what yacht does bill gates own

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In photos: Bill Gates-owned world's first hydrogen megayacht unveiled

Posted: May 6, 2024 | Last updated: May 6, 2024

Project 821 features a Nemo lounge, offering spectacular underwater views.

Project 821 was launched at Feadship's Amsterdam facility.

A dedicated hydrogen storage room allows Project 821 to cruise emissions-free.

Project 821 features expansive shell doors and slide-out balconies for seamless indoor-outdoor living.

Design details like door trims and railings create a sense of continuity throughout Project 821's decks.

Project 821 is currently listed for sale with Edmiston.

Project 821 includes a private cinema for onboard entertainment.

Project 821 has a fully-equipped gym and a spacious wellness area.

Project 821 is equipped with a variety of tenders.

Design details like door trims and railings create a sense of continuity.

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Bill Gates Yacht: Everything You Want To Know

In 2020 the yachting world was abuzz with news that Bill Gates had bought as stunning and advanced yacht known as Project Aqua. The massive, 370-foot concept yacht was revealed in 2019 at the Monaco Yacht Show and news soon followed that billionaire Bill Gates, once the richest man in the world and the founder of Microsoft, had commissioned the construction of his own hydrogen-powered Aqua. But that never actually happened and, in fact, as near as anyone can tell for real, Bill Gates doesn’t own a yacht at all. 

So where did the story come from? What’s the deal with the Aqua? And hasn’t Bill Gates been pictured on a yacht before? Let’s get some answers.

How Much Did the Aqua Yacht Cost at the Monaco Yacht Show?

According to the stories online, Bill Gates paid $600 million for the hydrogen powered yacht. But that’s not true at all. According to the yacht makers, the Dutch company Sinot, the price tag is $645 million but no one bought it after it was revealed at the Monaco Yacht Show, and that includes Bill Gates. It’s expensive but definitely not the most expensive in the world.

How Fast is the Aqua Yacht?

Aqua is a unique yacht in the yachting world which is why it garnered so much attention in the first place. It’s the first mega yacht that runs on a fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cell system that features two hydrogen engines that can produce 1,341 horsepower. The top speed is 17 knots and  the Aqua has a cruising speed of 12 knots. The total range is 3,750 nautical miles. The liquid hydrogen is stored in two 28-ton vacuum sealed tanks where it can be held at -253 degrees C. The only exhaust is water.

What Does the Interior of  the Aqua Yacht Look Like?

The Aqua has 7 suites meant to house up to 14 guests at any given time. Two of those suites are larger VIP cabins. The ceilings throughout are 9 feet and stretch as high as 12.5 feet elsewhere thanks to the luxury Sinot yacht architecture. The vessel has room for a crew of 31 as well. The beach deck lounge aboard the boat alone looks like a luxury hotel space.

The Aqua features a bow observation room which is surrounded by windows to give a panoramic view of the ocean which has been described as the “ultimate superyacht owners lounge.” In addition, there’s a movie theater on the upper deck. It also includes a wellness center with a hydro massage room. You can also do some yoga in a workout space. There’s a fully equipped gym, a beauty salon, and even a hairdresser.

Up on the main deck there’s a luxury swimming pool that even includes a waterfall. One of the yacht’s defining features is the spiral staircase that covers all five decks and is covered by a skylight. On the way up it also offers a view of the interior of the hydrogen fuel tanks so you can see just what 56 tons of ultra cold liquid hydrogen looks like as you move between decks. 

The tender garage has an array of toys such as jet skis while the main deck features a beach club with a dining area designed for all 14 guests and a lounge that converts into the cinema space.

What Yacht Has Bill Gates Actually Been On?

Bill Gates does seem to like yachts, just not enough to spend his money owning one, and that’s fair. Yachts cost millions to maintain every year. No one got rich spending millions to maintain a boat.

That said, Bill Gates has not only vacationed on yachts – he spent his 66th birthday on one – he also got married on a yacht.

