$75,000,000 Top Five II personalised superyacht seen in Poole 'on way to American billionaire'

The custom made boat was only finished last month and is said to be on its way to a multibillionaire owner

  • 05:00, 7 SEP 2021
  • Updated 09:05, 7 SEP 2021

TOP FIVE II is a bespoke superyacht

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A $75,000,000 superyacht making its maiden voyage to be united with its billionaire owner for the first time has been captured by an amateur photographer in the area.

The boat, lit with the glowing title TOP FIVE II, is a 61m long yacht, only completed in the summer of 2021.

The custom-made yacht is thought to have been passing through Poole on Friday (September 3) on her maiden voyage from the Dutch boat yard where she was made.

Read next : The story behind the private islands of Poole Harbour

Amateur photographer Craig Horrocks, 33, from Poole, spotted the superyacht passing through and knew it was something out of the ordinary.

Superyacht TOP FIVE II on her maiden voyage through Poole Harbour

He said: "I was down Poole Harbour and saw this huge yacht at about 6.30pm on Friday evening so I took a picture of it and zoomed in because it had lights on the side of it.

"That’s where I found out who owned it and how much the yacht was worth. Mega Money!"

Boating experts SuperYachtWorld say the vessel is owned by Terry Pegula.

If Mr Pegula is the owner, the yacht is owned by a man who is on the Forbes Billionaires list with an estimated net worth of $5.7B.

Mr Pegula is known to have made his money out of fracking and currently owns two US national sports teams, the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.

Craig added: "I 100% knew it would cost a lot - it looked massive and very flash."

It certainly is out-of-the-ordinary. The made-to-order superyacht is built by Dutch ship makers Hakvoort . The firm, which has royal patronage, said TOP FIVE II was created as a bespoke yacht for an experienced owner.

The vessel can carry up to 12 guests and host 19 crew members.

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The features on the superyacht include:

  • His-and-hers bathrooms
  • Private alfresco dining
  • A Jacuzzi on the foredeck
  • Five ensuite guest cabins including a spacious VIP cabin
  • A lift connecting all of the decks
  • Cinema room on lower deck
  • Swimming pool
  • 54 inch BBQ
  • Air conditioned indoor and outdoor lounges

TOP FIVE II from above

Have you spotted anything flashier than this in Poole Harbour? Let us know by email at [email protected].

Comment below with your thoughts on the yacht.

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Buffalo Bills Fan Spotted Terry Pegula’s Yacht + It’s Insane

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I didn't know there were so many negative people in the Bills Mafia group on Facebook. Yesterday in the group,  Bethany Croyle Manning posted a couple of pictures of the Pegulas yacht while on Spring break in Florida ' Visiting Palm Beach Florida and look who’s the boat we see… Pegula’s. Go Bills!!!' and people were just absolutely bashing the Pegulas---for a bunch of different reasons whether it be criticizing how many taxes they think the Pegulas pay (or do not pay, for that matter) or because of the Sabres and their lack of success since they have purchased the team.

Craig wrote on Facebook:

I bet he pays more to dock that than he does in taxes. Love the Bills, but I’m not gonna worship the Pegulas who pay nothing in taxes on money they made hydro fracking.

William wrote on Facebook:

I love the Pegulia’s. I begrudge them nothing. He saved the Bills and the Sabres. The fact he made billions is irrelevant to me. There’s a lot of luck in wealth. He was in the right place at the right time.

Either way, take a look at Terry and Kim Pegula's yacht below! It is MASSIVE. According to SuperYachtfan.com , the Pegula's yacht is 200 feet long. There are some interesting facts on there as well including money facts. How much was the Pegula's yacht? You can see, according to the website that it cost $75 million and it costs between 5 and 8 million dollars to operate.

Buffalo Bills Players Who Had Their Own Cereals

Dion dawkins of the buffalo bills participates in national cornhole tourney, bills mafia's wishlist for the new buffalo stadium, more from 106.5 wyrk.

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Pegula family selling portion of Bills ownership stake: Sources

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 06:  Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula walk off the field before the game against the Houston Texans at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Orchard Park, New York.  (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

The Pegulas are putting a chunk of the Buffalo Bills up for sale.

The Bills confirmed to The Athletic that owner Terry Pegula has hired Florida-based investment bankers Allen & Company to handle the potential transaction but declined to say how much of the team is being sold. A source briefed on the discussions said the working figure is 25 percent, with the number not set in stone.

