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Jeff Bezos’ $500M yacht has a 246-foot support ship, Lauren Sanchez figurehead

Much like Amazon, Jeff Bezos’ $500 million superyacht offers every bell and whistle imaginable, from A to Z.

The colossal, triple-masted Koru began its career serving the world’s third richest man this week, cruising the Mediterranean around Mallorca.

The 417-foot schooner first left Rotterdam in the Netherlands for sea trials in February. Dropping anchor in Mallorca put its jaw-dropping size on full display.

It also showed the extent of Bezos’ fleet: Not only did the Koru sail into harbor, so did its support vessel, Abeona, a mega-boat in its own right, the luxurious fast-launches used to move between the two — and aerial support in the form of his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez’s personal helicopter.

Sanchez also seemingly serves the fleet’s mascot, with the Koru’s figurehead, a part of traditional large sailing ships, modeled after her.

The Koru is the world’s tallest sailing yacht. Its three huge 229-foot masts power it to 20 knots. It’s also the biggest billionaire’s yacht which can move under sail-power alone.

The masts are so tall that Dutch officials considered dismantling the 95-year-old Koningshaven Bridge to allow the vessel past the 131-foot span on its journey from the Oceanco shipyard in Alblasserdam through Rotterdam to the North Sea.

That controversial plan was scrapped after local backlash, including residents being urged to toss eggs at Bezos’ “latest toy,”  the New York Times reported . The superyacht, previously known as Y721, was instead towed to a shipyard in Rotterdam, downstream of the bridge, without its masts.

Bezos, 59, and the bikini-clad Sanchez, 53, appeared ready for the summer as the pair soaked up the sun aboard Koru, a Māori word for loop or coil that symbolizes new beginnings — possibly a coy reference to their relationship.

Sanchez started secretly dating the Blue Origin founder in the summer of 2018. Bezos then announced in January 2019 he and his wife Mackenzie were divorcing after 25 years , while Sanchez finalized her split from husband Patrick Whitesell later that year.

Sanchez plays a critical role in the Bezos fleet: As a helicopter pilot, she was seen landing on the Abeona. She was also at Bezos’ side when he took the wheel of the Koru.

Koru was first seen under construction in 2021 at Oceano’s yard. The company is owned by a fellow billionaire, Oman’s Mohammed Al Barwani.

As many as 18 guests can enjoy the yacht’s three outdoor decks, including one with two pools. The vessel, which has a crew of up to 36, also boasts a cinema, meeting spaces and lounges,  Luxuo reported .

Every detail is designed for luxury, even down to the masts’ technology.

Bezos opted for high-tech “in-boom furlers,” which store the vast canvases at the bottom of the mast, above the deck. Each weighs nearly 2,000 pounds, but they allow his deck to be kept clear of ropes.

Clearing ropes out of the way maximizes entertaining space, and allows for a hot tub forward of the mainmast.

The yacht is also built for speed. Its three masts provide “one of the largest sail areas ever seen in yachting,”  according to SuperYacht Times .

The Koru’s original designer, and the identity of its captain, remain secret. Boat International noted : “With the elegant curve of the bow and a bowsprit, the lines are certainly classic, but we still have no idea which designer drew them.”

The Cayman Islands-flagged vessel also has engine power like most sailing yachts.

And while other billionaires measure yachts by size, Bezos’ is only the 24th largest.

However, since Koru’s masts rule out a helicopter deck, the billionaire commissioned a support vessel, Abeona, named for the Roman goddess of outward journeys.

In addition to a helipad, the 246-foot Abeona features an extra two staterooms for four guests and as many as 45 crew and support staff.

It’s the largest custom-built support vessel ever manufactured by Damen Yachting. On board in Mallorca were at least four jetskis, two fast launches, and an additional dinghy. Its heavy winch is capable of lifting a small submarine, although Bezos is not believed to have one thus far.

The “classic exterior lines” of Koru, are reminiscent of another billionaire’s boat: Eos, a 305-foot sailing yacht owned by Barry Diller, 81, who may have inspired Bezos after hosting him on the vessel.

Favored by megastars like Katy Perry and Bradley Cooper — who were Diller’s guests during 2019’s Google Camp in Sicily — the German-built Eos can accommodate up to 16 guests and 21 crew.

It was the largest private sailing yacht in the world when it was completed in 2006. Diller, chairman of IAC and Expedia, who is worth $3.9 billion, bought it three years later. Intriguingly, its figurehead is modeled on Diller’s wife Diane von Fürstenberg, the fashion designer.

But the $200 million, 305-foot schooner is now dwarfed by Bezos’ boat.

As Koru sailed in the Balearic Sea this week off the coast of Spain, Bezos’ boat symbolically surges past several other tech billionaires’ vessels – including Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s $80 million, 240-foot Dragonfly, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s, $160 million, 288-foot Musashi.

It will cost Bezos, 59, an estimated $25 million per year to operate Koru, but the world’s third-richest man isn’t likely to need a loan with his $140.6 billion fortune,  according to Forbes .

Bezos’ use of sailpower sets him apart from most billionaires, but others are seeking a hi-tech zero-carbon power source: a Japanese billionaire has reportedly commissioned the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht.

Germany’s Lürssen Yachts announced in March that they had a hydrogen-powered superyacht in advanced construction.

It declined to identify the future owner of the unnamed superyacht, but specialist publication FuelCellsWorks reported Japanese billionaire tech Yusaku Maezawa, worth an estimated $1.7 billion, commissioned the innovative effort.

Dubbed Project Cosmos, the 374-foot superyacht is designed by Apple’s legendary Marc Newson and was first unveiled in early March at Lürssen’s facility in Rendsburg, Germany.

Once completed as soon as next year, the vessel is expected to utilize emission-free fuel cell technology to generate power lasting up to 15 days while anchored or to travel as far as 1,000 miles at slow speeds.

Three other major shipyards, including in Italy and the Netherlands, are likely to launch their own hydrogen started outfitting newly constructed vessels with hydrogen fuel cells as of March 2022, with the first models reportedly expected in 2024.