In 2021, Gates made the news when he celebrated his 66th on board a luxury yacht called the Lana alongside Jeff Bezos. He spent $2 million to charter the yacht for a week and flew 50 guests out to celebrate with him. 

The Lana is a 351 foot yacht with room for 12 guests and a cruising speed of 12 knots with a max speed of 18 knots. The master suite is 1,184 square feet. The room features his and hers walk-in dressing rooms and a private terrace.

Elsewhere on board you’ll find a piano in the lounge area as well as a full gym for working out. There’s both a sauna and a well-appointed spa as well. On deck you can head to the beach club or take a dip in the pool. 

There are three tenders in the garage alongside a bunch of toys including various jetskis, a seabob, wakeboards, WindSurfers, fishing equipment, scuba diving equipment and more. 

Back in 2014, Gates rented an even more expensive yacht, the $5 million per week Serene, to go on a vacation with his family. The Serene, once owned by  Russian vodka magnate Yuri Shelfer before being purchased by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, clocked in at a massive 450 feet making it one of the world’s biggest and even had its own on board submarine

The Serene features 7 decks, a saltwater pool, a climbing wall, a surprisingly large library, health spa, outdoor cinema and a nightclub. This is all spread across 48,000 square feet.

It’s also been confirmed that Gates met his wife Melinda on a yacht owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, all the way back in 1994. 

Why Do People Think Bill Gates Owns the Aqua?

It’s easy to see why people may have thought Gates owned the Aqua when you consider a handful of factors. First, as mentioned, we have lots of evidence that Bill Gates really does enjoy luxury yachts. The extremely high price tag was something that only a few people in the world are going to be able to afford and Gates, who doesn’t own a yacht, seems like a likely candidate for those reasons. 

In addition, Gates has spent several years now as a climate activist and has supported a number of green technologies. A yacht that runs on hydrogen seems like something he would support as well. So, with no real evidence, the circumstantial evidence was enough to easily convince people. Once it’s presented as fact on the internet, and it was in many articles and videos, few people had reason to question it. 

The Bottom Line

The mega yacht known as the Aqua has a price tag of $645 million and it runs on clan burning hydrogen fuel. The only byproduct of its operation is water, making it a very environmentally friendly yacht. It made waves, so to speak, when it debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019. Rumors soon began to spread that billionaire and known climate activist Bill Gates had ordered one for $600 million. However, despite many videos and articles that refer to him as the owner, the truth is no one bought the Aqua at the yacht show and, as of 2023, Bill Gates does not own a yacht at all. He is know to charter extremely luxurious yachts for vacations and parties, such as the Lana and the Serene, but he does not own any just now.

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Fact file: seven things you didn't know about 68m ShadowCat Wayfinder

Reportedly owned by the former managing director of Microsoft, Bill Gates, the 68.2-metre Incat Crowther support vessel Wayfinder is instantly recognisable by her multihull design and blue helipad, which doubles as a sports court... 

Delivered in 2021, the second Shadowcat builds on the capability of the shipyard's flagship catamaran, Hodor , which was delivered in 2019 . Able to carry an armada of watertoys and transport guests between helicopters and tenders, Wayfinder is for charter with Edmiston for €375,000 per week plus expenses, and is the perfect stand-alone charter yacht or shadow vessel for an ambitious itinerary. Here are seven things you didn't know about the world's largest ShadowCat, currently moored in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico...

1. She is one of the world's largest floating playgrounds

At 68 metres, Wayfinder pips its 66-metre sistership Hodor to the post in terms of size and is packed with the same attention-grabbing amenities. The support vessel is a treasure trove of toys but is also kitted out with the usual suspects – Jet Skis, water skis, wakeboards, Seabobs and snorkelling equipment – as well as diving equipment located in its dive compressor. She is capable of carrying a helicopter and five large tenders.