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“The Pegula family has retained Allen & Company to explore the potential sale of a non-controlling, minority interest in the Bills,” the team said Friday in a statement. “These discussions only involve the Bills and no other team. No investment would be possible without Terry Pegula and the Pegula family maintaining a controlling interest in the team. Their continued commitment to Western New York, the new Highmark Stadium, our fans and the other teams in their portfolio remains unchanged.

“Neither the team nor the Pegula family are able to comment further at this point.”

Three sources with direct knowledge of the process stressed Pegula eventually might not sell part of the Bills, but for the first time, he’s ready to welcome a limited partner.

He might need to. Sole ownership has become less common in sports. As valuations skyrocket and estate taxes become more burdensome, NFL owners have increased difficulty keeping teams within their families. Terry and Kim Pegula used cash to purchase the Bills in 2014 for a then-record $1.4 billion. The deal was brokered by Allen & Company managing partner Steve Greenberg. The record has since been shattered with each subsequent sale.

The Denver Broncos used Allen & Company to handle their $4.65 billion sale to Walmart heir Rob Walton in 2022.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos hired Allen & Company last year to evaluate his bid for the Commanders, who eventually sold to a group led by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion .

Forbes’ most recent NFL valuations , published in August 2023, estimated the Bills are worth $3.7 billion, with the average NFL team pegged at $5.1 billion.

The Pegulas are on the hook for any cost overruns on a stadium that initially was projected to cost $1.4 billion, although industry experts forecast the final price tag will be closer to $2 billion. The state’s contribution was capped at $600 million, while Erie County’s was capped at $250 million.

The NFL still does not permit owners to sell a limited-partnership stake in their clubs to private equity firms, unlike MLB , the NBA and the NHL . The NFL, however, has been moving closer to allowing such investments and could adopt guidelines this year.

(Photo of Terry and Kim Pegula: Brett Carlsen / Getty Images)

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Tim Graham

Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. He had been the Buffalo News' enterprise reporter and previously covered the AFC East at ESPN and the Miami Dolphins at the Palm Beach Post. Follow Tim on Twitter @ ByTimGraham

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Buffalo bills owner terry pegula explores selling non-controlling, minority stake in franchise.

John Wawrow

Associated Press

2023.Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

FILE - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, right, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Bills Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., June 5, 2023. Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced Friday, April 19, 2024. The prospect of selling shares of the Bills comes at a time the franchise is facing a cash crunch with rising construction costs of the teams new stadium. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced on Friday.

A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the stake in the team the Pegulas would be preparing to sell would be about 25%. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced by the team. It was first reported by The Athletic.

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The Bills announced the Pegulas have hired Allen & Company to oversee the process, while stressing no sale would take place without the Pegulas maintaining a controlling interest in the franchise.

The Bills also announced the sale is limited only to the Bills, and not any of the Pegulas’ other holdings, which include the NHL Buffalo Sabres, the American Hockey League Rochester Americans and National Lacrosse League franchises in Buffalo and Rochester.

The prospect of selling shares of the Bills comes at a time the franchise is facing a cash crunch with rising construction costs of the team’s new stadium being built across the street from its current facility, and scheduled to open in 2026.

The initial cost of the stadium was pegged at $1.4 billion when a preliminary agreement was struck with the state and county in March 2022. That number jumped to $1.54 billion months later and was last projected to be approaching $1.7 billion in August.

The Bills are responsible to cover any cost over-runs beyond $1.4 billion, according to terms of the agreement, which locked in the public share at $850 million.

In August, Terry Pegula chose to have the Bills and Sabres operate as separate entities by dissolving their parent company, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, in what was called a move to streamline both operations.

The sale of Bills' shares also comes at a time when speculation continues to rise over whether the Pegulas are interested in selling the Sabres. A second person with direct knowledge of the Pegulas' plans told the AP the Sabres are not for sale.

The Pegulas, who made their fortune in the natural gas industry, have a reported net worth of $6.8 billion. They purchased the Bills for a then-NFL record $1.4 billion in 2014. Last year, Forbes listed the Bills as being valued at $3.7 billion.

Kim Pegula has been unable to fulfill her duties while dealing with significant language and memory issues after going into cardiac arrest in June 2022.

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Terry Pegula's Yacht "Top Five"

Terry Pegula is an entrepreneur who owns the Buffalo Bills NFL team, Buffalo Sabres NHL team, and has various interests in natural gas, commercial real estate, and a music label, Black River Entertainment.

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Terry Pegula Yacht: Top Five II

October 17, 2022, introduction.