Other megayachts expected to soon join Bezos’ Koru in the water include two Lürssen models, the 475-foot Luminance and the 400-foot Jag, and Feadship 821, a 389-foot offering from the Netherlands manufacturer.

But even those won’t best the biggest megayacht in the world, the 593-foot Azzam, which launched in 2013 after being commissioned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates who died last year.

Azzam, which means determination in Arabic, reportedly cost more than $600 million and is nearly 60 feet longer than the world’s second-largest yacht, the 533-foot Eclipse, owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Those monster vessels are expected to be surpassed next year by REV, a 600-foot yacht under construction in Norway which will have space for 36 guests and 54 crewmembers, according to Boat International .

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Gallery: The best pictures of Oceanco's 127 metre sailing yacht Y721

Related articles.

Oceanco's 127 metre sailing yacht known as Y721 , rumoured to be Jeff Bezos's in-build superyacht, emerged from the shed for the first time this week. BOAT rounds up the best pictures of the project, which will become the largest sailing yacht in the world when delivered in 2022.

Emerging from the shed

The sailing yacht was glimpsed for the very first time earlier this month after rolling out of the sheds at Oceanco's Zwijndrecht shipyard. The record-breaking black-hulled superyacht is set to feature three masts and a bowsprit.

The scale of the project can be seen in this image against the shipyard workers watching the yacht emerge. While the designers of the project remain a secret, it is known that the yacht is built from aluminium and steel.

Prior to being revealed in October, the hull of the yacht was built in pieces at Oceanco's Zwijnenburg facility before being assembled in Zwijndrecht.

The bow and superstructure of the sailing yacht are clearly seen in this image. While the sale of the yacht was first reported in 2018, no other details about the project have been released until now. The yacht will be the largest yacht ever built at Oceanco.

The striking black shine of the hull is seen from below in this image. A new book published this year appeared to confirm long-standing rumours that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the owner of this secretive 127-metre sailing yacht. An excerpt of the book, named Amazon Unbound , was published by Bloomberg and describes the superyacht as “one of the finest sailing yachts in existence,” with "several decks" and "three enormous masts."

The teak decks of the superyacht can be seen from above in this image. Amazon Unbound also reported that an accompanying support boat is also under construction, though the details of this remain unknown.

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Look at this really big boat that may or may not be Jeff Bezos' new superyacht

• We may have gotten our first look at Jeff Bezos' new superyacht.
• The 417-foot vessel was photographed rolling out of a shipyard in the Netherlands. 
• Bezos' yacht will become the world's largest sailing yacht once completed.

We may have just gotten our first glimpse at Jeff Bezos' new superyacht. 

New photos and videos surfaced over the weekend of a 417-foot yacht rolling out of a shipyard in Zwijndrecht, Netherlands. According to yachting publication Boat International , the vessel is known only as Y721 and is being built by Oceanco, a Dutch shipbuilder known for producing some of the world's largest and most luxurious ships.

The massive vessel is still unfinished, but photos published by Boat International and Daily Mail show a ship with a black hull and multiple decks. The project will be completed in 2022 and will become the largest sailing yacht in the world, Boat International reports. 

Related stories

A spokesperson for Oceanco did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, but the company told Boat International that it "values the privacy and confidentiality of all our clients and prospective clients and therefore does not comment on our involvement or non-involvement in specific projects."

Journalist Brad Stone was the first to report that Bezos had commissioned his own custom yacht. According to Stone's book, "Amazon Unbound," the Amazon founder commissioned a three-mast ship with several decks that's expected to be "one of the finest sailing yachts in existence." 

In addition to the ship, Bezos has reportedly commissioned a second, smaller, "support yacht" that will include its own helipad. Bezos' girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, is a helicopter pilot and Stone reported that Bezos has also taken flying lessons.

The entire project will cost $500 million, according to Auto Evolution . 

A video posted on YouTube by Guy Fleury, a Dutch photographer and videographer, shows an aerial view of what is reportedly Bezos' yacht: 

While massive yachts are often  an accessory of the mega-rich , Bezos, who is the second-richest person in the world with a fortune worth $193 billion , hasn't previously had a boat of his own. A viral photo in 2019 claimed Bezos was the owner of  a $400 million yacht known as the Flying Fox, but Amazon has denied that the ship belongs to Bezos.

Bezos does appear to be a fan of yacht travel, however. Throughout the summer of 2019 , he and Sanchez were spotted aboard multiple yachts belonging to their high-profile friends: first, entertainment mogul David Geffen's Rising Sun, and then fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg's schooner, Eos. And in February, Bezos and Sanchez were spotted aboard another yacht in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico .

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Jeff bezos’ massive new $500m superyacht — complete with helipad and pool — spotted in north sea.

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Hoist up the Jeff B sails.

Amazon honcho Jeff Bezos’ $500 million superyacht Koru, codenamed Y721, is finally seaworthy — spotted in the North Sea after leaving Rotterdam on Feb. 13,  footage posted by the organization Dutch Yachting  shows.

The massive, 417-foot vessel’s test run came months after it was originally set to be delivered to the 59-year-old billionaire. 

It requires a 250-foot support vessel that houses a helicopter landing pad for the Blue Origin founder.

Bezos’ mega boat created controversy last year after a report that Dutch officials would  have to dismantle  the historic Koningshaven Bridge because the 130-foot steel structure wouldn’t allow the vessel and its 229-foot masts to pass through.

Following an uproar from residents, local leaders decided the plan was a bridge too far — and the boat was towed from its construction location to another shipyard in a nearby town without its masts,  according to Jalopnik .

The uproar likely played a big part in how and when it would float away.

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Citizens of Rotterdam reportedly swore in February that, should Bezos’ superyacht traverse the De Hef bridge, they would pelt it with eggs in protest . 

And when it finally came time to move the vessel out of its Dutch shipbuilding yard, the decision was made to tow it away under cover of darkness, the Cut reported.

Koru costs about $25 million a year to run. The pleasure boat can accommodate 18 guests — and requires a crew of 40 sailors.

