Top 15 Most Expensive Yachts In The World

Yachts were simple vessels at the time of their inception in the ’90s, designed primarily for water sports; however, in the 2000s, they were transformed into luxurious maritime structures.

Such superyachts are commissioned for the rich and combine technological excellence with a glorious display of opulence and power. Apart from being genuinely majestic and gigantic, these yachts have amazingly unique features, as we will see in this article featuring the most expensive superyachts in the world.

1. History Supreme – $4.8 Billion 

The yacht History Supreme boasts of being the most expensive private superyacht in the world. It was constructed by the famous designer in Liverpool, Stuart Hughes, famous for turning ordinary gadgets like iPhones into luxury goods by covering them with precious metals such as gold or diamonds. Hence, the dining area, the railings, and anchor of the most expensive yacht in the world are adorned with priceless metals.

This magnificent yacht was made for a wealthy businessman hailing from Malaysia. Some news reports underlined the probability of Malaysian business tycoon Robert Kuok, the owner of this maritime wonder.

History Supreme
Credits: Stuart Hughes

It is 100 feet and was completed in three years. Adorned with more than 10,000 kg of solid gold, silver and platinum, it is the most extravagant vessel. The yacht’s structure, anchors, deck areas, kitchen, and washrooms are made of precious metals. Its bottom is gold-plated, while the main bedroom has a walled structure made from a genuine meteorite and a decorative design carved from an authentic dinosaur tooth. 70 kg of gold was used only for making the lavish aquarium separating the main bedroom from the seating area.

Other features, such as expensive liquor in cases made of rare diamonds or the use of historical artefacts in its interior, are why the yacht is the most costly.

2. Eclipse – $1.5 Billion 

Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire and politician and the famous owner of the soccer club Chelsea, is the proud possessor of the Eclipse, which comes second in the list of the most expensive yachts in the world.

Eclipse is estimated to be worth 1.5 billion dollars and was built by Blohm and Voss, a ship construction company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. Terence Disdale, a renowned yacht designer who has renovated more than 40 superyachts, is responsible for the eye-catching interiors of the Eclipse.

Eclipse
Credits: Moshi Anahory / Flickr

The yacht is approximately 536 feet, and its magnanimous size incorporates numerous features of extraordinary luxury. It possesses two helipads, 23 cabins and a dozen guest cabins, hot tubs and swimming pools near the main deck.

It is a sailing beauty that offers comfort and entertainment as it is endowed with a dance hall, jacuzzi, launch boats, and a mini-submarine. It has high-security features like missile detection system, bulletproof windows and sharp camera surveillance. An interesting feature is the laser system that prevents photographers from clicking pictures even from afar.

3. Azzam – $650 Million

Built by the German shipbuilder LĂĽrssen, Azzam is the third most expensive and extravagant yacht owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayan, president of the United Arab Emirates. It was completed in 2013 in Bremen, Germany, with a tonnage capacity of 14,500 tonnes.

Azzam, which translates to determination in Arabic, is true to its name, as reflected in many of its stunning features. Its exteriors were designed by Nauta, a design company based in Milan. At the same time, its interior designs were carefully chosen to replicate the empire grandeur of medieval times, brought alive by Christophe Leoni, a prominent French designer.

Azzam
Credits: Luerssen

It measures 590 feet in length, and its most distinguishing feature is its speed which is impressive for its size. Also, it is a no-pillar construction, an engineering marvel in itself. Azzam can attain a speed of more than 35 knots. Endowed with around 55 luxurious suites and a large salon accommodating 40 guests, it is representative of royalty at its finest. It has swimming pools, a golf course, double helicopter landing pads, and a sea-facing gym. Propelled by the latest technology dual engines, it is managed by 85 highly trained crew members.

4. Dilbar Superyacht -$600 million

Dilbar Superyacht was launched in 2015 at the German Lurssen Shipyard and was finally delivered a year later in 2016. One of the largest superyachts, she was constructed as Project Omar, with her interiors and exteriors crafted by Andrew Winch and Espen Oeino. She has a classic profile, a light ivory hull, a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure.

