Superyachts are the ultimate status symbol for the mega-rich with many splashing over £100million on their luxury vessels.
This week Manchester City owner Sheikh Monsour unveiled his 525ft floating behemoth, the fourth largest in the world, which would barely fit in the team’s Etihad Stadium.
The £500m yacht has 40 cabins for 48 guests and four entertaining decks including a large alfresco area connected with a swimming platform and club, as well as two helipads. But the billionaire has some stiff competition from those who work in the beautiful game, with fellow club owners and players owning their slice of seafaring luxury.
From Ronaldo’s £5.5million boat to David Beckham’s aptly named Seven vessel, these are the most lavish cruisers on the waves.
Ronaldo’s six-bathroom Grande tour
Cristiano Ronaldo splashed out on the £5.5million, 88-feet long Azimut Grande in 2020 and christened his new toy with a family holiday around the Italian coast. With five bedrooms and six bathrooms, there’s plenty of space for fiancee Georgina Rodriquez and their five kids to enjoy.
There’s also a modern kitchen onboard, as well as two relaxation areas, a huge lounge and a lavish dining room. In terms of its specifications, it’s capable of reaching 28 knots, thanks to two 1,900 horsepower engines, and is made of carbon fibre weighing a whopping 93 tonnes.
£5m Super Seven
SEVEN – named after the football legend’s number and daughter Harper’s middle name – is a 100ft motor yacht with a top speed of 30 knots.
Five bedrooms accommodate 10 guests (plus four crew members) and one insider told The Sun: “It’s pretty plush by anyone’s standards. He helped design the boat himself, and has been incredibly hands-on with everything.”
David and Victoria bought the Italian-built boat in 2021, for £5m, and took their first voyage round the Florida Keys in January.
533ft Eclipse with 50ft pool
At 533ft, the Russian oligarch’s superyacht is the second biggest in the world, and is estimated to be worth £600million. It boasts a 50ft swimming pool that can be converted into a dance floor and the owner’s deck is a whopping 184ft.
Eclipse can accommodate 36 guests across 18 suites, as well as 70 crew members, and the master suite is protected by bulletproof glass and armour plating. It boasts two helipads and even has a mini-submarine so the former Chelsea boss can take a deep dive to 150ft below sea level.
Earlier this year Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government over his links to despot Vladimir Putin. It was reported that he moved his yachts to a “safe harbour” in Tivat, Macedonia to avoid being seized.
£700m ‘floating palace’ with snow room
Saudi royal Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who took over Newcastle United last year, is used to making waves with his extravagant purchases – but since 2015, he’s literally been making them too. He bought Serene, which is one of the world’s largest boats, from Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for more than £400million.
The vast vessel, which is 439ft in length and 60ft wide, boasts seven decks that can hold 24 guests, two helipads, a hangar and both a sauna and even a ‘snow room’. Reports also claim there’s a 100m submarine aboard and that Leonardo da Vinci’s painting the Salvator Mundi hangs inside, too.
In 2017, the artwork became the most expensive ever sold when it was purchased for £340million by a mystery buyer – allegedly acting on behalf of MBS. If it’s true that could make his floating palace worth more than £700million.
£113m ‘mobile office’ with tennis court
Spurs’ billionaire owner Joe Lewis certainly didn’t skimp on his ‘boy toys’ when he purchased this lavish superyacht. The Aviva, which sold for £113m, is referred to as his ‘mobile office’ and had the first full-size indoor tennis court installed on a yacht.
Not only that, when Joe’s not playing there it can be turned into a gym and football pitch that’s also used by the vessel’s staff. Aviva, which is 321-feet long, can house 16 guests and has a swimming pool, lounge area, a speedboat and multiple jetskis onboard.
£166m ‘ultimate entertainment vessel’
Fulham FC owner Shahid Khan is worth more than £6billion and as one of the world’s richest men, naturally he needed a superyacht to match. His 312ft vessel, Kismet, can host 18 guests in staterooms that have been compared to a ‘five-star hotel’.
It was branded “the ultimate entertainment vessel” and it seems for good reason as it boasts two spacious sun decks perfect for parties. That’s not all; one of those entertainment areas can be turned into either a nightclub or an outdoor cinema and the other a basketball court.
Notably, the superyacht was chartered by Jay-Z and Beyonce for £835,000 a week back in 2018.
John Henry’s £68m yacht
Lavish superyacht Elysian cost £68million and isn’t short on luxury features. The vessel, which was bought by Liverpool FC and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, boasts an infinity pool, fireplace, gym and spa.
It’s 216ft long and can accommodate 12 guests in six spacious staterooms. The Elysian used to be owned by Russian banker and oligarch Georgy Bedzhamov until 2016.
Source: the-sun.com