Terry Pegula is an American billionaire. He is the owner of Pegula Sports and Entertainment. Furthermore, the company owns the NHL team, the Buffalo Sabres. He also owns the NFL team, the Buffalo Bills. He got his start working for Getty Oil and Felmont Oil Co.. Additionally, he then founded the natural gas drilling company called East Resources in 1983. Aside from sports and oil, he also has investments in the country music label Black River Entertainment. As well as Southern Tier Brewing Company. Check out the Terry Pegula yacht below.

The yacht has 16 bedrooms and over 10 bathrooms, with over 2,000 square feet of space inside. There are six cabins for guests, and ten cabins for a crew of 18. This large yacht is over 200 feet in length. It was newly built in 2021. Additionally, the interior was designed by Sinot Yacht Design. There are multiple decks. The top deck features a jacuzzi. Furthermore, the main cabin features a gorgeous ensuite. With a soaking tub and stand up shower. Moreover, is there anything this yacht does not offer? Lastly, would you like to live in this yacht? Please leave your thoughts below.

Specifications: Terry Pegula Yacht

Bedrooms: 16

Bathrooms: 10+

Square Feet: 2,000+ sq ft

Price:  $75 million

Terry Pegula Yacht Net Worth: $8 billion

Photos: Terry Pegula Yacht

Terry Pegula Yacht

In conclusion, I hope you enjoyed reading about Terry Pegula's yacht. Furthermore, please leave your thoughts and comments below. Finally, read some other articles like this one on our frontpage .

Lastly, which other celebrity yachts would you like to see on our site? Please leave the names of other celebrities that you would like to see on here. Check us out on Instagram too and like and follow. Leave your thoughts on our Facebook wall, or on Instagram in the comments of our posts.

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Pegula family exploring sale of minority share of Buffalo Bills: Report

terry pegula new yacht

The Pegula family might be selling a minority share of the Buffalo Bills .

The Bills confirmed to The Athletic’s Tim Graham that the Pegulas are interested in selling an undisclosed amount of the team. Graham, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Pegulas are looking to sell 25%, but that it is a fluid number. 

“The Pegula family has retained Allen & Company to explore the potential sale of a non-controlling, minority interest in the Bills,” the Bills said Friday in a statement to Graham. “These discussions only involve the Bills and no other team. No investment would be possible without Terry Pegula and the Pegula family maintaining a controlling interest in the team. Their continued commitment to Western New York, the new Highmark Stadium, our fans and the other teams in their portfolio remains unchanged.

“Neither the team nor the Pegula family are able to comment further at this point.”

Terry and Kim Pegula bought the Bills in 2014 for a then-NFL record $1.4 billion. Forbes estimated the Bills to be worth $3.7 billion in 2023 . 

The Pegulas are responsible for additional costs to the Bills' new stadium because New York State and Erie County's contributions are capped, according to Graham. The stadium was projected at $1.4 billion but now looks to be closer to $2 billion.

The Pegulas also own the Buffalo Sabres.

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U.S. Eyes $156 Million Yacht in Dubai Linked to a Russian Oligarch

The U.S. Justice Department is taking steps to seize the Madame Gu, a 324-foot luxury yacht, but it will be diplomatically thorny.

View of the marina at dusk, with the superyacht in the water and buildings and cranes behind it.

By Kate Kelly ,  Michael Forsythe and Julian E. Barnes

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On a clear morning in late October, the jewel-blue hull of the Madame Gu, one of the world’s most luxurious superyachts, gleamed, its aluminum rails shimmering in the sun. Workers on the pier said they had recently seen people painting, cleaning and generally keeping the ship with its helipad and six guest staterooms in pristine condition.

In past years, such a scene would not have been noteworthy. Many superyachts come and go from Dubai’s Mina Rashid Marina, best known as the home of the Queen Elizabeth 2, the trans-Atlantic ocean liner-turned-hotel that dominates the waterfront here.

But Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned an otherwise routine tableau into a diplomatic battleground between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, an important American ally that has established itself as a safe haven for Russian money and assets out of the reach of U.S. sanctions.

The $156 million Madame Gu epitomizes the problem. In June, the United States designated the vessel, which is linked to Andrei Skoch, a Russian steel magnate and lawmaker under sanctions, as blocked property. That means the yacht cannot use American companies for its upkeep, employ U.S. citizens or even use the dollar. The Justice Department is now taking steps to seize the Madame Gu, according to people with knowledge of the plan.

But the United States can’t seize property in a sovereign nation without permission from its government. The Emirates, which has taken a friendlier position toward Moscow, is balking at cooperating with the United States to pursue oligarchs, American officials said. The Kremlin is also using oligarch-controlled companies in the Emirates to acquire war supplies that the West is trying to keep out of Russia’s reach, according to a Western official involved in the sanctions effort against Russia.

