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Jeff Bezos’ New Yacht Is Finally Ready to Set Sail

Amazon’s founder has been spotted on Koru, a massive schooner with a design that evokes the golden age of sailing in the early 20th century.

By Kevin Koenig

Just in time for the high season of yachting in the Mediterranean, when multimillion-dollar megayachts descend on ports like Monte Carlo and St. Tropez, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been photographed with his partner Lauren Sánchez on his new boat, Koru, off the coast of Spain.

Mr. Bezos’ vessel is a sailing yacht, a departure from the diesel-powered, floating palaces popular with other billionaires. But it is still massive. At 417 feet, Koru is the world’s largest sailing yacht, according to Boat International , and it cost an estimated $500 million to build, Bloomberg reported . (Parsifal III, the boat featured on Bravo’s reality series “Below Deck Sailing Yacht,” is 177 feet long — less than half the length of Koru — and cost $18 million , according to the website SuperYachtFan.)

A spokesperson for Mr. Bezos did not comment for this article; neither did Oceanco, Koru’s builder. Here is what to know about the boat.

For traditionalists, Koru is refreshing. At a time when yacht design skews outrageous — see the lizardlike, 262-foot Artefact or the otherworldly 463-foot Yas — Koru stands out as a schooner, a sailing vessel with two or more masts. Photos reveal a large sailboat with three masts, an on-deck pool and a voluptuous mermaid on the bow, that bears a resemblance to Ms. Sánchez. But otherwise, the sleek, classic lines suggest the patrician age of yachting in the early 20th century, said Robert B. MacKay, author of “The Golden Age of Newport Yachting: Between the Wars.”

“With the clipper bow and the dark hull and the masts,” Mr. MacKay said, referring to Koru’s concave, pointy forward section, “it reminds me of a boat built in 1930 for J.P. Morgan Jr., Corsair IV. It is almost like a reincarnation. It’s certainly at odds with the stuff the oligarchs are building — those look like bloated Clorox bottles.”

Compared with the world’s very largest motor yachts — built for sheer size and the accompanying bragging rights — Koru could almost be considered quaint. Azzam, one of the world’s largest motor yachts, is nearly 200 feet longer.

The Experience

Koru will be propelled primarily by the wind. “Sailboats are usually greener than most powerboats,” said Don Anderson, a former captain of M5 , the world’s largest single-masted sailboat, at 256 feet. “I’d like to think that Koru will be one of the most ecological yachts out there, with its sails and also with the technology that will be aboard.”

“When you’re on a sailboat, you’re more in touch with the wind and the waves than on a powerboat,” he continued. “You’re more susceptible to the elements, too. But you can leave California, and once you get past the Catalinas you can basically surf downwind all the way to Hawaii. All you need to do is run with the waves.”

Mr. Bezos has been a guest on similar boats, according to Bloomberg: In 2019, he was spotted on Eos , a 305-foot sailing yacht owned by Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg.

Bill Tripp, a Connecticut-based naval architect, said the appeal of this type of boat is clear: “When you are on a powerboat, you ask, ‘Are we there yet?’ and on a sailboat, you’re enjoying the ride and the ocean so much that you don’t ask that question.”

Koru will be trailed by Abeona, a 246-foot support vessel. Superyachts often have support vessels following along behind them. These “shadows,” as they are colloquially known, are for the “toys” — the ATVs, supercars, seaplanes, motorcycles, smaller boats, scuba gear, personal submarines and even helicopters that pleasure boaters might bring on a trip. According to its builder, this model of boat can carry these gadgets along with dozens of crew members. (Ms. Sanchez flies helicopters, and the couple was recently photographed taking a helicopter to board Abeona and then Koru.)

Abeona, a motor yacht, will have enough range to follow Koru from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean — a common course for yachts — on a single tank of gas.

The Kerfuffle

Koru set off a controversy last year — before it was even completed — in a face-off with the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The boat was built at Oceanco’s facility in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands, and needed to pass the historic Koningshaven Bridge, known as “De Hef,” in Rotterdam, to undergo testing in the North Sea.

