#4 — Andrey Melnichenko's Sailing Yacht A: the "controversial" one
One of the most controversial and futuristic yachts in the world: the Sailing Yacht A, designed by Philippe Starck for Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. At 468 feet (143 meters), it's bigger than the Koru.
But there's a dispute: it's considered a "sail-assisted motor yacht," not a pure sailing yacht — which is why it doesn't take the Koru's "largest sailing yacht" title. It cost hundreds of millions and has a design so radical it divides opinions. It's proof that, at the top, size and style spark debate.
Three to go. And #1 runs on hydrogen.
#3 — The biggest in the world: Azzam and yacht "A"
Before the top 2, it's worth knowing the absolute record-holders. The Azzam, at 590 feet (180 meters), is often cited as the largest yacht in the world. And the motor yacht "A" (also Melnichenko's) is another giant of extreme design.
These state and oligarch megayachts cost hundreds of millions and operate on another scale entirely. But, curiously, they aren't always the most expensive — some smaller yachts cost more because of technology and customization, like the two at the top of this list.
And now the top 2 — the two most expensive tech-billionaire yachts.
#2 — Jeff Bezos's Koru: $500 million
Here's one of the most famous: Jeff Bezos's Koru, which cost about $500 million. At 417 feet (127 meters), it's the largest sailing yacht in the world, built by Oceanco over about five years.
Bezos surprised the nautical world by choosing a classic three-masted sailing yacht, instead of a flashy motor yacht, complete with a carved figurehead resembling his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. It has three jacuzzis, a pool, a cinema, a spa, a sauna, and nine suites for 18 guests. And a legendary detail: the 229-foot masts were so tall that Oceanco offered to partially dismantle a 97-year-old historic bridge in Rotterdam to let the yacht pass out to sea. Maintaining the Koru costs about $25 million a year.
And now #1 — the most expensive billionaire yacht, hydrogen-powered.