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Breaking news, jeff bezos’ $500m yacht has a 246-foot support ship, lauren sanchez figurehead.

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Much like Amazon, Jeff Bezos’ $500 million superyacht offers every bell and whistle imaginable, from A to Z.

The colossal, triple-masted Koru began its career serving the world’s third richest man this week, cruising the Mediterranean around Mallorca.

The 417-foot schooner first left Rotterdam in the Netherlands for sea trials in February. Dropping anchor in Mallorca put its jaw-dropping size on full display.

It also showed the extent of Bezos’ fleet: Not only did the Koru sail into harbor, so did its support vessel, Abeona, a mega-boat in its own right, the luxurious fast-launches used to move between the two — and aerial support in the form of his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez’s personal helicopter.

Sanchez also seemingly serves the fleet’s mascot, with the Koru’s figurehead, a part of traditional large sailing ships, modeled after her.

The Koru is the world’s tallest sailing yacht. Its three huge 229-foot masts power it to 20 knots. It’s also the biggest billionaire’s yacht which can move under sail-power alone.

The masts are so tall that Dutch officials considered dismantling the 95-year-old Koningshaven Bridge to allow the vessel past the 131-foot span on its journey from the Oceanco shipyard in Alblasserdam through Rotterdam to the North Sea.

That controversial plan was scrapped after local backlash, including residents being urged to toss eggs at Bezos’ “latest toy,”  the New York Times reported . The superyacht, previously known as Y721, was instead towed to a shipyard in Rotterdam, downstream of the bridge, without its masts.

Bezos, 59, and the bikini-clad Sanchez, 53, appeared ready for the summer as the pair soaked up the sun aboard Koru, a Māori word for loop or coil that symbolizes new beginnings — possibly a coy reference to their relationship.

Sanchez started secretly dating the Blue Origin founder in the summer of 2018. Bezos then announced in January 2019 he and his wife Mackenzie were divorcing after 25 years , while Sanchez finalized her split from husband Patrick Whitesell later that year.

Sanchez plays a critical role in the Bezos fleet: As a helicopter pilot, she was seen landing on the Abeona. She was also at Bezos’ side when he took the wheel of the Koru.

Koru was first seen under construction in 2021 at Oceano’s yard. The company is owned by a fellow billionaire, Oman’s Mohammed Al Barwani.

As many as 18 guests can enjoy the yacht’s three outdoor decks, including one with two pools. The vessel, which has a crew of up to 36, also boasts a cinema, meeting spaces and lounges,  Luxuo reported .

Every detail is designed for luxury, even down to the masts’ technology.

Bezos opted for high-tech “in-boom furlers,” which store the vast canvases at the bottom of the mast, above the deck. Each weighs nearly 2,000 pounds, but they allow his deck to be kept clear of ropes.

Clearing ropes out of the way maximizes entertaining space, and allows for a hot tub forward of the mainmast.

The yacht is also built for speed. Its three masts provide “one of the largest sail areas ever seen in yachting,”  according to SuperYacht Times .

The Koru’s original designer, and the identity of its captain, remain secret. Boat International noted : “With the elegant curve of the bow and a bowsprit, the lines are certainly classic, but we still have no idea which designer drew them.”

The Cayman Islands-flagged vessel also has engine power like most sailing yachts.

And while other billionaires measure yachts by size, Bezos’ is only the 24th largest.

However, since Koru’s masts rule out a helicopter deck, the billionaire commissioned a support vessel, Abeona, named for the Roman goddess of outward journeys.

In addition to a helipad, the 246-foot Abeona features an extra two staterooms for four guests and as many as 45 crew and support staff.

It’s the largest custom-built support vessel ever manufactured by Damen Yachting. On board in Mallorca were at least four jetskis, two fast launches, and an additional dinghy. Its heavy winch is capable of lifting a small submarine, although Bezos is not believed to have one thus far.

The “classic exterior lines” of Koru, are reminiscent of another billionaire’s boat: Eos, a 305-foot sailing yacht owned by Barry Diller, 81, who may have inspired Bezos after hosting him on the vessel.

Favored by megastars like Katy Perry and Bradley Cooper — who were Diller’s guests during 2019’s Google Camp in Sicily — the German-built Eos can accommodate up to 16 guests and 21 crew.

It was the largest private sailing yacht in the world when it was completed in 2006. Diller, chairman of IAC and Expedia, who is worth $3.9 billion, bought it three years later. Intriguingly, its figurehead is modeled on Diller’s wife Diane von Fürstenberg, the fashion designer.

But the $200 million, 305-foot schooner is now dwarfed by Bezos’ boat.

As Koru sailed in the Balearic Sea this week off the coast of Spain, Bezos’ boat symbolically surges past several other tech billionaires’ vessels – including Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s $80 million, 240-foot Dragonfly, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s, $160 million, 288-foot Musashi.

It will cost Bezos, 59, an estimated $25 million per year to operate Koru, but the world’s third-richest man isn’t likely to need a loan with his $140.6 billion fortune,  according to Forbes .

Bezos’ use of sailpower sets him apart from most billionaires, but others are seeking a hi-tech zero-carbon power source: a Japanese billionaire has reportedly commissioned the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht.

Germany’s Lürssen Yachts announced in March that they had a hydrogen-powered superyacht in advanced construction.

It declined to identify the future owner of the unnamed superyacht, but specialist publication FuelCellsWorks reported Japanese billionaire tech Yusaku Maezawa, worth an estimated $1.7 billion, commissioned the innovative effort.

Dubbed Project Cosmos, the 374-foot superyacht is designed by Apple’s legendary Marc Newson and was first unveiled in early March at Lürssen’s facility in Rendsburg, Germany.

Once completed as soon as next year, the vessel is expected to utilize emission-free fuel cell technology to generate power lasting up to 15 days while anchored or to travel as far as 1,000 miles at slow speeds.

Three other major shipyards, including in Italy and the Netherlands, are likely to launch their own hydrogen started outfitting newly constructed vessels with hydrogen fuel cells as of March 2022, with the first models reportedly expected in 2024.

Other megayachts expected to soon join Bezos’ Koru in the water include two Lürssen models, the 475-foot Luminance and the 400-foot Jag, and Feadship 821, a 389-foot offering from the Netherlands manufacturer.

But even those won’t best the biggest megayacht in the world, the 593-foot Azzam, which launched in 2013 after being commissioned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates who died last year.

Azzam, which means determination in Arabic, reportedly cost more than $600 million and is nearly 60 feet longer than the world’s second-largest yacht, the 533-foot Eclipse, owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Those monster vessels are expected to be surpassed next year by REV, a 600-foot yacht under construction in Norway which will have space for 36 guests and 54 crewmembers, according to Boat International .

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The best pictures of Koru

In 2022, the 125.8-metre sailing yacht Koru made history when she hit the water at Oceanco ’s Alblasserdam facilities. Now successfully delivered, she is the flagship of the Oceanco fleet and the largest Dutch-built yacht in the world. 

