Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's superyacht is on sale for $91 million. See inside the 303-foot boat, which has 2 helicopter pads, a beach club, and a private apartment.

  • A 303-foot luxury superyacht owned by the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen is up for sale.
  • "Tatoosh" was designed to give its owners their own 2-story private apartment, alongside 10 cabins.
  • See inside the luxury yacht, which is currently on sale for over $90 million.

A 303-foot luxury superyacht that formerly belonged to Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen is up for sale.

microsoft ceo yacht

Before his death from cancer in 2018, Allen amassed an estimated fortune of $20.3 billion, according to Forbes Billionaires Index. The yacht is the latest part of his estate, which included multiple properties and two sports teams, to be sold-off.

microsoft ceo yacht

Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen owned 2 pro sports teams before he died in 2018. Rumors are swirling about their fate — and now Nike's founder could pay $2 billion to own one of them.

Paul Allen's estate just off-loaded a chunk of the late Microsoft cofounder's massive real estate portfolio, selling 10 properties across the US for a combined $168 million

The yacht, named 'Tatoosh' is on sale for 90 million euros (around $91.3 million), following an extensive 11-month refit, according to Fraser Yachts, which is handling the sale.

microsoft ceo yacht

According to the listing by Fraser Yachts, the "instantly recognizable" Tatoosh can sleep 19 passengers, and has space for 31 crew. It was custom-built by Nobiskrug for the American cellphone mogul Craig McCaw, who sold the boat to Allen in 2001.

microsoft ceo yacht

Source: Fraser Yachts , New York Times

"Tatoosh should feel gracious like a home and also cozy," McCaw told Boat International on September 8, about the process of designing the yacht.

microsoft ceo yacht

Source: Boat International

The yacht has 10 individual staterooms, but McCaw also wanted to ensure that his family had their own private space while aboard, so decided to section off a separate owner's cabin, he told Boat International.

microsoft ceo yacht

The apartment has two ensuite bedrooms, a lounge, its own pantry, a galley, and gym among other things, per Boat International.

microsoft ceo yacht

"After two weeks, the crew and the owner need a little space from each other, so I wanted a galley where I could make some dinner," McCaw said.

microsoft ceo yacht

However, the boat still has plenty of areas for socializing with guests, including a heated swimming pool on the main deck, as well as its own 'beach club' area, per the listing.

microsoft ceo yacht

Guests can also enjoy a private cinema room, and an elevator with access to all five decks of the ship, per the listing.

microsoft ceo yacht

The gym features weights, a treadmill, and other equipment.

microsoft ceo yacht

There's also room for two helipads, as well as two tender boats called 'Chase' and 'Julia,' which can carry people to and from the yacht, according to Boat International.

microsoft ceo yacht

The superyacht will be on display at the Monaco Yacht show between September 28 and October 30, per Fraser Yachts.

microsoft ceo yacht

It's not the only yacht that belonged to Allen, who was a keen ocean explorer. Another boat, the 414-foot "Octopus," was sold to a mystery buyer in 2021, having been listed for $278 million.

microsoft ceo yacht

Mystery buyer purchases $278 million superyacht once owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen. It includes 13 guest suites, 2 submarines, and a pool that turns into a dance floor.

microsoft ceo yacht

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Luxurylaunches -

Once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the Octopus megayacht has undergone an extensive and secretive nine-month-long refit. The 414-foot Lürssen vessel will now be the world’s most expensive yacht to charter.

microsoft ceo yacht

“Octopus will again be cruising in some of the most exciting destinations with availability for clients to sample all that she has to offer,” said Big Blue Expedition’s newly-appointed Charter Manager, Jacqui Lockhart, inviting you to embark on an unforgettable voyage.

microsoft ceo yacht

Note – With a weekly rate of over $4 million, the Flying Fox was the most expensive charter vessel, but it is no longer available for charter.

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Paul Allen: Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist and superyacht visionary passes away

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By Rebecca Bradbury   16 October 2018

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with his high school friend Bill Gates, has died aged 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He will be remembered in the yachting industry for owning one of the world’s first go-anywhere expedition yachts: the 126m/300ft  superyacht OCTOPUS .

Allen’s company Vulcan said in a statement that he died on Monday. Earlier this month Allen revealed the cancer he was treated for in 2009, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, had returned.

Allen and Gates founded Microsoft in 1975. He served as the company’s executive vice-president of research and new product development until 1983, when he left for health reasons. He stayed as a major shareholder and member of the board.

His Microsoft co-founder said: “I am heartbroken by the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends… Personal computing would not have existed without him.”

Bill Gates and Paul Allen, superyacht owner and visionary

As well as playing a vital role in developing the PC, the technology pioneer also gave more than $2bn to a wide range of interests, including ocean health, homelessness and advancing scientific research.

He owned the Lurssen superyacht OCTOPUS which, at 126 metres, was the largest yacht in the world at the time of her launch in 2003. Alongside being equipped with every luxury imaginable, she also features state-of-the-art technology for music recording and research expeditions.

Indeed, he was the first superyacht owner to view his vessel as more than just a pleasure palace. He tapped into the opportunities the yacht could bring for ocean research and conservation and, for this, he can be considered as an early pioneer of the expedition yacht, which today is in vogue among new owners.

motor yacht OCTOPUS owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen

Highlights of the yacht, which is now the 14th largest in the world, include a swimming pool, a basketball court, and interior styling from award-winning Jonathan Quinn Barnett. While, for research and exploration, two helicopters are stored in the hangar on the main deck, and the tender garage houses a 10-person submarine.

As a research vessel, the motor yacht and her expert crew were involved in the 2015 discovery of the wreck of Japanese ship MUSASHI, one of the biggest warships of the Second World War.

OCTOPUS was also a member of the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) and played an important part in a number of rescue missions.

