Qatar. The 133-meter boat was completed in 2008. It can accomodate 24 guests in 12 suites, each with its own bathroom and bedroom.

Amenities include a movie theater, swimming pool, helicopter pad, and room for a crew of 55.

9. Pelorus is worth $300 million (tie).

Initially built for a Saudi businessman, Russian billionaire bought the megayacht Pelorus in 2004. His ex-wife received the ship in their divorce settlement, and Hollywood movie mogul David Geffen bought Pelorus for $300 million in 2011.

The 115-meter yacht has two helipads and a garage full of toys, including jet skis.

9. Al Said is worth $300 million (tie).

Al Said was built for Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the billionaire Sultan of Oman. The massive, 155-meter yacht has space for 70 guests and 154 crew.

It has a helicopter landing pad, elevator, and concert space that can accomodate a 50-piece orchestra.

8. Dubai is worth $300 million (tie).

At 162 meters, Dubai is one of the largest yachts in the world. It was commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei, but put on hold for a decade before being acquired by Sheikh Mohammed Rashid al-Maktoum, the Emir of Dubai.

Dubai can accomodate 115 guests and crew , and has seven decks, a swimming pool, a squash room, helicopter pad, and even a small submarine.

6. Radiant is worth $320 million.

Originally commissioned by Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, this 360-foot yacht was sold to Abdulla Al Futtaim, a billionaire car dealer from the United Arab Emirates. Radiant's amenities put a James Bond twist on the typical superyacht experience.

It's equipped with sonic guns that would burst the eardrums of attackers, along with water cannons that could sink an approaching boat from 100 yards away. There's even a smaller speedboat designed specifically for a quick escape. Radiant has a jacuzzi, gym, and garage for tenders, as well as space for 20 guests.

5. Serene is worth $330 million.

Russian vodka distributor Yuri Scheffler owns this 440-foot yacht, which has turquoise neon lights that give it a nighttime glow.

It has a combined 48,000 square feet of covered space on its seven decks, including indoor and outdoor pools, 12 staterooms, and an outdoor screening room. Scheffler purchased the Italian-designed yacht for $330 million in 2011.

4. A is worth $390 million.

This elegant, Philippe Starck-designed superyacht belongs to Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko. Among its luxurious amenities are bath faucets worth $40,000, staircase banisters worth $60,000, and a bed that rotates with the touch of a button, allowing for perfect views of the sunrise and sunset.

A has had its fair share of controversies, however, as the Melnichenkos sued Dutch paint corporation Akzo Nobel, claiming the yacht's paint is not as reflective as they had requested.

3. Topaz is worth $520 million.

The 147-meter Topaz was built in 2012 by Lurssen Yachts. It cost an estimated $527 million to build, and has a jacuzzi, helicopter landing pad, garage for tenders, fitness center, and movie theater.

Topaz is owned by Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, who is worth around $8.7 billion, according to Wealth-X.

2. Azzam is worth $600 million.

Azzam is a staggering 590 feet long (longer than some commercial cruise ships) and owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates.

It took German shipbuilders Lürssen Yachts four years to build this behemoth of a ship, which is rumored to have up to 50 private suites. According to Wealth-X, the $627 million purchase was only about 3.5% of Sheikh Khalif's net worth of $18 billion.

1. Eclipse is worth $1 billion.

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich purchased the 536-foot-long Eclipse in 2010, when it still held the title for world's largest yacht.

Eclipse has two helipads , a disco, cinema, hair salon, and restaurant, plus it's rumored to have a laser defense system against paparazzi trying to photograph high-profile guests.

This tycoon loves adventure.

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The 5 Most Expensive Superyachts in the World

By Brett Berk

Though superyachts are already among the most costly consumer items available for purchase, the prices of the most expensive superyachts 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 superyacht industry is undergoing a golden age. The world’s über-wealthy think of their superyachts 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 superyachts 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 protect privacy or to shield the assets from taxation or seizure. Below, dive into the five reportedly most expensive superyachts in the world.

5. Dubai ($400 million)

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, 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)

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)

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)

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.

By Katherine McLaughlin

By Sarah Archer

By Jessica Ritz

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-carat gold Aquavista Panoramic Wall Aquarium. If you see it somewhere, let us know.