It is far from the world’s most expensive yacht. That dubious honor is reserved for the $4.8 billion History Supreme — a gold- and platinum-plated vessel featuring a Tyrannosaurus rex bone wall made of meteoric stone. It was bought in 2011 by an anonymous Malaysian businessman,  according to the Richest .

Yet the half-billion-dollar price tag is a relative drop in the ocean for the Amazon founder, whose net worth was valued at  $181 billion  by Forbes.

Koru will join a fleet of superyachts , helicopters and planes already owned by the entrepreneur and his millionaire girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez.

The aluminum and steel schooner reportedly boasts three decks, including one with a swimming pool. 

The smaller, 250-foot support vessel that will sit alongside the mammoth one will include a helicopter landing pad for Bezos or his celebrity guests. This smaller yacht is also expected to be loaded with an array of toys including luxury cars, jet skis, speedboats, and perhaps even a personal submarine, the Daily Mail has reported .

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Has the World Finally Had a Glimpse of Jeff Bezos’s $500 Million Mega-Yacht?

By Shivani Vora

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is appears to be getting closer to welcoming the superyacht he reportedly commissioned in 2018: a fancy toy fitting for the world’s second-richest person, given that it costs a reported $500 million and breaks one world record after another.

Called Y721, this vessel of all vessels is being custom designed by Dutch builder Oceanco and was spotted at a shipyard last week in Zwijndrecht, a town in the western Netherlands. It’s reportedly heading to another Netherlands town, Alblasserdam, for a final fitting. With a length of 417 feet, Y721 is the biggest sailing yacht in the world and the longest vessel to be built in the Netherlands. Features include a black hull, classic shape, three large decks, and three masts.

Superyacht Bravo Eugenia , belonging to the U.S. billionaire Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, was built by Oceanco, which is also rumored to be behind Bezos’s new massive vessel.

Y721 is going to totally change the world of yachting with its design and innovation, says Fernando Nicholson, a luxury yacht sales broker with the yachting company Camper & Nicholsons. “It’s a boat with the latest technology and bells and whistles that have never been seen,” he says. “This will be the standard for all superyachts to follow, but in years to come, when its features become more affordable. Right now, only someone with Bezos’s wealth can swing the cost.”

The superyacht is said to be modeled after Oceanco’s famous yacht, the Black Pearl , which the company site says , “is one of the largest and most ecological sailing yachts in the world. She can cross the Atlantic without burning even a liter of fossil fuel.” Y721 will go through sea trails following its fitting-out in Alblasserdam and is expected to be ready sometime next year.

The Flying Fox , allegedly owned by Bezos.

However, it’s only one of two new boats for Bezos: He has also commissioned a shadow vessel called YS 7512 from builder Damen Yachts. This support ship measures 246 feet in length and accommodates 45 additional crew and guests. It will also feature a helipad and meeting space and have a vast amount of storage for Bezos’s endless number of water toys, with diving and snorkeling gear, jet and water skis, waterslides, and surfboards among the bunch. Shadow vessels are a growing phenomenon in the superyacht industry and one more extra toy that their owners want to have at the ready, says Nicholson. “You see them more and more now as an add-on to a superyacht purchase,” he says. “They’ve almost become a must.”

There’s no doubt that Bezos will be sailing the high seas in full panache and style come 2022. But really, is there any other way when you have more money than almost anyone else in the world and attract an endless amount of attention too?

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Jeff Bezos’s New 417-Foot Superyacht Is Now Undergoing Sea Trials

"koru" could be sent back to the shipyard for final tweaks before being delivered to the amazon billionaire., tori latham, tori latham's most recent stories.

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Reports from earlier this month suggested that Jeff Bezos was finally getting his hands on his new $500 million superyacht . But it seems the Amazon founder is going to have to wait just a little bit longer for his new toy.

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During sea trials , a ship is tested to ensure that everything is working as it should be. Depending on what happens during this go-round, Koru could be sent back to the shipyard for final adjustments before making its way to Bezos, a person familiar with the boat’s travels told Bloomberg, requesting anonymity to discuss private matters. (An Amazon spokesperson didn’t respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment.)

As yacht fans surely know already, Koru is a pretty big deal in the maritime world: It’s currently the largest sailing yacht afloat, and one of the biggest ever built by the Netherlands-based Oceanco . On board, among other amenities, you’ll find a large pool and more than a few outdoor lounges. One feature that’s missing, though? A helipad. Because the sails of the ship are so large (they’re the same height as the Great Pyramid of Giza, for some perspective), there wasn’t room for landing a helicopter. As such, Bezos has commissioned a support boat for the task. That vessel is currently crossing the Atlantic and heading for Gibraltar, according to tracking data cited by Bloomberg.

Koru ’s size has created more than one headache for Bezos so far. Along with the helipad issue, the boat was going to cause a historic steel bridge in Rotterdam to be dismantled . The city initially acquiesced to Oceanco’s request, but there was enough public outrage over the demand that the shipbuilder ended up retracting its ask. Instead, Koru was pulled out to sea without its massive masts.

Tori Latham is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. She was previously a copy editor at The Atlantic, and has written for publications including The Cut and The Hollywood Reporter. When not…

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Jeff Bezos’ Giant Yacht Is Apparently Too Big to Anchor Near Others in Florida

The superyacht, called Koru, arrived in Port Everglades in Florida on Nov. 22, and has been docked near a more-than 610-foot-long oil tanker named Magnolia State.

By Lola Fadulu

First, Jeff Bezos’ new megayacht was too big to pass under a bridge in the Netherlands. Now, the massive vessel’s size — it’s more than 400 feet long — has played a role in preventing it from keeping company with other private yachts in Port Everglades, Fla., where it is anchored.

Instead, the megayacht, named Koru, is hanging with huge oil tankers and general container ships. The yacht is docked there because of its size and also because of what berths were available in the seaport, according to a spokeswoman for Port Everglades.