Equipped with every luxury imaginable, OCTOPUS also features state-of-the-art technology for music recording and research expeditions

In July 2012, Allen loaned the yacht to the Royal Navy free of charge, so they could attempt to retrieve the bell from the wreck of battlecruiser HMS Hood which sunk during World War II in the Denmark Strait.

Four months later, she rescued a sailor who got into difficulties 645 miles south-west of San Diego. Read OCTOPUS recovers bell from HMS Hood and  Paul Allen unearths WW2 Japanese battleship Musashi for more information on these two missions.

The billionaire also hosted a number of parties aboard OCTOPUS at the Cannes Film Festival . The lavish celebrations will be remembered for their themes, such as ‘Bollywood’ and ‘Shakespeare’, as well as their star-studded guest lists.

superyacht TATOOSH owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen

In May, at the 2018 festival, Gates hosted one of his legendary parties aboard his other yacht, the 92m/303ft superyacht TATOOSH . The theme was ‘An Evening in Casablanca’ and he even took to the stage with his band to entertain the A-list guests in attendance (see Instagram gallery below).  

Built by Nobiskrug in 2000, TATOOSH features elegant interior styling from Terence Disdale alongside a host of cutting-edge entertainment and leisure facilities designed to offer the ultimate in at-sea living.

Back in 2016, the superyacht made headlines when her anchor damaged a coral reef the size of an Olympic swimming pool in the Cayman Islands. But Allen led an emergency restoration plan to help speed the recovery of the injured coral, restoring over 1,592 hard and soft corals and sponges.     

microsoft ceo yacht

M/Y OCTOPUS and M/Y TATOOSH are not available for charter. But for more information on chartering a large yacht, speak to your preferred charter broker .

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Look inside late microsoft co-founder paul allen’s $90m superyacht.

Late billionaire Paul Allen's yacht can now be yours for $90 million.

The superyacht of the late Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, has hit the market for a cool $90 million.

Allen, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 65 after losing his battle with cancer, purchased the vessel in 2001 for an estimated $100 million.

Named Tatoosh, it’s considered the 60th largest superyacht in the world spanning 303 feet wide.

It was last listed in 2021, before it was taken off the market for an 11-month retrofit. Tatoosh will be available for viewing at this month’s Monaco Yacht Show, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. It can also be available upon request.

Pegged as “one of the world’s best super yachts,” it’s equipped with two helicopter pads, large tenders, a heated swimming pool, a beach club and a dive center, a cinema and an elevator servicing all decks, the listing states.

The yacht spans 303 feet.

There are 11 state rooms in total that can accommodate 19 guests.

Stuart Larsen with Fraser holds the listing .

The listing comes as Christie’s announced that Allen’s billion-dollar art collection would be auctioned off, which includes 150 artworks spanning 500 years.

Meanwhile, Allen also owned another mega yacht, called Octopus, which spans 414 feet wide and was considered the 20th largest ship in the world. Back in May, the boat was listed for rent .

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The cinema.

Allen co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend, Gates, in 1975. According to Forbes, just before his death, he was ranked the 44th wealthiest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion.

Considered a recluse, Allen expressed interest in one day having a romantic life and a family, but ultimately never married or had children.

In 1982, he was diagnosed with Stage 1-A Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and was successfully treated after several months of radiation. He was diagnosed with the same cancer again in 2009, and was again successfully treated.

Allen, right, pictured with friend and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in 1984.

The cancer returned in 2018, which led to his death by septic shock on October 15, 2018.

“Paul loved life and those around him, and we all cherished him in return,” Gates said in a statement following his death. “He deserved much more time, but his contributions to the world of technology and philanthropy will live on for generations to come. We will miss him tremendously.”

The yacht spans 303 feet.

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Microsoft co-founder’s megayacht sails onto the market for a cool $330M

microsoft ceo yacht

The megayacht once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is on the market.

Featuring two helicopter pads, 13 guest rooms, and even a 10-person submarine, it’s no surprise to learn that the 126-meter-long vessel known as Octopus has a price tag of 295 million euros (about $332 million).

Allen, who died from cancer in 2018 at 65, owned a number of yachts, but Octopus, built by German shipbuilder Lurssen, was the biggest of them all.

Listed for sale by Monaco-based Fraser Yachts after having completed a refit that took eight months, Octopus can accommodate up to 26 guests. Amenities include a large cinema and a recording studio with a specially designed floor to damp out the low-frequency noise and vibration, a private observation lounge above the owner’s deck, a beach club, pool, gym, and spa/sauna, as well as “an array of water toys.”

#breakingnews The iconic 126m / 414’ OCTOPUS is now for sale with Fraser. The Lurssen built superyacht sets the benchmark for luxury exploration and global cruising. Learn more: https://t.co/kTgBxHErtU #oneofakind #bestofthebest #luxurylifestyle pic.twitter.com/1bjSttiALt — Fraser Yachts (@FraserYachts) September 6, 2019

Allen used the vessel for occasional celebrity parties whose guests reportedly included Mick Jagger and U2, among others.

But the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist also lent it out for research and scientific expeditions in far-flung places.

In 2015, for example, an Octopus expedition succeeded in locating the Japanese World War II battleship Musashi — considered as one of the mightiest battleships ever constructed — at a depth of more than half a mile in the Sibuyan Sea off the coast of the Philippines.

At the time, Allen described the discovery as “an important milestone in the annals of World War II naval history.”

Octopus is currently anchored in Antibes in the south of France as it waits to see who, if anyone, has pockets deep enough to want to call it their own.

Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975 after the pair started marketing a BASIC programming language interpreter that Allen called Micro-Soft.

The company grew to transform the personal computing space, with Allen’s wealth increasing rapidly as Microsoft expanded its business empire. Like Gates, he became a billionaire in his early 30s, giving him access to life’s luxuries that later included Octopus, a vessel that first took to the water in 2003.