BOAT rounds up the best pictures of the three-masted sailing yacht owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos...

Koru unable to dock in Florida

Koru arrived at Port Everglades, Florida in November 2023 following a months-long Mediterranean cruise that included stopovers in Dubrovnik, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Calabria (according to BOATPro ). The sailing yacht was too large to anchor in the nearby marina, which has a maximum capacity of 121.9 metres. She was photographed instead docking next to a 297-metre cruise ship named Rhapsody of the Seas .

Koru's helicopter landing

Last summer, Koru was spotted in the French Riveria alongside her 75-metre support vessel Abeona . Delivered by Damen Yachting two months before the mothership, Abeona is equipped with a helipad and hangar for a D14 value helicopter– which is clearly being put to good use. Accommodation is for up to 45 people onboard Bezos' support vessel, including crew, guests and other specialist staff.

Koru in Portofino

Koru and Abeona also travelled to Portofino in the summer of 2023, with both Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez sighted enjoying lunch and taking photographs while on board. 

Koru's figurehead

Throughout construction, it was difficult to get a glimpse of the details on board Koru ; but once handed over, all of her traditional features could be admired up close. As well as the intricate gold paintwork and scarlet bootstripe, the yacht also features an elaborate figurehead made of polished wood. The woman is wearing a necklace with a symbol in the pendant, which some have speculated could be the Māori symbol meaning "koru".

Koru in front of Palma Cathedral

After delivery, the schooner spent some time enjoying the waters of Mallorca. The Balearic hotspot is a magnet for superyachts during the Mediterranean season, but Koru had the quiet anchorage largely to herself after leaving the Oceanco shipyard. Her classic lines could be appreciated in all of their glory against the backdrop of Palma Cathedral. 

Koru delivered to Mallorca

In April 2023. Koru was delivered and undertook her maiden voyage from the Netherlands to Gibraltar. She then headed onwards to Palma, giving the world a first glimpse of her cascading aft decks, mighty masts and elaborate aft deck pool arrangement. She was flying solo in Mallorca, but was later joined by support vessel Abeona .

Koru in Gibraltar

Following her successful sea trials in Rotterdam, Koru embarked on journey to Palma, Mallorca that involved an overnight anchorage in Gibraltar. The sailing yacht was sighted passing through the Strait of Gibraltar a second time on her cross-continental journey from the Mediterranean to the USA in November 2023.

Koru on sea trials

Koru was spotted departing from Rotterdam in the early morning light of February 13 to begin sea trials. The 125.8-metre Oceanco set sail across the North Sea to put her performance to the test after hitting the water for the first time in August 2022. The traditional three-masted schooner yacht has a midnight blue hull, traditional canoe stern and the unique addition of a chair at the very tip of the bowsprit. Her name represents the idea of life’s perpetual movement and is a Māori word closely related to that of an unfurling leaf.

Koru with her masts stepped

The yacht was seen for the first time in her final form on the dock in the Port of Rotterdam. Her trio of masts was stepped here to avoid having to dismantle any bridges to allow the Oceanco giant yacht to pass under. The maximum height of the bridge is 70 metres; the masts on Koru are thought to measure between 65 and 85 metres. The first images of Koru indicate the yacht will have plenty of features for her owner to enjoy, including an aft deck pool and a large, uncluttered sundeck.

Koru launched

The 125.8-metre yacht was moved from Oceanco’s primary facilities at the crack of dawn to enter the final stages of construction. The hull was transported via Dordrecht and Spijkenisse (Oude Maas), and her masts were transported separately via the slightly shorter Rotterdam Centre (Nieuwe Maas).

Koru moves through the Dutch canals

Before she hit the water, the hull of Koru was loaded onto a transport vessel and she made the journey through the Dutch canals for further construction work. The yacht was captured against the backdrop of the quaint Dutch countryside, revealing her classic-looking lines and long rows of windows.

Koru from a bird's eye view

As she was wheeled out of the shed into the light of day, yacht-spotters were able to get their first proper aerial shot of the yacht, without her masts. 

Koru rolls out of the shed

When Oceanco completed the work on the hull, the yacht was rolled out of the shed to reveal a crisp navy hull and white superstructure. Koru ’s exterior design immediately drew a comparison to Lürssen’s 93-metre sailing yacht Eos , which was designed by US-based Langan Design . This was the world’s first sighting of the already iconic superyacht.

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Sailing yacht KORU: What we know so far about Jeff Bezos’ 127 meter yacht

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By Nina Done   15 December 2022

Recent footage showcasing the vast proportions of the Amazon founder’s new 127m (417ft) Oceanco sailing yacht KORU , known throughout her build as Project Y721, has provided some valuable insight into one of the yachting industry’s best-kept secrets.

The megayacht’s specifications and amenities had been kept completely under wraps until she was forced to move from the Dutch yard’s primary facilities in Alblasserdam to get her masts fitted elsewhere in order to avoid dismantling the Koningshaven Bridge after huge public backlash. 

In August, the yacht was spotted in the Port of Rotterdam after her trio of masts had been successfully stepped, with pictures barely doing justice to the monolithic proportions of the sailing spars, reportedly up to 70-80 meters tall.

World yacht rankings

KORU will replace Oceanco’s BLACK PEARL for second place in the world's largest sailing yacht rankings behind Nobiskrug's 143m (469ft) sailing yacht A .

Oceanco's newest yacht is understood to have an internal volume of 3,300 GT and will undoubtedly offer a wealth of luxurious accommodation and amenities. Although we have scant information about the yacht's features, we do know that she will have an aft dip pool along with a further Jacuzzi on her sundeck and variety of alfresco social spaces. She also has a crow's nest attached to her central mast, offering lofty panoramic views for her more adventurous guests.

From the pictures we can see KORU also benefits from full-length windows across her superstructure allowing plenty of light to infuse her interiors. 

Design inspiration

Built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure with teak decking, she reportedly takes her design cues from the 93-meter Lürssen sailing yacht EOS , perhaps inspired by the entrepreneur’s visits to this yacht in previous years. 

Showcasing a midnight-blue hull with a distinctive red stripe running along her waterline, KORU’s exterior styling mirrors this traditional schooner style, with an elongated bowsprite and canoe stern. Another similar style yacht is the 90m (295ft) Royal Huisman sailing yacht ATHENA . 

Kinetic energy technology

As expected from a tech entrepreneur, known for pushing boundaries and driving innovation, sailing yacht KORU will be trialing a prototype for a new kinetic energy recovery system. This is based on a conversion of wave induced motion, heave, pitch and roll into electric energy, with initial tests showing early promise. 

With a nod to her green credentials, this will provide an additional power source for the yacht allowing for more sustainable cruising.

Tenders and toys

Access to sailing yacht KORU will be via folding passerelles, discreetly hidden in the yacht's hull on either side. Rescue and work tender launches will likely take place further forward, as per regulations. Recent pictures show a large hatch opening in her lower deck aft, which may contain further tenders and toys, but may also double as a beach club. 