When the city announced it would dismantle the bridge to allow the boat and its mainmast — an estimated 230 feet tall — to pass through unscathed, locals were angry. They planned a protest to throw eggs at the yacht as it cruised by. In the end, the bridge was not taken apart, and the yacht was towed to a different location to have its masts attached.

Koru is Maori for “coil” or “loop” and refers to the unfurling of a fern frond. The koru design is common in traditional Maori art, where it symbolizes new life, growth and peace. Mr. Bezos included a photo of a koru frond in an Instagram post on Jan. 1, 2022.

Brad Stone, who was the first to report on Koru, in his 2021 book “Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire,” said the name was “consistent with where we see him today.”

“He is no longer this single-minded tech guy,” Mr. Stone said. “He’s in media and Hollywood and has a new relationship.”

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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' $500-Million Yacht Hits the Open Ocean for the First Time

Once it's ready, this 417-foot boat will be the largest sailing vessel in the world..

Jeff Bezos’ giant 417-foot long sailing yacht stretched its legs on the open ocean this week, still completely free of a coating of eggs Rotterdam residents once promised the world’s largest sailing vessel.

Yacht builders Oceanco referred to the $500-million sailing yacht by its internal serial name — Y721 — during its yearslong development and manufacturing process. The vessel can now be called by the name granted to it by its mega-rich owner: the Koru. A Koru is a Māori symbol representing the spiral of an unfurling fern frond.

“Its circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement, and its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin. The koru therefore symbolises the way in which life both changes and stays the same,” according to a definition from the government of New Zealand .

Once delivered to Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos, the Koru will be the largest sailing vessel in the world. It’s currently undergoing open-seas testing phase, which is consider one of the final steps before delivery. The big boat enthusiast YouTube channel Dutch Yachting published footage of the testing earlier this week:

Koru had a controversial start in life after Oceanco petitioned the Rotterdam government for the ability to dismantle a historic bridge in order to get the yacht to open water. The city council in Rotterdam vowed never allow another dismantling of the Koningshavenbrug bridge, however, after it came down for a during renovations in 2017. Known locally as De Hef, the bridge was heavily damaged by Nazi shelling in WWII but managed to survive. It became a symbol for local resistance against the invading forces.

When news spread that the bridge might need to be dismantled, angry Dutch people responded by vowing to launch eggs at the yacht as it passed through town. The nearly 3,000 people who signed up for the dairy aisle hi jinx needn’t have worried, however; the Rotterdam city council denied Oceanco’s petition and the boat was moved to a different shipyard with without its masts early in the morning.

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Jeff Bezos' Rumored $500M Yacht Spotted at Sea for First Time

The luxury 417-foot-long Koru was spotted undergoing sea trials in the North Sea near the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands earlier this month

Jeff Bezos ' rumored yacht is finding its sea legs.

The luxury 417-foot-long Koru was spotted for the first time at sea earlier this month in footage released by Dutch Yachting.

This shows the reported $500 million yacht taking a trial run in the North Sea after leaving the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Feb. 13.

Koru is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world and features three towering masts , several decks (including one with a pool), and a supporting 250-foot-long yacht with a helipad, according to Boat International.

While Netherlands-based custom yacht builder Oceanco has refused to confirm the owner of the vessel, it was reportedly due to be completed and delivered to Bezos earlier this year, per Boat International.

The $500 million yacht made headlines last year when it was reported that the city of Rotterdam had agreed to temporarily dismantle part of the historic Koningshaven Bridge in order to accommodate the yacht, a city spokeswoman told The Washington Post at the time (Bezos purchased the Post in 2013, but newspaper staff has said they have editorial independence .)

The 58-year-old billionaire and Oceanco reportedly covered the cost of the engineering work, added Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond .

Bezos was first rumored to be eyeing up a massive, one-of-a-kind superyacht in May 2021. The vessel was then known only as Project 271.

More recently, the Amazon founder has been linked with a bid for the Washington Commanders NFL franchise — "possibly in partnership" with Jay-Z , a source told PEOPLE in November.