Emirati officials did not comment specifically on the Madame Gu but said in a statement that they took their role “protecting the integrity of the global financial system extremely seriously.”

A closer examination of Russian assets in the Emirates shows that even before the war in Ukraine, Dubai had become a playground for Russians with links to President Vladimir V. Putin. At least 38 businessmen or officials with ties to the Russian president own homes in Dubai that are collectively valued at more than $314 million, according to the Center for Advanced Defense Studies. Five of those owners are under U.S. sanctions.

Since the Russian invasion, Dubai has established itself as a safe haven for Russian yachts and aircraft unable to sail or fly elsewhere. After Russian jets were barred from the European Union in late February, the Emirates became the destination for 14 percent of all private flights leaving Russia, up from 3 percent before the invasion.

“It’s frustrating when you see huge assets that are sitting out there and it appears that the country is not cooperating,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, referring to the Emirates. “It would be nice if there were more common cause against Putin while he’s busy shelling hospitals and schools.”

Mr. Whitehouse is sponsoring legislation that would use proceeds of the sales of seized Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine. Senior officials at the Treasury and State Departments have also complained publicly about the situation.

U.S. officials view the presence of superyachts in places like Dubai and Bodrum, Turkey , as a symptom of wider Russian circumvention of sanctions and continued access to financial markets. Yachts have also come to symbolize the decadence of Russia’s oligarchs, especially at a time when Russian soldiers are scrounging for body armor and sleeping bags on the front lines.

Pursuing the Madame Gu

Built by the Dutch firm Feadship and put into service in 2013, the Madame Gu has a large helicopter pad on its forecastle with a hangar underneath that can double as a squash court when the chopper isn’t on board. The vessel has berthing for 36 crew members, according to one trade magazine.

Mr. Skoch, a member of Russia’s Parliament who is linked to assets worth billions of dollars, according to U.S. court filings, has had sanctions imposed on him twice by the United States, first in 2018 and then after Russia’s invasion this year. The Treasury Department has cited his “longstanding ties to Russian organized criminal groups.”

Mr. Skoch could not be reached and did not respond to messages left at his office at Parliament.

In an interview in October about the government’s broader efforts to go after the assets of oligarchs, Andrew Adams, a federal prosecutor leading the Department of Justice’s KleptoCapture task force, declined to discuss the Madame Gu. But the United States, he said, is warning companies they must not do business with individuals and assets under sanctions. The government, he said, will pursue oligarch-owned assets whose sale could be used to aid Ukraine.

“Where we know there is an asset that can potentially provide significant remuneration for Ukraine, that obviously is an attractive case to pursue,” he said.

U.S. officials are likely to use the case they made for impounding a $90 million Airbus business jet linked to Mr. Skoch in August as a blueprint for seizing the Madame Gu, said people familiar with the plan.

That means investigators will aim to show that the owner of the vessel, or the companies that have been providing services to it, have intersected with the U.S. financial system.

“If there are U.S. dollars or a U.S. nexus associated with supporting this vessel, massive enforcement actions could take place,” said Adam M. Smith, a former official overseeing sanctions at the Treasury Department. Companies that provide support to entities under sanctions could potentially face their own sanctions, said Mr. Smith, who is now a lawyer at Gibson Dunn in Washington.

This year the United States has carried out two high-profile seizures of yachts tied to Russians under sanctions, working with cooperative governments. The $300 million Amadea was taken in Fiji in May and sailed to San Diego under an American flag. In April, the United States worked with Spanish police to seize the $90 million Tango.

A Problematic Partner

Diplomatically, the Emirates has been reluctant to take a clear anti-Russian position when it comes to the war in Ukraine. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, recently met with Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg, and the Emirati foreign minister recently hosted his Russian counterpart. Yet Sheikh Mohammed has also talked with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, more than once and recently gave the country $100 million in humanitarian aid.

The United States has publicly expressed dismay over the mixed messages.

During a visit to Dubai in June, Wally Adeyemo, the U.S. deputy treasury secretary, warned of the need for vigilance and proactive steps in combating Russian evasion. That same month Barbara Leaf, the State Department’s under secretary for Near East Affairs, said at a congressional hearing that regarding the Emirates, she was “not happy at all with the record at this point” on sanctions enforcement. Mr. Adeyemo reiterated his concerns in a meeting with Emirati officials in October in Washington.

A senior State Department official said in a statement to The New York Times that the agency continues “to reinforce the importance of conducting enhanced due diligence to prevent sanctions evasion and investigating allegations of such activity” to the Emirates.

