Owning a yacht requires significant investment in maintenance and fitting it with all the necessary amenities. This makes owning a yacht an unrealistic dream for most people.
Yacht owners are usually very wealthy, so such property is considered a sign of luxury and belonging to the powerful. If you don't believe me, take a look at top ten most expensive yachts in the world with their prices and photos.
10. Octopus - $200 million
Our list of the most expensive yachts opens with a vessel owned by Paul Allen, one of the smartest men in the world. It's called "Octopus" and is managed by a crew of 40, some of whom are rumored to be former Navy SEALs.
This yacht looks more like an 80s robot. It has seven small boats, two helicopters, and even a 10-person submarine, allowing you to explore the ocean depths in comfort.
9. Seven Seas - $200 million
The yacht, commissioned by Steven Spielberg, features seven suites that can also be converted into double cabins. It can accommodate up to 12 guests, who enjoy the standard "millionaire's suite": a cinema, a swimming pool, a gym, and a helipad. Because every self-respecting yacht should cost the same as the GDP of a third-world country, right?
8. Lady Moura — $1,400,000
This is a private yacht owned by Nasser Al Rashid, a Saudi Arabian multi-billionaire. Its name and several other details are made of pure gold.
The superyacht is managed by a crew of 60 and features a swimming pool with a retractable roof and an artificial beach for guests' enjoyment.
7. Al Mirqab – $250 million
The floating palace, launched in 2008, belongs to the former Prime Minister of Qatar. The vessel features 10 bedrooms, a helipad, a traditional helipad for ultra-expensive yachts, an equally traditional swimming pool, and a VIP suite, in addition to the owner's two private suites. The yacht's architect was Tim Heywood, who has designed the yachts of many billionaires, from Roman Abramovich to Suleiman Kerimov and Alisher Usmanov.
6. Dilbar — $263 million
The yacht, designed by Tim Heywood, is owned by Russian entrepreneur Alisher Usmanov. It is named after the owner's mother. It is the first yacht equipped with particulate filters for the main engine exhaust. The yacht also features a helipad and ample accommodation for a crew of 47 and 20 guests.
5. Al Said - $300 million
Construction of this luxury vessel began in 2007 and was completed in 2008. The yacht was previously known as Project Sunflower and was later renamed by its owner, as it belongs to Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman. Al Said accommodates a crew of 154 in addition to 70 guests.
4. Dubai — $350 million
The leader of Dubai requires an extravagant vessel for his travels. Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's floating tower has space for 115 guests, six luxury suites, and five VIP suites—all with open galleries. The yacht also boasts ample space for a spa, a massive hand-finished swimming pool, a squash court, and, of course, a helipad capable of supporting a helicopter weighing up to 9.5 tons. The luxurious glass staircase, whose steps change color, is also worth mentioning.
3. Eclipse - from $450 million to $1.2 billion
This luxurious motor yacht, owned by former Chukotka Governor Roman Abramovich, is 162.5 meters long and was built by the German shipbuilding firm Blohm + Voss. The exact price of this floating gem is unknown, and estimates for the Eclipse are based on the ship's extravagant features. These include two helipads, a submarine, 24 guest cabins, two swimming pools, hot tubs, and a discotheque.
What makes this yacht special is its security system. It includes a missile defense system, an intrusion detection system, and even a laser anti-paparazzi system that prevents illegal filming by "blurring" the camera lens. A crew of 70 is required to maintain the ship's proper functioning.
2. Sailing Yacht A – $500 million
Another yacht owned by a billionaire—in this case, Andrey Melnichenko. The Sailing Yacht A project was designed by Philippe Starck, and its interior and exterior structures are unique. It features not one, but three swimming pools, space for two additional boats, and numerous entertainment systems. To reduce the weight of the yacht's hull and superstructure, several elements are made of carbon fiber.
The eight-deck yacht is large enough to accommodate a crew of 54 and 14 guests.
1. Streets of Monaco - $1 billion
As its name suggests, this floating extravagance was designed to replicate Monaco, or more precisely, Monte Carlo. Its price tag is so high thanks to its unconventional design, which features miniature replicas of famous Monaco landmarks, such as the Monte Carlo Casino and the Hotel de Paris. Furthermore, the "floating city" includes swimming pools, tennis courts, a café-bar with underwater views, a mini-waterfall, a helipad, and a submarine. The ship's central feature is the Atrium Deck, which houses seven guest suites and the owner's penthouse.
All this magnificence can move at a speed of up to 15 knots, and is serviced by a crew of about 70 people.
The most expensive yacht is a fake
Many publications list the Baia 100 Supreme from the History Supreme series as the most expensive yacht of all time. Its value is estimated at $4.8 billion. Decorated with ten tons of pure gold and platinum, the yacht allegedly belongs to Malaysia's richest man, Robert Kuok, and was designed by renowned British designer Stuart Hughes. The most extravagant aspect of this luxurious vessel is its master bedroom, which features a wall made of meteorite rock and a statue made of genuine Tyrannosaurus Rex bones.
However, journalists from LibyMax, back in 2011, took the trouble to contact the Italian shipbuilder Baia Yachts and learned that the golden superyacht was nothing more than a fabrication by Stuart Hughes, who had taken some photos from the Baia Yachts website without the copyright holder's permission. However, the shipbuilder declined to sue the fraudulent designer, considering the story so silly that it wasn't worth pursuing.