2. The hulls are dedicated to service areas

Wayfinder 's hulls are dedicated to service areas, including waste management, laundry, workshops and stores. The support vessel meets the IMO’s latest Tier III emission guidelines and comprises four decks with accommodation for 12 guests across 11 cabins, including nine single cabins and two twin cabins, each equipped with en suite facilities. There is provision for an additional two occasional workers in a twin cabin in the crew quarters.

3. There is a dedicated crew of 19-20 

There is a dedicated crew of 19-20 yacht crew on board, including Master Mariners, RYA Yachtmasters, a dive instructor, deck medic, ex-military and Merchant Navy officers and engineers, Royal Yacht chefs and interior crew. With a team of dedicated professionals and explorer-friendly toys, Wayfinder is optimised for excursions to surrounding islands and below the sea. 

4. She can be booked as a charter yacht in her own right or to accompany a mothership

Built at the Astilleros Armón’s Burela shipyard in Spain, Wayfinder exists as both a charter yacht in her own right and as an accompanying vessel to a mothership. The yacht can provide transfers between helicopters and tenders and has a heli-lounge where guests can wait for their helicopter transfer. The main deck is dedicated to tender and toy storage, while accommodation is found on the upper deck. There are also two areas for dining featuring sea views.

5. The large open aft deck is multifunctional

The large open aft deck is built for function and fun. A bird's eye view of the support vessel will reveal an expansive space, characterised by a blue floor and unmistakable H – serving as a certified helipad for arrivals and departures and doubling up as a pickleball court for charter guests.

6. She has a gym on the water's edge

A fold-down transom reveals a fully equipped gym with direct access to the sea; images revealing free weights, machines and a punching bag for boxing. Located on the lower deck portside, the fold-out beach club allows guests to work out by the water's edge with impressive sea views. 

7. She is capable of worldwide operation

Excluding Ice Zones, she is capable of worldwide operation and her 14.4-metre beam and draft of 2.4 metres permit close coastline navigation. Dan Mace, technical manager of Incat Crowther, described Wayfinder as boasting "ultimate flexibility and operational efficiency." He added: "The high speed and low fuel consumption are impressive. The design offers a stable platform for the safe transfer of guests from a helicopter, via tenders. The hull provides a 70 per cent increase in stability for loading and off-loading its equipment and tenders."

Wayfinder is available to charter with Edmiston with a weekly rate from €375,000. She is available for charter at the F1 Grand Prix . 

Wayfinder LOA: 68.2m Beam: 14.4m Draught: 3.5m Speed (max/cruise): 20/14 Power: 2 x MTU diesel engines Gross Tonnage: 1737 GT Passengers: 12 guests + 2 occasional workers Crew: 30 Price from €375,000 per week for charter

You can check out other yachts owned by famous tech moguls, including Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs, below. 

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Billionaire Bill Gates buys hydrogen-fuelled superyacht for $500 million

By Rebecca Cope

Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates is currently celebrating the engagement of his daughter, Jennifer, to Egyptian showjumper Nayel Nassar, but he's also got another reason to be happy - a brand new superyacht.

The 112-metre luxury vessel is the world's first hydrogen-powered super yacht, and will feature all the usual billionaire mod-cons, including an infinity pool, helipad, spa and gym. There are five decks, with accommodation for 14 guests and 31 crew members - more than two per person.

By Clara Strunck

By Lucinda Gosling

By Stephanie Bridger-Linning

As well as being powered by liquid hydrogen, another eco-feature are the fire pits, which are actually gel-fuelled fire bowls, designed to keep guests warm outdoors without burning wood or coal.

Costing in the region of $500 million, the Aqua ship was first publicised at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019 by Dutch design firm Sinot. Speaking then, the company's eponymous designer said, 'For the development of Aqua we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology, to combine this in a superyacht with truly innovative features.'