Sailing yacht KORU comes complete with a support vessel built by Damen Yachts, reportedly known as 75 meter (247ft) yacht WINGMAN .

Once delivered, it is understood that she will act as an official support boat for the sailing yacht , carrying the larger toys, including a submarine for thrilling excursions beneath the waves, plus a helicopter and landing pad. She is also believed to play host to an array of PWCs, with rumors of a speed boat and luxury car adding to the fleet, as well as providing accommodation for additional crew and staff.

When is sailing yacht KORU expected to be delivered?

From here she will undertake the all-important rounds of sea trials before being delivered to her owner sometime in the new year. It is understood that the yacht will be officially christened KORU upon delivery, and will operate under the Cayman Islands' flag. It is not believed that superyacht KORU will be available to charter. 

If you'd like to learn more about chartering a yacht, please get in touch with your chosen yacht charter broker . Alternatively, view all superyachts available for charter .

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Jeff Bezos’ Magnificent KORU Yacht and ABEONA Support Vessel

The KORU yacht is a 127 meter sailing yacht built in the Netherlands by Oceanco and delivered in 2023. She was designed by Dykstra Naval Architects with the the interior of the yacht designed by Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi.

In the world of luxury yachting, few names command as much attention as Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the richest individuals on the planet.

Bezos’ affinity for the sea and his penchant for exploration have materialized in the form of the breathtaking sailing yacht KORU and its companion, the support vessel ABEONA.

Commissioned from renowned shipbuilders Oceanco and Damen Yachting, respectively, these vessels are not only a testament to Bezos’ wealth but also a celebration of Māori culture and innovation in yacht design.

The Marvel of Modern Yacht Design: KORU Yacht

The KORU yacht, also known as Y721, is a masterpiece crafted by the acclaimed Oceanco shipyard. With a remarkable length of 127 meters (417 feet), the yacht exudes luxury and grandeur in every aspect. Launched in April 2023, KORU stands as a tribute to Māori art and culture, as evident from its name and styling.

The Māori word “koru” signifies a loop or coil, symbolizing new life, growth, strength, and peace. This symbolism resonates throughout the vessel, creating an immersive experience that pays homage to the essence of Māori art.

Inside the KORU yacht, guests are treated to a world of unparalleled luxury. The yacht boasts a large swimming pool on the aft deck, inviting guests to bask in the sun while surrounded by the beauty of the open sea.

Accommodating up to 18 guests and serviced by a crew of approximately 40, KORU offers a perfect balance between privacy and service.

The yacht’s interiors are a testament to meticulous design and craftsmanship, with each detail meticulously chosen to provide the highest level of comfort.

The Symbolism of KORU’s Name

The choice of the name “KORU” for the yacht holds deep significance. In Māori culture, the koru symbolizes new beginnings, growth, and the cycle of life.

It is often represented as an unfolding fern frond, embodying the concepts of renewal and continuous movement. Jeff Bezos, in an Instagram post , highlighted the symbolism behind the name, showcasing his embrace of growth, rebirth, and mindfulness.

ABEONA: The Perfect Companion

No luxury yacht is complete without a support vessel that complements its grandeur. Enter ABEONA, a 75-meter (246-foot) support vessel commissioned by Jeff Bezos.

Built by Damen Yachting, ABEONA serves as the perfect adjunct to the KORU yacht. This custom-built vessel carries all the toys, tenders, and equipment needed to enhance the yachting experience.

With a large helicopter hangar and the capacity to accommodate 45 staff, crew, and guests, ABEONA stands as an indispensable asset to the main yacht.

The Visionary Behind the Vessels: Jeff Bezos

With a staggering net worth of $160 billion, Jeff Bezos is not only a pioneer in the world of e-commerce but also a visionary with a passion for the sea.

The commissioning of the KORU yacht and the ABEONA support vessel reflects Bezos’ love for exploration and his desire to embrace the vastness of the ocean.

Bezos’ affinity for the sea is also reflected in his ownership of a Gulfstream G650ER private jet, showcasing his penchant for luxury both in the air and on the water.

Oceanco: The Pioneers of Luxury Yacht Building

The Oceanco shipyard has carved a name for itself as a pioneer in the luxury yacht industry. Established in 1987, Oceanco has consistently pushed the boundaries of design, craftsmanship, and innovation.

KORU, with its classic schooner design, stands as a testament to Oceanco’s commitment to creating vessels that are not only luxurious but also artistically inspired.

KORU yacht summary

The KORU yacht and its companion ABEONA support vessel stand as testaments to Jeff Bezos’ love for the sea, his appreciation for Māori culture, and his affinity for luxury and exploration.

These vessels, crafted with precision by Oceanco and Damen Yachting, redefine the boundaries of yacht design and innovation.

As Jeff Bezos embarks on journeys of discovery aboard these vessels, he continues to inspire awe and admiration among yachting enthusiasts and the world at large.

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Jeff Bezos' yacht reportedly cost $500 million and is the largest sailing yacht in the world. Here's what we know.

• Jeff Bezos ' new $500 million megayacht Koru set sail this summer.
• At 417 feet long, it's the world's largest sailing yacht and even boasts a sculpture resembling his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez.
• Here's everything we know about Bezos' yacht.

Jeff Bezos' new megayacht set sail this summer, with the founder and former Amazon CEO and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez crisscrossing Europe to show it off.

At 417 feet long, the vessel is the world's largest sailing yacht and cost an estimated $500 million. The yacht is named Koru , which means "loop" or "coil" in the Māori language and often signifies new beginnings.

Koru joins a large class of flashy billionaires' yachts , including the 305-foot-long Eos, which belongs to billionaire Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison owns a yacht called Musashi, which is 288 feet long.

Bezos commissioned the enormous boat from the Dutch custom yacht builder Oceanco, and it took years to construct.

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In February, the yacht underwent its first sea trials, a series of tests usually conducted in the last phases of construction. Koru made its maiden voyage in April, traveling from the Netherlands to Gibraltar.

The vessel has a pool on deck, and the prow features a mermaid sculpture that bears a striking resemblance to Bezos' then-girlfriend Sanchez. A second "support yacht," which has an on-deck helipad, accompanies Koru on its travels.

Sanchez has said the sculpture affixed to Bezos' yacht isn't her. "I'm very flattered, but it's not," she told Vogue. The sculpture is apparently of the Norse goddess Freyja, one of Bezos' favorite figures from mythology.

Bezos and Sanchez were first seen aboard the yacht along the coast of Spain in May, shortly before news broke that the couple had gotten engaged. The couple spent the rest of the summer on board traveling to various destinations, stopping at the Cannes Film Festival, sailing down the Italian Riviera, and making their way to Croatia.