The Treasury Department declined to comment on the Madame Gu or the relationship with the Emirates.

Last month, the Treasury Department announced it had placed sanctions on an Emirates-based company, Constellation Advisors Ltd., that the American government said was operating on behalf of a nephew of another Russian oligarch, Suleiman Kerimov. Mr. Kerimov, according to American court documents, was the owner of the Amadea superyacht .

American officials are also worried the Russian government is using the Emirates to acquire military supplies for its war in Ukraine. On Nov. 15, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Emirates-based transportation firms that had worked with another Iranian firm under sanctions, which in turn had helped transport drones and personnel from Iran to Russia.

Moored in Dubai

Based on a recent visit to Dubai’s Mina Rashid Marina , where the Madame Gu is moored, it is clear that international companies are playing a critical role in its care.

The Emirates-based company DP World, through its subsidiary P&O Marinas , oversees the pier where the Madame Gu is moored. Employees from another DP World subsidiary , World Security, staff the small guard box at the entrance. That makes DP World, which is owned by Dubai’s royal family, potentially vulnerable to American sanctions.

DP World “fully complies with all applicable local and national laws and intends to continue doing the same regarding the Madame Gu and other vessels utilizing our services,” said Adal Mirza, a spokesman for the company. He added that DP World had not yet heard from the United States or other countries that had placed Mr. Skoch under sanctions, including Britain and the European Union.

A generator set that dock workers said in late October was powering the Madame Gu — two container-like structures near its stern — bore the distinctive orange logo of Aggreko , a British company. The generator set was connected to the superyacht by thick cords; one of the containers was emitting grayish exhaust.

At the Mina Rashid Marina, soon after Aggreko was contacted by The Times, workers removed the generator. “Having identified that the generator was being used to power a vessel that is allegedly connected to a sanctioned person, we immediately terminated this rental and have since recovered the generator,” the company said in a statement.

Mr. Mirza, the DP World spokesman, said the Aggreko generator had been replaced with one from a local supplier.

P&O Marinas arranged for the diesel generator to provide power for the Madame Gu because that part of the pier, a holding area, has no shore-supplied electric power, said a port official in Dubai, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the press.

“At the end of the day, if the U.A.E. hasn’t imposed sanctions, it’s not really their job to enforce other countries’ laws within their borders,” said Nabeel Yousef, a Washington-based partner at the law firm Freshfields, where he runs the sanctions practice. Nevertheless, “companies should not take comfort in the fact that their country has not imposed sanctions,” he added, “because even the smallest connection to the U.S. can lead to U.S. penalties.”

There has also been a notable absence onboard the Madame Gu in recent weeks: a flag. Unlike other ships moored nearby, including the Quantum Blue, a superyacht linked to the billionaire Sergei Galitsky, the Madame Gu appears to be stateless, apparently having been deflagged by the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands officials didn’t respond to an emailed inquiry about the ship’s status.

If DP World were to face fallout from U.S. sanctions enforcers, it wouldn’t be the first time the company has been the focus of attention in Washington. In 2006, DP World was seeking to manage some terminal operations at six American ports but dropped out of the deal after a bipartisan uproar in Congress.

Anton Troianovski contributed reporting from Turin, Italy, and Oleg Matsnev from Berlin.

Kate Kelly covers money, influence, and policy as a correspondent in the Washington bureau of the Times. Before that, she spent twenty years covering Wall Street deals, key players and their intersection with politics. She is the author of three books, including "The Education of Brett Kavanaugh." More about Kate Kelly

Michael Forsythe is a reporter on the investigations team. He was previously a correspondent in Hong Kong, covering the intersection of money and politics in China. He has also worked at Bloomberg News and is a United States Navy veteran. More about Michael Forsythe

Julian E. Barnes is a national security reporter based in Washington, covering the intelligence agencies. Before joining The Times in 2018, he wrote about security matters for The Wall Street Journal. More about Julian E. Barnes

Buffalo Bills Owner Terry Pegula Explores Selling Non-Controlling, Minority Stake in Franchise

Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced

Jeffrey T. Barnes

Jeffrey T. Barnes

FILE - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, right, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Bills Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., June 5, 2023. Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced Friday, April 19, 2024. The prospect of selling shares of the Bills comes at a time the franchise is facing a cash crunch with rising construction costs of the team’s new stadium. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced on Friday.

A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the stake in the team the Pegulas would be preparing to sell would be about 25%. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced by the team. It was first reported by The Athletic.

The Bills announced the Pegulas have hired Allen & Company to oversee the process, while stressing no sale would take place without the Pegulas maintaining a controlling interest in the franchise.

