There’s only one thing wilder than building the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht, and that’s selling it before taking delivery. Bill Gates’s 387-foot Feadship Breakthrough was five years in the making before the former Microsoft CEO decided to sell it in 2024. Gates, whose reasons for selling are open to speculation, is one of the most famous tech stars to have built and owned a superyacht.
Other tech titans include Google co-founder Sergey Brin, whose newest Lürssen-built Dragonfly (formerly Project Alibaba) features a double-folding platform system that converts into a versatile beach club. WhatsApp founder Jan Koum, already the owner of two superyachts, Mogambo and Moonrise, as well as two support vessels, Power Play and the shadow cat Nebula, will expand his fleet to five when he takes delivery of a 263-foot Abeking & Rasmussen later this year.
And it’s not just tech moguls who like to look hot on yachts. Hollywood actor Nicole Kidman, fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, and business magnate Lawrence Stroll (whose newest 262-foot Feadship Faith arrived just in time for this year’s F1 season) have all dived headfirst into yacht ownership.
Spanish actor and sailing enthusiast Antonio Banderas keeps a cruising yacht permanently berthed in his home city of Malaga, and the list of sports personalities who love to be afloat is as long as Tom Brady’s quarterback career, including Brady himself, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and Tiger Woods.
Here are our favourite top 10 celebrity-owned yachts.
JK Rowling, ‘Samsara’
The 290-foot superyacht Samsara bears no resemblance to the Durmstrang ship, a magical square-rigged sailing boat that features in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, yet author JK Rowling can claim ownership of both. JK Rowling acquired the yacht, originally built for Eric Schmidt as Infinity and later sold to Brett Blundy who renamed it Cloud 9, in 2023 and called it Samsara. It’s an apt name, which comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “wandering” or “world,” as the yacht is accompanied by a 226-foot Amels Sea Axe explorer called Intrepid, the builder’s largest ever yacht support vessel, which is equipped with a helicopter hangar, a dive center, and ample storage. Samsara has a 16.4-foot circular swimming pool, a cutting-edge cinema, and a tranquil beach club.
David Geffen, ‘Rising Sun’
Having raked in billions with blockbuster hits like Shrek 2 and Kung Fu Panda 4, American film producer David Geffen splashed $590 million on the equally epic 453-foot superyacht Rising Sun—the largest and most expensive boat on this list. He bought shares in the yacht when it still belonged to original owner Larry Ellison before acquiring it in full in 2010. Guests of the Bannenberg-designed yacht often include Leonardo DiCaprio, Disney’s Bob Iger, and Oprah Winfrey, who have made best use of the yacht’s movie theatre, spa, wine cellar, and helipad.
Max Verstappen, ‘Unleash The Lion’
Diane von Furstenberg, ‘Eos’
Not only is Eos, owned by fashion queen Diane von Furstenberg and her husband Barry Diller, the only sailing yacht on this list, but at 305 feet, it’s also one of the largest sailing boats in the world and one of only two built by Lürssen. The three-masted schooner enjoys an interior penned by François Catroux that is befitting of the Parisian catwalks, with leather furnishings, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and statement artworks.
U2’s The Edge, ‘Cyan’
U2 fans, eat your heart out. Not only is this 160-foot Codecasa, owned by David Howell (better known as the Edge), capable of sleeping up to 10 groupies, but it’s available for charter with Burgess, which is the yachting equivalent of being invited to use his home for a BBQ. It has been kept in mint condition since its 1997 delivery and is known for having one of the best outdoor cinemas on any yacht. Other rock-star amenities include a sun-deck Jacuzzi, a dedicated gym, and a crew of 11 ready to wait on guests.
Fernando Alonso, Sunreef 60 Eco
In 2022, Sunreef Yachts hosted two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso onboard its Sunreef 60 Power Eco in Cannes. It proved to be a fruitful exercise for the yard as a year later, Alonso, who commands one of the highest salaries on the F1 grid, took delivery of his own $5.69 million custom electric boat. He is the second sports star to enjoy a Sunreef solar-powered yacht, following tennis ace Rafael Nadal, who acquired his Sunreef Great White in 2020.
Steven Spielberg, ‘Seven Seas’
Steven Spielberg is another movie giant with a penchant for yachting who took delivery of his Oceanco, the 358-foot Seven Seas, in the summer of 2023. Known during its build as Project Y720, it’s the fourth-largest project delivered by the Dutch shipyard to date. According to the yard, the owner played “an integral role” in the design of his yacht, which is penned by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design in collaboration with American designer Molly Isaksen for the interiors. Spielberg’s 1975 hit movie Jaws was the first major motion picture to be shot on the ocean, giving rise to one of the most quoted lines in film history, “You’re going to need a bigger boat.” It seems the director finally took heed.
Jackie Chan, 150-foot JinLong
Kung fu legend and Hollywood actor Jackie Chan likes to keep things on the down-low; so much so that the name of his yacht remains unknown. He upgraded from a 125-foot Ruiying boat to his current 150-foot JinLong yacht in 2019. It’s the Chinese shipyard’s flagship yacht, designed by Dutch studio Mulder Design with three decks, a helipad, a sundeck with a wet bar, and a hot tub. The “upscale 80s” interior has dark wood cladding, a cinema, gym, sauna, and a karaoke room for entertainment into the early hours.
Roberto Cavalli, ‘Freedom’
Think leopard-print furnishings, monogrammed decks, and gilded ceilings, and you pretty much have Roberto Cavalli’s yacht, Freedom. The Italian godfather of fashion kept his ostentatious interior hush-hush until the yacht’s 2018 delivery. His signature selection of exotic prints and bold leather finishes on the interior reflect his strong personality, as per his fashion creations. However, the designer claims the yacht’s jet-black exterior and tinted windows are inspired by Batman’s Batmobile, an idea that is further endorsed by the yacht’s 40-knot top speed, powered by three water jet engines.
Tony Parker, ‘Infinity Nine’
Tony Parker’s yacht, Infinity Nine, is named after the number “9” on the back of the former pro basketball player’s San Antonio Spurs jersey. The 115-foot Kando 110 built by AvA Yachts features a custom interior with “light, contemporary decor” chosen by the star and his wife, who put the yard through a “rigorous selection process.” Parker, who retired in 2019, has plenty of spots to kick back and relax, including a beach club, upper deck gym, and Jacuzzi on the flybridge.