In August, the yacht played host to an engagement party for Bezos and Sanchez , which reportedly drew guests including Bill Gates, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Ari Emanuel, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

While yacht season was apparently enjoyable for the couple, it was only after the vessel stirred up quite a bit of controversy: Koru's masts were so tall that the yacht nearly required the dismantling of a historic bridge in the Netherlands in order for it to pass through.

Locals planned to egg Bezos' superyacht if the bridge came down. Following the public outcry, Oceanco withdrew its request for the city to take apart the bridge.

And despite this massive purchase, Bezos' net worth is still well over $100 billion.

Watch: Inside the world's biggest cruise ship that just set sail

• Main content

This 247 feet long vessel is exclusively built to support Jeff Bezos’ humungous $500 million yacht. It will accommodate a staff of 45 and will carry a helicopter, diving gear, water toys, and everything else the Amazon CEO and his girlfriend need for their voyages.

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Jeff Bezos: Amazon CEO buys $500m superyacht so big it comes with a ‘support yacht’

Experts say that yacht industry has seen a boom during the pandemic, article bookmarked.

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Jeff Bezos , Amazon founder and the world’s richest man, will reportedly soon be the owner of a mega-yacht he bought for $500 million, almost double the price he paid to buy the Washington Post newspaper in 2013.

While the details of the vessel have largely been kept under wrap, the 417-foot superyacht is so massive that it has a yacht of its own, along with a helipad, reported Bloomberg.

Developed by Dutch yachtmaker, Oceano, it is named project Y721 and has several decks along with three huge masts, reported the outlet. Said to be the largest sailing yacht built in the Netherlands, it is due to be finished next month, almost two years after it was ordered.

While the cost of the yacht is inconceivable for many, the amount is only a fraction of Mr Bezos’s total worth which currently stands at $191 billion. In fact, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index , Mr Bezos gained about $75 billion in 2020, as the world was fighting the pandemic.

Amazon’s stocks gained 75 per cent last year as consumers turned towards its services for shopping during the pandemic, reported CNN. Bezos isn’t the only billionaire to have gained fortune during the pandemic.

According to a report published by Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax fairness, US billionaires have collectively increased their wealth by $1.1 trillion during the pandemic, making them 40 per cent richer than they were before the pandemic began.

While Covid-19 was not a factor when Mr Bezos invested his fortune in the superyacht, a Bloomberg analysis showed that its market has grown especially during the pandemic. “The market’s been roaring,” Sam Tucker, head of superyacht research at London-based VesselsValue, was quoted as saying by the outlet.

He further said that the demand for extravagantly high-end yachts has outstripped supply. “It’s impossible to get a slot in a new-build yard,” Mr Tucker said. “They’re totally booked.”

Aino Grapin, chief executive officer of superyacht interiors studio Winch Design, told the outlet that the yacht allows the explorer to cruise for 9,000 nautical miles without the need to refuel it. “Clients can enjoy life at sea for long periods of time without having to go mix with others,” she said.

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Why do superyacht owners like Jeff Bezos need a 75m support vessel?

All the Cannes Film Festival stars weren’t on the Red Carpet, some were on the big blue at anchor in the Bay of Cannes.

While most people were looking at the Palais des Festival, others were turned towards the ocean where Jeff Bezos’ yacht and chase yachts were at anchor. 

His new 127 m Oceanco sailing yacht Koru and his 75m support vessel Aebona were recently delivered to their owner.

So why does a yacht owner need a superyacht and yacht vessel, especially when considering the small difference of sizes between both yachts?

Slim Bouricha, President of Lynx Yachts shares his expert knowledge on the question: “Though having the support vessel smaller than the main yacht may seem like a conventional choice, this is not always the case. Lynx delivered a YXT24 to an owner of a 70m yacht, but also delivered the same to the owner of a 24m yacht. There is also a 6711 Damen sea axe that used to run alongside a 50m yacht.”

All superyacht owners don’t have a support vessel, however, as Slim confides: 

“The bigger a yacht is, the bigger the needs are for various toys and tenders. Captains (and owners) of large yachts are always happy to free prime real estate and have all the big equipment on their support vessels; this is also where all the day-to-day maintenance can occur.”

Support vessel’s purpose is mainly to transport the main yacht’s toys, such as helicopter, tenders, jet skis… and crew. Do main yachts still have cabins for some of the crew? What’s the usual ratio?

Slim continues “there is really no ratio. The main yacht is always designed to be self-sufficient to carry a decent amount of reasonably sized toys and tenders. Support vessels increase exponentially the carrying capacity for much larger equipment such as limo tenders, helicopters, fishing or wakeboard boats, submarines, etc. These require additional crew for operating and maintenance. The main yacht can lift the anchor and leave in much less time leaving the support vessel behind to lift all the tenders onboard. Another example is laundry; unless you are in a very large mega yacht, laundry areas are cramped, and it is a real benefit to be able to have it done on the support vessel. 

In the case of Jeff Bezos, Sailing Yacht Koru and Motor Yacht Abeona were built by two different shipyards. Slim explains…

“Today there are two brands known for building yacht support vessels: Damen with their Sea Axe line and Lynx yachts with their YXT line. They each occupy a different segment of the market. The specialization, so to speak, is not just about building a support vessel, but rather understanding the key design features required in a support vessel and their implications on engineering. This is why there are not many companies around that build such vessels.

In Bezos’ case, both yachts were delivered together. It seems not all owners of support yachts have both yachts done at the same time. Bouricha adds that, “Some owners may feel that they are outgrowing their yacht and a support vessel can be the answer; it would cost less for the owner of a 40m yacht to acquire a YXT24 than upgrade to a 50m.”

More info from Lynx Yachts on their website

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Jeff Bezos Is So Rich He Has A $100m ‘Support Yacht’ For His $700m Superyacht

A not-so-humble sidekick.

Image: SplashNews

This weekend, Jeff Bezos made a remarkable entrance into the harbour of Cannes aboard his new $700m megayacht. Spanning 417 feet, this vessel was accompanied by its support yacht, the Abeona, serving as a $100 million floating garage housing luxury cars, jet skis, and even a helicopter for Bezos’ fiancée.

It’s been a busy few weeks for  Jeff Bezos . Between wearing a  barely-there sheer polo  to the Miami GP, his  controversial $723m yacht  finally being seen  under sail for the first time , and construction pushing ahead for his new wife’s $270m mega-mansion , you’d be forgiven for thinking that the once world’s richest man — recently eclipsed by Bernard  Arnault  and  Elon Musk  — might want to take a few days off to decompress.

And that’s exactly what he’s done: arriving at the bustling Cote d’Azur this weekend, the Amazon founder floated into the harbour for some much-needed ‘me time’. However, what caught the eye of many onlookers was not his controversial but undeniably impressive $700m superyacht, but the rather more modest $100m companion craft that came along with him.

WATCH: Here’s what the main event looks like under sail…

Named after the Maori term for “new beginnings,” Bezos’ controversial superyacht — the Koru —represents a more luxurious and opulent investment than any of us mere mortals could ever dream of. And yet, that hasn’t stopped him from keeping the Abeona — Koru’s 246-foot “ support yacht ” — on hand and stacked with all the toys a billionaire could need.