As of 2022, she is the 6th longest yacht in the world. At 1,917 tonnes, the 156 m superyacht is also one of the largest yachts by volume. It features never-seen-before entertainment and recreation spaces, too, like the 25 m swimming pool having 180 cubic metres of water, the largest pool ever built on a yacht. 

Dilbar Superyacht
Representation Image

Dilbar was owned by Rusian Billionaire Alisher Usmanov. In 2022, German authorities seized the yacht as they placed sanctions on many Russian Oligarchs during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

The yacht, which is said to have cost a whopping $600 million, can easily accommodate 36 guests and also 96 crew members.

5. Al Said – $600 Million

Al Said is a luxurious superyacht constructed by Lurssen 2008, a famous yacht construction company. It is owned by the Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saad Al Said hence its name. Al Said measures 156 m, and when it was completed, it held the title of the second biggest superyacht in the world, with a capacity to host more than 75 guests and accommodate over 150 crew members.

Al Said
Representation Image

Espen Oeino chose its exteriors and hand-crafted the interiors by Redman Whitely Dixon. Al Said has a steel and aluminium structure and can attain a maximum speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of about 23 knots.

Comprising six open deck areas and other attractive features, its main attraction is the concert hall which can be used for a professional concert amidst the seas. It also has luxurious master bedrooms, jacuzzis, helipads, and features common to all luxurious yachts.

6. Topaz – $527 Million 

The Topaz superyacht was launched in 2012 by the German shipbuilding company Lurrsen. It was commissioned for Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, belonging to the royal family of Abu Dhabi and an essential functionary of the country, who acquired the exotic yacht for 527 million dollars.

Topaz comprises a steel and aluminium structure with a total tonnage of around 11,700 tonnes. Its design combines functionality with extravagance, evident in its features such as a swimming platform, a gym, a soccer field, a movie theatre, a disco hall, and a vast conference room. Its interiors have been designed by Terence Disdale, and the exteriors by luxury yachts designer Tim Heywood.

Topaz
Credits: Luerssen

Topaz measures around 482 feet and its powerful engines help it achieve an impressive speed of about 25 knots. Security measures have been amalgamated into the yacht’s design, as it has an emergency generator. Topaz contains eight decks and other awe-inspiring features like dual helipads. It can accommodate 62 guests and has 26 luxurious rooms, served by a crew comprising 50 members.

7. Rising Sun- $ 400 million

The 138.6 metres yacht Rising Sun was constructed by Lurssen at their Bremen Shipyard in Germany. The stunning yacht’s interior was designed by Seccombe design, while its fabulous exteriors are the work of Bannenberg and Rowell. She was delivered in 2004 and refitted in 2011.

It was originally bought by Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corporation; however, it was later acquired by Geffen Records’ David Geffen.

Rising Sun
Representation Image

Rising Sun cost $ 200 million in 2004, but now after the refittings, her cost is more than $ 400 million. 

She can accommodate 18 guests in 9 suites and about 45 crew members. She has a luxury spa, a beauty salon, underwater lights, a wine cellar, a gymnasium and much more. Her basketball court on the main deck also works as a helicopter pad when needed. She also has a private cinema with stunning ocean views too.

The yacht has a living area of more than 8000 m2 over five levels and 3300 m2 of deck space layered with teak.

She has a steel hull and a superstructure of aluminium with hawseholes plated in chromium. She can cruise at 26 knots and attain a maximum speed of 30 knots.

8. Superyacht Dubai – $350 Million

Dubai yacht was launched in 2006, constructed jointly by Blohm & Voss and Lurrsen shipbuilding companies. It is owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

The unique features of this superyacht comprise numerous open decks, hot water bathing areas and a lavish swimming pool endowed with custom-designed tiles made by the finest artisans. The most exciting interior is the main staircase. Circular in shape, it changes colours as it reflects and refracts the light reaching it through the uppermost deck. The interior is bright and bold, a blend of colours representative of the vibrant Middle Eastern culture.