By Natalia Rachlin

By Fred A. Bernstein

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Floating Palaces: 10 Most Expensive Yachts In The World

Super luxury yachts or palaces on water.

With amenities like swimming pools, dance floors, cinema halls, bars, and even soccer fields, it is not surprising that some of the most luxurious yachts in the world cost billions of dollars. Some of these stunningly beautiful vessels are often gilded, bejeweled and are powered by some of the world’s strongest engines. No surprise then that the owners of these yachts are also the richest in the world.

Here’s a look at the 10 most expensive yachts and their owners:

1. History Supreme: $4.51 billion

The History Supreme is regarded as the “world’s most expensive yacht” with an estimated worth of $4.51 billion, as per The Sun . The vessel is covered in 100,000 kg of gold, and platinum and has a statue made from genuine Tyrannosaurus Rex bones. Its master bedroom features genuine dinosaur bone shaved from a skeleton. It was reportedly bought by Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok, the founder of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, as per Lifestyle Asia.

2. Dilbar: $600 million

Dilbar, the largest superyacht in the world is valued at $600 million, as per Forbes . The 156-meter superyacht reportedly owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, features entertainment and recreation spaces never seen on a yacht. The yacht was impounded in Germany in 2022 after an investigation into "offshore concealment" and it remains at a shipyard in Hamburg.

3. Al Said: $600 million

The 508-foot Al Said is valued at $600 million and it currently sits in the Lürssen shipyard in Germany, as per a Robb Report . The vessel was purchased by the former Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 2008. The yacht features a concert hall that can accommodate a 50-person orchestra, and it can travel up to 25 miles per hour.

4. Azzam: $600 million

One of the largest and fastest private yachts in the world, the 590-foot ship is valued at a whopping $600 million, as per Forbes India . The yacht is believed to have a top speed of 35 miles per hour thanks to its gas turbines and two stratospherically potent diesel engines. It is reportedly owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the royal family of the UAE. The design is based on 19th-century empire-style and it has a fully bulletproof primary suite and high-tech missile deterrence capabilities.

5. Eclipse: $600 million

The 533-footer is reportedly the world’s second-largest private yacht. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, the vessel features swimming pools, helipads, hot tubs, large meeting and dining spaces, and a disco, as per SCMP . The yacht is believed to be parked in Turkey to keep it safe from getting impounded due to the UK’s sanctions on Russia, as per prestigeonline.

6. Topaz: $527 million

Owned by Abu Dhabi tycoon Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Topaz is essentially a 482-foot-long floating palace. There is a helipad, a swimming pool, a conference room, a gymnasium, and even a cinema hall on the superyacht, valued at $527 million as per Forbes India.

7. Dubai: $350 million

The Dubai, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, is valued at $350 million, as per Forbes India . The yacht features a helipad, a large dining room, a squash court, a cinema room, a swimming pool with handmade tiles that can hold 115 people, and a disco hall. It also features a submarine that takes its passengers for deep sea diving.

8. Radiant: $300 million

The megayacht Radiant was built for Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in 2010. The $300 million, 360 feet long vessel is currently owned by Emirati automotive and retail billionaire Abdulla Al Futtaim, per Money Inc . The megayacht can carry 20 guests and 44 crew and it features amenities like a beauty salon, gym, pool, and jacuzzi.

9. Octopus: $278 million

The 414-foot superyacht was formerly owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The vessel was listed for sale for $278 million and was scooped up for an undisclosed amount by an anonymous buyer who is believed to be a Scandinavian, Bloomberg and The Guardian reported.

10. Aviva: $250 million

The 323-foot-long superyacht, Aviva, is valued at $250 million, according to Robb Report. The yacht built in 2007 has a paddle tennis court that doubles as an indoor soccer field. The Aviva is currently owned by British billionaire, investor, and philanthropist, Joe Lewis, who is widely recognized as the owner of the Tavistock Group.

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The U.S. seized Russian oligarchs' superyachts. Now, American taxpayers pay the price

Ayesha Rascoe

Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Stephanie Baker, senior writer at Bloomberg News, about the complications involved in seizing and maintaining superyachts owned by sanctioned Russian billionaires.

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

When the U.S. and its allies looked for ways to sanction the Russian elite, they zeroed in on their superyachts, filled with luxuries like heated pools and wine cellars. But as Stephanie Baker reports, the powerful symbolism of seizing a superyacht is followed by the expense of maintaining those pools and wine cellars and everything else aboard these floating palaces. Stephanie Baker is a senior writer at Bloomberg News, and she joins us now. Thanks for being with us.