The largest support vessel ever built, the $100 million Abeona was launched in October of last year and is named after the Roman goddess of outward journeys. Stacked with supercars, motorbikes, smaller boats, and jet skis, the vessel’s raison d’etre is to accommodate Bezos’ fiancée — trained helicopter pilot Lauren Sanchez — as the Koru lacks its own landing pad.

This is far from being the first big spend that Bezos has made to accommodate his new boo, who made her own millions as an esteemed TV presenter and more recently as founder of ‘Black Ops Aviation’, the first female-owned aerial film and production company. Bezos’ $270m mega-mansion that is underway in Beverley Hills is also being developed with the aim of accommodating the soon-to-be-married couple.

We certainly don’t wish to imply that Sanchez is a demanding partner. In fact, the demand for similar support vessels is apparently soaring amongst the super-rich, who are always in need of additional space to store gadgets and guests alike. As well as hitting top speeds of 18 knots, the Abeona can comfortably accommodate four guests and an extensive crew of up to 37 members.

Sanchez may not be demanding but she’s certainly inspiring, at least in the eyes of her new beaux: in addition to the Koru’s Rolls Royce engines and array of sails, the ship’s bow features a polished wooden sculpture that, officially speaking, is intended to be reminiscent of a Roman goddess, but some have speculated bears a striking resemblance to Sanchez herself…

While details about the interior of Bezos’ staggering superyacht are as yet undisclosed, it isn’t hard to imagine to the kind of obscene luxury that must lay within its walls. With estimated annual running costs of over $30 million, it’s clear that as the Koru and its not-so-humble sidekick set sail, Bezos knows how to keep his extravagant dreams afloat while the rest of us are left treading water.

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Photo of Jeff Bezos’ extra $100 million ‘support’ yacht sparks outrage: ‘Wondering at what point one wasn’t enough’

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As if one $500 million superyacht wasn’t enough, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos added a second $100 million mega-boat to his fleet, stirring up a storm in social media comment sections.

One Redditor posted a recent photo of the new yacht in the appropriately named subreddit r/Anticonsumption .

The 246-foot support vessel named Abeona can be seen tailing Bezos’ much larger 417-foot triple-masted sailing yacht called Koru, which is both the largest and tallest “pure” sailing yacht in the world, clocking in at 230 feet tall, according to YachtWorld .

The Redditor said in the caption: “Friendly reminder that the King of Overconsumption himself has a second, $100 million mega yacht [following] his $500 million mega yacht so his (at time of purchase) girlfriend can have a floating helipad.”

However, one user pointed out the purpose of the “spare yacht”: “It houses all the toys for the parent yacht. Extremely decadent I agree but it’s not a spare by any means. They generally stick together even on ocean passages,” they explained .

Still, it seems excessive, especially considering the massive impact of ships this size on the environment. According to the New York Post , Koru generates at least 7,154 tons of heat-trapping pollution annually — around 447 times the amount produced yearly by most Americans , as an analysis by Indiana University researchers discovered.

And that doesn’t even consider the planet-warming gases produced by the diesel-powered Abeona.

While Koru is primarily propelled by the wind, the superyacht still creates mind-boggling amounts of pollution from the energy required to heat and cool the ship and power its amenities.

“The helicopters onboard, the jetskis, the high energy-using luxury items like pools, hot tubs, private submarines and tenders … It is like having a hotel running on the water all the time,” Richard Wilk, one of the researchers involved in a climate research study, told the Guardian .

Unsurprisingly, many commenters in the thread had zero issues calling out the Amazon billionaire.

“Wondering at what point one wasn’t enough anymore,” one commenter wrote.

“Someone needs to tell the orcas to go after it,” another joked.

“This would be the head of the same company which denies workers need to unionize to get a fair wage?” added another Redditor.

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Jeff Bezos's $75M floating garage: How Amazon billionaire has 'support yacht' for his jet skis, luxury cars and fiancée's helicopter... while using his superior $500M superyacht

• Amazon's Jeff Bezos bought a 'support' yacht to accompany $500m mega yacht for his fiancée's helicopter
• His mega yacht, the Koru, took pride of place on the French Riviera this week alongside $75m Abeona support
• The smaller yacht also carries luxuries including jet skis, sports cars, motorbikes and even smaller boats

By Oliver Price

Published: 09:01 EDT, 28 May 2023 | Updated: 11:34 EDT, 28 May 2023

View comments

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos was seen in the French Riviera in his $500million mega yacht at the Cannes Film Festival - which was flagged by his support yacht, which is effectively as a $75million floating garage for his jet skis, luxury cars and his fiancée's helicopter.

The world's most extravagant superyachts have been seen jostling for position at Cote d'Azur, with the likes of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - the third richest man in the world according to Forbes - being seen gliding into the Cannes' harbour. Bezos has since decided to jet off for northern Italy .

His new yacht the Koru is named after the Maori word for 'new beginnings' and measures a whopping 417ft long.

But the impressive vessel does not travel alone - it is accompanied by a 'support yacht', the Abeona, which measures 246ft, and carries a slew of gadgets, machines and toys for Bezos and his entourage to enjoy.

These include a selection of supercars, motorbikes, smaller boats, jet skis, and a helicopter and landing pad for his fiancée.

The Koru (background) alone is simply not enough for the ex-Amazon chief, who also arrived in the French Riviera with a support yacht, the Abeona (foreground), which itself measures 246ft and carries a slew of gadgets, as well as a helicopter

Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez are holidaying on his yacht 'Koru' (left) with escort yacht 'Abeona' (right) in Cannes

A major reason that Bezos bought the shadow yacht was so that his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, who is a trained helicopter pilot, could land her bird when they were at sea

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos (right) at the beach with his fiancee Lauren Sanchez (left)

The $75million support yacht codenamed YS 6512, which is the largest support vessel ever built, was launched to shadow the Koru in October last year.

READ MORE:  Battle of the Cannes superyachts: How Jeff Bezos, James Packer and their fellow billionaires competed for the most impressive vessel at the French film festival

Abeona, named after the Roman goddess of outward journeys, was built at a shipyard in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, after a contract was signed with Bezos in 2019, according to Luxurylaunches .

A major reason that Bezos bought the shadow yacht was so that his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, who is a trained helicopter pilot, could land her Airbus ACH-135 when they were at sea - as the bigger Koru does not have its own landing pad, Luxurylaunches  reported.

Sanchez, 53, is the founder of Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial film and production company.

She became famous as an entertainment reporter in America and as a news anchor, and she won an Emmy award for her stint as an anchor for KCOP's 13 News.

Sanchez was married to businessman Patrick Whitesell from 2005 until their divorce in 2019. She has been with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos since 2019 and they got engaged earlier this month.

Demand for support vessels has risen significantly in the past few years amongst wealthy owners of superyachts.

