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Paul Allen's explorer yacht Octopus finds a new owner

Legendary 126m Lürssen explorer yacht Octopus sold

The 126.2 metre Lürssen motor yacht Octopus , jointly listed for sale with Burgess and Fraser , has been sold in a deal managed by Stuart Larsen of Fraser.

Commissioned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Octopus is one of the largest superyachts in the world. Built in steel by German yard Lürssen and delivered in 2003, Octopus features exterior design by Espen Øino and interiors penned by Jonathan Quinn Barnett . She remains one of the most impressive explorer yachts to date.

Among her credentials,  Octopus  is Ice-classed with two helipads, a garage for two helicopters, storage for up to eight tenders, an ROV, and a 10-person submarine named  Pagoo . Plus, she has just completed a refit at  Blohm+Voss  which included her 15-year class surveys.

  • Iconic yachts: The story of Paul Allen's 126m Lürssen superyacht Octopus

Spanning eight decks, Octopus can accommodate up to 26 guests in 13 cabins, comprising a full-beam master suite, two VIPs, seven doubles and three twins, one with an additional single bed. The master suite sits on a dedicated owners's deck with a king size bed, his and hers en suite bathrooms and a private observation deck. There are two elevators on board: one services the guest areas onboard, while the other is for the owner's exclusive use. Additional accommodation can sleep up to 63 crew.

On the bridge deck, guests will find a heated fresh water swimming pool with a retractable glass floor that raises to deck level to provide an extended area for entertaining, as well as a bar, spa pool and pizza oven. Other standout features include a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge, a cinema, and a fully kitted-out dive centre.

  • More pictures of the 126m Lürssen superyacht Octopus

Power comes from two hybrid ABB Industry AG E-Motors for a top speed of 19 knots and a globe-trotting range of 12,500 nautical miles when cruising at 12 knots.

A true world cruiser, since her delivery  Octopus  has explored the coast of Antarctica, traversed the Northwest Passage and  discovered the wrecks of long-lost WW2 battleships  off the Philippines.

Octopus was asking €235,000,000.

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Paul Allen's 414-foot superyacht is for sale for $325 million. Take a look at the late Microsoft cofounder's yacht, which has 2 helipads and a glass-bottomed underwater lounge.

  • Paul Allen's former 414-foot superyacht is for sale for 295 million euros , or about $325 million, yacht brokerage Burgess told Business Insider.
  • The Lürssen-built yacht, Octopus , has eight decks, an elevator, a cinema, two helipads, and a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge.
  • The yacht, which Allen reportedly paid about $200 million to have built, has been spotted cruising all around the world in places like Cannes, Hong Kong , Argentina, the Philippines, and even Antarctica.
  • The late Microsoft cofounder was known to throw lavish themed parties on board that were attended by A-listers including George Lucas, Mick Jagger, Karlie Kloss, and Chloe Sevigny.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

A superyacht that belonged to late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen has hit the market for 295 million euros, or about $325 million, yacht brokerage Burgess told Business Insider.

The 414-foot yacht, Octopus, has eight decks, an elevator, a cinema, two helipads, and a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge. Allen reportedly paid about $200 million to have the superyacht built by Lürssen. It was officially launched in 2003.

Allen was known for hosting star-studded parties on his yacht during the Cannes International Film Festival in France. Guests have reportedly included George Lucas, Mick Jagger, Karlie Kloss, and Chloe Sevigny.

The vessel is one of several assets the late billionaire's estate has put up for sale since his death, including a $110 million Beverly Hills property and a MiG-29 fighter jet.

Take a look at Allen's superyacht and the places it's cruised, from Cannes and London to Argentina and Hong Kong.

Paul Allen's superyacht, Octopus, has hit the market for 295 million euros, or about $325 million.

octopus yacht sale

The Microsoft cofounder, who died in October 2018 , reportedly paid about $200 million to have the superyacht built by Lürssen.

The 414-foot yacht, which was built in 2003 and refitted in 2019, has some truly lavish amenities spread out over its eight decks.

octopus yacht sale

On its entertainment deck , the yacht has a cinema, gym, spa, and a basketball court. 

It also comes with a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge and a hyperbaric chamber.

On its dedicated owner's deck, Octopus has a private elevator, a private bar, a hot tub, and an al fresco dining area.

octopus yacht sale

The yacht can sleep up to 26 guests across 13 cabins, as well as 63 crew members in 30 crew cabins.