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Microsoft cofounder's yacht allegedly destroyed a coral reef

paul allen yachts coral reef

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, owns a super-yacht that allegedly had a disastrous run-in with a coral reef.

The Tatoosh , Allen's 300-foot yacht, damaged a chunk of protected coral reef with its anchor chain in the Cayman Islands two weeks ago, according to the islands' Department of Environment.

Ironically, Allen now works to "save endangered species," and "improve ocean health" through his charitable foundation and research projects.

Allen was not aboard the yacht during the incident, according to Scott Slaybaugh, the Department of Environment's deputy director.

The Tatoosh had been stationed near two dive sites on the western coast of Grand Cayman, north of the capital George Town. The area is part of the West Bay Replenishment Zone -- a section of protected waters that, unlike a Marine Park, does not limit vessels to a certain size.

An investigation is ongoing, but the initial estimate is that about 11,000 square feet (a quarter of an acre) of underwater terrain was destroyed.

The maximum fine for the damage is about $600,000, excluding civil damages, Slaybaugh said.

The yacht's crew and Allen are fully cooperating with authorities, a spokesman for Vulcan, Allen's company, said.

"Tatoosh was moored in a position explicitly directed by the local Port Authority," Vulcan said in a statement, adding that the crew moved the vessel as soon as it was notified of potential damage. "Vulcan and Paul G. Allen have a long history of responsible exploration and a commitment to ocean conservation."

A photo posted by Tim Sled (@tssled) on Jan 7, 2016 at 5:42pm PST

Allen, 63, is worth about $18 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index and Forbes. Among his latest conservation projects is the Paul G. Allen Ocean Challenge , which funds research that could help reduce environmental and societal effects from ocean acidification .

Allen also owns another super yacht, the Octopus , which is 414-feet long.

Correction: An earlier version of this article reported an incorrect amount for the maximum fine.

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The superyachts owned by tech moguls

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to join the exclusive club of yacht-owning tech tycoons as the rumoured owner of Oceanco's mighty 127m sailing yacht . Though it should come as no surprise - other big names in tech such as the late Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison and Paul Allen have been responsible for some of the biggest and most ground-breaking superyachts in the world...

The 127-metre Oceanco sailing yacht Koru, formerly Y721, was launched and reportedly delivered to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in April 2023. This three-masted schooner, meaning “new beginnings” in Maori, with an expected 33000 GT and a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, is the largest in the world and the longest built in the Netherlands at Oceanco. Knocking Lürssen's Eos , owned by Biller and Diane von Furstenburg, off the top spot, Koru harnesses design similarities with her black hull, white superstructure and classic lines. However, the intricate gold paintwork, scarlet bootstrap and elaborate figurehead on the bow particularly set her apart.

Larry Ellison

American business magnate Larry Ellison is the co-founder of the billion-dollar computer tech corporation Oracle. In 2004, he commissioned the 138-metre Lürssen superyacht Rising Sun (pictured), which stands today as the 15th largest yacht in the world. It was also the last yacht that ever came from the drawing boards of legendary designed Jon Bannenberg, sporting a military-esque profile with a lean destroyer-type hull and extensive use of structural glass . Rising Sun boasts 8,000m² of living space including a wine cellar and basketball court, with a crew of 45. One of her tenders, a catamaran, even carries the yacht’s 4x4 vehicle ashore. 

Ellison later sold the yacht to media mogul David Geffen and has since hosted a parade of Hollywood's glitterati on board including Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen and Oprah Winfrey – to name a few. 

In 2011, Ellison appeared to downsize and took delivery of the 88-metre Feadship Musashi . Not unlike Rising Sun in its appearance, structural glass features heavily throughout with a central glass lift, surrounded by a stainless steel and glass staircase that passes through every deck.

More about this yacht

The late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is responsible for two of the most iconic superyachts in the world. At 126-metres in length, Octopus is perhaps his most famous. Built by Lürssen in 2003, this ice-classed superyacht was designed for extended cruising to the most remote locations on earth with a range of 12,500 nautical miles. Home to a helicopter garage, drive-in tender garage, six tenders, and a submarine, she packs a serious punch within her 9,932GT – not to mention the cinema, swimming pool, recording studio, basketball court and spa. At the end of 2019, she joined the market for the very first time , having completed an eight-month refit at Blohm+Voss, and remains the benchmark for exploration yachting.

Tatoosh is another honourable mention and was built by German shipyard Nobiskrug in 2000, three years prior to the delivery of Octopus . At 92-metres, she's smaller than her successor, but to describe Tatoosh as "small" would be a severe understatement. Highlights include a six-foot-deep swimming pool, a pair of helipads, a crew of 30, and a custom 12-metre Hinckley powerboat that she carries on her top deck. Tatoosh is also listed for sale following a refit earlier this year. 

Yachts for charter

The 78-metre Feadship Venus was built for the late Apple boss and founder Steve Jobs. Built under the codename Project Aqua, Venus was launched to international fanfare in 2012, heralded for its extensive use of glass and pared-back design courtesy of Philippe Starck . Innovative features include a false top deck that conceals the communication and television receivers from view and a passarelle that, when opened, looks like the charging port of an iPhone. Venus ’s interior details have been closely guarded since its launch. Sadly, Jobs died a year before the yacht was delivered.

Charles Simonyi

Charles Simonyi led the team that built the first edition of the Microsoft Office software suite and was rumoured to have previously owned Lürssen’s iconic 71-metre SKAT .  Nearly two decades after her launch in 2002, she joined the market for the first time and now Simonyi is thought to have upgraded to the 89-metre Lürssen Norn . Both yachts, penned by Espen Onion, share similar design features. Standout features include an alfresco cinema and adapted depth pool floor with dance floor. Norn was delivered in May 2023.