He went on to explain how the hydrogen fuel works, saying: 'AQUA is fuelled by hydrogen, a unique concept which represents a significant progression towards achieving a new balance between nature and technology. The system is based on the use of liquified hydrogen, stored at -253°C in two 28-ton vacuum isolated tanks. The liquified hydrogen is converted into electrical energy by proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, with water being the only by-product.'

The Daily Telegraph reports that the ship will be in service from 2024, and will reach speeds of 17 knots. It will be able to travel for 3,750 miles before refuelling but will also have a diesel back-up due to the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations available.

This will be the world's second richest man's first yacht. He has previously rented them for holidays, most recently including the $330m yacht Serene, which he borrowed from Stolichnaya vodka magnate, Yuri Scheffler, to sail around the coast of Sardinia.

By Annabelle Spranklen

By Anya Meyerowitz

By Dora Davies-Evitt

By Ellie Austin

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Bill Gates Enjoys Sardinia Charter on board Superyacht SERENE

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By Editorial Team   8 August 2014

The 133m/436ft superyacht SERENE has welcomed aboard the world’s wealthiest man, Bill Gates and his family for a charter vacation in the beautiful cruising grounds of Sardinia .

The Microsoft founder and philanthropist along with his wife and three children have been enjoying the Mediterranean summer in style this week during their annual vacation off the coast of Porto Cervo. As one of the largest superyachts in the world and equipped with every conceivable amenity in addition to an in impressive crew of 52, the 2011 Fincantieri-built motor yacht SERENE was the perfect choice for this ultra-luxurious vacation.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, the on board helipad was put to good use with trips to the mainland for some tennis lessons followed by an afternoon out on the jet-skis to entertain the kids. If that wasn’t enough, there is also a submarine, snowroom, cinema, playroom, multiple pools, a climbing wall and a trans-deck waterslide on offer to keep them entertained for hours. 

In between running his Microsoft Empire and extensive charity commitments, luxury charter vacations have provided the perfect platform for him and his family to enjoy time together in comfort and privacy.

The grown-ups aren’t left out of the fun however during a charter on the award-winning SERENE, with an exhaustive array of facilities. For total relaxation, the private beach club features a sauna and secluded sunbathing area, there is also a sundeck dance floor, two Jacuzzi’s and numerous al fresco dining areas to choose from. For entertaining meanwhile, SERENE provides luxurious interior living spaces to include a chic piano lounge with cocktail bar while outside a wet bar, barbeque, pizza oven and Teppanyaki grill ensure fantastic Mediterranean soirees. 

She is one of a handful of yachts able to charter with more than 12 guests, boasting 12 stunning staterooms to accommodate up to 24 guests, comprising a master suite, VIP, seven doubles and three twin cabins. With design from Espen Oeino and interior styling by Reymond Langton, SERENE has been meticulously design to offer charter vacations of the highest calibre while ensuring stylish, comfortable and versatile living spaces. 

In an interview earlier this year, Mr Gates said he doesn't plan to stay at the office for days at a time as he did in his younger days when he had 'energy and naiveté' on his side. In between running his Microsoft Empire and extensive charity commitments, luxury charter vacations have provided the perfect platform for him and his family to enjoy time together in comfort and privacy.  Since its founding, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has raised and donated billions towards research and development to tackle problems throughout the world to help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. 

Whether it’s a classic sailing yacht or magnificent luxury vessel such as SERENE, charter yacht vacations offer the world’s most high profile names the freedom to experience private time with loved ones away from the spotlight. Charter rates for SERENE start at €1,600,000 per week to €2,800,000 plus expenses, for further information contact your yacht charter broker . Alternatively take a look at the full selection of motor yachts available for charter . 

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Bill gates reportedly orders $644m hydrogen-powered superyacht with gym, helipad, infinity pool.

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Bill Gates reportedly has his eye on the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht — a $644 million, environmentally friendly oasis on the sea with its own infinity pool, helipad, spa and gym.

The billionaire Microsoft co-founder was initially rumored to have already commissioned the 370-foot luxury Aqua yacht in a report Sunday in the UK paper The Telegraph.