Koru is a sailing yacht, unlike the much bigger diesel-powered boats popular with other billionaires. It is the largest sailing yacht in the world, according to Oceanco , the Dutch company that finished building the boat earlier this year.

The deck space of the three-masted schooner has three Jacuzzis and a swimming pool. The inside has a “timeless, contemporary style,” according to Oceanco, with natural wood tones, warm neutrals, and patterned textiles. It also includes a mermaid on the bow that appears to resemble Mr. Bezos’ partner, Lauren Sánchez.

Koru, which Bloomberg estimated cost about $500 million to build, arrived to the Florida port on Nov. 22 after departing from Gibraltar earlier this month, according to Marine Traffic , a real-time maritime data platform.

It was unclear why exactly Mr. Bezos docked his yacht there, but earlier this month he said that he would be moving back to Miami to be closer to his parents and to Ms. Sánchez.

Mr. Bezos had since 1994 lived in Seattle , where he started Amazon from his garage. He has already purchased two mansions in South Florida, one for $68 million and another for $79 million, according to Bloomberg News .

Bloomberg estimated his net worth to be $171 billion.

Port Everglades charges yachts larger than 400 feet at least $309.50 per 24 hours. Ships that have been closest to Koru include a more-than 610-foot-long oil tanker named Magnolia State .

Koru is Maori for “coil” or “loop” and has come to symbolize new life, growth, and peace in traditional Maori art.

Mr. Bezos’ journey with his new yacht started off rocky . Last year, city officials in Rotterdam, the Dutch city, initially agreed to dismantle De Hef, a 95-year-old bridge, so that Koru could pass through it from the nearby city where it had been built. The dismantling process would have taken more than a day, and putting it back together would have too. But after uproar from the community — including calls to throw eggs at the boat as it would have passed — Oceanco decided against it and the yacht was towed to a different location to have its masts attached.

Jack Begg contributed research.

Lola Fadulu is a general assignment reporter on the Metro desk of The Times. She was part of a team that was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2023 for coverage of New York City’s deadliest fire in decades. More about Lola Fadulu

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Jeff Bezos’ Magnificent KORU Yacht and ABEONA Support Vessel

The KORU yacht is a 127 meter sailing yacht built in the Netherlands by Oceanco and delivered in 2023. She was designed by Dykstra Naval Architects with the the interior of the yacht designed by Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi.

In the world of luxury yachting, few names command as much attention as Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the richest individuals on the planet.

Bezos’ affinity for the sea and his penchant for exploration have materialized in the form of the breathtaking sailing yacht KORU and its companion, the support vessel ABEONA.

Commissioned from renowned shipbuilders Oceanco and Damen Yachting, respectively, these vessels are not only a testament to Bezos’ wealth but also a celebration of Māori culture and innovation in yacht design.

The Marvel of Modern Yacht Design: KORU Yacht

The KORU yacht, also known as Y721, is a masterpiece crafted by the acclaimed Oceanco shipyard. With a remarkable length of 127 meters (417 feet), the yacht exudes luxury and grandeur in every aspect. Launched in April 2023, KORU stands as a tribute to Māori art and culture, as evident from its name and styling.

The Māori word “koru” signifies a loop or coil, symbolizing new life, growth, strength, and peace. This symbolism resonates throughout the vessel, creating an immersive experience that pays homage to the essence of Māori art.

Inside the KORU yacht, guests are treated to a world of unparalleled luxury. The yacht boasts a large swimming pool on the aft deck, inviting guests to bask in the sun while surrounded by the beauty of the open sea.

Accommodating up to 18 guests and serviced by a crew of approximately 40, KORU offers a perfect balance between privacy and service.

The yacht’s interiors are a testament to meticulous design and craftsmanship, with each detail meticulously chosen to provide the highest level of comfort.

The Symbolism of KORU’s Name

The choice of the name “KORU” for the yacht holds deep significance. In Māori culture, the koru symbolizes new beginnings, growth, and the cycle of life.

It is often represented as an unfolding fern frond, embodying the concepts of renewal and continuous movement. Jeff Bezos, in an Instagram post , highlighted the symbolism behind the name, showcasing his embrace of growth, rebirth, and mindfulness.

ABEONA: The Perfect Companion

No luxury yacht is complete without a support vessel that complements its grandeur. Enter ABEONA, a 75-meter (246-foot) support vessel commissioned by Jeff Bezos.

Built by Damen Yachting, ABEONA serves as the perfect adjunct to the KORU yacht. This custom-built vessel carries all the toys, tenders, and equipment needed to enhance the yachting experience.

With a large helicopter hangar and the capacity to accommodate 45 staff, crew, and guests, ABEONA stands as an indispensable asset to the main yacht.

The Visionary Behind the Vessels: Jeff Bezos

With a staggering net worth of $160 billion, Jeff Bezos is not only a pioneer in the world of e-commerce but also a visionary with a passion for the sea.

The commissioning of the KORU yacht and the ABEONA support vessel reflects Bezos’ love for exploration and his desire to embrace the vastness of the ocean.

Bezos’ affinity for the sea is also reflected in his ownership of a Gulfstream G650ER private jet, showcasing his penchant for luxury both in the air and on the water.

Oceanco: The Pioneers of Luxury Yacht Building

The Oceanco shipyard has carved a name for itself as a pioneer in the luxury yacht industry. Established in 1987, Oceanco has consistently pushed the boundaries of design, craftsmanship, and innovation.

KORU, with its classic schooner design, stands as a testament to Oceanco’s commitment to creating vessels that are not only luxurious but also artistically inspired.

KORU yacht summary

The KORU yacht and its companion ABEONA support vessel stand as testaments to Jeff Bezos’ love for the sea, his appreciation for Māori culture, and his affinity for luxury and exploration.

These vessels, crafted with precision by Oceanco and Damen Yachting, redefine the boundaries of yacht design and innovation.

As Jeff Bezos embarks on journeys of discovery aboard these vessels, he continues to inspire awe and admiration among yachting enthusiasts and the world at large.

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"Bizarr": Was Insider über die Superyacht von Jeff Bezos sagen

Von „bizarr“ bis „wunderschön“: was insider über die superyacht von jeff bezos sagen.