Sergey Brin

Google co-founder Sergey Brin reportedly owns the high-speed SilverYachts superyacht named Dragonfly , after Google’s once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Delivered in 2009, the 73.3-metre Dragonfly was hailed as the fastest, most fuel-efficient long-range cruising superyacht on the water with a transatlantic range at 22 knots and a fuel consumption of only 360 litres per hour at 18 knots, extending her range to 4,500 nautical miles. Dragonfly is said to have a dance floor and open-air movie theatre on board. The vessel was applauded for its contribution to the disaster relief effort in Vanuatu after Hurricane Pam devastated the island in 2015. The crew reportedly moved 62 metric tons of freshwater ashore, treated over 250 patients, facilitated three medical evacuations, and built shelters in multiple villages and cleared numerous helicopter landing zones for ongoing support.

Yachts for sale

Google’s billionaire co-founder Larry Page purchased the 60-metre explorer yacht conversion Senses from a New Zealand businessman Sir Douglas Myers back in 2011. The globe-trotting superyacht features interiors by Philippe Starck and can accommodate a total of 12 guests on board, with primary guests reaping the benefits of the master suite's gyro-stabilised bed. Senses also houses an exceptional toy box with three high-speed tenders, six wave runners, a jet board and a JetLev. According to the New Zealand Herald, Senses is currently undergoing a refit in Whangārei, New Zealand, after being sold to an unknown buyer in 2020. 

Barry Diller

The world’s largest three-masted schooner – also the third largest sailing yacht in the world – is owned by fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg and her husband Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and Expedia Group. The 92.92-metre sailing yacht, named Eos , was built in Germany by Lürssen and delivered in 2006 with a trio of masts that stand 61-metres tall. The sailing yacht has hosted the couple's star-studded group of friends including Andy Cohen, Gayle King, Bradley Cooper, Harry Styles and Karlie Kloss. The interiors were designed by Francois Catroux, who Vanity Fair named as “the super-rich's favourite interior designer" in 2016.

Mark Zuckerburg

The 107-metre Kleven superyacht Andromeda was built for serial superyacht owner Graeme Hart and delivered under the name Ulysses . In 2017, a year after its launch, rumours began circulating that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg had purchased the rugged, six-deck explorer (although a Facebook spokesperson was quick to stamp out the rumours and released a statement denying the claims). Andromeda can carry 36 guests and is equipped with an impressive inventory of toys and tenders, including six motorbikes, two ATVs, a helicopter and an amphibious rib. Five years after her launch, Andromeda still ranks among the largest explorer yachts in the world . 

Eric Schmidt

The former Google ceo Eric Schmidt backed out of the purchase of the abandoned 81.3-metre Oceanco Alfa Nero but has been said to have moved onto become the new owner of a 95-metre Lürssen. Kismet was sold in September 2023 to the billionaire as part of one of the biggest brokerage deal of the year. With the details shrouded in secrecy the yacht is now aptly known as Whisper . Espen Onio was responsible for her iconic exterior while inside was thanks to  Reymond Langton , achieving the original brief from the previous commissioning owner Shahid Khan of “caviar and champagne.” Standout details include the hi-tech, art deco saloon, a private observation platform and the Persian-inspired spa area.

The co-founder and former ceo of WhatsApp, Jan Koum, has been rumoured to own the 99.9-metre Feadship , Moonrise. The yacht’s clean and strong lines, penned by Chris Bottoms from Studio de Voogt , won the highly competitive class of best displacement motor yachts above 3,000 GT in the World Superyacht Awards 2021. Features include the helicopter landing deck and modern interiors by Remi Tessier . Accommodation is for up to 16 guests, and there are 32 crew members onboard Moonrise to attend to the guests' every need. The Ukrainian-American mogul is also said to own the accompanying support vessel Nebula.

Evan Speigel

The Silicone Valley ceo, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel has been reportedly said to own the 94.8-metre Feadship Bliss. Delivered in 2021 the motor yacht penned by Feadship's Studio De Voogt Naval Architects has most recently been spotted cruising Auckland in September 2023. Spiegel is rumoured to be Feadship's younger client. Bliss can accommodate up to 18 guests across nine staterooms; however little else is known about the 2983 GT yacht.

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Who is Mike Lynch? A look at the British tech tycoon missing from a sunken yacht in Sicily

He's been called the british version of microsoft co-founder bill gates or apple co-founder steve jobs, by michael liedtke | the associated press • published august 20, 2024 • updated on august 20, 2024 at 2:08 pm.

Tech tycoon Mike Lynch, one of six people missing from a sunken yacht off Sicily , had been trying to move past a Silicon Valley debacle that had tarnished his legacy as an icon of British ingenuity.

Lynch, 59, struck gold when he sold Autonomy, a software maker he founded in 1996, to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011. But the deal quickly turned into an albatross for him after he was accused of cooking the books to make the sale and fired by HP’s then-CEO Meg Whitman.

He was cleared of criminal charges in the U.S. in June, but still faced a potentially huge bill stemming from a civil case in London.

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A decade-long legal battle had resulted in his extradition from the U.K. to face criminal charges of engineering a massive fraud against HP, a company that helped shape Silicon Valley's zeitgeist after starting in a Palo Alto, California, garage in 1939.

Lynch steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he was being made a scapegoat for HP's own bungling — a position he maintained while testifying before a jury during a 2 1/2 month trial in San Francisco earlier this year. U.S. Justice Department prosecutors called more than 30 witnesses in an attempt to prove allegations that Lynch engaged in accounting duplicity that bilked billions of dollars from HP.

The trial ended up vindicating Lynch and he pledged to return to the U.K. and explore new ways to innovate.