However, the Dutch design firm Sinot insisted Monday that Aqua had yet to be sold to Gates, stressing it did not yet have a “business relationship” with the second-richest person in the world.

“We invite any visionary client to show their interest,” insisted the company — clearly aiming at eco-warrior billionaires just like him, with designer Sander Sinot saying the inspiration was “the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner.”

The vessel is powered by two 28-ton vacuum-sealed tanks cooled to minus-423 degrees Fahrenheit and filled with liquid hydrogen — with the only emission being water, according to the report. It will reach a top speed of 17 knots (19.5 mph) and be able to cross the Atlantic, the report says.

While far from the world’s largest yacht, plans show extreme luxury for the 14 guests and 31 crew members who can be accommodated.

It includes its own fully equipped gym, yoga studio, beauty room, massage parlor and a stunning outdoor infinity pool.

Along with luxurious bedrooms, there are numerous outdoor lounges, a giant spiral staircase and an amazing observation room at the front.

Gates’ main motivation in wanting to commission the yacht would be to signal his backing for new, clean technology to cut carbon emissions, the Telegraph said.

He regularly takes superyacht vacations — but usually rents yachts rather than owning his own.

Whoever buys it will not be able to enjoy it for a few more years, however, with the report saying Aqua will not be ready until 2024.

The Gates Foundation and Gates Ventures declined to comment to the Telegraph for its report.

“Aqua is a concept under development and has not been sold to Mr Gates,” Sinoit insisted.

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Private planes, mansions and superyachts: What gives billionaires like Musk and Abramovich such a massive carbon footprint

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Tesla’s Elon Musk and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos have been vying for the world’s richest person ranking all year after the former’s wealth soared a staggering US$160 billion in 2020, putting him briefly in the top spot .

Musk isn’t alone in seeing a significant increase in wealth during a year of pandemic, recession and death. Altogether, the world’s billionaires saw their wealth surge over $1.9 trillion in 2020, according to Forbes.

Those are astronomical numbers, and it’s hard to get one’s head around them without some context. As anthropologists who study energy and consumer culture, we wanted to examine how all that wealth translated into consumption and the resulting carbon footprint.

Walking in a billionaire’s shoes

We found that billionaires have carbon footprints that can be thousands of times higher than those of average Americans.

The wealthy own yachts, planes and multiple mansions, all of which contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. For example, a superyacht with a permanent crew, helicopter pad, submarines and pools emits about 7,020 tons of CO2 a year, according to our calculations, making it by the far worst asset to own from an environmental standpoint. Transportation and real estate make up the lion’s share of most people’s carbon footprint, so we focused on calculating those categories for each billionaire.

To pick a sample of billionaires, we started with the 2020 Forbes List of 2,095 billionaires. A random or representatives sample of billionaire carbon footprints is impossible because most wealthy people shy away from publicity , so we had to focus on those whose consumption is public knowledge. This excluded most of the superrich in Asia and the Middle East .

We combed 82 databases of public records to document billionaires’ houses, vehicles, aircraft and yachts. After an exhaustive search, we started with 20 well-known billionaires whose possessions we were able to ascertain, while trying to include some diversity in gender and geography. We have submitted our paper for peer review but plan to continue adding to our list.

We then used a wide range of sources, such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration and Carbon Footprint , to estimate the annual CO2 emissions of each house, aircraft, vehicle and yacht. In some cases we had to estimate the size of houses from satellite images or photos and the use of private aircraft and yachts by searching the popular press and drawing on other studies . Our results are based on analyzing typical use of each asset given its size and everything else we could learn.

We did not try to calculate each asset’s “ embodied carbon ” emissions – that is, how much CO2 is burned throughout the supply chain in making the product – or the emissions produced by their family, household employees or entourage. We also didn’t include the emissions of companies of which they own part or all, because that would have added another significant degree of complexity. For example, we didn’t calculate the emissions of Tesla or Amazon when calculating Musk’s or Bezos’ footprints.