"It is my favorite sport," Bezos told CNN at the time. "So we'll just have to wait and see."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In February, however, multiple outlets reported that Bezos had been barred from bidding on the team by the Commanders' bank.

The Athletic added that the decision hailed from current owner Dan Snyder's belief that Bezos had worked to "oust" him for years via The Washington Post .

It cited the fact that the newspaper had published a series of stories about a culture of "sexual harassment" inside the organization as a contributing factor.

In December 2022, this included an opinion piece ascribed to the editorial board of the newspaper that accused Snyder of presiding over a culture of " exploitation of cheerleaders , unwanted sexual advances and the hiring of prostitutes during work-related events."

The story added the board's belief that Snyder "is unfit to run a concession stand, let alone one of the region's marquee professional sports teams."

In November, a source told PEOPLE that Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey was also "exploring" an opportunity to join Bezos in the bid.

RELATED VIDEO: Lauren Sánchez Shares Sweet Selfies with Partner Jeff Bezos for Valentine's Day 2023: 'My Heart Is Full'

"He has been a fan for decades and supported the team and is now exploring how he can lead a team or join a team in the bid," the source said of the 53-year-old actor.

A representative for McConaughey declined to comment at the time.

The New York Post first reported Snyder's alleged decision to block Bezos from the sale of the franchise. The outlet added that Snyder may also remain at the helm of the Commanders if he does not receive an acceptable bid.

"It's a free country, he can sell to whomever he wants," a source told The Athletic.

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Jeff Bezos’ $500M yacht appears to have figurehead of girlfriend Lauren Sánchez

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It may come as no surprise that Jeff Bezos spared no expense on his gigantic mega yacht worth an eye-watering $500 million.

The Amazon founder, 59, has been island hopping with his girlfriend Lauren Sánchez ever since he handed over a cool half a billion dollars in exchange for the yacht, named Koru.

And the massive, 417-foot vessel appears to even have a wooden figurehead that bears a striking resemblance to Sánchez.

The sculpture is featured on the nose of Koru, which Bezos affectionately named himself.

Koru is Māori for loop often found on silver necklaces, symbolizing new beginnings.

It seems as though the symbol means a lot to the couple, who have been dating since 2019, as Bezos had previously shared photos of Koru on his Instagram.

On New Year’s Day, the multi-billionaire posted a carousel of snaps from his yacht party.

“The new year is also a great time to take stock and focus on personal growth, renewal, rebirth, and paying careful attention to each moment of your life,” he captioned the post. “The good and the bad. All of it. Celebrate and grow.”

The yacht boasts three towering masts as well as three decks, one of which features a sprawling swimming pool, according to  Boat International .

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

The yacht also requires a 250-foot support vessel that houses a helicopter landing pad for the Blue Origin founder or his celebrity guests.

This smaller yacht is also expected to be loaded with an array of toys including luxury cars, jet skis, and speedboats.

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Koru will join  a fleet of super-yachts , helicopters and planes already owned by Bezos and Sánchez.

Bezos’ mega boat sparked controversy last year after it was reported that Dutch officials would  have to dismantle  the historic Koningshaven Bridge because the yacht wouldn’t be able to pass through.

But after an uproar from residents and local leaders, officials decided that the plan was too farfetched and towed the vessel from its construction location to another shipyard in a nearby town without its masts.

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The Most Incredible Features Of Jeff Bezos' $500 Million Mega Yacht

Jeff Bezos, the second-richest man in the world, will soon be the owner of a $500 million newly-constructed mega yacht in the Netherlands. While there is not a lot of information about the super yacht, there are a few facts that can be gleaned from the ship manufacturer's website and also several media publications. However, what is confirmed is that this yacht is supposed to be 417 feet long (127 meters), have several decks, and feature three gigantic black masts (via Bloomberg ).

