Incredible Yachts of the Rich and Famous

Name: Va Bene
Value: $10 million*

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eric Clapton owns no less than four of the world’s most expensive guitars – along with one of the world’s most elite superyachts. Dubbed Va Bene, Clapton’s impressive sea vessel was built in the early 1990s by legendary designer Richard Hein. Clapton paid an estimated $10 million to buy it in 2005.

Eric Clapton's Yacht @ TheClubYacht / Twitter.com

Va Bene is outfitted with twin Caterpillar engines capable of a top speed of 18 knots. Featuring enough cabin space for 25 passengers (including 13 crew members), Clapton actually added additional upgrades including a master suite, jet skis, and kayaks.

And with an estimated net worth hovering around $250 million, Va Bene’s $10 million price tag is a relative drop in the bucket for one of music’s most revered (and profitable) icons. In fact, Clapton consistently ranks among the top dozen richest musicians who ever lived.

Name: Andromeda
Value: $275 million

New Zealand billionaire and businessman Graeme Hart bought the 107-meter yacht, Andromeda, back when it was named Ulysses. It is an expedition yacht that was first constructed by Kleven Maritime AS. It was moved from their headquarters to Bremerhaven, where it was finished in 2015.

Graeme Hart @ yachtharbour / Facebook.com

It was finished by Dorries Maritime Services at the Stahlbau Nord shipyard. It has a beam of fifty-nine feet and a top speed of thirty kilometers per hour. It accommodates up to thirty guests and forty-three crewmembers. It is the second yacht of its kind for the builder, Kleven. Its broker is Fraser Yachts.

In true rags-to-riches fashion, Hart built his billion-dollar packaging empire after years working as a truck driver. Later expanding into holdings and consumer goods, Hart quickly became one of the richest men in both New Zealand and the world.

Name: Amphitrite
Value: $19.2 million*

Once owned by Johnny Depp, Harry Potter mastermind J.K. Rowling bought the gorgeous Amphitrite for a staggering $27 million back in 2015. But with its cutting edge satellite system, 12-knot cruising speed, and multiple guest rooms most believe she paid far less than its actual value.

J.K. Rowling's Yacht @ fsog_greysessed / Twitter.com

Rowling reportedly put the ship up for sale just a year after finalizing the purchase. With an asking price of about $19 million, prospective sailors can also charter this luxury vessel for roughly $130,000 a week. Adding that to what Rowling makes every day from her Comcast-owned “Wizarding World” section at Universal Studios makes her one insanely rich lady.

Rowling hasn’t been spotted out at sea in several months, most likely due to her latest writing efforts – including a new novel written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. She also runs and finances several philanthropic organizations that keep her relatively landlocked as of late.

Name: Trending
Value: $300 million* 

Superstar Oprah made her fortune thanks to her famous CBS talk show. And she took a large slice of those earnings to finance one very pricey purchase some years ago: a superyacht called Trending. Built by Westport, Trending is a whopping 50 meters long and gets a max speed of 24 knots. It hosts twelve guests in six cabins.

Oprah @ Chuck Thompson / Facebook.com

The yacht is up for charter, costing $210,000 per week to rent. It was built in 2006 and refitted in 2016. The yacht has staterooms with lavish bathrooms made of onyx. It also has a Sky Lounge and a huge hot tub surrounded by sunbeds.

Oprah’s impressive investing portfolio – which spans the entertainment industry, fashion lines, and even retail – has made her not only one of the richest women in America but also one of the richest humans on planet Earth. This stunning $300 million toy is likely a drop in the bucket to this superstar billionaire.

Name: Slipstream
Value: $73 million*

Simon Cowell is worth around half a billion – thanks largely to his hit Fox show American Idol – so it makes sense that he would buy one beauty of a yacht. His custom-made yacht, Slipstream, was built by CMN Yachts. It has a deck Jacuzzi, gym, and can house twelve guests and fifteen crew. It also has a beautiful dining area with a deck overlooking the water, as well as a hotel-like master suite.

Simon Cowell @ CoachQ118 / Twitter.com

Cowell’s yacht even has an entrance foyer with a chandelier and sitting room. He was recently spotted on the sixty-meter yacht alongside his young son and his son’s mother. Cowell’s yacht costs $329 thousand per week.

In addition to his long string of memorable TV hosting roles, Cowell owes a large portion of his fortune to early-1990s TV. For example, Cowell successfully brought both Power Rangers and Teletubbies to American audiences.

Name: Wabi Sabi
Value: $26 million*

Wabi Sabi is Elton John’s superyacht, and the English singer hired an American builder, Westport, to construct the yacht in their Washington shipyard. The British rock star reportedly paid for the yacht with the earnings from his famous Coca-Cola commercials (among other profitable cross-promotions).

Elton John @ Chuck Thompson / Facebook.com

The yacht was designed by Donald Starkey, and it was built to Elton’s specifications. It is bright white, and it has been spotted in some of the most remote locations in the world. The yacht is also one of the larger yachts on this list, accommodation-wise. It can house eighteen guests in eight luxury cabins. It sports twin MTU engines with 3650 horsepower, giving the superyacht a cruising speed of 15 yachts.