In other words, these are all likely conservative estimates of how much they emit.

Your carbon footprint

To get a sense of perspective, let’s start with the carbon footprint of the average person.

Residents of the U.S., including billionaires, emitted about 15 tons of CO2 per person in 2018. The global average footprint is smaller, at just about 5 tons per person.

In contrast, the 20 people in our sample contributed an average of about 8,190 tons of CO2 in 2018. But some produced far more greenhouse gases than others.

The jet-setting billionaire

Roman Abramovich, who made most of his $19 billion fortune trading oil and gas, was the biggest polluter on our list. Outside of Russia, he is probably best known as the headline-grabbing owner of London’s Chelsea Football Club.

Abramovich cruises the Mediterranean in his superyacht, named the Eclipse , which at 162.5 meters bow to stern is the second-biggest in the world, rivaling some cruise ships. And he hops the globe on a custom-designed Boeing 767 , which boasts a 30-seat dining room. He takes shorter trips in his Gulfstream G650 jet, one of his two helicopters or the submarine on his yacht.

He maintains homes in many countries, including a mansion in London’s Kensington Park Gardens, a chateau in Cap D’Antibes in France and a 28-hectare estate in St. Barts that once belonged to David Rockefeller . In 2018, he left the U.K. and settled in Israel , where he became a dual citizen and bought a home in 2020 for $64.5 million.

We estimate that he was responsible for at least 33,859 metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2018 – more than two-thirds from his yacht, which is always ready to use at a moment’s notice year-round.

Massive mansions and private jets

Bill Gates, currently the world’s fourth-richest person with $124 billion, is a “modest” polluter – by billionaire standards – and is typical of those who may not own a giant yacht but make up for it with private jets.

Co-founder of Microsoft, he retired in 2020 to manage the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest charity, with an endowment of $50 billion.

In the 1990s, Gates built Xanadu – named after the vast fictional estate in Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” – at a cost of $127 million in Medina, Washington. The giant home covers 6,131 square meters, with a 23-car garage, a 20-person cinema and 24 bathrooms. He also owns at least five other dwellings in Southern California, the San Juan Islands in Washington state, North Salem, New York, and New York City, as well as a horse farm , four private jets, a seaplane and “a collection” of helicopters .

We estimated his annual footprint at 7,493 metric tons of carbon, mostly from a lot of flying.

The environmentally minded tech CEO

South African-born Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, has a surprisingly low carbon footprint despite being the world’s second-richest person, with $177 billion – and he seems intent on setting an example for other billionaires .

He doesn’t own a superyacht and says he doesn’t even take vacations .

We calculated a relatively modest carbon footprint for him in 2018, thanks to his eight houses and one private jet. This year, his carbon footprint would be even lower because in 2020 he sold all of his houses and promised to divest the rest of his worldly possessions .

While his personal carbon footprint is still hundreds of times higher than that of an average person, he demonstrates that the superrich still have choices to make and can indeed lower their environmental impact if they so choose.

His estimated footprint from the assets we looked at was 2,084 tons in 2018.

The value of naming and shaming

The aim of our ongoing research is to get people to think about the environmental burden of wealth.

While plenty of research has shown that rich countries and wealthy people produce far more than their share of greenhouse gas emissions, these studies can feel abstract and academic, making it harder to change this behavior.

[ Like what you’ve read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversation’s daily newsletter .]

We believe “shaming” – for lack of a better word – superrich people for their energy-intensive spending habits can have an important impact, revealing them as models of overconsumption that people shouldn’t emulate.

Newspapers, cities and local residents made an impact during the California droughts of 2014 and 2015 by “drought shaming” celebrities and others who were wasting water, seen in their continually green lawns . And the Swedes came up with a new term – “ flygskam ” or flying shame – to raise awareness about the climate impact of air travel.