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Missing revealed as divers search superyacht that sank in storm off Sicily

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British tech magnate Mike Lynch, 2 US citizens among missing after luxury yacht sinks off Sicily

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Mike Lynch-backed legal tech startup Luminance raises $40 million, capitalizing on AI hype

Although he avoided a possible prison sentence, Lynch still faced the civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven't been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $4 billion. Lynch made more than $800 million from the Autonomy sale.

Before becoming entangled with HP, Lynch was widely hailed as a visionary who inspired descriptions casting him as the British version of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Lynch, a Cambridge-educated mathematician, made his mark running Autonomy, which made a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly. Autonomy's steady growth during its first decade resulted in Lynch being awarded one of the U.K's highest honors, the Office of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2006.

In the months leading up to the deal that would go awry, HP valued Autonomy at $46 billion, according to evidence presented at Lynch's trial.

The trial also presented contrasting portraits of Lynch. Prosecutors painted him as an iron-fisted boss obsessed with hitting revenue targets, even if it meant resorting to duplicity. But his lawyers cast him as entrepreneur with integrity and a prototypical tech nerd who enjoyed eating cold pizza late at night while pondering new ways to innovate.

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The Luxury Boats Owned By Some of the Wealthiest People in Tech, from a Yacht So Big It Has Its Own Support Boat to Superyachts with Swimming Pools and Basketball Courts Tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have all purchased mini vacation hubs at sea.

By Grace Kay and Sindhu Sundar Jul 3, 2023

Key Takeaways

  • Many billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson enjoy spending their time on luxurious yachts.
  • The boats are decked out with amenities that many Americans can only dream of.
  • Here are some of the billionaires in tech who own private yachts.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider .

A regular Jane celebrating a personal renaissance after a long-term relationship might commemorate the new era with an ankle tattoo of a spiritual saying. When you're a billionaire, you could do it instead with a $500 million megayacht .

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made waves in May riding around the roughly 127-meter "Koru," a Māori term that may signify a fresh start, with his reported fiancée Lauren Sanchez. (In 2019, Bezos finalized his divorce from MacKenzie Scott, whom he was married to for 25 years).

Beyond the private planes occupying the hangars of billionaires, yachts have come to symbolize the highly private sites of leisure and networking reserved for the ultra-wealthy .

Tech billionaires like Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have all purchased their own mini vacation hubs at sea, decking their boats with amenities like gyms, spas, pools, nightclubs, and movie theaters.

For those wishing to experience life aboard these multi-million-dollar yachts, some are available to rent out for a few nights or weeks at a time. Late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's yacht can be booked for $2.2 million per week or more, according Bloomberg .

Chartering yachts owned by billionaires like Alphabet cofounder Sergey Brin has previously cost customers anywhere from $773,000 a week to $1.2 million .

It remains to be seen how these vessels will fare against the apparent Orca uprising.

Take a look at some of the yachts that have been owned by tech billionaires.

A mystery buyer bought a 414-foot superyacht that was once owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $278 million. Allen had the boat, which was named "Octopus," built in 2003 for $200 million. Since the tech billionaire's death in 2018, the boat had been listed for as much as $325 million.

microsoft ceo yacht

Octopus in Canary Wharf, London, in 2012. Ki Price/Reuters Source: SuperYacht Times

The wealthy can book the yacht for a weekly rate of $2.2 million or more, through the luxury company Camper & Nicholsons, Bloomberg reported last year.

octopus paul allen luxury yacht

414ft luxury yacht 'Octopus' owned by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, is moored to fuel up at Ege Ports in Kusadasi district of Aydin, Turkey on April 27, 2015. Ibrahim Uzun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Sources: Bloomberg; Insider .

Amazon founder Bezos' $500 million megayacht, the roughly 127-meter "Koru," sparked attention in May for its artistic decor. A sculpture of a woman on the boat appeared to observers to be the likeness of Bezos' reported fiancée Sanchez, who was also seen that month on the yacht sporting a large ring.

bezos

Jeff Bezos was spotted aboard his megayacht "Koru" in May. Lift Aircraft.

Even before its completion, "Koru" drew the ire of Dutch people vowing to hurl eggs at the boat if it would require a historic bridge in Rotterdam to be taken apart to let it through. An egg crisis was averted however, as the company making the ship found a less-irksome alternative.

Nighttime view of De Hef bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands

View of the Koningshaven Bridge, known as De Hef in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Peter Dejong/AP

Bezos has long been interested in yachts. In 2019, he was spotted aboard entertainment mogul David Geffen's superyacht.

12686190635_8b47dfabbc_c

David Geffen's superyacht Flickr via BI

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison owns a 288-foot yacht named Musashi that he acquired in 2013. The yacht has several amenities, including an elevator, swimming pool, movie theater, and both an indoor and outdoor gym.

larry ellison musashi yacht

rulenumberone2/Flickr, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: Yacht Bible

Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun.

rising sun

Courtesy of Lurssen Source: Forbes .

The Oracle cofounder also has a knack for competitive yacht racing, and helped to found and back a racing team, called Oracle Team USA, in 2000. The team has found success and won several prestigious titles over the years.

larry ellison oracle yacht team usa

Xaume Olleros/Getty Images Sport Source: Telegraph

Ellison previously owned a bigger, 454-foot yacht called Rising Sun, which was designed specifically for the CEO in 2005. That yacht reportedly has 82 rooms, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and a basketball court. However, Ellison sold off the Rising Sun to Geffen for a reported $300 million.

Larry Ellison

Kimberly White/Getty Images Source: Forbes , Boat International

Ellison's boat, Musashi, is a sister ship to the yacht of another billionaire, former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert. However, the yacht, named Fountainhead, is often mistaken for belonging to billionaire investor Mark Cuban. "The guy who owns the boat tells everyone that it's mine," Cuban told Page Six in 2016. "It's so crazy ... I don't even own a boat."

Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban. Steve Marcus/Reuters

Source: Page Six

Ellison's yacht reportedly influenced the decision of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs to get a boat himself. However, Jobs never set foot on the boat — the yacht was commissioned in 2008, but wasn't completed until 2012, a year after his death.

Steve Jobs

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

When Jobs died in 2011, his yacht — along with his $14.1 billion fortune — was inherited by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of a social-impact nonprofit called the Emerson Collective. The 256-foot yacht is named Venus, and is worth $130 million.

laurene powell jobs steve jobs yacht

AP Photo/Peter Dejong Source: Business Insider

Google's billionaire cofounders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are known to splurge. An Insider feature in December documented some of the trappings of their luxury, including planes and yachts.

Larry Page Sergey Brin

Sergey Brin (left) and Larry Page. Getty / Michael Nagle

Source: Insider .

Page owned a yacht named Senses, a $45 million, 194-foot boat that he bought in 2011 from a New Zealand businessman. He's since sold the yacht, Insider reported in 2021, a vessel that had a private beach club with a Jacuzzi and sun beds, both indoor and outdoor dining areas, and a helicopter pad. It's unclear what other sea vessels he owns, though Insider has previously reported he might have another yacht.

Larry Page superimposed with Senses yacht

Ari Helminen/Flickr, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Sources: Boat International; Insider .

Brin meanwhile owns a number of yachts and vessels including the 73-meter Dragonfly, and the 40-meter Butterfly, Insider reported in January.

dragonfly yacht

Abell Point Marina/YouTube Source: Insider .

Dragonfly, the $80 million boat that has a movie-theater, shares a name with Google's once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Google said in 2019 it had officially terminated the project.

Sergey Brin

Eric Risberg/Associated Press Source: Insider , Forbes .

The former Google CEO picked up the Alfa Nero yacht for nearly $68 million in an auction in June, according to a Bloomberg report. The yacht had apparently been left amid Russia's war in Ukraine, according to the report.

Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt REUTERS/Brian Snyder Source: Bloomberg .

For Skype cofounder Niklas Zennstrom, his interest in yachts skews toward racing and competitive sailing. Zennstrom has gone through a succession of boats all named Ran.

Co-Founder and CEO of Skype Technologies, United Kingdom Niklas Zennstroem

Co-Founder and CEO of Skype Technologies, United Kingdom Niklas Zennstroem listens during a plenary entitled 'Digital 2.0:Powering a Creative Economy' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, AP Photo/Michel Euler

Source: CNN

The Ran VII yacht is among the most advanced of Zennstrom's boats. The racing yacht uses electrical power, which Zennstrom has said makes it "lighter, less drag, quieter, and most importantly it is environmentally friendly."

ran vii 7 yacht niklas zennstrom

Carkeek Design Partners/YouTube Source: CNN

The 40-foot yacht has been meant to compete in regattas through the racing team owned by Zennstrom and his wife, Catherine. The Ran racing team launched in 2008, and has won some prestigious regattas.

ran 7 yacht niklas zennstrom

The Ran racing team. Carkeek Design Partners/YouTube Source: CNN

Barry Diller, chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns a $70 million yacht with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Barry Diller Diane Von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg, left, and Barry Diller. Scott Olson/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

The sailing yacht, named Eos, is 350 feet long with six bedrooms. The power couple has hosted many celebrities over the years — a few that have been spotted aboard Eos include model Karlie Kloss, actor Bradley Cooper, journalist Anderson Cooper, and singer Harry Styles.

eos

snowwahine/YouTube Source: W Magazine

For Jim Clark, the cofounder of Netscape, one yacht hasn't been enough. Clark has owned boats for more than 30 years, and in 2012, he put up two of his sailing yachts for sale.

Jim Clark, right. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

Clark listed the boats for a combined $113 million: the 136-foot Hanuman for $18 million, and the 295-foot Athena for $95 million. However, Clark has yet to offload Athena. Clark also previously owned a 155-foot yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a sloop called Hanuman.

jim clark athena yacht

The yacht Athena. Fosnez / Wikimedia Commons Source: Boat International , Forbes

Charles Simonyi worked at Microsoft until 2002, and oversaw the creation of Microsoft Office software. A few years before he left, Simonyi decided to purchase a yacht. He told the designer that wanted his yacht to be "home away from [his] home in Seattle."

Charles Simonyi

Reuters/Sergei Remezov Source: Boat International

The product of that conversation in 1999 is Simonyi's yacht named Skat, meaning "treasure" in Danish. The yacht measures 233 feet long, and is unique with its nontraditional design and gray color. Skat features a matching gray helicopter, a gym, and motorcycles.

charles simonyi skat yacht

Christopher Hunt/Getty Images Source: Yacht Charter Fleet

Opulent British billionaire Richard Branson owned a yacht until he sold it in September 2018. The 105-foot catamaran sold for $3 million, significantly lower than the $9.6 million price Branson listed the boat for in 2014.

richard branson necker belle

Anthony Harvey/Getty Images, Virgin Source: Business Insider

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, bought the boat in 2009. He named it Necker Belle, a nod to his private Caribbean island, Necker Island.

Necker Island

Necker Island Source: Business Insider

Additional reporting by Paige Leskin.

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Classic feadship yacht ‘ice bear’ up for bid at boathouse auctions.

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The Classic 1988 Feadship Ice Bear is up for bid with Boathouse Auctions. Well kitted out for ... [+] sportfishing, she is also a luxurious superyacht.

In 1988, a beautiful new Feadship yacht was built at the Dutch shipyard for Jim Moran. He named it Gallant Lady . Moran, an automotive entrepreneur, would go on to build scores of yachts, seven of which were Feadships. All of his Feadships shared the name Gallant Lady.

