Inside Jeff Bezos' New $500 Million Mega Yacht

When I was shopping around for yachts, I did consider having one built just for me. There's just something about cruising the seas in a boat that you had a hand in making yourself, and it speaks to your tastes in a way a ready-made yacht just can't. And so that's exactly what I did. And it seems Jeff Bezos felt the same way too. The Amazon founder just commissioned a 417-foot or 127-meter yacht for an insane $500 million, and it will undoubtedly be one of the most luxurious yachts the world has ever seen. And as if that wasn't enough, the mega-yacht comes with a second, smaller support yacht with its own helipad. Because why not? Welcome back to the channel. Before we dive in, make sure you hit that subscribe button and ring the bell so you never miss an upload from us. Until now, Bezos has been rumored to travel exclusively on his Flying Fox yacht, or been spotted relaxing on yachts belonging to his friends like David Geffen or Diana Van Furstenberg. The Flying Fox is the 14th largest sailing yacht in the world. It is built by Lurssen and contains spas, a 40-foot pool, 36 guest cabins, and 54 crew members. Now, after announcing his plans to step down as Amazon's CEO in the third quarter of 2021, I think it's safe to assume Bezos is looking for some quiet time on the open seas to relax after having built his company from the ground up. After 27 years of heading the retail giant, he's handing over the reins to Andy Jassy, the head of Amazon's computing division, who's been around pretty much since the company was founded. This yacht, which has yet to be officially named, will most likely be his second yacht. The yacht is 417 feet long, spanning several decks, and it will boast three enormous masts. Across its decks, you can expect sprawling lounges, snazzy bars, huge swimming pools, and enough entertainment to last you at least a year. The vessel is one of the largest sailing yachts ever built in the Netherlands, the unofficial capital of boat building for the uber-rich. It is being made by Oceanco, which is no stranger to breaking records in the world of superyachts. Their most impressive delivery to date was the 350-foot Black Pearl yacht in 2018, characterized by its 229-foot-tall carbon masts. The interiors will be a haven of tranquility and relaxation, no doubt, but I also wonder what bizarre billionaire things we can expect to see on board. You see yachts with wine cellars, theaters, submarines, and even missile defense systems. The Amazon founder might not need security that extreme, but it couldn't hurt. Besides, it's 417 feet long, which means there's a lot of space to work with. We could be looking at a few bowling alleys or maybe a mini Amazon warehouse. The yacht is currently under the name Project Y721, and it has been a closely guarded secret. Well, until now. Project Y721 also includes a support boat with its own helipad, since the main vessel cannot have one thanks to the masts. The helipad, it seems, is an addition purely for his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, who's also a helicopter pilot, and Bezos himself has been taking flying lessons. It was odd at the time because Bezos apparently loathed helicopters, but he probably decided to give it a try so he could fly with his girlfriend. He's also going to have to worry about operating costs for the ship, which will average about $60 million a year. But that's pocket change to a man with a net just shy of $200 billion, and in any case, it's the tiniest fraction of the $75 billion he made in the year 2020 alone. The yacht was apparently commissioned by him two years ago, somewhere around the time he separated from his wife, Mackenzie Scott. And the yacht construction industry has only boomed since thanks in part to the global pandemic. The number of transactions in recent quarters has been record-breaking, with galas canceled and land borders closed, yachting suddenly became the best option for private, socially distanced entertainment and a good way to escape from the prying eyes of the public. This influx of orders has definitely toppled over the yachting industry. There is enthusiasm on the owner's part, not that Jeff Bezos needed it, but owning a yacht is a sign of surging fortunes, and who wouldn't like to flaunt it? And if the Flying Fox is any indication, this one's gonna spare no expense. Bezos' first yacht boasts the works of contemporary interior designer Mark Berryman. Dark wood and warm tones make the sprawling space look intimate, and pops of azure give the room character. A 13,000-square-foot spa extends the two decks of the yacht. And once you see the master suite in the Flying Fox, you'll wonder how on earth Project 721 could ever beat that. The 328-square-foot master suite spans the entire top deck and includes a dedicated salon, a gas fire pit, and a private jacuzzi. There's no better way to enjoy the open seas. Well, you could also enjoy it with your guests in the outdoor barbecue area, which contain five types of ovens and two teppanyaki grills. Probably the only way the Flying Fox surpasses Project Y721 is the Flying Fox has two helipads instead of one. Project Y's yacht to be owned by a private individual, Yacht A, which belongs to Andrei Melnichenko, spans an impressive 469 feet with 328-foot-tall masts and eight decks. There's a biometric scanner to enter the master suite. The yacht also has an opulent lounge with floor-to- ceiling windows, and there's even an underwater observation area. Jeff Bezos' new yacht could very well draw inspiration from the best of all the billionaire yachts. There could be an underwater observation pod for when he wants to unwind and look at fishes swimming about. There could be a wine cellar with a lounge that's perfect for enjoying sunsets. It could be an entire mansion all for himself or be curated purely to entertain. The possibilities are endless. Bloomberg journalist Brad Stone even talks about the new ship in his upcoming book, Amazon Unbound, which is all about Jeff Bezos. In it, he writes how the Project Y721 yacht will play a central role in the billionaire's life as he steps back from his role as CEO, writing, quote, What did the future hold for their founder? At least part of the answer to that could be found in the shipyards of the Dutch custom yacht builder, Ocean Co. His book also states that upon completion, it will be one of the finest sailing yachts in existence. That is some high praise. So far, that's all anybody knows about the yacht. It is scheduled to come out sometime next month, which means it won't be long until we get an inside look. What do you think will be on that yacht? Your guess is as good as mine. Put it down in the comments below. If you enjoyed the video, make sure you hit the like button and check out more like it on the King Luxury channel. Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time.