The ship is called the Y721 and it is reportedly made by Oceanco, a custom ship builder that produces some of the world's largest and most luxurious boats. The company is owned by Omani billionaire businessman , Mohammed Al Barwani, and is based in the Netherlands. According to the luxury magazine  Robb Report , this uber-luxurious boat is expected to be the world's largest sailing yacht when completed.

It is super-sized

As superyachts go, the Y721 is extremely large. At 417 feet, it is one of the largest sailing yachts ever built in the Netherlands, according to Time Magazine . It is so colossal that for it to sail out of the harbor to go to the ocean, it has to pass by an iconic Dutch steel bridge that has a center part that can be removed so the vessel can pass through safely. This bridge, known as De Hef (literally translated as The Lift), is a lift bridge that can raise 130 feet in the air. That still isn't high enough to accommodate the yacht's tall masts, and the process of raising the bridge so the ship can exit can't be described as simple, either. Additionally, the breadth of its sails and supports makes it unsafe for a helicopter to land on the yacht without clipping its masts, so Bezos has reportedly commissioned a support yacht with a helipad to travel alongside the titanic cruiser (via Time).

The 246-foot shadow yacht known as the YS7512 will be the base for the Amazon billionaire's helipad, but it will also feature meeting spaces, and storage for his jet skis, water toys, and snorkeling and diving gear. It can accommodate up to 45 crew and guests (via Architectural Digest ).

It is a clean, green machine

In Brad Stone's book, "Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire," the vessel is described as being "one of the finest sailing yachts in existence." Although this luxury cruiser will almost certainly have fineries fit for a business mogul like Bezos, it is also said to be environmentally friendly. Oceanco based the blueprint on its award-winning , sustainable Black Pearl Yacht. The company says on its website that this ship is one of the largest and most eco-friendly sailing yachts in the world, and can cross the Atlantic without burning any fossil fuel.

It features technology such as DynaRig carbon masts, solar power, and a hybrid-propulsion system. It also has a waste-heat recovery system onboard that uses thermal energy and residual heat from exhaust gas to transform into electrical energy. While the construction of the superyacht has been reported by multiple media sources, the Daily Mail reports that Oceanco has declined to comment on whether this yacht was commissioned by Jeff Bezos.

Bezos can fly to the yacht, but only with the help of a support vessel

If Bezos is on land and the superyacht isn't docked, the Amazon owner isn't going to have to row back to his vessel when he wants to get on board — he can simply take a short flight to the boat via helicopter (via Bloomberg ), though that requires him to land on a support yacht. Using a helicopter to fly to his yacht is something that would have, at one point in time, sounded very unlikely given Bezos' mixed history with whirlybirds. He actually survived a helicopter crash back in 2003 when scouting for sites to use for his spacefaring venture Blue Origin. 

Bezos was on board with the pilot and two staff members when the overloaded aircraft started to struggle after taking off. The pilot was left dodging trees and desperately trying to get the helicopter out of danger. He didn't succeed, and eventually, the tail boom collided with a tree, causing the chopper to spin. The helicopter eventually ended up in a creek, but Bezos walked away from the incident. Recalling the crash in Fortune Magazine, Bezos quipped, "I thought, what a dumb way to die."

Given the circumstances, it is unsurprising that Bezos allegedly hated helicopters for many years. However, his hatred of the transportation method had reportedly evaporated by 2018 and been replaced by enthusiasm. It was this switch in attitude that, according to the New York Post , alerted Amazon executives to Bezos' affair with helicopter pilot and owner of Black Ops Aviation Lauren Sanchez. Bezos would eventually divorce his wife and the mother of his four children, MacKenzie Scott, and make his relationship with Sanchez public.

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Nyc rideshare, taxi passengers bracing wallets for double-barrel..., 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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Jeff Bezos’s New Yacht Comes With Its Own Yacht?

Another day, another reason that we must simply eat the rich. Construction is almost complete on the $500 million superyacht purchased by Amazon Daddy and Lizzo superfan Jeff Bezos. The 417-foot-long monstrosity, which Bezos bought two years ago, is among the biggest ever built in the Netherlands, the unofficial big-boat-building capital of the world.