STEPHANIE BAKER: Thanks for having me.

RASCOE: So you've written a series of articles on the West's seizure of these yachts from Russian oligarchs. What have you learned about what goes into maintaining these types of boats? Like, you can't just let them sit at the dock?

BAKER: No, it's not a case of turning off the lights, locking up the door and leaving them until the war in Ukraine is over. These things take an enormous amount of money to maintain. Even stuck in ports, they have to be staffed with a, you know, minimal crew to be on board in case of accidents, fires, fuel spills, the like. You know, for insurance purposes, insurance is another cost. They need to be washed so they don't entail a multimillion-dollar repaint job. And, you know, it's an incredibly costly process and complicated.

RASCOE: Is part of the issue they don't know what they're going to do with them?

BAKER: Well, in the case of the U.S., they have vowed to sell them eventually through a complicated process called forfeiture, where they have to go before a judge and prove that this superyacht has been bought with the proceeds of crime or involved in some kind of crime. And that is a lengthy, difficult process, especially in the case of Russian-linked superyachts because it's not always clear who the owner is. One forfeiture expert compared it to seizing the proceeds of a drug lord. A drug lord may not have his mansion in his own name. It would be in his girlfriend's name. So there's a long process to establish not who owns it on paper, but who's really controlling it, who's directing it, who's making decisions about it.

RASCOE: So when the U.S. or the EU seizes a yacht, the cost of maintaining that yacht - it actually goes to the taxpayers, right? Like, so how much money are we talking about that taxpayers are paying?

BAKER: It is U.S. taxpayers that are paying for it, at least until they do sell it and then can recoup the costs. Typically, it costs 10% of a superyacht's value to maintain it. But when it's frozen in port, the cost will obviously be less. It's not eating as much fuel by cruising at sea. I did a lot of reporting to try to establish, what are the real costs of keeping these things in port. And I came to a pretty conservative estimate of something like 3%. Now, in the case of one superyacht, the one that the U.S. government seized and sailed from Fiji to San Diego, I established that the annual costs of keeping that in port are about 10 million a year.

RASCOE: So 10 million a year. That's for one yacht?

BAKER: That's for one yacht.

RASCOE: For one yacht.

BAKER: And that's a conservative estimate.

RASCOE: OK. And so all together, do you have any sense of how much that might be?

BAKER: Well, globally, including the EU and the U.K. - they've seized more than 15 superyachts. And we're talking tens of millions. But if you're a sanctioned Russian oligarch with your asset frozen in a port, how long are you really going to pay? So we're looking at potentially years of litigation over these vessels about who's paying, you know, the maintenance. And they're essentially going to be in sort of legal purgatory for many years.

RASCOE: And so, I mean, most of us will never step foot on a superyacht. So it's hard for us to imagine. What is the most outrageous luxury that you've come across or one that, you know, really stood out to you?

BAKER: Right. So I went to the Monaco Yacht Show at the end of September and got on board one of the most luxurious, expensive superyachts. It was just the most incredible floating mansion. It had hand-painted bathrooms, handmade curved bar, a pool, elaborate bedrooms, you know, very high ceilings, multiple decks. They are the most extravagant status symbol, really, amongst the billionaire class.

RASCOE: That's Stephanie Baker, senior writer at Bloomberg News. Thank you so much.

BAKER: Thank you for having me.

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France seizes yacht linked to Russian oligarch at Mediterranean port

Vessel linked to Igor Sechin taken as Hamburg authorities deny confiscation of Alisher Usmanov’s $600m superyacht

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France’s finance minister has announced the country has seized a yacht linked to Rosneft boss, Igor Sechin, in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat, as German local authorities denied reports they had also seized the $600m superyacht belonging to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov .

French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, said it had seized a yacht linked to Rosneft boss Igor Sechin in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat.

The finance ministry said the yacht was owned by an entity of which Sechin had been identified as the main shareholder.

The announcement came as authorities in Hamburg denied reports that Usmanov’s yacht had been seized in a shipyard in the German port city.

“No yachts have been confiscated,” a spokesperson for Hamburg’s economic authority said. “A handover [of the yacht to its owner] is also currently not planned. No yacht is going to leave the port that is not allowed to do so.”