The superyacht has plenty of room for toys. Octopus comes with two helipads and storage space for seven tenders, two submersibles, and a large SUV.

octopus yacht sale

It comes with a Pagoo , a submarine that can accommodate eight guests and two crew for dives of up to eight hours. 

Octopus is "one of the most well-traveled yachts in the global fleet," according to Burgess.

octopus yacht sale

It's an ideal explorer yacht for those who want to travel to some of the world's most remote locations, according to the yacht brokerage firm. 

The superyacht has been spotted all over the world, from the coast of Turkey ...

octopus yacht sale

... to London, England ...

octopus yacht sale

... to Hong Kong ...

octopus yacht sale

... to southern Argentina.

octopus yacht sale

According to Burgess, the superyacht has also traveled to Antarctica, the Philippines, and traversed the Northwest Passage.

Allen was known for throwing star-studded parties on board Octopus during the Cannes International Film Festival in France.

octopus yacht sale

The exclusive parties had a different elaborate theme each year, from Bollywood to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," as Raisa Bruner previously reported for Business Insider.

Guests reportedly included "Rolling Stones" frontman Mick Jagger, model Karlie Kloss, and Hollywood A-listers George Lucas, Mischa Barton, John C. Reilly, and Chloe Sevigny.

At the Bollywood-themed party in 2015, dancers performed musical dance numbers for the guests.

On va dire un groupe de #danse #indienne un peu particulier... Ils dansent sur la piscine recouverte pour la soirée... #Yacht #Octopus #PrivateParty #Cannes #Bilionnaire #Lifestyle #India #Bollywood A post shared by Céline Victoria Fotso (@celinefotso) on May 19, 2015 at 4:45am PDT May 19, 2015 at 4:45am PDT

For the "A Midsummer Night's Dream" party the next year, the yacht was transformed into an enchanted garden.

#enchantedgarden party aboard #myoctopus with a basketball hoop behind me and a #yellowsubmarine below and a helicopter in front! Thanks #paulallen for another incredible night aboard #octopus #cannesfilmfestival A post shared by DANIEL BENEDICT (@danielbenedict) on May 17, 2016 at 7:13am PDT May 17, 2016 at 7:13am PDT

Guests were given flower crowns and the vessel was decked out with floral arrangements and illuminated trees.

What a dreamy night thanks #PaulAllen for yet another spectacular evening. #octopus #superyacht #cannesfilmfestival #cannes2016 #festivaldecannes 🍾🍾🍾 thanks to @ivanbittonstylehouse @ivanbitton for styling me 💞💞 A post shared by Sheila Shah (@iamsheilashah) on May 16, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT May 16, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT

While performers were always brought on board, Allen was known to get onstage himself and rock out to some Led Zeppelin.

Paul Allen is really cool! Playing Led Zeppelin himself for guests on Octopus yacht A post shared by Vasily Klyukin (@vasilyklyukin) on May 17, 2016 at 6:56am PDT May 17, 2016 at 6:56am PDT

Allen's $325 million superyacht is among several sizable assets that have been put up for sale by the late billionaire's estate since his death.

octopus yacht sale

The estate is also selling a $110 million plot of land in Beverly Hills that Allen owned for more than 20 years and his MiG-29 fighter jet.

octopus yacht sale

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Mega yacht Octopus of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for sale

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Written by Rachael Steele

Lürssen mega yacht OCTOPUS , which belonged to the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, has been put up for sale at an estimated €295,000,000 (approximately $332,000,000 USD).

octopus yacht sale

Paul Allen’s yacht OCTOPUS listed for sale

Allen, who passed away from cancer in 2018, owned a number of vessels but at a length of 126m/413ft M/Y OCTOPUS was his flagship and remains one of the world’s largest motor yachts, currently sitting at no. 22 in the overall rankings.

M/Y OCTOPUS was built in 2003 and from November 2018 to July 2019 she underwent an eight-month refurbishment at the Blohm + Voss facilities, including her 15-year surveys, to prepare her for sale. Her exteriors come from renowned designer Espen Oeino and the interiors from Seattle-based Jonathan Quinn Barnett , who had an impressive interior volume of 9,932 GT to furnish.