What does a yacht longer than a football field come with? Multiple decks, an “ ambient cinema,” and its own support yacht. Yes, the yacht comes with its own yacht.

Project Y721 — the big boat’s temporary name — also has its own helipad. This is apropos given the rumors that Bezos’s sudden interest in helicopters may be what exposed his affair with now-girlfriend and famously “alive girl” Lauren Sanchez.

On top of the half-a-billion-dollar price tag, operating costs for the yacht will average about $60 million a year, per Bloomberg . To put that into context, for someone who makes $68,700 a year, the current median income in the U.S., that’d be like paying $23 in yearly operating costs. A pittance for the literal richest man on the planet.

Bezos isn’t the only rich person continuing to do rich-person things amid a struggling global economy. As Bloomberg reports, the yacht industry is among the few markets that thrived despite the spread of coronavirus. This shouldn’t come as any surprise, given the pandemic made the rich even richer . Bezos, for example, saw his wealth increase by 57 percent, per CBS News . Between March 18, 2020, and March, 18 2021, Bezos’s worth grew from $113 billion to $178 billion. Last year, the median income among Amazon employees was $29,007, per Business Insider .

Perhaps this purchase is Bezos in full post-divorce crisis mode. (He did buy the yacht the same year he and MacKenzie Scott announced they would be splitting.) While Scott recently remarried , Bezos continues to surround himself with the biggest, dumbest things money can buy. If anything, this all just further proof that the only good boats are the ones that get stuck .

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Endorsements | Keeping up with the Bezoses: Mark Zuckerberg…

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Endorsements | keeping up with the bezoses: mark zuckerberg buys a super yacht, reports say, a report says that zuckerberg’s luxurious new $300 million vessel was originally was commissioned by a russian oligarch who was the target of sanctions imposed after that country’s invasion of ukraine.

Given that Mark Zuckerberg enjoys a respectable 16th place on a list of the world’s richest people, he probably figured it was time for him to acquire one of the ultimate status symbols for the mega-wealthy — a super yacht.

A new report from The Sun said that Zuckerberg is now the proud owner of a $300 million vessel that he has christened “Launchpad.” The 387-foot-long vessel, which comes with a helipad and a $30 million companion boat, was seen docked this week at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with its unique chrome finish reflecting in the sun.

This purchase shows, among other things, that the Facebook and Meta founder and CEO has branched out from buying islands and building an underground complex to help him survive the apocalypse. Perhaps, he wants to cruise the Mediterranean this summer and be among the moguls who can play host to Leonardo DiCaprio.

The yacht definitely grants him admission to the watery playgrounds of such multibillionaires as Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates and any of the Russian oligarchs who haven’t been the target of sanctions imposed by the United States or its allies over Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In fact, Zuckerberg reportedly came by Launchpad due to the misfortunes of one of those oligarchs. The yacht originally was commissioned to be built by Vladimir Potanin, one of Russia’s richest men who is on multiple sanctions list, according to a report by Autoevolution.com , a transportation industry site. The yacht was known as Project 1010, and the shipbuilder in the Netherlands was legally barred from delivering it to Potanin when it was completed in 2022, though Autoevolution also said that Potanin was not the yacht’s actual owner.

The Sun reported that the yacht recently received “special permission” to be imported. It has since arrived in the United States, a couple months ahead of Zuckerberg’s 40th birthday on May 14 — which raises the question of whether he meant Launchpad as a birthday gift to himself.

It’s quite a gift: Launchpad can comfortably fit 24 guests aboard. It also requires a crew of 48 and is said to cost $30 million a year for upkeep and usage, according to Superyachtfan.com . But shelling out $30 million for maintenance a year shouldn’t be a problem for Zuckerberg, who reportedly earns between $6 million and $12 million a day, The Sun said.

But as spectacular as Launchpad sounds, super yacht fans might say it’s not as spectacular as Jeff Bezos’s super yacht, Koru. The $500 million sailing vessel features very tall masts, a swimming pool, a helipad and room for a second, smaller yacht. The most noteworthy thing about Koru is that Bezos commissioned a special sculpture to decorate its prow. It’s a “curvaceous winged goddess” that is said to bear a striking resemblance to his fiancee Lauren Sanchez.