Superyacht Dubai
Image for representation purposes only

Dubai comprises an expansive deck for his highness, sufficient rooms for accommodating 115 guests and a maximum of 80 crew members. It also has a comfortable lounge area, a helipad, a squash court, a movie theatre, gyms, and an expansive dining room with a chandelier embedded with rubies, emeralds and pearls. Dubai has specially designed engines that help it attain speeds of up to 26 knots.

9. Serene – $330 Million 

Counted among the world’s biggest and most extravagant superyachts, Serene is no less than a sailing palace. Owned by the crown prince and deputy prime minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman, Serene was constructed in 2011 in Italy. Interestingly, before its acquisition by the Saudi Prince, it was used by Bill Gates, who leased it for millions of dollars.

Serene
Credits: Fincantieri

It is a representation of finesse at its best, designed by Fincantieri, a prominent Italian shipbuilding company. The interiors were completed by Espen Oeino, a renowned designer. Serene measures almost 440 feet, and its tonnage are 8000. Endowed with specially designed engines, novel two-screwed propulsion, and robust engines, it can comfortably accommodate 25 people and more than 50 staff.

It has many unique technological features, such as a convertible helipad that turns into a swimming pool or a dance hall. Guest will never be bored onboard the Serene as it comprises movie theatres, music rooms, meeting spaces, lounges, a sauna, salons, a jacuzzi, a beach room, and a transparent room to view the beautiful underwater marine life.

10. Motor Yacht A – $323 Million

This Superyacht was designed by a French Architect, Philippe Starck and constructed by Blohm & Voss shipbuilders in Kiel. Measuring 120 m with a tonnage of 6000, it is among the world’s biggest motor yachts combining smart design with extraordinary elegance. It was launched in 2008 and is possessed by the businessman Andrey Melnichenko.

Superyacht A
Credits: Luerssen

The yacht’s interiors span more than 20,000 sq feet while the main suite covers 2500 sq feet. A unique feature of this brilliantly designed yacht is its adjustable shifting walls. It also has 6 large rooms comfortably accommodating more than 15 guests and 50 staff members. Having a dance floor, helipads, rescue boats, and swimming pools with a transparent bottom made of glass, Superyacht A offers true comfort at sea.

It is a sailing wonder capable of attaining a maximum speed of 23 knots. Security features of the yacht include bomb-proof windows, motion detectors, and camera surveillance. It is said that it also has a secret escape pod.

11. Motoryacht Radiant – $320 Million

Radiant is a beautiful motor yacht constructed in 2009 by Lurrssen shipbuilders, and it belongs to the owner of Al-Futtaim Group, Abdulla Al Futtaim. Measuring 360 feet, she can reach a fantastic speed of 22 knots. Its expansive fuel tanks can accommodate more than 9500 gallons of fuel, and Radiant is recognised as the world’s 32nd luxurious superyacht.

Her interiors were styled by the famous Gle Pushelburg, while her exteriors have been designed by Tim Heywood. The vessel was last refitted in 2023.

Motoryacht Radiant
Credits: Luerssen

It can carry more than 22 people and 45 crew comfortably. The hull of Radiant is made of steel, while its structure is largely constituted of aluminium. Delicate quality floor layering has been used for the decks. Functional features of the radiant include numerous swimming decks, helipads, a sauna bath, a massage room, garages, cinema halls, expansive seating areas, workout spaces and hot water baths, etc.

She has a gross tonnage of 5027 GT, a 16.3 m beam and a 4.4 m draught. The yacht is currently sailing under the flag of the Cayman Islands. 

12. Pelorus – $300 Million

The superyacht Pelorus was constructed by Lurrsen in Germany and was launched in 2003. Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh, a Saudi businessman, commissioned it in 2016, and it ended up with the Chinese business tycoon Samuel Tak Lee. It can accommodate more than 60 guests and about 45 crew members.