The Hamburg local authority said any order to seize properties subject to sanctions would have to come from higher federal customs authorities.

A Forbes report citing three sources in the yacht industry had reported on Usmanov’s 156-metre (512-foot) yacht Dilbar, valued at $600m and regarded as the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage, was seized by German authorities on Wednesday.

Usmanov was on a list of billionaires to face sanctions from the European Union in response to Russia’s 24 February invasion of Ukraine .

Usmanov’s 156-metre (512-foot) yacht Dilbar, valued at $600m and regarded as the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage, was seized by German authorities on Wednesday, according to a Forbes report based on three sources in the yacht industry.

The Guardian understands that repair works on the Dilbar yet have currently been put on hold, and that the ship is not in a seaworthy state.

The yacht has been in the yards of shipbuilding firm Blohm+Voss since late October. A spokesperson declined to give a statement but said that all projects by shipbuilder Lürssen would be treated “in accordance with the law”.

Forbes reported that representatives for Usmanov did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine’s adviser to the minister of internal affairs, Anton Geraschenko, responded to the report on Telegram by saying the yacht should be sent to Ukraine and refitted as a missile cruiser.

Usmanov bought Dilbar in 2016 for a reported cost of $600m from German shipbuilder Lürssen, which custom-built it for him over 52 months.

The firm describes it as “one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology”.

At the time of its launch, Lürssen CEO, Peter Lürssen, said : “Dilbar has the most advanced security technologies of any superyacht in the world. But the things you read about it containing an anti-aircraft missile defence system are all nonsense.”

At 15,917 tonnes, it’s the world’s largest motor yacht by gross tonnage, and is typically staffed by a crew of 96 people, with space for 24 passengers in 12 suites. It has the largest pool ever installed on a yacht as well as two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon and a gym.

At least five other superyachts owned by Russian billionaires are now anchored or cruising in Maldives, an Indian Ocean island nation that does not have an extradition treaty with the US, ship tracking data showed.

The vessels’ arrival in the archipelago off the coast of Sri Lanka follows the imposition of severe western sanctions on Russia.

The Clio superyacht, owned by Oleg Deripaska, the founder of aluminium giant Rusal, who was sanctioned by the US in 2018, was anchored off the capital Male on Wednesday, according to shipping database MarineTraffic.

The Titan, owned by Alexander Abramov, a cofounder of steel producer Evraz, arrived on 28 February.

Three more yachts owned by Russian billionaires were seen cruising in Maldives waters on Wednesday, the data showed. They include the 88-metre (288 ft) Nirvana owned by Russia’s richest man, Vladimir Potanin . Most vessels were last seen anchored in Middle Eastern ports earlier in the year.

A spokesperson for Maldives’ government did not respond to a request for comment.

The US has said it will take strict action to seize property of sanctioned Russians.

“This coming week, we will launch a multilateral transatlantic taskforce to identify, hunt down, and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs: their yachts, their mansions, and any other ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law,” the White House said in a tweet on Sunday.

Washington imposed sanctions on Deripaska and other influential Russians in 2018 because of their ties to president Vladimir Putin after alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election, which Moscow denies.

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Here’s what it’ll set you back to run the world’s most expensive superyacht… and it’ll cost four supercars to fill it up

• Imogen Braddick
• Published : 11:51 ET, Feb 22 2022
• Updated : 7:38 ET, Mar 9 2022

RUSSIAN billionaire Alisher Usmanov owns the largest superyacht in the world - and it will cost you the same as four supercars just to fill it up.

The plush 512ft vessel - which has the largest indoor pool ever installed on a superyacht - is said to cost up to £60million to run every year.

Dilbar, custom built for 68-year-old tycoon Usmanov, is the largest yacht in the world in terms of internal volume.

Although the details of the vessel have mostly been kept under wraps, the behemoth boasts an 82ft pool, two helipads for VIP guests, a beach deck and a floating observation bay.

It reportedly has a vast 40,900 sq ft of living space for 24 guests - and 1,000 cushions to keep them comfy.

According to Boat International , Dilbar is usually run by a crew of 80 to help maintain the vessel and wait on her guests.

But the crew can be ramped up to 96 members when needed - meaning Dilbar can carry as many as 120 people when sailing the seas at full capacity.