The fourth Feadship build in the Gallant Lady sequence, this particular edition gained not only length but also in detail far beyond her predecessors. Built with a relatively flat shear and raised bow to the main deck level, the most notable design detail would prove the vertical glass rimming the observation deck.

Ice Bear is a true sportfishing yacht, as illustrated by the two fixed fighting chairs backed up by ... [+] a gallery sofa for spectators, and a raising storage compartment behind the sofa to store and protect precious fishing rods and reels.

A Little History

Gallant Lady IV would later be renamed Ice Bear upon becoming the private yacht of Jim Scott, Jr., Chairman and CEO of construction and engineering firm Kiewit, and friend of Warren Buffet. Designed and built with all the expertise and craftsmanship expected of a Feadship, Ice Bear's classic design holds her own quite well with contemporary yachts.

Scott owned Ice Bear until his passing in September of 2021. Under his ownership, the yacht was exclusively used for private groups and was meticulously maintained, putting her in a class of her own with regard to condition.

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The upper deck observation lounge on the Feadship Ice Bear offers great views, comfy seating, and a ... [+] great spot for social gathering.

Ice Bear By The Numbers

Built with a steel hull, an aluminum superstructure, and teak decking, Ice Bear measures 170.6 feet (52 meters) in length with a 30.5 foot (9.6 meter) beam, weighing in at 614 GT. Two 1,175 hp Caterpillar engines drive Ice Bear to a maximum speed of 15 knots with a cruising speed of 13 knots. A true trans-Atlantic traveler, Ice Bear has a range of 4,850 nautical miles.

Interiors were originally designed by Paola Smith and Jan Moran. Ice Bear's five spacious cabins accommodate 10 guests, with a full beam main deck master suite embracing a study, seating area, and generous windows. Four additional cabins on the lower deck, two doubles and two twins, are also designed with seating areas and en suite baths. Crew accommodations secure berths for 11.

Ice Bear's upper deck saloon beckons for a film or a casual gathering, with plentiful seating, a big ... [+] screen, and lots of windows.

A sky lounge gives guests a panoramic perch even while underway. The observation lounge on the upper deck offers another option for gathering protected by expansive glazing and graced with a wide angle view. The main deck dining area in the main saloon is served by a full galley with generous work spaces, double oven, grill, stovetop hobs, double sink, spacious refrigeration, and ample storage.

The bridge deck has a large seating area perfect for cinema viewing, a discreet and convenient day head, captain's quarters, and the wheelhouse. The wheelhouse, while serving as command center to the captain and crew, also accommodates guests with a pair of elevated sofas with high tables.

Two fighting chairs on the aft main deck make for exciting action. The raised sofa seating gives the ... [+] gallery of spectators a great view while keeping them safe.

On the main aft deck, two fighting chairs take the spotlight, with raised sofa seating in a pleasant curve for keeping the spectacle in view. Behind the sofa, a hydraulic storage space rises to reveal the prized fishing rods and reels. For other water activities, a 28-foot Shamrock sportfisher sits transversely atop the upper deck. An 18- foot RIB tender is also on board.

Auction Details

Currently scheduled for opening bids on October 10 at 4 pm EDT with an October 15 hammer drop, registration for bidding is through Boathouse Auctions . Registration requires a bid deposit of $100,000. Opening bids are predicted between $3-4 million.

Kathleen Turner

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10 CEO Mega-Yachts (PHOTOS, POLL)

With the economy mired in a historic recession, now is certainly not the time to flaunt your world-class mega-yacht (assuming you actually own one). Yet, as Vanity Fair's Vicky Ward pointed out on the HuffPost recently, Andres Piedrahita, the main shareholder of the Fairfield Greenwich Group, recently took possession of a $30 million yacht . This, of course, was after Fairfield Greenwich had siphoned billions into Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

Despite the economy, there's no shortage of floating palaces among today's more upmarket business leaders. In fact, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has two huge vessels, while Russian billionaire -- and owner of the U.K.'s Chelsea soccer club -- has three enormous ships.

Which ship is the most ludicrously enormous? Which is barely seaworthy? View our SLIDESHOW and VOTE below (NOTE: all costs are approximate):

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Here’s the First Look Inside Steve Jobs’ Crazy Last Project

S teve Jobs’ luxury yacht, Venus, was photographed recently, providing a glimpse of the interior for the first time.

Photos of 100 million euro yacht were taken by people at Woods Hole Inn in Cape Cod, Mass., Gizmodo reported Monday. The French-designed yacht debuted in 2012, one year after Jobs died, but until now there have been photos of only the exterior.

Have a look:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by woodsholeinn (@woodsholeinn)

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NETHERLANDS-US-APPLE-YACHT-STEVE-JOBS

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  4. The Abu Dhabi royal family yacht M/Y YAS meets former Google CEO yacht M/Y INFINITY in Sardinia. ⚓️

  5. Bill Gates' € 675M 118.9m/ 390ft hydrogen Project 821 was launched today

  6. Steve Jobs’ widow $140M yacht collides with another yacht.. where was the captain?

COMMENTS

  1. Microsoft Cofounder's $278M Superyacht Snapped up by Mystery Buyer

    A 414-foot luxury yacht once owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen and listed for $278 million was sold to a mystery buyer, reports said. The vessel, named Octopus, was purchased for an ...

  2. Paul Allen superyacht Octopus finally sells after being listed for

    Octopus, the 414-foot explorer yacht that belonged to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, has been sold to an unnamed buyer after being listed for nearly three years. The new owner plans to rent out ...