The Bills also announced the sale is limited only to the Bills, and not any of the Pegulas’ other holdings, which include the NHL Buffalo Sabres, the American Hockey League Rochester Americans and National Lacrosse League franchises in Buffalo and Rochester.

The prospect of selling shares of the Bills comes at a time the franchise is facing a cash crunch with rising construction costs of the team’s new stadium being built across the street from its current facility, and scheduled to open in 2026.

The initial cost of the stadium was pegged at $1.4 billion when a preliminary agreement was struck with the state and county in March 2022. That number jumped to $1.54 billion months later and was last projected to be approaching $1.7 billion in August.

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TOPSHOT - Marine One with US President Joe Biden onboard takes off from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2024. Biden is travelling to Scranton, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP) (Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images)

The Bills are responsible to cover any cost over-runs beyond $1.4 billion, according to terms of the agreement, which locked in the public share at $850 million.

In August, Terry Pegula chose to have the Bills and Sabres operate as separate entities by dissolving their parent company, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, in what was called a move to streamline both operations.

The sale of Bills' shares also comes at a time when speculation continues to rise over whether the Pegulas are interested in selling the Sabres. A second person with direct knowledge of the Pegulas' plans told the AP the Sabres are not for sale.

The Pegulas, who made their fortune in the natural gas industry, have a reported net worth of $6.8 billion. They purchased the Bills for a then-NFL record $1.4 billion in 2014. Last year, Forbes listed the Bills as being valued at $3.7 billion.

Kim Pegula has been unable to fulfill her duties while dealing with significant language and memory issues after going into cardiac arrest in June 2022.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Pegula family explain why they've put Buffalo Bills up for sale

T he Pegula family is looking to sell a non-controlling, minority stake in the Buffalo Bills with the current owners still committed to investing in the franchise.

According to The Athletic , the Pegula family is looking to sell 25 percent of the Bills, allowing Terry Pegula and Co. to still maintain lead control over the NFL franchise. "The Pegula family has retained Allen & Company to explore the potential sale of a non-controlling, minority interest in the Bills," a statement read.

"These discussions only involve the Bills and no other team. No investment would be possible without Terry Pegula and the Pegula family maintaining a controlling interest in the team.

"Their continued commitment to Western New York, the new Highmark Stadium, our fans and the other teams in their portfolio remains unchanged. Neither the team nor the Pegula family are able to comment further at this point.”

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The report goes on to state that owner Terry Pegula could later change his mind and decide to take a minority stake in the Bills off the market. The huge valuations placed on NFL franchises, coupled with estate taxes, have made sole ownership difficult and the Pegula family will search for a limited partner.

Last season was shaping up to be a good campaign for the Bills with the franchise still one of 12 in the NFL not to win a Super Bowl. They reached the divisional round and they were defeated by reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, despite being favorites heading into the game.

The Chiefs went on to beat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game and then the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas at Super Bowl LVIII. Heading into 2024, franchise quarterback Josh Allen has challenged his team to reinvent themselves.

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"It's kind of crazy to think that I'm going into my seventh season. It's just another opportunity to be the guy that I'm supposed to be and the guy that I believe I am," said Allen. The Bills also traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.

"With this, there is a lot of opportunity for our guys that are in that room right now, as an offense, and really as a team to evolve and grow and become a new version of the Buffalo Bills and to come together as a team over the course of OTAs," Allen added.

Khalil Shakir will have to step up as will Curtis Samuel, who is a newbie in Buffalo. "Bringing in Curtis Samuel, the different things that he can do. Pairing him along with Khalil, who came along last year especially later half of the season," an optimistic Allen concluded.

The Pegula family has put the Buffalo Bills up for sale

Pegula eyes sale of noncontrolling, minority stake in Bills

terry pegula new yacht

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula is looking into a potential sale of a minority interest in the team, the team said in a statement Friday, while emphasizing that no new investment would involve changing the Pegula family's controlling interest.

"The Pegula family has retained Allen & Company to explore the potential sale of a non-controlling, minority interest in the Bills," the team said in its statement. "These discussions only involve the Bills and no other team. No investment would be possible without Terry Pegula and the Pegula family maintaining a controlling interest in the team.

"Their continued commitment to Western New York, the new Highmark Stadium, our fans, and the other teams in their portfolio remains unchanged. Neither the team nor the Pegula family are able to comment further at this point."

The Pegulas, who also own the Buffalo Sabres, the National Lacrosse League's Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks, and the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans, purchased the Bills in 2014 for $1.4 billion. Forbes reported in August that the Bills now are worth $3.7 billion, while Pegula is worth $6.8 billion.