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Die Yacht von Jeff Bezos, deren Bau 500 Millionen US-Dollar (umgerechnet knapp 462 Millionen Euro9 gekostet haben soll, hat ihr erstes Jahr auf See hinter sich.

Die Superyacht Koru war ein häufiges Gesprächsthema auf der Palm Beach Boat Show.

Hier ist, was Brancheninsider über das Schiff denken.

Es ist gerade einmal ein Jahr her, dass Koru, die 500 Millionen US-Dollar (oder knapp 462 Millionen Euro) teure Superyacht von Jeff Bezos , die Oceanco-Werft in den Niederlanden verlassen hat und die Aufmerksamkeit von Yacht-Insidern und Landbewohnern gleichermaßen auf sich gezogen hat.

Auch nach ihrer ersten Saison auf See ist das 127 Meter lange Schiff immer noch eines der meistdiskutierten Schiffe unter Kennern. Und das nicht nur wegen der vollbusigen Galionsfigur am Bug, von der viele fälschlicherweise angenommen haben, dass sie auf Bezos‘ Verlobter basiert. Die Koru war ein heißes Thema auf der jährlichen Palm Beach International Boat Show, auf der die Yachten anderer Milliardäre zum Verkauf oder zum Chartern ausgestellt waren.

Die überwältigende Reaktion derjenigen, mit denen Business Insider sprach, war Ehrfurcht. Viele lobten ihr einzigartiges Design, kommentierten ihre immense Größe oder bemerkten, dass sie das Glück hatten, sie aus der Nähe zu sehen.

„Sie ist absolut wunderschön“, sagte Federico Rossi, der COO des Luxusyachtbauers Rossinavi.

Doch aufgrund der geringen Größe der Branche — und der Tatsache, dass die Privatsphäre in der Yachtwelt oberstes Gebot ist — wollten selbst diejenigen, die die Koru lobten, meist nicht reden wollen, um berufliche Beziehungen zu schützen.

„Das Ding ist erstaunlich“, sagte ein solcher Superyacht-Experte gegenüber BI. „Es ist handwerklich sehr gut gemacht.“

Viele Insider lieben Bezos Superyacht

Anders als viele andere Megayachten ist die Koru, die von der Eos des Medienmilliardärs Barry Diller inspiriert wurde, als Segelyacht konzipiert. Das widerspricht dem aktuellen Trend zu strenger aussehenden Entdeckerbooten — obwohl Korus 75 Meter langes Begleitschiff Abeona einen typischeren Stil aufweist.

„Ich habe 2018 oder so gehört, dass jemand eine klassische Segelyacht bestellt hat“, verrät der Superyacht-Experte gegenüber BI. „Wenn man 125 Meter bestellt, ist das nicht wirklich klassisch. Aber das ist es. Ich denke, es ist ziemlich cool.“

Wie die meisten anderen Megayachten wird die Koru von ihren Motoren angetrieben, die Berichten zufolge innovativ sind, da sie ein System zur Rückgewinnung kinetischer Energie nutzen. Branchenexperten wiesen daher darauf hin, dass die Segel eher der Optik dienen. Aber das kommt ihr zugute, denn viele lobten ihre allgemeine Ästhetik.

„Sie ist atemberaubend“, fügte ein Kapitän hinzu, der schon auf mehreren Superyachten gearbeitet hat. Er sagte, er habe die Koru über die Feiertage in St. Barts gesehen, einem Lieblingsort von Bezos und seiner Verlobten Lauren Sanchez.

„Es gibt definitiv hässlichere Boote da draußen“, sagte ein Yachtarchitekt. „Es ist ja nicht so, dass sie wie seine Rakete geformt ist“, fügte er scherzhaft hinzu und bezog sich dabei auf das phallische Design der New Shephard von Blue Origin.

Andere halten es für „übertrieben“ und „bizarr“

Einige halten die Yacht jedoch für etwas übertrieben. Das will in einer Welt, in der größer besser ist und 250 Millionen US-Dollar (230,8 Millionen Euro) ein normaler Betrag sind, etwas heißen.

„Das ist übertrieben. Das ist ein wahnsinnig lächerliches Boot“, sagte ein langjähriger Makler, der Diskretion bevorzugt. Es ist eine „ganz große Show“.

Und der Experte, der die Handwerkskunst der Yacht lobte, glich seine bewundernden Kommentare aus, indem er sagte, Korus großzügige Verwendung von Teakholz — ein Holz , das traditionell für Yachtdecks verwendet wird — sei „bizarr“.

Das Material hat in den letzten Jahren in der Branche einen schlechten Ruf erlangt, da es in der Regel aus Myanmar stammt, einem Land mit einer zweifelhaften Menschenrechtsbilanz. Außerdem dauert es sehr lange, bis es wächst, was zur Abholzung der Wälder führt.

In ihrem Bemühen um Nachhaltigkeit sind viele Werften inzwischen auf Alternativen wie Bambus oder Teakholz aus Plantagenanbau umgestiegen. Das Team von Bezos hat auf die Frage von BI nach der Herkunft des Holzes für das Deck nicht geantwortet.

Auch andere Milliardäre gönnen sich eine Traumyacht

Teakholz hin oder her, die Yachtbranche ist im Allgemeinen nicht dafür bekannt, besonders umweltfreundlich zu sein. Viele, mit denen BI gesprochen hat, glaubten nicht an die Idee, dass Koru „zu viel“ sei.

„Wenn das wirklich Jeffs wahr gewordener Traum ist, dann ist das großartig“, sagte Anders Kurtén. Er ist der CEO des Maklerunternehmens Fraser Yachts. „Ich freue mich wirklich für ihn, und ich freue mich für die Leute, die die Gelegenheit hatten, daran zu arbeiten.“

Und Bezos ist natürlich nicht der einzige Milliardär mit einer atemberaubenden Yacht. Auch Milliardäre wie Jerry Jones und Bernard Arnault haben mit ihren Booten immer wieder für Aufsehen gesorgt.