The Amazon founder, his wife-to-be and the goddess figurehead spent much of last summer sailing around the Mediterranean, cruising from Spain to Croatia and hosting such famous guests as Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and Usher. The couple also threw a lavish engagement party off the coast of Positano on Italy’s Amalfi coast, attended by another pack of famous friends, including Kris Jenner, Wendi Murdoch and, yes, Leonardo DiCaprio.

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Go check out the first photos of a shirtless Jeff Bezos enjoying his new $500 million megayacht with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez

• A shirtless Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, have been spotted on his new $500 million yacht.
• The 417-foot vessel had stirred controversy when it nearly required a historic bridge be dismantled for it to pass.
• Residents threatened to egg the yacht; the vessel was then quietly towed to another shipyard to avoid a scene.

Jeff Bezos has been spotted taking his new megayacht out for the first time.

The billionaire Amazon founder was seen shirtless as he sunbathed on the $500 million yacht with his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez , along the coast of Spain on Monday, according to Page Six .

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The yacht, a 417-foot vessel called Koru, is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world. Its construction stirred controversy when it nearly required a historic bridge in Rotterdam in Netherlands be dismantled because the yacht's masts were too tall to pass under the bridge, despite its 131-foot clearance.

The 100-year-old Koningshaven Bridge, known to locals as "De Hef," had been renovated in 2017, and the city had vowed not to take it apart again after that, according to Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond .

Locals grew outraged, threatening to egg the yacht if the bridge was dismantled. Koru's Dutch shipmaker, Oceanco, withdrew its request , and the yacht was quietly towed away to another shipyard. Its masts were installed later to avoid a clearance issue.

Koru was seen doing its sea trials , which consist of several tests and are usually one of the last phases of construction, in February, and it made its maiden voyage in April when it left Oceanco's facilities to travel to Gibraltar along its way to Bezos.

Check out the photos of Bezos and Sanchez on the yacht on Page Six .

Watch: Jeff Bezos reportedly just spent $165 million on a Beverly Hills estate — here are all the ways the world's richest man makes and spends his money

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The Wealth of Jeff Bezos: Earning $1.9 Million Every Hour — What Does He Spend It On?

J eff Bezos continues to teeter between wealthiest and second-wealthiest billionaire in the U.S. as the battle between Amazon’s founder and Elon Musk rages on — according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list. With a net worth of $197.5 billion, Bezos holds most of his wealth in Amazon stock.

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While this number seems staggering to most people, it’s even more amazing if you break down his earnings by the hour. In 2014, Bezos had a net worth of $30.5 billion, according to Forbes . That number increased steadily over the years and, in 2018, he reached No. 1 on Forbes’ billionaires list for the first time.

Bezos’ wealth increased by $167 billion in the past 10 years, or $16.7 billion per year, roughly $45.8 million per day, and roughly $1.9 million per hour. Of course, since Bezos’ investments make money while he sleeps, we didn’t use an 8-hour workday or 40-hour workweek for these calculations.

What would you do if your wealth increased by nearly $2 million every hour? Here are some ways Bezos’ spends his money.

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Real Estate

Like many billionaires, Bezos purchases real estate for investments and for his own enjoyment. In 2023, he purchased two mansions in Florida’s wealthy Indian Creek Island, sometimes called “Billionaire Bunker” island. The neighboring properties cost $68 million and $79 million, according to NYPost.com.

In February 2020, Bezos purchased a Beverly Hills estate for $165 million, with a 13,600-square-foot mansion on nine acres. He also owns a $78 million property in Maui, Hawaii, and properties in Washington, California, Texas, and New York, according to Benzinga .

Media Ventures

In addition to real estate, Bezos invests in companies he knows and trusts. One of his largest venture capital endeavors involved buying The Washington Post for $250 million in 2013.