These yachts are used to assist the main ship by giving space to store equipment (such as a helicopter), and provide accomodation for extra guests.

Abeona has a volume of 1900 tons and has a cruising speed of 16 knots and a top speed of 18 knots. At cruising speed the ships maximum range is 5000 nautical miles. 

Alongside all the toys and amenities, the Abeona can accommodate four guests in two staterooms and up to 37 crew members.

It's big sister Koru  is the world's second largest sailing ship, surpassed only by the somewhat underwhelmingly-named 'Sailing Yacht A', owned by Russian fertilizer billionaire Andrey Melnichenko.

The yacht Abeona, auxiliary ship of the sailing yacht Koru, and owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, at anchor in the bay of Palma de Mallorca

A major reason that Bezos bought the shadow yacht was so that his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, who is a trained helicopter pilot, could land her Airbus ACH-135 when they were at sea - as the bigger Koru does not have its own landing pad, Luxurylaunches reported

Jeff Bezos $500 million megayacht is named Koru after the Maori word for 'new beginnings'

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the polished wooden sculpture of a curvaceous woman carved in the style of a Roman goddess, dressed in a flowing gown and with long hair

The staggering vessel wraps the very best of modern maritime technology with the look and feel of sailing ships of old. 

The Koru is powered by a pair of extremely powerful MTU Rolls Royce engines, but also comes complete with an array of sails which allow the craft to harness the power of mother nature. 

A polished wooden sculpture of a Roman goddess is carved into the ship's bow, which some have commented looks as though it is styled on Bezos' glamorous girlfriend Lauren Sanchez.  

Not much is known about the interior of Bezos' superyacht, but with a price tag of $500 million - and estimated running costs of roughly $25 million - it is sure to be dripping with luxury. 

Share or comment on this article: Jess Bezos's $75M floating garage: Amazon billionaire has 'support yacht' for fiancée's helicopter

How's that Bezos "Earth Fund" going ? ! He's just ...

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Mallorca, the destination chosen by Mark Zuckerberg to debut his $300 million megayacht

T he group of megayachts that have been sailing the waters of Spain’s Balearic Islands since the arrival of good weather has welcomed a new member. While last year it was Amazon founder Jeff Bezos who debuted his $500-million toy called Koru, this year, it was tech entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg who is sailing the Mediterranean with his latest acquisition: a megayacht called Launchpad. The 118-meter-long vessel, made by Feadship from the Netherlands, is valued at $300 million. The luxury yacht was completed last March and was delivered to Zuckerberg on May 14, the same day that the Meta founder and owner turned 40 .

The ship flies the flag of the Marshall Islands, in the region of Micronesia, and, according to its technical specifications, it is 118 meters (387 feet) long, 17 meters (55 feet) wide and has a capacity for 24 guests, to which up to 48 crew members can be added. It can reach a speed of 20 knots with a range of 3,000 nautical miles, and the cost of its annual maintenance costs is more than $30 million.

The luxury yacht was designed by experts from Monaco-based Espen Øino International, which has a long track record in designing large vessels. Little is known about its interiors, beyond the fact that they were designed by Zuretti Interior Design, a French company dedicated to yacht interior design. The Launchpad has three decks, in white and navy blue, the bow has a tennis court, while on the aft deck, there is a helicopter to bring in guests from the mainland. On one side of the hull there is a glazed terrace for sunbathing or dining in front of the sea. During the time that is has been moored in the Bay of Palma, in Mallorca , slides and inflatable water toys have been seen in the sea.

Last week, the crew tested the yacht and the ship’s helicopter, signalling Zuckerberg’s imminent arrival. The social media guru landed in the private area of Palma airport on Friday night, June 14. The businessman and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were snapped leaving the terminal, with their three daughters: Max, August and Aurelia. The family was picked up by a vehicle that took them directly to the port of Palma, where the Launchpad was located. In recent weeks, the megayacht has been moored in the luxurious Club de Mar-Mallorca, fitting in beside the vessels of wealthy sheikhs and businessmen. Over the weekend, the Launchpad sailed to the south of the island, to spots such as Santa Ponça. So far, no photos have been taken of the Zuckerberg family or their guests on dry land.

Last weekend, Zuckerberg himself posted a photo on his Instagram profile, which has almost 14 million followers. In the image, he appears with his entire family as they celebrate his father’s 70th birthday. The group is seen wearing identical T-shirts that read “Ed’s Kids” after his father. Around 20 family members have come together on the megayacht to celebrate the milestone birthday. Zuckerberg’s three siblings also appear smiling in the images, joined by their partners and children.

“Happy Father’s Day to the man who started and continues to inspire our whole family,” Zuckerberg posted. “We’re also celebrating his 70th birthday and it was really something to hear the grandkids (at least the ones old enough) take turns telling papa all the ways he is meaningful in their lives last night at dinner. Here’s to many more.”

Megayacht debuts

The Launchpad , which also has a support vessel called the Wingman , is the latest megayacht to make its debut in Mallorca. Last year, Bezos launched Koru, the largest sailing yacht in the world, measuring 127 meters (416 feet). The Amazon founder and his fiancée, news anchor Lauren Sánchez , sailed the Mediterranean last summer on the $500-million vessel. Both arrived to the yacht directly by helicopter from a private plane that landed in Palma and were also photographed with a group of friends in Ibiza.

The Koru was also docked at the luxurious Club de Mar-Mallorca in Palma, the capital of the Balearic Islands, where producer David Geffen often moors his yacht Rising Sun . Just a couple of weeks ago, this gigantic 138-meter boat welcomed Kendall and Kylie Jenner , who spent a few days off with their mother, Kris Jenner, on the coast of Mallorca. In recent summers, Geffen has regularly sailed across the Balearic Islands with famous friends such as Bezos himself, actor Tom Hanks and singer Paul McCartney.

Chinese tycoon Jack Ma, founder of the Alibaba group , also debuted his megayacht Zen in Mallorca. The ship made its debut in 2021 after its construction was completed in a shipyard in the Netherlands. At the time, Jack Ma had largely out of the public view for two years after publicly criticizing China’s regulatory system. He was spotted on the Balearic island that summer playing golf in the municipality of Calvià, where his yacht was anchored. He liked the island, and he returned in 2022 the following summer.

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Lauren Sanchez looks unbelievably svelte and sunkissed during Greek getaway with fiancé Jeff Bezos

The amazon founder and his fiancé are enjoying another vacation .

Another day, another dreamy getaway for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez . The pair put on a stylish display when they were photographed taking a stroll through the streets of Mykonos, Greece.

The happy couple waved for the cameras and smiled as they were snapped hand-in-hand for their date. 

While Jeff looked dapper in a pristine, white polo shirt and navy pants, it was Lauren who stole the show in a figure-flattering, pale yellow halter dress which showed off her gym-toned physique . 

Hiding behind dark sunglasses, Lauren wore her long, raven hair loose and topped off her look with a pair of strappy heels. 