Climate experts say that to have any hope of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, countries must cut their emissions in half by 2030 and eliminate them by 2050.

Asking average Americans to adopt less carbon-intensive lifestyles to achieve this goal can be galling and ineffective when it would take about 550 of their lifetimes to equal the carbon footprint of the average billionaire on our list.

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Does Bill Gates Own a Yacht?

In a recent interview, Bill Gates admitted that during his early career he would work weekends and refuse to take vacations as he was so focused on building Microsoft. With a net worth of $103 billion, it’s fair to say that his hard work has paid off. Has Bill’s approach changed now that he’s stepped down as the CEO of Microsoft? How does he take well-earned breaks from his current philanthropic endeavours?

Bill Gates does not own a yacht. Although he seems to have a penchant for life at sea, Bill prefers to rent super yachts rather than buy his own. Not only has Bill vacationed on one of the most expensive yachts in the world, he reportedly got married to his wife Melinda on one too!

Most of us can only dream about how we would spend a billion-dollar fortune, but for Bill Gates this dream is an everyday reality. If you’re interested in learning about Bill’s attraction towards ocean life, keep reading!

In February 2020 reports emerged that Gates had commissioned an eco-yacht. The boat was said to have cost $664 million and was set to be the world’s first hydrogen-powered super-yacht. 

As an environmental activist, this is pretty logical for Bill.

Bill Gates Buying Farmland: A Deeper Look into the Tech Magnate’s Agricultural Investments

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The yacht, built by Feadship, uses a new, clean technology that is aimed at reducing carbon emissions. It is 112 meters long, has 5 decks, and can host 14 guests.

Additionally, the yacht features a beauty salon, gym, spa, helipad, infinity pool, and cinema, as well as other swanky amenities. 

But within a few days, these rumours were set straight. The Dutch superyacht specialist told the BBC that the yacht “ has not been sold to Mr. Gates ” and they have “ no business relationship ” with Bill. 

Beyond this, Bill has been vacationing on yachts for many years. Most notably, in 2014 Bill chartered an Italian superyacht to take his family around the Sardinian coast.

The boat, named Serene , was rented from fellow billionaire and Russian vodka entrepreneur, Yuri Scheffler .

Scheffler reportedly purchased the yacht in 2011 for $330 million, and it continues to be the third most expensive yacht in the world. Nowadays, Scheffler rents the vessel out for around $5 million per week.

Standing at 450-feet long, Serene is set over 7 decks and can host a crew of 52 people and 24 guests. It boasts 3 swimming pools, 2 helipads, an indoor climbing wall, a teppanyaki grill, climbing wall, library, health spa, night club, powder-generating snow room, and a ‘Nemo’ room featuring an underwater viewing room. 

Whilst on the yacht with his wife and three children, Bill was captured in a series of paparazzi photos . In the pictures, Bill is seen looking through swimsuits before strapping himself into a lifejacket. 

Sea Wedding 

Throughout their 33-year marriage, this isn’t the only time that Bill and his wife, Melinda, have spent quality time together whilst on board a luxury superyacht.

In fact, the duo boarded a custom built Feadship De Vries Shipyard to celebrate their honeymoon after tying the knot back in 1994. 

Bill and Melinda continue to be notoriously secretive about their wedding ceremony. They exchanged vows at a Four Seasons golf course on the Hawaiian island of Lanai and went on to board Charade . But that’s about as much as we know. 

At the time Charade was owned by Bill’s friend and Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. 

Designed by De Voogt Naval Architects, Charade accommodates 12 passengers and 11 crew members.

The vessel boasts a full-beam owner’s suite complete with his and hers baths, five large staterooms, a private dining salon, sky lounge, and alfresco aft deck. 

In August 2014, the 46.9-meter yacht was sold at an asking price of $13,900,000.

The fleet has since been renamed ‘BG’, seemingly as a tribute to Bill Gates. In any case, it’s clear that Bill Gates likes to work hard and play harder.  

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