The Washington Commanders sold in July for a record $6.05 billion.

The Bills are amid construction on new Highmark Stadium, which is being built across the street from their current stadium in Orchard Park. The stadium, which was initially expected to cost $1.4 billion, received a then-historic $850 million in public funding, with the Pegulas handling all additional costs.

As ESPN reported in March, the NFL is looking into potentially altering regulations surrounding team ownership, including private equity firms being a possibility, as many other professional leagues, such as the NBA, MLB and NHL, allow.

Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non-controlling, minority stake in franchise

Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced on Friday.

A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the stake in the team the Pegulas would be preparing to sell would be about 25%. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced by the team. It was first reported by The Athletic.

The Bills announced the Pegulas have hired Allen & Company to oversee the process, while stressing no sale would take place without the Pegulas maintaining a controlling interest in the franchise.

The Bills also announced the sale is limited only to the Bills, and not any of the Pegulas’ other holdings, which include the NHL Buffalo Sabres, the American Hockey League Rochester Americans and National Lacrosse League franchises in Buffalo and Rochester.

The prospect of selling shares of the Bills comes at a time the franchise is facing a cash crunch with rising construction costs of the team’s new stadium being built across the street from its current facility, and scheduled to open in 2026.

The initial cost of the stadium was pegged at $1.4 billion when a preliminary agreement was struck with the state and county in March 2022. That number jumped to $1.54 billion months later and was last projected to be approaching $1.7 billion in August.

The Bills are responsible to cover any cost over-runs beyond $1.4 billion, according to terms of the agreement, which locked in the public share at $850 million.

In August, Terry Pegula chose to have the Bills and Sabres operate as separate entities by dissolving their parent company, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, in what was called a move to streamline both operations.

The sale of Bills' shares also comes at a time when speculation continues to rise over whether the Pegulas are interested in selling the Sabres. A second person with direct knowledge of the Pegulas' plans told the AP the Sabres are not for sale.

The Pegulas, who made their fortune in the natural gas industry, have a reported net worth of $6.8 billion. They purchased the Bills for a then-NFL record $1.4 billion in 2014. Last year, Forbes listed the Bills as being valued at $3.7 billion.

Kim Pegula has been unable to fulfill her duties while dealing with significant language and memory issues after going into cardiac arrest in June 2022.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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IMAGES

  1. TOP FIVE II Yacht • Terry Pegula $75M Superyacht

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  2. Terry Pegula's Success: From Oil Tycoon to Sports Empire Owner

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  3. Inside TOP FIVE II Yacht • Hakvoort • 2021 • Value $75M • Owner Terry

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  4. Terry Pegula's Success: From Oil Tycoon to Sports Empire Owner

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  5. Inside TOP FIVE II Yacht • Hakvoort • 2021 • Value $75M • Owner Terry

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  6. Onboard Terry Pegula's TOP FIVE II Yacht • Hakvoort • 2021 • Value $75M

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COMMENTS

  1. TOP FIVE II Yacht • Terry Pegula $75M Superyacht

    Terry Pegula is an American billionaire businessman and sports team owner. He is the owner of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) and the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He used to own 48-meter Christensen with the same name. She was sold and is now named Mi Amore.

  2. Sports Billionaire's New Superyacht Is a Massive ...

    Like most wealthy yacht owners, Terry Pegula switched from a previous, smaller model to one that's longer and that boasts a massive volume. This is why it's called Top Five II, while the ...

  3. $75,000,000 superyacht spotted in Poole 'on way to billionaire'

    If Mr Pegula is the owner, the yacht is owned by a man who is on the Forbes Billionaires list with an estimated net worth of $5.7B. Mr Pegula is known to have made his money out of fracking and currently owns two US national sports teams, the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.

  4. $75M Megayacht "Top Five II" Owned By Buffalo Bills Terry Pegula

    Terry Pegula, the owner of the the Buffalo Bills NFL team, owns a 200 foot megayacht named Top Five II. The boat was built Royal Hakvoort Shipyard in the Net...

  5. TERRY PEGULA • Net Worth $6.7 Billion • Yacht • House

    Terry Pegula, with a net worth of $6.7 billion, is the owner of the yacht Top Five. Pegula made his fortune in the oil and gas industry with his company, East Resources. He is the founder and owner of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which includes the Buffalo Bills (NFL), Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Buffalo Beauts (NWHL), Buffalo Bandits ...