According to Page Six , the pair are island hopping and Lauren has been spotted flying a helicopter on and off their support boat. 

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Their luxury $500 million superyacht, Koru, where they are living is said to be on the less windy side of the island.

The 417-foot vessel was made in 2021 in the Netherlands, and it is renowned as the world’s tallest sailing yacht with three massive 229-foot masts.

The twin-engine and twin-propellor boat has an array of luxurious features inside and out. It boasts two on-deck pools, an outdoor dining area and a hot tub.

Other swanky features include a cinema on board and spacious meeting rooms – making the boat perfect for business and pleasure.

According to The New York Times , when Koru sails it will be trailed by Abeona, a 246-foot support vessel. This separate boat can be used to hold jet skis, extra food and has a helicopter landing pad on the top, for jet-set access.

Jeff proposed on the yacht back in May 2023. Looking back at the moment the Amazon founder surprised her with her engagement ring , Lauren confessed she was more than bowled over, telling Vogue : "When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit." 

Jeff had simply hidden the ring underneath her pillow while they were vacationing on his yacht.

While last year she confessed they hadn't made plans for their big day, at the time, Lauren said: "We're still thinking about the wedding," adding: "What it's going to be. Is it going to be big?"

One thing is for sure, there won't be any expense spared. Jeff has a net worth of  $161.3 billion dollars which Lauren is marrying into. 

"I think there are a lot of opportunities that come with that," she declared of how they chose to spend their money: "I take those opportunities very seriously. We always look at each other and go, 'We're the team.' So everything's shared."

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Jeff bezos and lauren sánchez take greece by land, air and sea on mykonos yacht vacation.

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are taking Greece by land, sea and air.

An isle spy tells Page Six that the power couple has been seen on Mykonos, where helicopter pilot Sánchez was spotted taking a whirly-bird for a spin off the duo’s boat, which is filled with “toys,” y’know, like choppers.

Said the fellow traveler: “Jeff was seen coming from the city center in Chora ” — as the tony town is called by locals and in-the-know visitors — “and getting on and off his helicopter onto his smaller support boat.”

The couple was also photographed strolling through the streets of Mykonos hand-in-hand.

The source further said that, “Lauren has been seen flying a helicopter on and off their support boat, where they keep all their toys . . . helicopters, speed boats and other water toys.”

The source also told us that, “Jeff’s keeping the super big boat they live on, on the other side of the island where there is less wind.”

The source was referring to the couple’s famous $500 million superyacht , Koru, which they debuted last summer. Building of the mammoth vessel for the Amazon tycoon began in 2018.

Bezos also reportedly owns a “smaller” $75 million yacht, Abeona, which shadows his bigger boat . (One boat blog explained the concept: “In car terms, this is basically the same as buying a Porsche so you can drive to the garage where your Bugatti is parked.”)

The little ol’ support boat can accommodate 45, including 20 crew.

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Bezos also owns a fleet of helicopters and private planes plus properties galore, of course.

Also on Mykonos as the summer heats up , we hear, is billionaire Jets owner Woody Johnson, who was spotted at fancy beach club Scorpios, after taking a tender from his own yacht.

Bezos and Sánchez have also been seen in Greece dining on the island of Hydra with Bezos’ son Preston.

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Yachting Jeff Bezos Throws WaPo CEO Will Lewis a Lifeline (For Now)

“The journalistic standards and ethics at The Post will not change,” Bezos wrote to newsroom leaders in a note backing the paper’s embattled new boss.

Corbin Bolies

Media Reporter

MEGA/GC Images

While yachting in Mykonos , Jeff Bezos on Tuesday finally broke his silence and commented on the ongoing scandal surrounding the Washington Post .

In an emailed memo to senior editors, the vacationing billionaire reaffirmed his support for embattled Washington Post CEO Will Lewis , writing that “the journalistic standards and ethics at The Post will not change”—even as Lewis and his handpicked incoming editor have come under fire for their reporting practices in the U.K.

“Team – I know you’ve already heard this from Will, but I wanted to also weigh in directly: the journalistic standards and ethics at The Post will not change,” Bezos wrote in the memo obtained by The Daily Beast. “To be sure, it can’t be business as usual at The Post. The world is evolving rapidly and we do need to change as a business. With your support, we’ll do that and lead this great institution into the future. But, as the newsroom leaders who’ve been shaping and guiding our coverage, you also know our standards at The Post have always been very high.”

Will Lewis wears his $1,100 calfskin-and-suede Zegna sneakers while speaking to staff at The Washington Post.

Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Bezos continued: “That can’t change—and it won’t. You have my full commitment on maintaining the quality, ethics, and standards we all believe in. A huge thank you for continuing to do the work that makes us all proud, and makes this institution so important.”

The memo, which was first reported by CNN, was sent to much of the Post’ s masthead, including managing editors Matea Gold, Scott Vance, and Krissah Thompson. Bezos cc’d top editors Matt Murray and David Shipley—along with Lewis himself.

Bezos’ comments may not do much to quell a newsroom that’s resided in various states of dread and disgust after Lewis pushed out executive editor Sally Buzbee and installed two former colleagues—Murray and Telegraph editor Rob Winnett—to spearhead a new three-newsroom structure.

Since the restructuring earlier this month, reports from The Daily Beast , The New York Times , and the Post itself have highlighted how Lewis and Winnett relied on methods that violate both standard journalistic ethics and the Post ’s own policies to report out stories in the U.K. Some of these practices include relying on a push for stolen documents and placing employees within government offices to scour for information.

“I don’t know how Will and Rob can stay on at this point,” a Post staffer told The Daily Beast on Monday. “ They have lost the entire newsroom.”

Lewis’ relationship with the newsroom plummeted earlier this month after multiple stories emerged over his attempts to kill negative stories related to Prince Harry’s lawsuit in the U.K., which alleged Lewis helped cover up News U.K.’s phone-hacking into celebrities including Harry and actor Hugh Grant.

Koru and Abeona, Jeff Bezos yachts were seen on June 13, 2023 in Portofino, Italy.

Robino Salvatore/GC Images

The New York Times reported that Lewis criticized then-executive editor Buzbee’s plan to publish a story on the lawsuit involving Lewis, while NPR revealed a day later that Lewis promised the outlet an exclusive interview unveiling his business plans if it didn’t move forward with a December story outlining the U.K. case. Lewis and the Post have denied pressuring Buzbee to drop the story and Lewis lashed out at NPR reporter David Folkenfilk for his report, but he later walked back his attacks in meetings with staffers last week.

Still, those meetings didn’t offer much in the way of transparency. While Lewis outlined his plans for Winnett to shadow reporters and editors in the late summer before taking over the main newsroom in November, staffers told The Daily Beast he didn’t make quite clear how the “Third Newsroom,” as Lewis has repeatedly titled it, will function. Staffers were also unsure whether Lewis’ plans for Winnett to join the newsroom later this year would come to fruition.

