Article overview: What does half a billion dollars look like when it floats? One look at some of the largest mega-yachts in the world will give you an answer. These colossal...
What does half a billion dollars look like when it floats? One look at some of the largest mega-yachts in the world will give you an answer. These colossal cruisers are practically self-contained cities at sea, featuring things like swimming pools, private theaters, and even missile-defense systems. Reaching lengths far longer than a football field, the biggest yachts blur the line between transportation and artistry, and their sheer scale might make you wonder just how big a boat can really get.
At HMY Yachts, we have a great appreciation for these seagoing Goliaths, but we found ourselves wondering: Which are the biggest mega-yachts in the world, and how would they stack up if you placed them all side by side? To satisfy our curiosity, we put together this infographic comparing the largest yachts ever sold.
What Is the Largest Yacht in the World?
The world’s largest yacht is the Azzam, measuring 592 feet, 6 inches long. Built in Germany by Lürssen Yachts, it can cruise at more than 30 knots, making it one of the fastest yachts of its size.
Who Owns the Biggest Yacht in the World?
The Azzam is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, who inherited it from his brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
How Much Does a Mega-Yacht Cost?
A big private yacht can cost millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on exactly how big it is and what features it has. The Azzam, the largest yacht in the world and one of the priciest, is estimated to have cost around $600 million.
Meet the Giants of the Sea: The Top 20 Biggest Yachts
1. Azzam
Beyond its record-breaking size, the Azzam is admired for its elegant exterior styling by Nauta Design and luxurious interiors by Christophe Leoni. Launched in 2013, it was completed in less than three years of construction, remarkably fast for a yacht of this scale.
2. Fulk Al Salamah
The Fulk Al Salamah, measuring 538 feet, 1 inch in length, is owned by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, prime minister of Oman. The second-largest yacht in the world was built in Italy by Mariotti Yachts and launched in 2016. Today, it’s part of the royal fleet of Oman.
3. Eclipse
At a length of 533 feet, 1 inch, the Eclipse certainly eclipses most other yachts in both size and cost, with an estimated price tag of $700 million. Security features on the Eclipse are said to include armored panic rooms, a hidden submarine evacuation area, and missile launchers. It was built in Germany by Blohm + Voss, and when it launched in 2010, it was the world’s largest yacht. The Eclipse is owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who’s been keeping it docked in Turkey to protect it from international sanctions imposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
4. Dubai
Construction of the Dubai was started as a collaboration between Blohm + Voss and Lürssen in 1995, but the hull was sold to Platinum Yachts in 2001 to be completed in Dubai. This 531-foot-5-inch vessel was launched in 2006 and is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.
5. Blue
Lürssen Yachts has built many of the biggest mega-yachts in the world, including Blue, which launched in 2022. Measuring 518 feet, 3 inches, Blue is known for having eco-friendly features like an advanced exhaust treatment system and a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system. It’s owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice president of the United Arab Emirates.
6. Dilbar
The Dilbar, built by Lürssen and launched in 2016, measures 511 feet, 8 inches and has a gross tonnage of 15,917, making it the largest yacht in the world by volume. It’s been detained in Germany since 2022 due to international sanctions, though its ownership status is murky: The Dilbar was originally owned by Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, who transferred ownership of the vessel to a Cayman Islands company that’s ultimately controlled by his sister, also subject to sanctions, though a trust.
7. Al Saïd
Also built by Lürssen, the 508-foot-5-inch Al Saïd was delivered in 2008 to Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman. Upon his death, it was inherited by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, prime minister of Oman and owner of the Fulk Al Salamah.
8. A+
Why own just one of the biggest yachts in the world when you could own two? Perhaps that was the thinking of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of the Blue, who also owns the A+. Originally named the Topaz, this Lürssen-built vessel is 483 feet, 1 inch long and was launched in 2012 and renamed in 2019.
9. Prince Abdulaziz
Built for Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and launched in 1984, the Prince Abdulaziz, measuring 482 feet, 3 inches, is the largest mega-yacht built in the 20th century. It was built in Denmark by Helsingør Værft and is owned by the Saudi royal family.
10. OK
The OK is certainly one of the more unusual vessels on the list of the world’s biggest yachts. This 479-foot yacht, launched in 2022, is eye-catching both because of its striking black paint job and its shape, featuring a massive deck at the center. Built by Oshima Shipbuilding in Japan, the OK began life as a carrier ship, and it’s semisubmersible: It can lower its main deck below the waterline to take on other watercraft. The identity of its owner is unknown, but whoever it is certainly has a unique yacht on their hands!
