There’s something undeniably magnetic about a megayacht slicing through turquoise water, the hush of luxury, the private helipad, the ocean as your backyard.
For billionaires and celebrities, yachts are floating statements of taste, engineering and sometimes eccentricity.
Below I’ve rounded up some of the most talked-about private yachts owned (or long-associated) with famous people, from tech barons to media moguls and sports tycoons.
So are you ready for the cruise?
1. Koru — Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos’s sailing superyacht Koru is one of the most spectacular sea toys on the planet: a massive, traditionally styled sailing yacht with three soaring masts and room for lavish entertaining.
Delivered by Oceanco and widely reported as Bezos’s, Koru blends classic lines with cutting-edge naval tech and is accompanied by a large support vessel for extra toys and guests.
The yacht has become a focal point for headlines, both for its size (it’s the world’s largest true sailing yacht) and for the splashy events reportedly held aboard, including pre-wedding celebrations.
Inside and out it’s built for privacy and parties: multiple decks, pools and lounges plus a crew capable of high-end hospitality make it a floating resort.
Koru’s construction and launch sparked conversations about sustainability and sourcing (teak, materials, etc.), but it remains a showstopper in any port it visits.
Whether Bezos is aboard or not, Koru signals how the very rich commission vessels that are simultaneously personal and highly engineered. If you like dramatic three-masted silhouettes, this one’s an icon.
Next up is a yacht that looks like it came from a sci-fi film. Take a look.
2. Launchpad — Mark Zuckerberg
Launchpad is the futuristic-feeling Feadship-built megayacht linked to Mark Zuckerberg and it feels like a floating start-up HQ: clean lines, observation nooks and tech-forward touches.
Reported to have been delivered in recent years, Launchpad is large, deliberately private, and accompanied by a support vessel that carries tenders and toys, a pattern common among tech billionaires who prefer a low-profile cruising life.
The boat’s design leans into contemporary minimalism rather than ostentatious ornamentation.
This suits a tech CEO’s aesthetic, clever spaces for family and friends, tech-enabled privacy features, and a crew that runs the logistics so owners can unplug.
Launchpad made headlines due to sightings and tracking data in various European waters, and while owners of such vessels often keep details quiet, the ship’s appearance and capabilities have been widely reported.
For family time, discreet meetings, or long-range cruising, Launchpad underscores how tech wealth translates into bespoke, high-tech yachts.
Hang tight. The next yacht has glass-bottom drama and serious wow factor.
3. Dragonfly — Sergey Brin
Dragonfly arrived with serious industry buzz.
Delivered to Sergey Brin, this is a big, modern Lürssen masterpiece rumored (and reported across yacht press) to be among the largest private American-owned yachts.
Dragonfly is the sort of vessel that mixes executive-class amenities with exploration capability, think helicopter hangar, glass-bottom pool and roomy decks for both private downtime and large gatherings.
Brin’s fleet choices suggest a taste for both privacy and spectacle, and Dragonfly fits that pattern: substantial volume, advanced systems, and discreet yet luxurious interiors.
The yacht’s delivery confirmed long-standing rumors about its buyer, and it’s been tracked making headline-worthy appearances in major yachting hotspots.
For lovers of scale and modern yacht engineering, Dragonfly represents contemporary megayacht ambition, huge, hyper-functional and built to cruise anywhere.
Do you want to know what Larry Ellison’s yacht borrows from a Japanese aesthetic next. Let’s find out.
4. Musashi — Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison’s Musashi is a Feadship-built, Japanese-inspired superyacht that reflects the Oracle cofounder’s longstanding fascination with Japanese culture and aesthetics.
At roughly 88 meters, Musashi is smaller than some megayachts on this list but exquisitely detailed: interior spaces that nod to traditional Japanese design, plus modern wellness and entertainment facilities.
It’s built for comfort and long-range cruising, a yacht for serious owners who want privacy and refinement rather than headline-grabbing showmanship.
The ship’s features (spa, movie theater, gym, and cleverly arranged guest suites) point to an owner who values personal retreat and family use as much as power.
Feadship’s craftsmanship with Sinot’s interiors, make it a textbook example of high-end custom yacht building.
Good to see you’re still here. The next yacht is a classic Hollywood-style floating palace. Excited?
5. Rising Sun — David Geffen (formerly Larry Ellison)
Rising Sun reads like a movie set.
Originally built for Larry Ellison and now owned by David Geffen, this Lürssen-built giant is famous for hosting A-list guests and for its party-ready spaces.
At around 138 meters, Rising Sun is one of the largest private yachts in the world and includes a basketball court, a cinema, a wine cellar and expansive guest quarters, basically a five-star hotel that sails.
The ownership history is interesting. Ellison famously traded down from this leviathan to other yachts, and Geffen’s move to own Rising Sun made headlines, partly because of the celebrity guests and star-studded itineraries.
The yacht’s interiors and layout prioritize entertainment, perfect for owners who love to host and be seen.
Behind the glamour, Rising Sun is also an engineering feat, with a range that supports long Mediterranean or transatlantic crossings.
For yacht-spotters, it’s a perennial head-turner whenever it drops anchor near a festival or hotspot.