Erst kürzlich haben Insider Mark Zuckerberg mit einem 118 Meter langen Schiff namens Launchpad in Verbindung gebracht. Es ist die neueste Superyacht, die die Aufmerksamkeit der Yachtwelt auf sich zieht. Wenn Launchpad in ihre erste Sommersaison aufbricht, könnte sie die Koru als Hauptyacht auf dem Radar aller in diesem Jahr ablösen.

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A Brief History of Superyachts

And how they explain the world..

Tim Murphy January+February 2024 Issue

James Clapham

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When the US targeted Russia’s oligarchs after the invasion of Ukraine, the trail of assets kept leading to our own backyard. Not only had our nation become a haven for shady foreign money, but we were also incubating a familiar class of yacht-owning, industry-dominating, resource-extracting billionaires. In the  January + February 2024  issue of our magazine, we investigate the rise of American Oligarchy—and what it means for the rest of us. You can read all the pieces  here .

The luxury yacht may be the world’s most exclusive form of transportation. But there are only a hundred-some that meet the definition of a gigayacht—a pleasure craft 295 feet or longer. Their opaque ownership records offer a glimpse of modern wealth and power: Over two dozen are linked to Gulf royals, businessmen, or states, and 20 to citizens (past or current) of the former Soviet Union. At least 23 have reportedly belonged to Americans, including founders of Microsoft, Netscape, Amazon, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. The widow of a German retailer who thrived under Hitler owned one; a UK tax exile and a Formula 1 dad still do. Yugoslav strongman Tito’s old yacht makes the list; Dominican dictator Trujillo’s does too. Take a cruise through the history of the vessels and their—somewhat—more modest sister ships.

1895: Nineteen years before World War I, the future King Edward VII of England punches his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II, in the face, after the German’s 121-foot yacht, Meteor II , defeats the royal Britannia in a race off the Isle of Wight.

1954: Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis ushers in an era of postwar one-upmanship with his 325-foot Christina O . It features a pool that converts into a dance floor, furniture made from whale foreskin, and pornographic carvings.

1963: During his final birthday party aboard the presidential yacht Sequoia , JFK chases future Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee’s wife, Antoinette, into the bathroom and gropes her. “I guess I was pretty surprised, but I was kind of flattered, and appalled, too,” she says later. The ship’s visitor logs are destroyed after Kennedy’s assassination.

1984: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia builds the record-breaking 482-foot Prince Abdulaziz .

1987: Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.) drops out of the presidential race just before photos emerge of him with model Donna Rice aboard the yacht Monkey Business .

1988: Donald Trump acquires Nabila , which previously belonged to the Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and was featured in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again . He renames it Trump Princess , adds a disco, and changes the helipad’s “H” to a “T.”

1991: After one of Trump’s casinos files for bankruptcy, he sells Trump Princess to his bank—which flips it to a Saudi prince. A new yacht, the Trump Princess II , which he boasted would be “something in excess of 400 feet long, closer to 500 feet,” is never built.

British publisher Robert Maxwell’s body is found in the Atlantic Ocean, where he had been cruising on a 180-footer named for his daughter—the Lady Ghislaine . The vessel is eventually resold to Anna Murdoch, Rupert’s second wife.

1994: At a cocktail party on the oligarch Petr Aven’s yacht in the Caribbean, Boris Berezovsky meets Roman Abramovich, calling him a “nice boy who wanted to discuss commercial projects.” He and Abramovich begin working together to acquire Sibneft, a Russian state oil company.

1997: Construction ends on The Limited and Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner’s ­316-foot Limitless . The project was overseen by his good friend Jeffrey Epstein.

1999: Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison buys the 191-foot Izanami from a Japanese seller. He changes the name to Ronin , he said later , after “the local newspapers started pointing out that Izanami was ‘I’m a Nazi’ spelled backwards.”

2001: Months before Enron files for bankruptcy, former CEO Jeffrey Skilling asks a company executive for advice on finding a yacht broker. “This industry is known for crooks and thieves,” he warns Skilling.

2002: House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) promises to strip “corporate kingpins of their ill-gotten gains,” after scandals rock Enron and WorldCom. “We’re coming after the yacht.”

2003: DeLay charges donors $500,000 a pop for tickets to a yacht cruise.

2005: Ellison shoots down rumors he issued orders midconstruction to have his newest yacht, the 454-foot Rising Sun , extended to outdo Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s recently launched 414-foot Octopus .

Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) pleads guilty to federal bribery charges after being caught living rent-free on a yacht, called the Duke-Stir , that was moored in Washington, DC, and owned by a defense contractor.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s 531-foot Dubai surpasses Prince Abdulaziz as the world’s longest yacht.

2006: Media mogul Barry Diller reveals the world’s longest sailing yacht, the 305-foot Eos , whose prow features a 9-foot-tall sculpture of his wife, Diane von Furstenberg.

2007: Diller opens a Manhattan corporate headquarters­­ at a Frank Gehry­–designed building that itself has been likened to a sailboat . It’s across the street from where Eos ties up.

2008: George Osborne, the No. 2 official in the UK’s Conservative Party, relaxes on Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska’s yacht while vacationing with his family in Greece. He denies an accusation that he solicited funds, explaining in a statement that they discussed “Russian history” and drank tea.

2009: As his marriage falls apart, Tiger Woods retreats to a 155-foot yacht called Privacy .

2010: Abramovich’s new ship, Eclipse , surpasses Dubai as the world’s longest yacht. The 533-foot vessel features a submarine, anti-missile systems, and lasers to thwart paparazzi .

2011: During an unsuccessful suit seeking $5 billion he believed Abramovich owed him from the sale of Sibneft, an exiled Berezovsky claims that his former partner helped purchase the yacht Olympia for Vladimir Putin. When the BBC publishes a supporting account from another Russian businessman five years later, Abramovich’s lawyers dismiss the allegation as “a rehash of speculation and rumours.”

2012: As GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney faces criticism for holding investment funds in the Cayman Islands, his campaign invites donors to party on Cracker Bay . The ship, owned by the founder of The Villages retirement community, flies the Cayman Islands’ flag.

