Inside Jeff Bezos’ $500,000,000 superyacht that costs a mind-numbing amount to keep afloat each year
It's not unheard of for billionaire figures to show off their flashy cars or private islands.
Last year, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg announced he was building one of the biggest homes in US history, complete with a doomsday bunker.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk famously keeps his car choices and living quarters pretty humble despite being the world’s richest man.
But when it comes to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, he didn't hold back on splashing out on his superyacht, Koru.
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The 417-foot mega vessel reportedly set Bezos back $500 million, with its own 250-foot support vessel called Abeona costing an extra $75 million.
But, while the upfront cost is probably pennies to the billionaire - who has a current net worth of $189.4 billion - the money it takes to keep the boat afloat is pretty insane.
According to the Daily Mail, the superyacht costs approximately $25 million in operating expenses per year. On top of that, Abeona racks up another $10 million in annual upkeep, as per Super Yacht Fan.
Even when docked, the mega-vessel doesn't save much. When Koru pulled into Fort Lauderdale in late 2023, it was too large for the usual marina and had to be docked alongside cruise ships at Port Everglades - at a whopping rate of $16,500 per week.
Luckily for Bezos' deep pockets, the entrepreneur could afford to spend this kind of money every single day and not even notice.
Inside, it’s basically a mansion on the sea that can accommodate up to 18 lucky guests. Koru is kitted out with three outdoor decks, two swimming pools, a cinema, several lounges and multiple business areas, per Luxuo.
It may be the tallest sailing yacht in the world, but it's even harder to miss with a goddess-like figurehead on top that looks a lot like Bezos' fiancée, Lauren Sànchez.
Over on Abeona is a helipad that Sànchez has been known to use. The support vessel also carries four jet skis, two fast launches and a dinghy, Abeona also features two extra staterooms to accommodate extra guests.
Koru hit the water in 2023 and has been sailing Bezos around the globe ever since. With three 229-foot masts, it can reach speeds of up to 20 knots (about 37 km/23 mph) under sail.
But, of course, a floating palace like this doesn’t run itself. From catering staff to boat maintenance, Koru and Abeona require a crew of up to 36 people and 45, respectively.