People use a variety of things to express their wealth and social position. Some will wear golden Rolex watches and hand-made leather shoes. Others will drive around in expensive supercars or a luxury set of wheels and a driver wearing a flat cap. But there are only a select few who express their wealth and social standing by spending at least some of their free time sailing around the globe in some of the best superyachts in the world. We’ve gathered a few of the most expensive ones below.
Dubai (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum)
Dubai is a 162-meter (531 feet) long superyacht owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. It is the third largest yacht in the world, with a capacity to hold 115 guests, including the crew.
The yacht itself was designed by English yacht designer Andrew Winch and built by German shipbuilding and engineering company Blohm+Voss, with its interiors designed by Platinum Yachts. “Dubai” reportedly cost $400 million to build.
Eclipse (Roman Abramovich)
Eclipse is the second largest private yacht in the world, owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich. It is just 17.3 meters (about 56 feet) shorter than Azzam (see below). It is equipped with 24 guest cabins, two swimming pools, several hot tubs, and a disco hall, along with two helicopter pads, a mini-submarine capable of submerging to 50 meters (160 ft), and a missile detection system for added security.
The yacht was built by Blohm+Voss, with its exterior and interiors designed by Terence Disdale. It reportedly cost around $500 million to build.
Azzam (Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan)
Azzam (it means “resolute” in Arab) is a 180-meter (590 feet) long superyacht owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the Emir of Abu Dhabi. It is the largest private motor yacht in the world. The building of the yacht was directed by engineer Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi, with technical engineering by the German shipbuilding company Lürssen Yachts and interior design by Christophe Leoni.
The building of this luxury yacht reportedly cost a bit over $600 million.
History Supreme (unknown owner)
Last but not least, let us mention a small (it only has a length of about 30 meters or 100 ft) but insanely expensive superyacht built by UK luxury yacht designer Stuart Hughes for an unnamed Malaysian businessman, called History Supreme. The body of the vessel is coated in solid gold, and the same material – along with silver and platinum – was used to build it, and in insane quantities, too – reports speak of 100 tons (200,000 lbs) of precious metals used for its construction.
And it was also insanely expensive – reportedly, the unknown buyer paid not less than $4.5 billion for it.