For guests missing dry land, the vessel also features a huge garden complete with a specially developed variety of grass that tolerates the salty sea air. 

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According to a video of the yacht being refuelled on The Yacht Mogul Instagram account, a 500,000-litre refuel would cost up to £1.1million with an average price of £2.20 per litre.

But social media users said the costs sounded too much and that final price could also include personnel, the dock price and transportation.

Yet taking into account the average price of fuel for yachts in the US, refuelling would still reportedly cost nearly £588,000 to fill up - the same price as four supercars.

One user pointed out: "If you spent $600M for the ship you certainly don't care how much fuel cost!"

The super-secretive yacht's price is estimated between £600million and £735million based on its mammoth size.

The owner, Usmanov, has an estimated net worth of £13billion.

The self-made billionaire made his fortune through investments in metals, media, telecommunications and sport, including a stake in Arsenal FC.

Usmanov ordered Dilbar to replace his other superyacht - a 377ft vessel which was previously called Dilbar and now known as Ona.

German ship builder Lürssen said Dilbar was "one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology".

According to reports, a massive 683 miles of cabling - almost the same length as the total land borders of the country of Bhutan - was laid to power all of the amenities and facilities on board.

Lürssen also claimed the 30,000kw electric-diesel hybrid power plant which Dilbar runs on is the most powerful to ever be fitted on a yacht.

The gigantic vessel has a cruising speed of 22.5 knots.

Dimitri Semenikhin, of  Yacht Harbour , previously said: "Yacht projects of this scale never fail to impress, especially when Lurssen is involved.

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"Dilbar is constructed in such a way that even through helicopter photo shoots, none of its features can actually be seen other than her two helipads.

"Although there are some outdoor spaces on the yacht, the majority of the living space is located indoors, which has led to Dilbar having the largest interior volume of any yacht ever built."

Golf Clubs, Superyachts and All the Super-Expensive Toys of the Rich and Famous

E lon Musk owns a modest, prefab house, worth roughly $50,000 at the time he purchased, it in a Texas border town. Warren Buffett drives a 10-year-old Cadillac XTS. But other billionaires tend to splurge on things that bring them great joy. And that’s okay, too.

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What would you buy if money were no object? See if one of your dream toys made the list below.

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When you think of toys for the super-rich, megayachts and superyachts are often the first thing to come to mind. What’s the difference? A superyacht tends to exceed 100 feet long, while a megayacht starts at double that size, according to YachtWorld. Larry Ellison, Larry Page and Jeff Bezos own megayachts, according to Bluewater.

But there’s a difference. Bezos’ yacht is so large, it has another support yacht that runs beside it, hosting a helipad, Bloomberg reported.

Your Own Island

If you have a private yacht, you might want a place to getaway on the high seas. If you’re wealthy enough, you might buy a private island. In 1979, jetsetter Richard Branson bought Necker Island, a private retreat in the British Virgin Islands. However, he disclosed on his blog that he paid just $180,000 for it.

Flights to the Stars

Space tourism hasn’t yet taken off the way entrepreneurs like Bezos and Branson have hoped. But if you’re wealthy enough, you can take a flight across the Karman line into the area of the sky widely recognized as “outer space.”

As GOBankingRates reported at the time, a ticket for the first flight on the Blue Origin spacecraft New Shepard cost up to $28 million . A flight on Virgin Galactic’s suborbital rocket plane, which takes off out of Spaceport America in New Mexico, costs roughly $450,000.

Visits With the Stars

If your dreams are more grounded, you can hobnob with the stars of your choice at a party. You can hire celebrities to perform or simply mingle with guests if you have enough money. For instance, Jennifer Lopez reportedly performed at birthday parties for Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, former president of Turkmenistan, and Telman Ismailov, a Russian businessman, according to a 2013 story in The Hollywood Reporter.

Anyone who engages in recreational sports knows the right equipment can make a difference in your game. But golfers may go to an extreme. For instance, a Honma Five Star 14-piece set sells for $75,000. It’s manufactured from gold and platinum, which explains the cost. Actors Jack Nicholson and Danny DeVito are said to use these clubs, according to SwingU.

When it comes to luxury indulgences, the sky truly is the limit. While most won’t achieve that level of wealth , it’s fun to dream.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Golf Clubs, Superyachts and All the Super-Expensive Toys of the Rich and Famous