Luxury watches, Chelsea mansions and fast cars are all impressive, but the greatest flex of all is owning a private superyacht. Some of the world’s most expensive yachts are worth billions, and it’s easy to see where the price tag comes from. Many are fitted with advanced missile defence systems to maximise security, while others are plain-and-simple pleasure pads. From Jeff Bezos’s infamous three-masted $500 million sailing yacht, to a $1.5 billion concept yacht modelled after the city-state of Monaco, here are the most expensive yachts in 2024.
History Supreme – $4.8 Billion
Adorned with 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum, this ultra-luxurious yacht has British designer Stuart Hughes written all over it. The 100ft vessel reportedly belongs to Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok, and it’s the world’s most expensive yacht by a large margin. In terms of design, the History Supreme has a sleek hardtop that evokes the classic design of the Italian Baia One Hundred, and the interiors simply ooze with excess. One of the walls in the master suite is built from dark meteoric stone, there’s an actual shaved T-Rex bone on board.
Although designer Stuart Hughes publicly announced the details of the yacht on his website, some boat enthusiasts are convinced that the entire thing is a hoax, because the vessel hasn’t been seen in over a decade. Either way, we can dream.
Eclipse – $1.5 billion
Oligarch Roman Abramovich is known for many things (Chelsea football club, for instance), but these days he’s better known as the owner of one of the world’s largest private yachts. Unlike the rather pompous gold-plated History Supreme, Abramovich’s 162m Eclipse is akin to a military tank on the water. This billion-dollar yacht has an advanced anti-missile system, bulletproof windows, and intelligent laser technology that blocks unwanted camera lenses from snapping unauthorised shots (bad luck if you’re paparazzi).
Security aside, the Eclipse fully caters to the hedonist lifestyle you’d expect from a billionaire oligarch. On board, there are 24 cabins, two swimming pools (one of which converts into a dancefloor), a disco hall, and even a mini-submarine that submerges up to 160ft – a feature befitting true ocean lovers. This gorgeous yacht was crafted by renowned German shipmakers Blohm+Voss, so the internal engineering is undoubtedly as marvellous as the palatial interiors.
Streets of Monaco – $1 billion
The name says it all for this billion-dollar concept yacht. The city-state of Monaco itself is an opulent, glitzy destination, but the streets of Monaco replicated and miniaturised on a 155m superyacht? Now that’s decadent. Designed by Yacht Island Design in conjunction with BMT Nigel Gee, this unique boat is currently awaiting construction funding from an investor with deep pockets, but when it’s completed, it’s set to knock all other luxury yachts clean out of the water (not literally).
On board, the Streets of Monaco will be replicas of iconic landmarks like the Monte Carlo Casino and Hotel de Paris, and it will even have a functional go-kart track replicating the famous Grand Prix circuit. Reminiscent of a five-star hotel, the yacht will also have a spa, gym, café, and multiple swimming pools for guests to enjoy, making it a true playground for the rich.
Scheherazade – $700 million
Sleek aesthetics meet meticulous German engineering on the controversial Scheherazade. This $700 million superyacht is one of the longest motor yachts in the world, clocking in at 140m in length. If Abramovich’s Eclipse is a military tank on the high seas, the Scheherazade is a pleasure palace.
Guests on this superyacht can enjoy a steamy Turkish bath, a cryotherapy chamber, a hydromassage room, and a sauna, promising some serious rejuvenation. In a true display of wealthy excess, the bathroom features on the Scheherazade are reportedly gold-plated, and there’s a player piano in one of the VIP suites. Lavish as these amenities are, the yacht has been out of service since 2022 after the Italian authorities seized it. The owner of the yacht still remains a mystery.
The Koru – $500 million
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the pop culture figurehead of the super-rich, and his yacht is everything you’d expect from a man who spent $5.5 billion on a joyride to space. His 127m sailing yacht, called The Koru, is the tallest in the world and has three masts towering at 230 feet – roughly the same height as Big Ben. Many will be familiar with this extravagant yacht after it made headlines in 2023 for its controversial request to temporarily dismantle a historic Netherlands bridge to make way for it to pass through (which, after all, turned out to be unnecessary).
On board The Koru are all the trimmings fit for billionaire indulgence, such as a state-of-the-art cinema, a salon, jacuzzis, a gym, two pools, and most famously, a wooden sculpture depicting the Norse goddess, Freyja.
Azzam – $600 million
Another feat of German engineering, the $600 million Azzam has long held its title as one of the world’s most expensive private yachts, having first entered service in 2013. This enormous 180m vessel once belonged to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the late president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, and it is believed to have since passed to his successor. Speed is one of the most impressive features of this superyacht, which can reach up to 32 knots with the help of its two gas turbines and two diesel engines.
The interiors of the Azzam pay homage to the UAE’s heritage of pearl diving, with mother-of-pearl inlays and intricate woodwork details. It also boasts an advanced missile defence system and a bulletproof master suite, ensuring both luxury and safety.
Final Take
The superyacht market is growing rapidly – particularly since the coronavirus pandemic, which saw the world’s wealthiest flee to the high seas for privacy. These six yachts truly are the pinnacle of personal luxury, and while they’re well out of reach for some, they afford a level of privacy, security, and pleasure that simply can’t be found on land.