  3. PHOTOS: Microsoft Cofounder's Superyacht on Sale for $91 Million

    Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's superyacht is on sale for $91 million. See inside the 303-foot boat, which has 2 helicopter pads, a beach club, and a private apartment. ... Fraser Yachts, Tatoosh

  4. Octopus (yacht)

    Octopus is a 126-metre superyacht built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and sold to Swedish "pharma billionaire" Roger Samuelsson in 2021. The yacht has a pool, two submarines, a helicopter pad and a history of exploration projects and rescue missions.

  5. Once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the Octopus megayacht

    Once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the Octopus megayacht has undergone an extensive and secretive nine-month-long refit. ... The 414-foot Lürssen vessel will now be the world's most expensive yacht to charter. ... It will accommodate a staff of 45 and will carry a helicopter, diving gear, water toys, and everything else the ...

  6. A big, fast electric boat made in Seattle could whisk the ultra rich to

    Previous reports linked that project at one time to Bill Gates, while mentioning that the Microsoft co-founder decided to sell the yacht. We reached out to Gates' reps for comment on his boating ...

  7. Microsoft Cofounder Paul Allen's 414-Foot-Long Explorer Yacht 'Octopus

    Paul Allen's 414-foot-long superyacht Octopus is one of the largest private yachts in the world. Burgess Yachts. It's well known that Microsoft cofounder, investor and philanthropist Paul Allen ...

  8. Paul Allen: Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist and superyacht

    Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with his high school friend Bill Gates, has died aged 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He will be remembered in the yachting industry for owning one of the world’s first go-anywhere expedition yachts: the 126m/300ft superyacht OCTOPUS.

  9. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's superyacht lists for $90M

    The superyacht of the late Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, has hit the market for a cool $90 million. Allen, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 65 after losing his battle ...

  10. Microsoft Co-founder's Megayacht Sails Onto Market for a Cool $330M

    Octopus, the megayacht once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is on the market for more than $330 million. The 126-meter-long vessel, called Octopus, comes with two helicopter ...

  11. Late Microsoft co-founder's yacht on sale for $475m

    Late Microsoft co-founder's yacht on sale for $475m. Hailey Waller. Sep 9, 2019 - 7.58am. Save. ... The super yacht has gone through an eight-month refit, according to Fraser. There's space for ...

  12. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allens mega yacht OCTOPUS

    Octopus is a 126m (414-foot) mega yacht built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. She is one of the world's largest yachts. Launched in 2003 at a cost of $2...

  13. Microsoft cofounder's yacht allegedly destroyed a coral reef

    Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, owns a super-yacht that allegedly had a disastrous run-in with a coral reef. The Tatoosh, Allen's 300-foot yacht, damaged a chunk of protected ...

  14. Steve Ballmer

    Steve Ballmer was the chief executive officer of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014, when he retired and was replaced by Satya Nadella. He joined Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee and became president in 1998, after Bill Gates stepped down as CEO.

  15. Microsoft co-founder's $326 million yacht is up for sale

    Featuring a cinema, a recording studio, and even a basketball court. Microsoft co-founder's $326 million yacht is up for sale. yachts. News.

  16. Tech billionaires and their yachts

    Learn about the superyachts owned by tech moguls such as Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Paul Allen and Steve Jobs. See photos, features and stories of their impressive vessels, from sailing yachts to explorer yachts.

  17. BILL GATES • Co-founder of Microsoft

    Bill Gates is the co-founder and chairman of Microsoft. He was born on October 28. 1955. He was the largest individual shareholder in Microsoft. He owned 6% of the common stock, but sold and gifted most. He stepped down as Microsoft's CEO in 2000. Then he started working full-time at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

  18. Who is Mike Lynch, the missing British tech tycoon?

    Tech tycoon Mike Lynch, one of six people missing from a sunken yacht off Sicily, had been trying to move past a Silicon Valley debacle that had tarnished his legacy as an icon of British ingenuity.

  19. Microsoft co-founder's 301-foot luxury yacht docks on New Orleans

    Owned by Paul G. Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft Corp. and a frequent visitor to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Tatoosh is 301 feet long, larger than all but a few dozen super ...

  20. Billionaire Yachts: Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Sergey Brin

    Late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's yacht can be booked for $2.2 million per week or more, ... which was designed specifically for the CEO in 2005. That yacht reportedly has 82 rooms, a movie ...

  21. Classic Feadship Yacht Ice Bear Up For Bid At Boathouse Auctions

    Gallant Lady IV would later be renamed Ice Bear upon becoming the private yacht of Jim Scott, Jr., Chairman and CEO of construction and engineering firm Kiewit, and friend of Warren Buffet.

  22. 10 CEO Mega-Yachts (PHOTOS, POLL)

    10 CEO Mega-Yachts (PHOTOS, POLL) Aug 29, ... In fact, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has two huge vessels, while Russian billionaire -- and owner of the U.K.'s Chelsea soccer club -- has three enormous ships. Advertisement. Which ship is the most ludicrously enormous? Which is barely seaworthy?

  23. 11 Former Microsoft Executives: Where Are They Now?

    Elop left the COO job at Juniper Networks Inc. to replace Raikes, one of the longest-serving senior executives at Microsoft. Hired by Steve Ballmer in 1981 after 15 months at Apple Inc., Raikes ...

  24. Satya Nadella

    Satya Narayana Nadella (/ n ə ˈ d ɛ l ə /; born 19 August 1967) is an American business executive who is the executive chairperson and chief executive officer (CEO) of Microsoft, succeeding Steve Ballmer in 2014 as CEO [2] [3] and John W. Thompson in 2021 as chairman. [4] [5] Before becoming CEO, he was the executive vice president of Microsoft's cloud and enterprise group, responsible for ...

  25. Photos of Late Apple CEO Steve Jobs' Luxury Yacht Venus

    See How Tech CEOs Spend Their Money Steve Jobs The Apple CEO's super yacht Venus was designed by Philippe Starck's design company Ubik. Jobs spent approximately $131 million on it but passed away ...