11. Opera
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the U.A.E. sure loves his mega-yachts, judging by the number of times he appears on this list. Like the Blue and the A+, the Opera was built by Lürssen. It measures 479 feet long and is the newest of the three, launching in 2023.
12. El Mahrousa
The oldest yacht on this list by far, the El Mahrousa, was originally launched in 1865. It was built in Britain by Samuda Brothers for Egyptian ruler Ismail Pasha, who would board the yacht one last time to go into exile after he was deposed in 1879. The 478-foot-1-inch vessel would also carry two other Egyptian rulers away from the country after their removal from power: Abbas Hilmi II in 1914 and King Farouk in 1952. Over the course of its long history, the El Mahrousa has also been part of the 1869 opening of the Suez Canal as well as the opening of the canal’s expansion in 2015. Its longest journey took place in 1976, when it sailed across the Atlantic to participate in the United States Bicentennial. Today, the vessel is still part of the Egyptian government fleet.
13. Luminance
On the opposite end of the scale age-wise is the Luminance, launched in 2024. Built by Lürssen with a length of 475 feet, 7 inches, this dark blue luxury yacht is owned by Rinat Akhmetov, a Ukrainian billionaire.
14. A
The A is the largest sailing yacht in the world, measuring 468 feet, 5 inches. Built for Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko by Nobiskrug in Germany, it was launched in 2017. The Italian government seized the A in 2022 due to international sanctions.
15. Nord
Another Lürssen-built behemoth, the Nord, measuring 466 feet, was launched in 2021, featuring a unique blunt bow shape with the vessel’s name featured front and center. It’s owned by yet another Russian billionaire, Alexei Mordashov, who’s been keeping it in Russian waters for the past few years to protect it from being seized. As the vessel’s name might suggest, the Nord is an ice-class yacht, meaning that it’s designed to stand up to travel through arctic waters, including features like a reinforced hull and heaters for the outer decks and mechanical systems.
16. Yas
The 462-foot-6-inch Yas began life as a Dutch navy frigate before being converted into a superyacht in 2011. It was rebuilt by ADM in the United Arab Emirates, and it’s owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi and younger brother of the owner of the Azzam.
17. Solaris
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of the Eclipse, claims a second spot on the list of the largest mega-yachts in the world with the Solaris, which measures 459 feet, 3 inches. The Solaris was built in Germany by Lloyd Werft in 2021. It’s been described as a floating fortress, said to be equipped with armored cabins, a missile-defense system, an anti-paparazzi system that employs lasers to detect cameras and infrared beams to ruin the pictures they take, and an escape submarine accessible by hidden, pirate-proofed passages. It’s currently being kept in Turkish waters to evade seizure under international sanctions.
18. Ocean Victory
Built by Italian firm Fincantieri, the 459-foot-3-inch Ocean Victory was delivered in 2014 to owner Viktor Rashnikov, a Russian billionaire also subject to international sanctions. Little else is known about this massive yacht, including its location: The vessel’s AIS transponder was turned off in 2022.
19. Scheherazade
The Scheherezade is widely believed to be owned by Vladimir Putin, though the officially listed owner is Eduard Khudainatov, the former CEO of a Russian energy company. The 459-foot-3-inch yacht, built by Lürssen, was seized by the Italian government in 2022 under international sanctions.
20. Al Salamah
The Al Salamah, not to be confused with the Fulk Al Salamah, is a 456-foot luxury yacht built by Lürssen. It was commissioned by Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1998, and it’s currently owned by his brother, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
What’s Over the Horizon?
As shipyards continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, the list of the largest mega-yachts in the world continues to grow and change. Today’s record-holder, the Azzam, is poised to be pushed down the list soon, replaced by the REV Ocean, a 639-foot-5-inch luxury yacht that doubles as a scientific research vessel. Commissioned by Norwegian billionaire Kyell Inge Røkke, the vessel features amenities like a tennis court, spa, and swimming pool as well as a full complement of advanced scientific equipment to aid ocean conservation projects. It’s slated to be completed in late 2026.
While few buyers are likely to be seeking out the very largest yachts for sale, the sky’s the limit for those who are looking to push the limits of what’s possible in yacht design. For the rest of us, though, there are plenty of other yachts for sale, and HMY can help you find the right one for your needs, whether it’s a Viking yacht perfect for sportfishing or a Princess yacht to take on a luxurious vacation. Reach out today and you’ll soon see why we’re among the nation’s leading yacht dealers.
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