Although Paul Allen used the vessel as a recording studio and for private parties with the likes of U2, Sharon Stone and Mick Jagger, he is most well-known for his philanthropic endeavours and M/Y OCTOPUS was used as a research vessel along with several other motor yachts in his fleet, and was critical to the retrieval of the bell from HMS HOOD, which was sunk by the German battleship BISMARCK, as well as discovering the wrecks of the WWII Japanese warship MUSASHI.

octopus yacht sale

Superyacht Octopus

The accommodation is designed for up to 26 guests over 13 spacious en-suite cabins, and in addition to the Master suite there is a VIP stateroom and a children’s cabin. The experienced crew of 63 is ready to pull off a glamorous party or to navigate to the farthest corners of the world for research purposes.

The private Owner’s deck (also the bridge deck) comes with the aforementioned recording studio with a floor designed with sound dampening properties, a Master suite with a walk-in-wardrobe and an alfresco dining area that has its own bar and whirlpool tub. The other guests are not left wanting as M/Y OCTOPUS is replete with entertainment options such as a cinema, spa with hammam and sauna, gym, basketball court, an observation lounge and a heated freshwater swimming pool with a glass retractable floor to become a flush entertaining space. The selection of water toys is also impressive and created as much for family fun as exploration of the environment, and among the collection is a 10-pax submarine.

octopus yacht sale

Superyacht Octopus with helicopter

In terms of her technical specifications, there are eight MTU 16V 4000 M70 engines that provide a top speed of 19 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots, however most notable is her impressive cruising range of 14,250 nautical miles.

She is built to ICE-Class 1A standards and is equipped with a helipad forward and aft, both of which have access to a hangar for storage.

Luxury yacht OCTOPUS can currently be seen moored at the Antibes marina as she awaits a buyer.

MORE INFO AND IMAGES OF OCTOPUS

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Mega yacht Octopus of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for sale".

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Legend Status: Paul Allen’s Octopus Superyacht is for Sale for $325M

Legend Status: Paul Allen’s Octopus Superyacht is for Sale for $325M

Paul Allen was a business magnate and philanthropist best known as the cofounder of Microsoft alongside his childhood friend, Bill Gates. When he died in 2018 he was ranked by Forbes as the 44th wealthiest person in the world. After his death many of his iconic and extravagant belongings went up for sale, such as the world’s largest aircraft built by his aerospace company Stratolaunch to put satellites into orbit, his two-seat UB model Mig-29 jet fighter, and his beloved Octopus , a superyacht of enormous proportion.

Octopus in Numbers

octopus yacht sale

Built in 2003 by the German-based shipyard Lurssen, with its 414 feet, Octopus was the largest yacht in the world. In 2021, it doesn’t make it in the top ten, but it’s still considered one of the heaviest with its almost 10,000 tons. Octopus can hold 26 guests accommodating them in 13 cabins (suites) and 63 crew members in 30 cabins. Eight diesel generators power two electric motors providing six megawatts allowing Octopus to cruise 12,500 miles at 12.5 knots on a single tank of gas.

More Than A Yacht

Fraser and Burgess, the two top yacht broker companies in charge of the sale, listed it for $325,000,000 which seems a pretty high price considering it was built in 2003, but Octopus is one of a kind. Its timeless exterior makes it more appealing than many of the new exotic yachts, and it’s a pleasure yacht and an expedition boat as well.

octopus yacht sale

Burgess confirms that Octopus handled many rescue missions and research trips, for example in Antarctica and the Arctic, thanks to the Ice-class 1A, and in the Philippines where a WWII battleship’s wreck was discovered.

Where Octopus shines like no other is in the interior design and additional toys.

Interior Design

octopus yacht sale

Seattle-based designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett of JQB Design realized Allen’s dream to put together “all my passions in one moveable feast.” The yacht is equipped with a large pool that can be turned into a dance floor due to a retractable glass system. Many celebrities and musicians like Mike Jagger, Bono, and Johnny Cash have recorded their music in the yacht studio. While a gym, a movie theater, a bar, a library, a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge, and a dive center with a hyperbaric chamber are available to guests, an entire deck is reserved to the owner featuring a lounge with a full bar, dining area, jacuzzi, and a private elevator.

