Celebrity superyachts: top three worth $1.29bn

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by Mike Stones

11 September 2023

The superyacht industry is facing a number of headwinds, say brokers. Photo: MYS2023

The top three celebrity superyachts have a combined value of $1.29bn, according to new research from yacht charter firm Ritzy Charters. Leading the fleet in terms of value was billionaire media mogul David Geffen’s yacht The Rising Sun, reportedly costing $590m.

The research ranked the top 10 celebrity-owned yachts and their price tags. The second most expense celebrity yacht, with a reported price tag of $500m, was Koru, owned by American business magnate and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Completing the top three in the list of most expensive celebrity yachts was Eos, reportedly valued at $200m, owned by Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and her husband, Barry Diller. Read the full list of top celebrity yacht values below.

Geffen’s 138m (453ft) The Rising Sun cost about $200m to build in 2004.

Geffen bought the vessel, which is capable of 30 knots, in 2010. Equipped with 82 rooms, the yacht is designed to accommodate about 18 guests and 55 crew members. Amenities include a basketball court, wine cellar and an onboard cinema.

The second most expensive celebrity yacht, Bezos’s 127m (417ft) Koru, also known as Y721, is said to be the world’s largest sailing yacht. Featuring a swimming pool, the yacht can accommodate up to 18 guests and 40 crew members. The boat’s design is said to be inspired by Māori art, with its name Koru symbolising strength, new life and peace.

The third most expensive yacht, the 93m (305ft) Eos, was reportedly bought by its current owners in 2009 for $200m. Capable of a top speed of 18mph, the vessel can accommodate up to 14 guests. Novel features include a glass staircase, a 14ft world map, a jacuzzi and a figurehead of owner von Furstenberg.

A spokesperson for Ritzy Charters said: “Luxury yachts are more than just a symbol of wealth; they not only provide incredibly gorgeous views but a level of privacy to those onboard who want a sense of relaxation that you can’t get from anywhere other than chartering across oceans.”

Owning a superyacht offers a sense of seclusion far away from paparazzi and the public eye, added the spokesperson. “Privacy is a huge part of the experience of a superyacht, which is why celebrities are drawn to spending large sums of money on owning their own.”

Meanwhile, the fourth most expensive celebrity yacht was the $120m Venus, owned by Laurene Powell, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Designed by Phillippe Stark, the vessel is equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows across its 78m (256ft) length and can reach a top speed of 18 knots. The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins and 22 crew members in 14 cabins. The yacht’s annual running cost is estimated at between $10-$15m.

The fifth most expensive celebrity-owned yacht is the 54m (177ft) The Maraya, owned by American rapper, record producer, record executive and actor Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Costing about $65m in 2012, the vessel can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins. Her features include a sundeck jacuzzi, gym and wellness area, not to mention its very own chef. The superyacht can be chartered for about $300,000 per week.

Read the full list of top 10 celebrity yacht values – including vessels owned by Giorgio Armani, Sir Elton John and JK Rowling – below. Pictured above is the Monaco Yacht Show – a favourite haunt of some of the world’s most expensive yachts. The 2019 event attracted 125 superyachts with a combined value of €3.9bn (£3.45bn). This year’s Monaco Yacht Show opens at Port Hercule on Wednesday, September 27th. (Image courtesy of Monaco Yacht Show).

The most expensive celebrity yachts – at a glance