2013: UAE leader Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan launches the 593-foot Azzam , surpassing the Eclipse .

2014: The Wall Street Journal reports that Ellison has basketball hoops on “at least two of his yachts” and had someone follow in a smaller boat “to retrieve balls that go overboard.”

2016: Allen’s Tatoosh drags its anchor through a protected zone in the Cayman Islands, destroying 14,000 square feet of coral.

2017: After leaving office, Barack and Michelle Obama retreat to the South Pacific aboard David Geffen’s yacht, where they’re joined by Oprah, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen.

Abramovich’s business partner, Eugene Shvidler, blocks views of the Statue of Liberty while anchoring his 370-foot Le Grand Bleu in New York Harbor for a month.

Addressing the national Boy Scout Jamboree, Trump tells an anecdote widely assumed to allude to sex parties on a yacht belonging to the developer of the Levittown suburbs. “You’re Boy Scouts, so I’m not going to tell you what he did,” he said. “But you know life.”

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) buys a yacht and on the same day votes to cut taxes on yachts.

2018: Rupert Murdoch is airlifted to UCLA after collapsing on a yacht trip with his fourth wife, Jerry Hall. “He kept almost dying,” a source tells Vanity Fair .

Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott designates a billionaire donor’s marina as a special anti-­poverty opportunity zone.

Someone unties Seaquest , a superyacht belonging to Trump administration Secretary of Education (and billionaire) Betsy DeVos, causing it to crash into a dock on Lake Erie.

Businessman Jho Low, who financed The Wolf of Wall Street , is accused of taking part in a $4.5 billion scheme to siphon Malaysian state development funds and using some to purchase a $250 million yacht.

2019: Actress Lori Loughlin is arrested in a college admissions bribery scheme . Her daughter, USC student Olivia Jade, is vacationing in the Bahamas— on a yacht belonging to USC board of trustees chair Rick Caruso.

Following an investigation into corruption in the Nigerian oil industry, the US government auctions off businessman Kolawole Aluko’s Galactica Star , six years after Jay-Z rented out the vessel for Beyoncé’s 32nd birthday. A former Enron unit attempts to claim a portion of the proceeds.

Clarence Thomas visits an Indonesian preserve for Komodo dragons with billionaire Harlan Crow on the conservative megadonor’s Michaela Rose .

ArtNet reports that a $450 million (reputed) da Vinci that was supposed to be in an Abu Dhabi museum has been spotted hanging in Mohammed bin Salman’s personal yacht, Serene .

Kylie Jenner holds her 22nd birthday party on Low’s yacht, now under new ownership.

2020: “[I]solated in the Grenadines avoiding the virus,” Geffen writes on Instagram from Rising Sun , which he purchased in 2010. “I’m hoping everybody is staying safe.”

Steve Bannon is arrested off the coast of Connecticut by US Postal Police while aboard the fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui’s 150-foot Lady May .

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. dresses up as a character from the TV show Trailer Park Boys for a costume party aboard a NASCAR mogul’s yacht. He later posts a photo of himself to Instagram with his fly unzipped and his arms around his wife’s assistant.

2021: NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre testifies that he took refuge on Illusions , a Hollywood producer’s yacht, after the Newtown and Parkland mass shootings. “I remember getting there going, ‘Thank God I’m safe, nobody can get me here.’”

During a bitter divorce, the Daily Mail reports that Tatiana Akhmedova, wife of the Russian Azerbaijani billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov, hired a team of British special forces veterans to seize his yacht, Luna , in an effort to enforce a Marshall Islands court ruling. They settle instead, and he keeps the boat.

Port Azure , dubbed the world’s first harbor designed exclusively for megayachts, opens in Gocek, Turkey. It bills itself as a place where “problems big and small go away.”

2022: Amid reports a historic bridge will be dismantled so Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ newly built Koru can leave Rotterdam’s shipyards, residents threaten to pelt the sailboat with eggs . The city changes plans.

A Ukrainian mechanic is arrested in Mallorca for attempting to sink a vessel owned by his boss, a Russian arms dealer.

Biden promises oligarchs he’s going to “take their ill-begotten gains” after the invasion of Ukraine. “We’re going to seize their yachts.”

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder avoids a congressional subpoena on the team’s misogynistic culture while cruising the Mediterranean on his yacht, Lady S .

Missing Russian superyachts are spotted waiting out sanctions at Port Azure.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) criticizes Joe Biden for vacationing in Delaware while vacationing on a luxury yacht in Italy.

After sailing through Fiji on his yacht Aquarius , briefly retired Disney CEO Bob Iger tells friends he misses his wife and is bored with life.

New York Republican congressional candidate George Santos brokers a $19 million deal to sell a superyacht called Namaste to a Long Island car dealer.

Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX reveals in court filings that founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s hedge fund once spent $2.5 million on a yacht, which a top executive named Soak My Deck .

2023: Bezos takes possession of Koru . The $500 million, 417-foot sailboat comes with a bust that resembles his fiancée Lauren Sánchez—and its own second, 246-foot “shadow” support yacht with crew quarters and a hangar for the helicopter she pilots.

After divorcing Jerry Hall, Rupert Murdoch vacations on the Christina O with Abramovich’s ex-mother-in-law.

As TV and movie writers and actors strike, the Wall Street Journal reports that Iger, now back at work, has been regaling visitors to his Burbank office about the new, longer yacht he’s building.

Measuring Contest

Iconic gigayachts through the years

1931: Sea Cloud , Marjorie Post: 359 ft.

1981: Atlantis II , Stavros Niarchos: 380 ft.

2003: Octopus , Paul Allen: 414 ft.

2005: Rising Sun , Larry Ellison: 454 ft.

2010: Eclipse , Roman Abramovich: 533 ft.

2013: Azzam , Sheikh Khalifa: 593 ft.

Illustrations by Anthony Calvert

The Few, The Loud

Some famous faces aboard gigayachts

Steven Spielberg reeled out his anchor off Cannes.