  6. Pegula's $75 million yacht riles New York taxpayers

    Buffalo Bills owner and hydrofracker Terry Pegula is worth more than $5.8 billion and is the proud owner of a new $75 million yacht.. The uncommon luxury has been riling New York taxpayers on social media this week, who learned they would be paying $850 million of the $1.4 billion costs of constructing a new stadium designated for his exclusive use.

  7. Terry Pegula

    Terrence Michael Pegula (born March 27, 1951) ... Pegula owns a large yacht, christened Top Five. Political views ... In New York, Pegula and his wife donated $25,000 to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's campaign during the 2014 elections and also donated $12,000 to Buffalo mayor Byron Brown, ...

  8. Superyachtfan

    The yacht Top Five II has been delivered by Hakvoort to her owner Terry Pegula. He was active in oil and gas, and now owns a sports empire named Pegula Sports and Entertainment. Investments are including the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres

  9. SuperYachtFan on Twitter: "Inside Terry Pegula's $75,000,000 yacht TOP

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  10. Who is Terry Pegula? All you need to know about Sabres owner with

    Transitioning from energy to sports, Terry Pegula's love for athletics shone through. A $102 million gift in 2010 enabled Penn State's Pegula Ice Arena, kicking off his sports contributions ...

  11. Is This Pegulas Amazing Super Yacht? [PHOTOS]

    That's something many in Western New York dream about, since we have Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, along with all the Finger Lakes nearby. The owners of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, Terry and Kim Pegula, have long said to have a grand yacht, which can be used down in Florida, where much of their time is spent.

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    Either way, take a look at Terry and Kim Pegula's yacht below! It is MASSIVE. According to SuperYachtfan.com, the Pegula's yacht is 200 feet long. There are some interesting facts on there as well including money facts. How much was the Pegula's yacht? ... The Bills are building a new stadium and here is a wishlist from Bills Mafia. ...

  13. Superyachtfan

    October 3, 2018 ·. Terrence Pegula is the owner of the yacht Top Five. Pegula is the founder of East Resources (active in oil and gas) which he sold for more than US$ 5 billion. His Pegula Sport and Entertainment owns the @buffalobills of the National Football League, the @buffalosabres of the National Hockey League, the @buffalobeauts of the ...

  14. Pegula family selling portion of Bills ownership stake: Sources

    Terry and Kim Pegula used cash to purchase the Bills in 2014 for a then-record $1.4 billion. The deal was brokered by Allen & Company managing partner Steve Greenberg. The record has since been ...

  15. Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non ...

    FILE - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, right, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Bills Stadium in ...

  16. Terry Pegula's Yacht "Top Five"

    Terry Pegula's Yacht "Top Five". West Palm Beach, Florida (FL), US. Terry Pegula is an entrepreneur who owns the Buffalo Bills NFL team, Buffalo Sabres NHL team, and has various interests in natural gas, commercial real estate, and a music label, Black River Entertainment. Sea - Private Watercraft, Vehicle - Boats.

  17. Terry Pegula Yacht: Top Five II

    Check out the Terry Pegula yacht below. The yacht has 16 bedrooms and over 10 bathrooms, with over 2,000 square feet of space inside. There are six cabins for guests, and ten cabins for a crew of 18. This large yacht is over 200 feet in length. It was newly built in 2021. Additionally, the interior was designed by Sinot Yacht Design.

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  19. Pegula family exploring minority share of Buffalo Bills: Report

    Terry and Kim Pegula bought the Bills in 2014 for a then-NFL record $1.4 billion. Forbes estimated the Bills to be worth $3.7 billion in 2023 . How much input does Bills QB Josh Allen, an NFL ...

  20. Inside the life of world's richest tennis player Jessica Pegula

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  22. Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non-controlling

    FILE - Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula attends an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sept. 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced Friday, April 19, 2024. ... of the Bills comes at a time the franchise is ...

  23. Buffalo Bills Owner Terry Pegula Explores Selling Non-Controlling

    Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced. FILE - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ...

  24. Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non-controlling ...

    FILE - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, right, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Bills Stadium in ...

  25. Pegula family explain why they've put Buffalo Bills up for sale

    The Buffalo Bills could have new minority owners in the near future after the Pegula family put a slice of the NFL franchise up for sale heading into the 2024 season

  26. Pegula eyes sale of noncontrolling, minority stake in Bills

    BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula is looking into a potential sale of a minority interest in the team, the team said in a statement Friday, while emphasizing that no new investment ...

  27. Bills owner Terry Pegula to explore sale of minority stake

    No investment would be possible without Terry Pegula and the Pegula family maintaining a controlling interest in the team. Their continued commitment to Western New York, the new Highmark Stadium ...

  28. Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non-controlling

    ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced on Friday. A ...

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