The legendary British rock star has accrued an incredible fortune over the years built on his own brand of glam rock. With multiple Platinum-selling albums and more hit singles than most musicians could ever dream of, Elton John’s yacht is a reminder of just how far he’s come since his early days.

Name: Cyan
Value: $11.5 million*

Constructed by one of the most prestigious ship-builders in the biz (the Italy-based firm Codecasa), Bono’s impressive yacht Cyan comes with a surplus of seaworthy treats. Onboard jet skis, hot tubs, and an outdoor movie theater are just a few of its luxury features.

Bono's Yacht @ JoeMManning / Twitter.com

But the U2 rock star added his own personal touch to the craft: a state-of-the-art stereo system that runs throughout the entire vessel. He also added his favorite color, blue, to the ship’s exterior – and threw in a grand piano on the deck, too.

As one of the most successful names in the music business, Bono built a massive, billion-dollar empire that began in entertainment and has since expanded to include philanthropy, foreign aid, and even feature films.

Name: SeaFair
Value: $4 million*

The soccer legend and his wife (former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham) own one beauty of a yacht. Equipped with its own onboard gym, the SeaFair is a bit on the smaller side compared to other celebrity vessels out there. But the Beckhams pumped millions of dollars into renovating it over the years, supercharging its luxury features.

David Beckham's Yacht @ 3arankiMJ / Twitter.com

Nicknamed “The Sophisticated Lady,” the Beckham’s boat can comfortably accommodate up to 8 couples. The couple reportedly sacrificed additional cabin space in order to make way for their onboard art gallery – a truly unique feature at sea.

Beckham carved out a singular, iconic status as one of the most interesting sports stars in the world following a string of championship wins in the UK. But he turned his success on the soccer field into international dollars with memorable film and TV deals, as well as video game licensing contracts to use his likeness.

Name: Lionheart
Value: $150 million*

The ninety-meter yacht Lionheart was built and designed by Benetti. It has six cabins, housing up to twelve passengers, and it has fifteen crew cabins. Lionheart was launched in 2016, and it gets a maximum speed of eighteen knots. Phillip Green’s net worth, as the head of Arcadia Group, is in the billions.

Sir Philip Green @ DailyMirror / Twitter.com

His yacht is similarly lavish, and it holds the distinction of being one of Benetti’s largest yachts ever constructed. Green bases his yacht in Monaco. Yachts seem to run in the family, as Green’s businessman stepson, Brett Palos, owns Illusion V, a fifty-eight-meter yacht. This is Green’s third yacht.

Name: Mizu
Value: $9.9 million*

Fans of Taylor Swift, Future, and/or Ed Sheeran will easily recognize this yacht, as it was featured in Swift’s video for her hit song “End Game.” Sheeran, Future, and Swift shot the video in three different locations. Mizu was the star of the show, and fans were amazed at how luxurious the superyacht was.

Ed Sheeran /dailymail.co.uk

Mizu was built by Oceanfast. She was delivered back in 2004, and she can accommodate ten guests and ten crew members. The motor yacht measures 175 feet. Georges Bourgoignie of Fraser is the broker of Mizu, and he just put it up for sale in August of 2020. Mizu was last refitted in 2016.

Name: Rising Sun
Value: $590 million* 

Orlando Bloom and his long-time partner, singer Katy Perry, were spotted having a fun couples’ vacation in Mallorca on the luxury superyacht, Rising Sun. Rising Sun is a celebrity favorite, as famous people like Oprah, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tom Hanks have all stayed aboard the superyacht.

Orlando Bloom - Rising Sun @SollerWeb / Facebook.com

Rising Sun was anchored in front of Palma Old Town, and Bloom hiked around the Serra de Tramuntana Mountain Range in just his swim trunks (and sunscreen, hopefully). Rising Sun was built in 2004 for Larry Ellison. David Geffen bought a half-share in the property, and he posted Orlando and Katie to his social media.

Name: Undina
Value: $135,000/week* 

TV personality Griff Rhys-Jones was introduced to Undina in 2001. He was looking for a wooden yacht, and he had searched far and wide without finding one that suited him—until Undina. Undina was docked in Ipswich. Rhys-Jones asked Faversham’s Staley Yard to refit Undina during the winter of 2001.

Griff Rhys-Jones - Undina @alicewiddowssuperyachtevents / Facebook.com

Undina was in desperate need of a refit. She was built back in 1953 and had seen a lot of wear and tear. After the winter of 2001, she emerged in the early summer in beautiful condition. Rhys-Jones has sailed Undina all the way to St. Petersburg, Russia. 

Name: Leander G
Value: $54,488,925*

Camilla Parker Bowles is no stranger to scandal, and continues to make headlines even to this day for how much money she spends on vacations. Parker Bowles and her husband, Charles, Prince of Wales, tend to go all out when they travel, sparing no expense.

Camilla Parker Bowles @Emma Verner / Facebook.com

Just recently the two traveled to the Caribbean, going all out on airfare and accommodations, and of course, a yachting excursion. The cost of their trip, which included destinations such as St. Lucia and Jamaica, totalled $530,000.