A part of Katy Perry got stuck exiting a dinghy on her way to Barry Diller’s yacht.

Mohammed bin Salman purchased his yacht, Serene , just hours after he saw it.

Jerry Jones made a draft pick aboard his Bravo Eugenia to deepen the Cowboys’ bench.

Mariah Carey was engaged to a gigayacht owner, before the fantasy ended.

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Sam Bankman-Fried will grow old in jail. But don’t forget those who basked in his orbit

If the high-rollers surrounding the disgraced FTX founder had any qualms about taking his money, they didn’t show it

L ater today, a man who has recently turned 32 will be hauled in front of a Manhattan judge. Already convicted of huge fraud , he knows he’s going to prison. The only question is for how long. If the US government gets its way, he will not emerge before his 80th birthday.

This is the final disgrace of Sam Bankman-Fried. The judge, politicians and the world’s press will declare him one of the biggest swindlers in American history. They will note how within three years he built a marketplace for digital currencies, or crypto, that was worth around $32bn – and made himself the world’s richest person under 30. Still it wasn’t enough. He spent perhaps $8bn of his customers’ savings on luxury homes, risky investments and whatever else took his fancy.

But remember this. Those same groups who today come to bury the boy billionaire yesterday praised him without qualification – and took as much of his cash as they could. While battling Donald Trump in 2020, Joe Biden received about $5m from Bankman-Fried . He wasn’t alone. Mitt Romney , Cory Booker , Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi: they and so many other Democrats and Republicans accepted collectively tens of millions.

Also on the payroll to endorse Bankman-Fried’s trading exchange, FTX, were celebrities and sports stars, from Larry David (who got a reported $10m to make one ad) to Gisele Bündchen and her then partner, the quarterback Tom Brady , the tennis player Naomi Osaka and the basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal . If these high-rollers had the faintest qualm about taking huge sums from a young man who had dropped out of nowhere to head a business based in a tax haven, they didn’t let it stop them taking his dollars. Less than a minute on Google will show you photos of Tony Blair and Bill Clinton at a conference organised by Bankman-Fried. At his invitation, the two statesmen had flown to the financiers’ paradise of the Bahamas; there they sit, stiffly onstage in dark suits while the prodigy slouches in a grubby T-shirt and shorts . He may be less than half their age, but there is no doubt who’s in charge, or who’s picking up the tab. It was spring 2022, only months before Bankman-Fried was arrested and extradited back to the US .

Up until then, the billionaire dined with Jeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio. He hobnobbed with pop stars. Upon meeting, Katy Perry posted on Instagram : “im quitting music and becoming an intern for @ftx_official ok.” He was hosannaed on the covers of business magazines and a regular on American TV. The profiles depicted him as an idiot savant who slept next to his desk on a beanbag and worked amid day-old containers of chickpea korma.

Less space was devoted to the $40m penthouse in which he actually lived, looking out on to a yacht-filled marina, or to his upbringing as the son of two Stanford Law professors, who’d sent him to private school before the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Who wanted dreary old facts when you could have the American dream?

After he was arrested and his bail was set at an almost-impossible $250m, they managed to raise the funds . Far too much was made of how he was amassing this fortune only to give it away, following a philosophy dubbed effective altruism. One journalist was savvy enough to do the maths and point out : “So far he’s donated less to charity than he’s spent on naming rights for the Miami Heat’s arena.”

More than hypocrisy by people who just wanted their next pay cheque, it helped to create his fortune. Among those who plunged millions into FTX were some of the biggest names in finance. One, a Silicon Valley firm called Sequoia Capital, not only gave its money: it ran a near-14,000 word hagiography of Bankman-Fried. When things went south a few weeks later, the piece was taken down. But with typical generosity, the web has archived it. Among the highlights is how Sequoia’s partners met Bankman-Fried over Zoom. They asked how he saw the future of FTX.

Rather than focus on the interview, Bankman-Fried is playing a video game, notes the piece. He says laconically: “I want FTX to be a place where you can do anything you want with your next dollar. You can buy bitcoin. You can send money in whatever currency to any friend anywhere in the world. You can buy a banana.”

Then, the piece records: “Suddenly, the chat window on Sequoia’s side of the Zoom lights up with partners freaking out.”

“I LOVE THIS FOUNDER,” typed one partner … “YES!!!” exclaimed a second.

Another responded excitedly: “I am a 10 out of 10.”

A pudding-faced boy in baggy shorts says he wants to buy a banana with internet money and some of the greatest minds in finance go wild. Just remember: it is this same class of geniuses in bodywarmers who Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves believe will finance our new green industries.

If in these stories you can hear echoes of Jay Gatsby, that is no accident. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925, amid one of the great financial bubbles in world history. Wall Street went bust in 1929, and when the economist John Kenneth Galbraith wrote his masterful history The Great Crash, 1929, he diagnosed how economically exuberant societies indulged the same financial crimes they would later drag into court. He called this “the bezzle”.

“In good times people are relaxed, trusting, and money is plentiful,” he wrote. “But even though money is plentiful, there are always many people who need more. Under these circumstances the rate of embezzlement grows, the rate of discovery falls off, and the bezzle increases rapidly.” When the crash comes, everything changes. “Money is watched with a narrow, suspicious eye. The man who handles it is assumed to be dishonest until he proves himself otherwise … The bezzle shrinks.” As Galbraith makes clear, financial crimes aren’t purveyed only by evil masterminds. They are licensed by entire societies who believe in them – until they don’t. Bankman-Fried’s great fall from disgrace began shortly after US interest rates began marching upwards, in the summer of 2022.

In many ways, his story is of how an entire decade of cheap money and high hopes for a new economic paradigm was squandered. His crimes are his own to atone for. But his disgrace is the disgrace of a much larger financial and political establishment. The old guard spent years waiting for a new saviour to come along and rescue them from the doldrums of the banking crash. When a boy pulled up in a battered Corolla, they got in without asking too many questions.

Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnist

• Sam Bankman-Fried
• Cryptocurrencies

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