Top 11 most expensive and the best yachts in the world
By • Last Updated2. Eclipse – $ 1.1 billion
One of the most luxurious and expensive yachts in the world belongs to Roman Abramovich, whose net worth is estimated by Business Insider at $12.8 billion. This impressive 163-meter vessel features a width of 22 meters and is powered by four engines. It includes a cinema, two helipads, a conference room, a children’s playroom, a beauty salon, two swimming pools, a dance floor, a sauna, and 30 cabins, including an armored master suite with bulletproof glass windows.
Named Eclipse, this luxury motor yacht was built by Blohm + Voss and launched in Hamburg on June 12, 2009. The yacht’s exterior and interior were designed by Terence Disdale Design, while the marine architecture was handled by the French architect Francis Design. After extensive testing, Eclipse was delivered to Abramovich on December 9, 2010. With a length of 162.5 meters, it ranks as the second-largest private yacht in the world, trailing only Azzam, which measures 17.3 meters longer.
Initially, the yacht’s cost was estimated at €340 million (around $475 million in September 2011), but reports from September 2009 suggested that construction expenses could approach €800 million (approximately $1.12 billion). Ultimately, its final cost was reported to be as high as $1.5 billion.
Eclipse boasts two helicopter landing pads, 18 VIP guest cabins, multiple jacuzzis, and a state-of-the-art disco hall. It is also equipped with three luxurious tenders, a mini-submarine capable of diving to 50 meters, and even an anti-missile system. The owner’s suite and the walk deck are fortified with bulletproof glass, and the yacht features a laser system to deter paparazzi from taking intrusive photos. A crew of 92 ensures that all of Abramovich’s needs are met.
In August 2011, Eclipse encountered challenges in Antibes on the French Côte d’Azur. Due to its massive size, there was no berth available in “Millionaires Bay,” Europe’s largest marina with over 2,000 slips, forcing the yacht to anchor away from popular recreational areas. Abramovich even approached the authorities in Antibes to request permission to construct a personal dock near his Château de la Croÿ, but his request was denied.