Bezos’ note on Tuesday, however, indicates his respect for Lewis’ judgment will last a little longer.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

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How Jeff Bezos Is Trying to Fix The Washington Post

The Amazon founder has expressed his support to Will Lewis, the C.E.O., who has faced widespread criticism this month.

By Benjamin Mullin and Katie Robertson

When The Washington Post’s staff gathered in the newsroom in early May to celebrate winning three Pulitzer Prizes, one person was conspicuously absent: Will Lewis, the company’s publisher and chief executive.

That’s because Mr. Lewis was in New York meeting with Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon and owner of The Post, who was in the city to attend the Met Gala, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting.

The pair had been discussing a reorganization aimed at helping The Post turn around its business. That included creating a “third newsroom” inside The Post to focus on new editorial products, an idea blessed by Mr. Bezos, according to one of those people and another familiar with the talks.

Mr. Lewis’s decision this month to go ahead with that plan has shaken The Post. Sally Buzbee, the paper’s executive editor, abruptly resigned , upsetting many in the newsroom. Since then, revelations about Mr. Lewis’s response to a years-old scandal have raised questions about his ethics before and after he joined The Post — and even questions about whether he would survive in his job.

So far, Mr. Bezos appears to be standing by Mr. Lewis, who joined the paper this year. Mr. Bezos recently expressed his support for Mr. Lewis during one of their periodic conversations, according to two people with knowledge of the interaction.

Mr. Bezos’ decisions to reshape The Post underscore the central role he is playing at the paper he bought for $250 million more than 10 years ago. Mr. Bezos spends more time on other projects, including his space company, Blue Origin, leaving the day-to-day operations and editorial strategy to the chief executive and top editors. But he is ultimately The Post’s most important figure.

He has picked The Post’s chief executives and set the agenda for its business, according to multiple people with knowledge of his interactions with people at the newspaper. He approves The Post’s budget and advises the newspaper on business matters through regular phone calls with the chief executive and occasional meetings with its leadership team.

According to people who have spoken to him, he has said that he believes The Post could reach 100 million paying subscribers, a feat that would catapult it far ahead of competitors. (The Post now has about 2.5 million paying subscribers.)

During the last conversation that Ms. Buzbee had with Mr. Bezos before she resigned, he encouraged her to run the “third newsroom” overseeing service journalism and social media, according to a person with knowledge of the talks.

In the past, Mr. Bezos had occasionally urged Ms. Buzbee to think boldly when considering ambitious digital initiatives, two other people said.

Mr. Bezos did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The Post said in a statement: “We’re grateful for our owner’s ongoing support and commitment to The Washington Post.”

In the first seven years after Mr. Bezos bought The Post, the newsroom staff more than doubled and subscriptions increased sharply, helped by the paper’s vigorous reporting on the Trump administration. But The Post’s audience has halved since the 2020 election, Mr. Lewis recently told the newsroom, and the company lost $77 million in 2023 .

Mr. Bezos, aware of the growing business problems, started paying more attention to his purchase last year. In June, the company announced that Fred Ryan, the chief executive since 2014, would be stepping down and that Patty Stonesifer, a veteran technology executive and a confidante of Mr. Bezos, would temporarily take over.

Ms. Stonesifer organized meetings between Mr. Bezos and top editors and business executives at The Post’s headquarters in October. Throughout the meetings, Mr. Bezos asked questions about the coverage, many of them focused on how The Post could turn its stories into products that would serve its users, according to two people familiar with his remarks. He was also focused on reaching new readers, particularly those in the middle of the country.

In a meeting with The Post’s political staff that day, Mr. Bezos also asked about how the newspaper was covering threats to democracy and how it planned to engage with younger readers on social media, the people said, adding that Mr. Bezos did not focus on specific stories but was interested in the overall strategy.

At the time, Mr. Bezos was also involved with a Post project to reach out to a broader audience. The Amazon founder had long pushed The Post to try new things to expand its audience. At one point, he suggested rewriting articles from other news organizations — but Ms. Buzbee preferred to give priority to original journalism.

The project, which originated in The Post’s opinion section, involved creating a new network of opinion writers. Mr. Bezos was pitched on a pilot version of the program with contributors from Kansas City, and some form of the project is still in the works.

He hired Mr. Lewis, a reporter turned news executive, after Ms. Stonesifer worked with the recruiting firm Sucherman to find a permanent chief executive.

Before he was hired, The Post examined allegations that Mr. Lewis had ties to one of the darkest periods in British press history. Mr. Lewis has said that, while working for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp more than a decade before, he was entrusted with cleaning up a phone-hacking scandal that led to the closing of one of the nation’s most popular tabloids. Some victims have alleged that he helped cover up evidence of wrongdoing — accusations that Mr. Lewis had repeatedly denied.

Ms. Stonesifer researched the aftermath of the scandal, according to a person familiar with the matter. She came away satisfied with his explanation and confident that he was the right executive to run The Post, the person said.

Mr. Lewis, who is British, was named chief executive in November, after a dinner with Ms. Stonesifer and Mr. Bezos at his mansion in Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood, and started in his new role in January.

Things seemed relatively calm until Mr. Lewis replaced Ms. Buzbee this month. After Ms. Buzbee resigned, The New York Times reported that she had clashed in mid-May with Mr. Lewis over a decision to cover a court decision involving him and other executives in a case tied to the phone-hacking scandal. Mr. Lewis has denied pressuring Ms. Buzbee.

An NPR reporter, David Folkenflik, later confirmed that reporting and said that Mr. Lewis, after he had been hired for his job at The Post, had offered him an exclusive interview in exchange for ignoring a story on the phone-hacking scandal, a quid pro quo that is frowned upon in American journalism. Mr. Lewis has acknowledged having an off-the-record conversation with Mr. Folkenflik, whom he called an “activist.”

The revelations incensed many journalists at the paper. Mr. Lewis has since issued a conciliatory memo to Post staff members, and met with them this week in small groups to explain his thinking about his vision for The Post and the events of the past two weeks. Post staff members were also sent an internal survey on June 5 asking for their feedback on Mr. Lewis’s new plans for the newsroom, including whether they support the need for a third newsroom and how they view the use of A.I.

Last Saturday, after a week of intense scrutiny, Mr. Lewis sent out an email: “Let me tell you, I have had a very stressful week.”

The email, obtained by The Times, went to a private list of people who subscribe to Mr. Lewis’s reading recommendations newsletter, which is sent from a non-Post email address.

Mr. Lewis made no mention of his professional stressors. Instead, he regaled readers with the tale of how his mother’s cat, Gabbro, went missing in London.

“Thankfully, Gabbro is now back in my mother’s hands and we can all enjoy a restful weekend,” he signed off.

Benjamin Mullin reports on the major companies behind news and entertainment. Contact Ben securely on Signal at +1 530-961-3223 or email at [email protected] . More about Benjamin Mullin

Katie Robertson covers the media industry for The Times. Email:  [email protected]   More about Katie Robertson