Space Travel

Another investment in Bezos’ portfolio is Blue Origin, the aerospace company he founded in 2000. The New Shepard rocket developed by the company has helped make space tourism possible, albeit for a hefty price. In June 2021, Blue Origin auctioned off a seat on its first suborbital flight for $28 million. Other passengers, like William Shatner, have flown free as honored guests.

While Bezos has been to space on the New Shepard, he also enjoys more earthly vacations, according to various news sources. Last year, he cruised the Mediterranean with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez. During the trip, he proposed to Sanchez, gifting her a diamond ring valued at $3.5 million.  

Like many billionaires who live on the coasts, Bezos also enjoys yachts. He is the owner of the Koru, a 417-foot sailing yacht valued at $5 million. It’s a common tactic for billionaires to use vehicles like yachts and private jets as tax write-offs if they can claim it as a business expense.

Although as recently as 2013, Bezos was driving a Honda Accord, the billionaire has a substantial luxury car collection valued at roughly $20 million, according to Benzinga. Vehicles include a Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, Ferrari, Bugatti and a Mercedes-Benz.

Charitable Contributions

Billionaires also use charitable contributions to avoid paying taxes. Supporting causes they believe in gives them a chance to put their money to good use and make a positive change in the ways they best see fit. Bezos founded the Bezos Earth Fund, with a personal commitment of $10 billion, to fund grants for projects related to climate change and nature preservation.

Bottom Line

Based on this research, it’s clear billionaires like many of the same things as everyone else, from nice cars to vacations . But the bulk of their money goes into purchases and activities that will generate more income, such as venture capital endeavors.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : The Wealth of Jeff Bezos: Earning $1.9 Million Every Hour — What Does He Spend It On?

Jeff Bezos Overtakes Elon Musk As Richest Person In The US—13th Flip-Flop This Month

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Amazon founder and chairman Jeff Bezos, who has an estimated net worth of $198.3 billion, is once again the second-wealthiest person in the world and wealthiest person in the U.S. as of Thursday, overtaking Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has an estimated net worth of $196.1 billion, as the pair continues to go back-and-forth for the title.

Musk and Bezos have been in a month-long contest for the title of wealthiest person in the U.S., ... [+] flip-flopping almost daily for the past week.

March 27: In their 13th switch for the top spot, Bezos moved ahead of Musk when Bezos’ net worse rose by about $436 million and Musk’s decreased by about $1.6 billion, according to Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires tracker.

March 27: Marking the 12th switch in March, Musk again flip-flopped with Bezos for the second-wealthiest spot earlier Wednesday, when Musk’s net worth rose by about $1.7 billion and Bezos’ net worth rose by only $708 million.

March 26: Bezos again beat out Musk for the second wealthiest spot Tuesday afternoon after losing it earlier that morning. Bezos overtook Musk again despite his net worth dropped by about $1.3 billion while Musk’s rose by about $2.8 billion.

March 26: Musk returned to the second wealthiest spot early Tuesday afternoon when his net worth rose by about $4.6 billion Tuesday and Bezos’ increased $366 million.

March 21: Bezos overtakes Musk—More than $4 billion at times separated Bezos’ and Musk’s net worths Thursday after Bezos’ estimated net worth was up by about $694 million and Musk’s net worth fell by about $1.5 billion.

March 20: Musk overtakes Bezos—Musk’s estimated net worth was up by $815 million Wednesday, while Bezos’ net worth fell by about $558 million.

March 19: Bezos overtakes Musk—Bezos’ estimated net worth was up about $1.3 billion Tuesday, while Musk’s fortune had fallen about $1.2 billion.

March 18: Musk overtakes Bezos—Musk’s fortune was up about $5.5 billion Monday, helping him surpass Bezos, whose net worth increased by about $450 million.

March 13: Bezos overtakes Musk—A fall in Tesla stock slid Musk’s fortune down by $4 billion, and Bezos’s net worth grew by about $195 million.

March 8: The pair swapped places in the Forbes Real-Time Billionaire List twice in the same day.

