Billionaire Jeff Bezos is no longer running the day-to-day operations at Amazon.com, leaving him time to help with space company Blue Origin and spend more time on his $500 million superyacht.
What Happened: Bezos is the owner of the world's tallest sailing yacht Koru, which was previously at the center of a heated debate after it got stranded at a European port. The controversy arose from a contentious proposal to disassemble a historic bridge to allow the gigantic yacht to navigate its way to the open sea.
Costing an estimated $500 million, the superyacht is now being enjoyed by Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez. With an annual operating cost of around $25 million, it's no wonder Bezos and Sanchez have been busy making the most of the boat, hosting celebrities throughout the summer.
The Amazon founder and his fiancée have taken the boat to Greece, Italy, Spain and more places on multiple summer trips. The Koru and support yacht Abeona have welcomed a host of celebrities on various trips.
Among the people to join Bezos and Sanchez on trips this summer have been Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, as reported by the New York Post.
"They're the flavor of the month in the Med," an entertainment executive told the Post of Bezos and Sanchez's vacations in the Mediterranean region.
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Why It's Important: The Koru is one of the largest yachts in the world and one of the most expensive to maintain, with its $25 million annual operating costs. The yacht can accommodate 18 guests, supported by a crew of 40 to keep everything running smoothly.
One factor that could potentially offset costs is the unique piloting abilities of Bezos’s fiancée, Sanchez. Ever since they started their relationship, Sanchez is known to have taken on the role of pilot, personally flying Bezos and herself on numerous helicopter trips.
Sanchez is even credited with helping Bezos regain his comfort in air travel, a task that had been challenging due to a harrowing experience the billionaire had in a helicopter crash back in 2003. She also said in an interview that Bezos was working on getting his own pilot's license.
Sanchez was seen landing Bezos' helicopter on Abeona, the 250-foot-long support vessel for Koru in 2023. Page Six reported that it took Sanchez three or four attempts, but she was able to bring the helicopter down successfully on the helipad of the Abeona in Italy.
The support vessel that trails the Koru is equipped with numerous facilities, one of which is a helicopter pad. Koru, due to its height, was not able to have its own helipad, according to reports.
The vessel, measuring 230 feet tall and 417 feet long, operates using three large masts, which help it move using kinetic energy from the sails, adding an innovative use of green technology.
Despite having the means to hire any helicopter pilot to facilitate his travels to Koru, Bezos’s preference for Sanchez’s piloting demonstrates the trust and support he places in his future wife.
Bezos has a wealth of $209 billion, ranking second in the world according to Bloomberg.
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This article was previously published by Benzinga and has been updated.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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