Inside Some of the World’s Most Expensive Yachts and Their Owners

Eclipse

Publicly associated with Roman Abramovich

At approximately 533 feet, Eclipse was the world’s largest private yacht when it was delivered in 2010. Although published estimates vary considerably, it is frequently named among the most expensive yachts ever constructed.

Eclipse reportedly accommodates up to 36 guests and includes two helipads, an expansive swimming pool, and a fleet of tenders. Its scale was groundbreaking at the time, but its emphasis on autonomy and privacy may be even more consequential. The vessel helped establish the modern superyacht as a fully self-contained environment designed for extended travel without sacrificing personal space or control.

Public reporting has long associated Eclipse with Russian businessman Roman Abramovich. As with many privately held yachts, however, its formal ownership structure is not necessarily represented by the individual most commonly connected to it.

Azzam

Built for the UAE royal family

Measuring nearly 593 feet, Azzam remains the world’s longest private yacht currently afloat. It is also remarkable for its performance, reportedly exceeding 30 knots, an exceptional speed for a vessel of its size.

Azzam was commissioned for the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former president of the United Arab Emirates, and remains publicly associated with the UAE royal family. Its estimated construction cost is commonly reported at approximately $600 million, although the amount has not been officially confirmed.

Where many yachts prioritize interior volume, Azzam represents a different kind of achievement. Its water-jet propulsion, shallow-water capabilities, and combination of speed and scale make it as much an engineering landmark as a statement of wealth.

Dilbar

Publicly associated with Alisher Usmanov

While Azzam leads in length, Dilbar holds another major distinction. According to its builder, Lürssen, the yacht is the world’s largest motor yacht by gross tonnage.

Dilbar includes two helipads and a 25-meter swimming pool holding approximately 180 cubic meters of water. Lürssen describes it as the largest swimming pool ever installed aboard a yacht. Published valuations generally place the vessel well above $600 million, though no definitive purchase price has been publicly confirmed.

Dilbar has been widely associated with Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov, although its beneficial ownership has been disputed publicly. The vessel was also affected by international sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Beyond the headlines surrounding its ownership, Dilbar demonstrates the increasing importance of interior volume, wellness, recreation, and extended livability in contemporary yacht design. It functions less like a conventional vessel and more like a private resort engineered to move between destinations.

Sailing Yacht A

Publicly associated with Andrey Melnichenko

Few yachts are as immediately recognizable as Sailing Yacht A. The vessel is distinguished by its sculptural profile, eight-deck configuration, and three carbon-fiber masts rising approximately 100 meters above the waterline.

Published estimates commonly place its value between $400 million and $500 million. The yacht has been publicly linked to Russian businessman Andrey Melnichenko, although its legal ownership has been the subject of dispute. Italian authorities seized the vessel in 2022 in connection with European Union sanctions, and its status has remained a matter of legal and regulatory attention.

Regardless of the controversy surrounding it, Sailing Yacht A changed the visual language of yacht design. Philippe Starck’s exterior treats the vessel less as a traditional sailing yacht and more as a piece of contemporary architecture. Its influence lies in its willingness to challenge nearly every familiar convention of the category.

Koru

Jeff Bezos

Delivered in 2023, Koru is one of the largest sailing yachts in the world and among the most widely discussed yachts of the past decade. The three-masted vessel measures approximately 417 feet and is publicly owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Koru’s estimated value is frequently reported at approximately $500 million, although its actual construction cost has not been disclosed. The yacht is accompanied by Abeona, a 75-meter support vessel capable of carrying additional equipment, tenders, and a helicopter.

Unlike the futuristic Sailing Yacht A, Koru draws heavily from the proportions and romance of classic sailing vessels. Its name is derived from the Māori word for the unfurling frond of a silver fern, a symbol commonly associated with new beginnings, growth, and regeneration.

Its combination of traditional form, modern technology, and support-vessel capability reflects a broader evolution in yacht ownership. Rather than concentrating every function aboard a single vessel, owners can create an integrated fleet that separates private living areas from aviation, equipment, crew operations, and water-based recreation.

Koru has also become emblematic of growing interest in yachting among technology leaders. For owners whose businesses and lives operate across international boundaries, a yacht can provide privacy, freedom of movement, and a highly personalized environment unavailable through conventional travel.

Black Pearl

Commissioned by Oleg Burlakov

Black Pearl may not carry the same estimated price as Eclipse or Koru, but its technological ambitions earn it a place in the conversation. The sailing yacht was delivered after being commissioned by the late Russian businessman Oleg Burlakov. It is now associated with his family and estate.

The vessel’s three DynaRig masts support approximately 2,900 square meters of sail area. More importantly, Black Pearl was designed to regenerate electricity while sailing. Its propulsion system can use the movement of the yacht through the water to generate power, supported by battery storage and heat-recovery technologies.

Oceanco has stated that the yacht was conceived with the capability to cross the Atlantic without using fossil fuel under suitable conditions. During a 2023 Atlantic passage, Black Pearl reportedly sailed approximately 80 percent of the route and consumed substantially less fuel than a comparable conventional motor yacht might require.

With an estimated value often reported near $200 million, Black Pearl is not one of the top five most expensive yachts by most published estimates. Its significance lies elsewhere. It demonstrates that the future of extraordinary yacht ownership may be defined not only by increased scale, but also by efficiency, energy generation, and more sophisticated marine engineering.