March 6: Bezos briefly overtakes Musk—Tesla stock market woes led Musk to briefly lose his status as the richest person in the U.S. for the first time in more than two years— soon after, Musk took his spot back from Bezos.

Key Background

Forbes estimates Musk to be worth about $193.8 billion as of Thursday afternoon, and we estimate Bezos to be worth about $196.8 billion. Bezos’ wealth resurgence has prompted the month-long jostle between the Amazon CEO and Musk. Since the beginning of March, the pair has flip-flopped nine times in the wealth rankings. When Musk lost the No. 2 world wealth spot on March 6, it was the first time he wasn’t in the top two of Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings since Aug. 19, 2021. Bernard Arnault, CEO of the LVMH empire, remains the wealthiest person in the world per Forbes’ list, with an estimated net worth of about $231.5 billion as of Thursday.

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Jeff Bezos just gave $100 million to actress Eva Longoria and the retired admiral who oversaw the capture of Osama bin Laden to use as they see fit

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, have given away $100 million to a retired Navy admiral and actress Eva Longoria as part of the billionaire’s annual prize to individuals who make significant contributions to society.

The Desperate Housewives star and Bill McRaven, a veteran and former chancellor of the University of Texas System, have been awarded $50 million each to help those in need.

Bezos—who has a net worth of around $200 billion —launched the Courage and Civility Award in 2021 to support philanthropists.

Van Jones, a lawyer and CNN commentator, and the lauded chef and humanitarian José Andrés were the first recipients of the prize. 

“ We need unifiers and not vilifiers ,” Bezos commented on the reason for launching the award, before revealing the inaugural prize winners.

“People who argue hard and act hard for what they truly believe, but always with civility and never ad hominem attacks. And unfortunately, we live in a world where this is too often not the case.”

Since then, country singing icon Dolly Parton took home the 2022 award , after donating $1 million toward Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine research and books to millions of children through her foundation Imagination Library.

How will Eva Longoria and Bill McRaven use the money?

Twelve years on from embodying Wisteria Lane’s housewife Gabrielle Solis, Longoria has gone on to become a director, the CEO of her own production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, and a political activist. 

In 2021 she founded the Eva Longoria Foundation “to help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship,” according to its website.

The charitable body achieves that through a variety of programs for aspirational Latinx, including mentorship and access to funding.

With her portion of the award money, Longoria told Elle that she plans to “ continue doing what I’ve been doing ” with the Eva Longoria Foundation and Eva’s Heroes, a charitable organization within the foundation that supports the special needs community.

Longoria said that her charitable focus is on women because they “are the changemakers in families.” 

“When you help a woman, she helps her family. And then when you help families, you improve communities. And when you improve communities, you can improve nations,” she added.

Meanwhile, McRaven—who oversaw the 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden—has pledged to use the money to develop education programs for future military leaders and the children of deceased veterans, as well as mental health support for those who serve.

“The opportunity to use this incredible gift to help veterans and their families is the dream of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to Lauren and Jeff for giving me this opportunity,” he said in a statement to CNN .

Bezos says he is on a mission to give away his wealth

The world’s second-richest man (behind only LVMH’s boss Bernard Arnault, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index) didn’t hand out the charitable award last year, but he’s been on a wider mission to give away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime.

Since stepping down as Amazon’s CEO, Bezos has increased his philanthropic efforts and has committed $10 billion to climate change efforts, through an initiative called the Bezos Earth Fund.

Last year, he gave out $117 million in grants to support homeless families through his Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, bringing his total donations to nearly $640 million.

However, critics have in the past been skeptical about just how philanthropic the billionaire really is.

“He’s committed a large amount of money. But it still feels very, very half-baked,” Benjamin Soskis , who researches philanthropy for the Urban Institute, previously told Time . 

Plus, Bezos still hasn’t signed the Giving Pledge. 

Launched by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett in 2010, the campaign encourages billionaires from across industries to commit to giving away at least half of their fortunes to charitable causes.

So far, it’s been signed by 242 billionaires including Elon Musk and even Bezos’s ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott.

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