Celebrities and their luxuriously big boats
What do Richard Branson, Tiger Woods, Steven Spielberg, J.K Rowling, Giorgio Armani, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bono, Rafael Nadal, Eric Clapton and Nicole Kidman have in common? Well, other than the fact they are famous and extremely wealthy, they own (or did own) some of the most impressive superyachts in the world.
For many of these celebrities, the appeal of a superyacht is undoubtedly as much about escaping the paparazzi and the public as it is about being able to enjoy a luxurious floating vacation. Tiger Woods’ yacht, named ‘Privacy’, is testament to that.
According to articles in Yacht News, BOLAVIP and in the travel section of News Anyway, these people own the seriously impressive, head-spinningly-awesome juggernauts of the yachting world. Phew, just imagine all of them rocking up to the same boat show with their yachts. The sight would be bedazzling, not simply because of magnitude and sleek and stunning architecture but because of the extras.
Working on the assumption that few of us are ever going to set foot on these super vessels, then let’s have a look at what some of them include.
Imagine superyachts with a cinema screen, infinity pool, gym, jacuzzi, baby grand piano, bars, a spa, salon, helipad, a recording studio, game rooms, submarines, wine cellar, a disco hall, multiple cabins (for all the guests), and heaps of storage, of course, for all the water toys.
Here are some interesting snippets about the different superyachts owned by various celebs:
- British billionaire and Virgin brand mastermind Richard Branson named his 32-metre catamaran Necker Belle, after his island hideaway, Necker Island, in the British Virgin Islands (it’s one of the most exclusive private islands owned by celebrities). Branson actually sold his yacht to an undisclosed buyer in 2008.
- Top Hollywood director Steven Speilberg’s 86-metre superyacht includes (of course) a cinema screen as well as a hugely impressive infinity pool with a 4.5 metre glass wall.
- The superyacht owned by author J.K. Rowling was once owned by Captain Jack Sparrow aka Johnny Depp. Apparently, the Harry Potter series author recently listed the yacht for sale at a staggering €17.5 million (nearly $34 million NZ dollars).
- Leonardo DiCaprio spent as much as $200 million to create The Rising Sun, reputed to be the 11th largest yacht in the world. It enjoys a few trappings… such as a wine cellar, cinema, basketball court, and helipad.
- Besides being one of America’s most beloved songwriters, Billy Joel is also a huge yacht and boat enthusiast - he once owned as many as five.
- Can you imagine a floating music studio? David Gilmour could. Known for being one of the masterminds behind Pink Floyd, he bought the beautiful Astoria (which looks a little more like a glorified barge than a yacht) back in 1986 to make it his recording studio. Astoria was built in 1911 to hold a 90-piece orchestra.
- Paul Allen was, at the time of his death, ranked within the top 50 wealthiest people with most of his fortune made from Microsoft. He then became a successful businessman in the sports industry as well. He owned what was deemed one of the most impressive and luxurious yachts ever. Named Octopus, the 126 metre monster had two helipads, a spa, a recording studio, game rooms, jacuzzies, swimming pools, various cinemas, and even two submarines.
- Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the owner of a superyacht that is longer than the average cruise ship (it’s 147 metres long). Called Topaz, it has a helipad, on-deck jacuzzies, stabilisers, swimming pools and platforms, underwater lights, a gym, a conference room, and a cinema.
We always knew there was nothing humdrum about these superyachts, but they seem all the more spectacular when their backstories are known, and we gain a glimpse into what life on board incorporates.
Check them out on these sites to see the variety and splendor.