Guess what’s coming up next. A brand-new 400-foot statement piece owned by a sports mogul.
6. Whisper (Known as Kismet earlier) — Eric Schmidt
Whisper, the megayacht that originally belonged to Shahid Khan (owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC) was sold to Eric Schmidt in 2023.
The boat was popularly known as “Kismet” when Shahid Khan had its possession. It was renamed to “Whisper” after being bought by Eric Schmidt.
The yacht is enormous, around 122 meters of Lürssen-crafted splendor. It was delivered under the project name “Jag.”
Combining Mediterranean glamour with family-friendly spaces and sporting-meets-party features, helipad, multiple pools, cinema, beauty salon and expansive terraces, it represents a true masterpiece.
The boat made headlines under Shahid Khan when it arrived at big events, even being spotted around Super Bowl LIX. Its bow bore a jaguar motif at that time, nodding to Khan’s NFL franchise.
With a crew to support extended stays and a design that accommodates both private family trips and large guest lists, Whisper typifies the modern megayacht-for-the-rich-and-famous.
If you love a bold, headline-grabbing vessel, this is your jam.
The next yacht is famous for its scale and splashy controversy. Check it out.
7. Dilbar — Alisher Usmanov (trust-linked ownership)
Dilbar is one of the largest yachts in the world by volume, and its sheer scale (huge indoor pool, vast internal volume) has made it infamous as well as impressive.
Built by Lürssen, Dilbar has appeared in coverage not only for its luxury appointments but also for legal and geopolitical wrinkles. Questions around ownership and sanctions have featured in the headlines in recent years.
The yacht’s amenities are staggering, multiple helipads, vast leisure facilities and one of the largest indoor pools ever installed on a private vessel, which help explain its headline-grabbing valuations.
Due to the complex offshore ownership structures common for megayachts, reporting about Dilbar often references trusts and legal rulings rather than straightforward ownership statements.
That complexity is part of why Dilbar remains frequently in the news. Enormous yacht plus geopolitical controversy is equal to lots of attention.
The next one on the list is a high-profile oligarch’s yacht that’s been under international scrutiny. Keep reading to know more.
8. Eclipse — Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich’s Eclipse was for years the yardstick for “ultra-ultimate” private yachts: a vessel reported to include two helipads, several pools, missile-detection systems (rumors aside), and suites enough to host big entourages.
Built by Blohm+Voss, Eclipse’s enormous length and layered entertainment spaces turned it into a decades-long media fascination.
More recently, Eclipse’s status shifted as sanctions and legal complications affected how and where the yacht could travel.
The recent coverage tracked its movements and maintenance as international authorities and ports responded to sanctions landscapes.
Whether docked for refit or moving under limited permissions, Eclipse remains emblematic of both megayacht opulence and the ways vessels can become entangled in geopolitics.
For fans of dramatic headlines, Eclipse’s story is a reminder that yachts often exist at the intersection of wealth, privacy, and international law.
Wait, two more standout yachts to go, including a legendary explorer-style vessel. Stay tuned.
9. Octopus — (built for) Paul Allen — now Roger Samuelsson
Octopus was built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and became famous not only for size and luxury but for its role as an exploration vehicle, complete with submarine, helipad and science-friendly spaces.
After Paul Allen’s passing, the yacht changed hands and has been reported in recent years as owned by Swedish billionaire Roger Samuelsson; it’s still one of the most capable explorer/megayachts afloat.
Octopus blends luxury with an expeditionary heart: long-range fuel capacity, labs, and toys that can support scientific missions or extreme cruising.
Its story is a reminder that some megayachts double as platforms for discovery and philanthropy, not just private parties.
The vessel continues to be tracked in global ports and is often highlighted for its range and unique features.
And now, the final stretch. The last stop is a yacht beloved by the fashion and media crowd.
10. Eos — Barry Diller & Diane von Furstenberg
Eos is a three-masted Lürssen-built sailing yacht associated with media mogul Barry Diller and designer Diane von Furstenberg, a glamorous, classic sailing yacht that regularly hosts fashion and media luminaries.
At about 93 meters, Eos is less about volume and more about elegant presence: a huge schooner with stately decks and a figurehead that’s become part of its mystique.
Eos’s itineraries traditionally keep it between Mediterranean and Caribbean seasons, and it’s one of those yachts that shows how owners in entertainment and fashion use yachts as floating salons for dinners, launches, and intimate star-studded events.
The yacht’s reputation comes from being both private and the backdrop of so many celebrity moments over the years. In short: Eos is where old-world sailing romance meets modern celebrity hospitality.
Final thoughts — why we care about these yachts (and why they keep changing the headlines)
These yachts show us three things. First, they’re extreme personal statements, an owner’s taste and priorities translated into steel, teak and technology.
Second, they’re often ergonomically designed for both privacy and entertainment: multiple decks, helipads, pools, and support vessels are now the norm for the mega-rich.
Third, they’re frequently in the news not just because of glamour, but because ownership, geopolitics and legal issues can make a yacht far more than a private toy, they can become symbols in global stories.
Whether you’re into the engineering, the interiors, or the celebrity gossip that comes with dockside sightings, these vessels are undeniably fascinating.
Enjoyed the post?
