Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s billionaire founder and outgoing CEO, has been identified as the secret buyer of a £350 million superyacht.
The 417-foot-long vessel is said to be so large that it comes with its own “support yacht” with a helipad.
Exact details about the luxury ship, known only by the project name Y721, are being kept under wraps – but snippets have been reported to have emerged via its Dutch manufacturer Oceanco.
The vessel, which will include a “ambient” cinema and a swimming pool, will be powered by three massive masts and will span several decks.
A “support yacht” with a helipad is said to have been requested because the main ship’s large sails prevented an on-board helipad.
There aren’t any pictures of the new superyacht – but could it end up looking like this? (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Unlike this luxury boat, the one owned by Jeff Bezos won’t come with an on-board helipad (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Several sources have reported a $500 million (£350 million) price tag, which would be more than double the price Mr Bezos paid for the Washington Post newspapers in 2013.
It’s also a pittance compared to the Amazon billionaire’s estimated net worth of $191 billion.
According to Bloomberg, the ship is expected to be completed next month, nearly two years after Mr Bezos and his partner Lauren Sanchez ordered it.
The extravagant purchase comes just months after Mr. Bezos announced his retirement as CEO of Amazon after 25 years.
Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy will take over as CEO, while Bezos will become executive chairman.
Meanwhile, the company reported its third consecutive record profit and first-quarter sales exceeding $100 billion (£73 billion).
Mr. Bezos, who founded Amazon as an internet bookseller, stated in a note to employees posted on Amazon’s website, “As Exec Chair, I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions.”