Tim Heywood and Terence Disdale, two internationally reputed names in the yacht design industry, worked together to design the superyacht that gives an aura of living on the beachside villas. It also has two helipads, swimming pools, a sauna, and a private deck with a comprehensive view. Pelorus has commendable security features, backup engines and generators.

Pelorus
Credits: Luerssen

Pelorus translates to expansive, and the yacht is quite faithful to its name since it is one of the 59 motor yachts in the world that measure more than 100 m and has a better speed than most yachts of her size. Currently, it is under the flagship of the Cayman Islands.

13. Al Mirqab – $ 300 million

Al Mirqab is a 133 m motor yacht constructed in 2008 by Peters Schiffbau in Wewelsfleth.  Her exteriors were penned by Tim Heywood, while the interiors were carved by Andrew Winch Design.

But what made her stand out when she was launched was her massive size, and to this day, the iconic yacht remains one of the most expensive and biggest yachts in the world. 

Al Mirqab
Representation Image

The $ 300 million vessel was constructed for the former PM of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. She has a long, beautiful navy-blue steel hull and a white superstructure of aluminium.

She was refitted in 2014 and has a 19.5 m beam and a 4.9 m draft. She can accommodate around 60 guests and an equal number of crew members. 

Al Mirqab can attain a maximum cruising speed of 23 knots and also has anchor stabilisers that increase comfort while the yacht is in rough waters or anchored.

Apart from the many large amenities onboard, the yacht has the largest spa that Winch design has ever worked on to this day, an enclosed pool and balcony terraces. Another striking feature is the Middle Eastern or Arabic-influenced motifs on its marble flooring.

14. Octopus Yacht- $ 285 million

Octopus is a 126 m-long megayacht constructed for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. One of the largest yachts in the world, she was launched in 2003 and has been chartered for several scientific missions, exploration projects and even rescues.

She has a steel hull and a steel superstructure, a gross tonnage of 9932 GT, a 5.76 m draft and a beam of 21 m. She was refitted in 2021 and can attain a cruising speed of 12.5 knots. She can accommodate 12 guests and 42 crew members.

Octopus Yacht
Representation Image

She is a true ocean explorer with a 12,500 nautical mile range and is famous for being a prominent explorer superyacht. She has 8 decks, a private elevator, a cinema, a gym, spas, and an observation lounge with a glass bottom for enjoying the underwater marine views.

The yacht has a bridge deck pool, a jacuzzi and also a pizza oven. It has storage space for water toys like jet skis, 7 tenders, 2 submersibles, fishing equipment, and also a large SUV. It has 2 helipads and space for 2 helicopters.

15. Aviva Yacht – $ 250 million

Aviva Yacht belongs to British Businessman Joe Lewis. One of the richest people in the UK, he is also an investor and philanthropist, as well as the owner of the Tavistock Group. 

Aviva was constructed in 2017 by Abeking & Rasmussen, situated in Lower Saxony. She is the biggest yacht built by the company that constructs naval vessels and cruise ships too.

Aviva Yacht
Representation Image

Aviva is 98 m long and has twin diesel-electric MTU engines capable of outputting 3862 horsepower. She has a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure. She also has a piano, an elevator, a beach club, a gym etc. 

However, its main feature is its indoor tennis court, making Aviva the first yacht to have an indoor padel tennis court.

She has 364,505 litres of fuel tanks, allowing her to cruise at a speed of 14 knots. She can also attain a maximum speed of 20 knots. AVIVA can accommodate 16 guests and 35 crew members after being refitted twice since its launch.

Conclusion

Owning a luxury yacht is a symbol of wealth and opulence. The world’s richest people spare no expense when it comes to their recreational yachts. The 15 most expensive yachts are a testament to this fact and display impressive feats of engineering and design.

They are made per the client’s choices and needs and also function as status symbols, gathering lots of attention and admiration wherever they sail. It is fascinating to see how people are ready to invest whopping amounts of money in these floating palaces, and we can only expect to see bigger, more luxurious and technologically advanced yachts in the near future, which would easily surpass those mentioned in this list in terms of parameters like size or design.

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Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if used in the article, have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

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Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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