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Resume: Jeff Bezos’s Koru Superyacht and Comparisons with Other Mega Yachts
As of March 8, 2023, the superyacht world is abuzz with the unveiling of Jeff Bezos’s latest nautical masterpiece, the Koru. Valued at an eye-watering $500 million, this opulent vessel is poised to redefine luxury on the high seas. Let’s embark on a journey through the waves of extravagance, comparing the Koru to other floating palaces owned by the world’s elite.
1. Koru – Owned by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon:
- Length: 416ft (127m).
- Height: Over 230ft (70m) tall, making it the tallest in the world.
- Cost: $500 million (£415 million).
- Power: Kinetic energy from three enormous masts.
- Features: Limited interior details disclosed, but expected to include a swimming pool. Accompanied by a 250ft (76m) support vessel featuring a helicopter landing pad, luxury cars, jet skis, speedboats, and possibly a personal submarine.
- Backstory: Set to be delivered to Bezos in the next few months, Koru has stirred attention, with reports even suggesting a request to dismantle a bridge for its passage.
2. Force Blue – Owned by Bernie Ecclestone, Former Formula 1 CEO:
- Length: 207ft (63m).
- Cost: Originally worth €7.4 million (£6.6 million) after being seized by police; it was later purchased by Ecclestone.
- Sleeps: Accommodates up to 12 guests.
- Features: Fully equipped spa, gym, cinema, lounging areas.
- Backstory: Acquired by Ecclestone in 2021, this former Formula 1 CEO’s yacht is a testament to luxury on the open seas.
3. Galaxy – Owned by Dave Hagewood, Video Game Developer:
- Length: 184ft (56m).
- Features: Cosmic artwork, music studio in the master suite, reflective of the creative atmosphere of Burning Man.
- Construction: Originally delivered in 2005 and retrofitted by video game developer Hagewood.
4. Vava II – Owned by Ernesto Bertarelli, Pharmaceutical Tycoon:
- Length: 318ft (97m).
- Cost: £100 million.
- Construction: Commissioned in 2007, built by Devonport Yachts in Plymouth.
- Features: Fold-down beach club, pool, and four tenders.
5. Rising Sun – Owned by David Geffen, Founder of DreamWorks Pictures:
- Length: 138m (453ft).
- Cost: At least $300 million (£250 million), potentially up to $590 million (£498 million).
- Construction: Originally built in 2004 for Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation.
- Features: 82 rooms, gym, basketball court, wine cellar, and cinema.
- Backstory: Acquired by Geffen in 2010, hosting a roster of celebrities, including Barack and Michelle Obama, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Julia Roberts.
6. Bravo Eugenia – Owned by Jerry Jones, Owner of the Dallas Cowboys:
- Length: 358ft (109m).
- Cost: Estimated $225-250 million (£188-207 million), with a yearly upkeep cost of $15-20 million (£12.4-16.6 million).
- Power: Maximum speed of around 18 knots.
- Sleeps: Seven cabins for 14 guests, quarters for up to 30 crew members.
- Features: Helipad, beach club, ‘Teppanyaki bar,’ gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, massage room.
7. Azzam – Formerly Owned by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan:
- Length: 591ft (180m).
- Cost: $600 million (£498 million).
- Construction: Built in 2013 by the German shipyard Lurssen Yachts.
- Backstory: Originally owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE until his death last year.
8. Dubai – Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE:
- Length: 531ft (162m).
- Cost: $400 million (£332 million).
- Construction: Designed by British yacht designer Andrew Winch, built in collaboration with German shipyards Blohm and Voss and Lurssen.
- Backstory: Launched in 2006, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
9. Al Said – Formerly Owned by the Late Sultan of Oman:
- Length: 509ft (155m).
- Construction: Built by the German shipyard Lurssen, launched in 2007.
- Backstory: Originally owned by the late Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, who passed away in 2020.
10. A+ – Owned by Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE:
- Length: 483ft (147m).
- Cost: €400 million (£356 million).
- Construction: Built by Lurssen in Germany, launched in 2012.
- Backstory: Owned by Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister of the UAE, formerly known as Topaz.
From Bezos’s towering Koru to Geffen’s celebrity-laden Rising Sun, these superyachts represent the epitome of luxury, each with its own unique features and stories on the vast canvas of the world’s oceans.