Additional Toys

On the rear of the boat there is a large floodable well-deck with a yellow submarine called Pagoo, which can hold ten people for an eight-hour adventure diving as deep as 1,000 feet. Additionally, the superyacht houses a remotely operated vehicle that can dive thousands of feet deep, the ship’s primary boat also known as Man Of War, a landing pad, a huge helicopter hanger with two helicopters, and a basketball court.

octopus yacht sale

In his 2011 biography Allen referred to Octopus as “less a Bentley than a Range Rover,” adding that it “has realized every mission I had in mind for her.” The next Octopus owner will not only buy the superyacht but also the iconic allure and history that comes with “her.”

View the renowned world-class cruiser in this video .

IMAGES

  1. 126m Octopus: Paul Allen’s legendary explorer superyacht now listed for

    octopus yacht sale

  2. OCTOPUS Yacht For Sale

    octopus yacht sale

  3. OCTOPUS yacht for sale

    octopus yacht sale

  4. OCTOPUS Yacht For Sale

    octopus yacht sale

  5. OCTOPUS

    octopus yacht sale

  6. OCTOPUS Yacht For Sale

    octopus yacht sale

COMMENTS

  1. Paul Allen superyacht Octopus finally sells after being listed for

    Octopus was listed in 2019 for $325 million almost a year after Allen died at age 65. ... a broker that marketed the vessel along with Fraser Yachts, confirmed the sale. The new owner intends to ...

  2. OCTOPUS Yacht • Roger Samuelsson $285M SuperYacht

    Octopus Yacht: A Feat of Luxury and Engineering Excellence. The breathtaking yacht Octopus, renowned as one of the world's largest yachts, is a masterpiece crafted by the esteemed Lurssen Yachts.This magnificent sea giant was formerly owned by the billionaire Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen.The motor yacht is powered by top-tier Mercedes diesel engines, offering a maximum speed of 20 knots ...

  3. For Sale: 126m Lurssen-built M/Y OCTOPUS

    Delivered in 2003, she is one of the most well-travelled yachts in the world. In terms of capability, versatility, and vision, OCTOPUS continues to outclass most, if not all, other large exploration yachts. To make enquiries about this yacht for sale please contact Sales Broker Stuart Larsen directly by clicking here.

  4. You can now buy Paul Allen's yacht

    The Octopus, listed for sale by yacht broker companies Fraser and Burgess, was one of Allen's three superyachts - he also owned the 301-foot yacht Tatoosh, and the 198-foot Medusa.

  5. Legendary 126m Lürssen explorer yacht Octopus sold

    The 126.2 metre Lürssen motor yacht Octopus, jointly listed for sale with Burgess and Fraser, has been sold in a deal managed by Stuart Larsen of Fraser.. Commissioned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Octopus is one of the largest superyachts in the world. Built in steel by German yard Lürssen and delivered in 2003, Octopus features exterior design by Espen Øino and interiors ...

  6. Paul Allen's 414-Foot Superyacht Is for Sale for $325 Million: Photos

    Paul Allen's former 414-foot superyacht is for sale for 295 million euros, or about $325 million, yacht brokerage Burgess told Business Insider.; The Lürssen-built yacht, Octopus, has eight decks ...

  7. Mega yacht Octopus of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for sale

    Paul Allen's yacht OCTOPUS listed for sale Allen, who passed away from cancer in 2018, owned a number of vessels but at a length of 126m/413ft M/Y OCTOPUS was his flagship and remains one of the world's largest motor yachts, currently sitting at no. 22 in the overall rankings.

  8. Octopus Yacht

    Yacht » Octopus » For Sale. Octopus Yacht - For Sale - For Charter. Yacht Owner Photos Location For Sale & Charter News. Name: Octopus: Length: 126 m (414 ft) Builder: Lurssen: Year: 2003: Owner: Paul Allen: Octopus. Her new owner has made the yacht available for Yacht Charter! Your contact details here?

  9. Legend Status: Paul Allen's Octopus Superyacht is for Sale for $325M

    Fraser and Burgess, the two top yacht broker companies in charge of the sale, listed it for $325,000,000 which seems a pretty high price considering it was built in 2003, but Octopus is one of a kind. Its timeless exterior makes it more appealing than many of the new exotic yachts, and it's a pleasure yacht and an expedition boat as well.

  10. Paul Allen's 414-foot yacht, home to A-list parties, is ...

    FILE - 414 ft. luxury yacht 'Octopus' owned by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, is moored to fuel up at Ege Ports in Kusadasi district of Aydin, Turkey on April 27, 2015. Anadolu Agency/Getty Images