jeff bezos yacht italy

An Inside Look at Jeff Bezos’ $500 Million Superyacht and What It Costs To Keep It Afloat

C liché but true, the second-richest man on the planet, according to Forbes , owns the tallest sailing yacht in the world . In fact, the 417-foot Koru is so big, it has its own 250-foot support vessel .

Priced at $500 million, the Koru hit the sea for the first time in 2023 and has since ferried Jeff Bezos and company around the globe. Complete with three massive 229-foot masts, it can reach a top speed under sail of 20 knots, according to the New York Post — which is approximately 23 miles per hour.

Made for a group, up to 18 guests can set sail on the yacht, allowing Bezos to bring family and friends on vacation with him. Here’s a look at the Koru’s extravagant features and how much it costs to operate his floating mansion.

Also take a look at Bezos’ mansion collection.

See More: Robert Kiyosaki: 7 Ways To Become Wealthy Beyond the 9-to-5

Read Next: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Key Features

As expected Bezos’ yacht is dripping with luxury. With a net worth of $203.8 billion — as of May 4, 2024, according to Forbes — he can afford to outfit the Koru with nothing but the best and he did just that.

The superyacht has three outdoor decks, with two containing swimming pools, according to the New York Post. It also features a cinema, several lounges and multiple business areas, according to Luxuo .

Highly personalized, the yacht is complete with a figurehead modeled after Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez. Even its masts are luxurious, as the Amazon founder chose in-boom furlers, which keep the canvases at the bottom of the mast above the deck, creating a pristine and spacious rope-free deck.

For You: Make Yourself Money Smart: 20 ChatGPT Prompts To Increase Your Wealth

Support Vessel

One of the most shocking features of the Koru is the fact that it requires its own support vessel. The $75 million Abeona features a helipad that Sanchez has been spotted using to park her personal helicopter, according to the New York Post.

Designed to carry extra gear, four jet skis, two fast launches and a dinghy were spotted on the Abeona during a 2023 trip to Mallorca, Spain, according to the New York Post. It’s also capable of lifting a small submarine, but Bezos isn’t believed to own one — at least not yet.

Additionally, the support ship has two extra staterooms, which can accommodate four guests. This could come in handy if Bezos wants to entertain a larger group than can fit on the Koru.

On-Board Crew

It probably isn’t a surprise that operating both the Koru and the Abeona is no small task. From staff to drive the boats and maintain them to caring for guests onboard, Bezos needs a small army at sea.

The Koru has a crew of up to 36 people, according to The New York Post. If you think that’s a lot, the Abeona requires up to 45 crew and support staff.

Annual Operating Costs

Purchasing the Koru and Abeona cost Bezos more than half a billion dollars, but his expenses didn’t end there. As you might imagine, the annual cost to maintain a superyacht and its own enormous supporting yacht is more than most people earn in a lifetime.

The Koru costs approximately $25 million in operating expenses per year, according to the Daily Mail . Much less, but still sky-high, Bezos spends around $5 to $10 million on annual maintenance costs for the Abeona, according to Super Yacht Fan ).

When their owners are on dry land, yachts have to find a parking space. However, even this doesn’t always come cheap for Bezos and the Koru.

In November 2023, the billionaire’s yacht arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but was too big to fit in the port with all the outer superyachts, according to the Daily Mail. Therefore, it had to be docked with cruise ships at Port Everglades, at a rate of $16,500 per week.

While one week of storage might be more than the average person can afford, picking up the tab for any number of weeks would clearly be no issue for Bezos. While his superyacht and the many expenses surrounding it are clearly astronomical, he’s still living well within his budget.

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Exclusive photos of Sanchez aboard Bezos' superyacht

Jeff bezos and lauren sanchez were most recently seen in portofino, italy.

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In case you missed it, Jeff Bezos has been traveling with fiancée Lauren Sanchez around the Mediterranean and, most recently, Portofino, Italy. 

The cruise on the 417 superyacht named the Koru began in the first half of May. Along the way, Bezos and Sanchez became engaged.  

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

Lauren Sanchez sits on the deck of fiancé Jeff Bezos' $500 million superyacht as the pair continue their Mediterranean vacation aboard the Amazon founder’s $500 million mega yacht Koru Friday, June 12, 2023.  | Mega

Sanchez, 53, took selfies aboard the world’s tallest sailing yacht June 12. Its three huge 229-foot masts power it to 20 knots.The colossal, triple-masted Koru even has its own support vessel, Abeona, a megaboat in its own right. The luxurious launch carries Sanchez’s personal helicopter. 

JEFF BEZOS, LAUREN SANCHEZ ENJOY SUN, SUPERYACHT

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.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez walk in Portofino, Italy, June 13, 2023. (Mega / Mega)

Portofino is an ancient Italian Riviera town near Genoa. Known for its luxury boutiques, pastel houses and cobblestone square, its history as a fishing village made it an ideal location to drop anchor for the newly engaged couple.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez take an evening walk in Portofino, Italy, June 13, 2023. | Splash News

On June 13, Bezos and Sanchez spent part of the day strolling around the town, enjoying the warm southern European sunshine. 

BEZOS, SANCHEZ ENGAGED; IS THERE A PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT?

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez on their yacht while at anchor in Portofino, Italy. | Mega

On June 12, photographers captured Bezos taking pictures of Sanchez on the deck of the Koru.

A large yacht, which reportedly belongs to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, during construction in a shipyard in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Feb. 4, 2022.  (Dutch Yachting/Handout via REUTERS / Reuters Photos)

The large yacht took several years to build, and it had an issue in 2022 fitting under a bridge near where it was being constructed in the Netherlands.  

BEZOS’ BLUE ORIGIN NABS $3.4 BILLION NASA CONTRACT TO SEND ASTRONAUTS TO THE MOON  

The vessel was ultimately towed without having to disassemble the bridge, a move the billionaire had offered to fund that got scrapped after public outcry , FOX Business previously reported.  

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Bezos is Amazon's largest shareholder with a net worth of $148 billion, according to Forbes. 

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Jeff Bezos’ New Yacht Is Finally Ready to Set Sail

Amazon’s founder has been spotted on Koru, a massive schooner with a design that evokes the golden age of sailing in the early 20th century.

By Kevin Koenig

Just in time for the high season of yachting in the Mediterranean, when multimillion-dollar megayachts descend on ports like Monte Carlo and St. Tropez, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been photographed with his partner Lauren Sánchez on his new boat, Koru, off the coast of Spain.

Mr. Bezos’ vessel is a sailing yacht, a departure from the diesel-powered, floating palaces popular with other billionaires. But it is still massive. At 417 feet, Koru is the world’s largest sailing yacht, according to Boat International , and it cost an estimated $500 million to build, Bloomberg reported . (Parsifal III, the boat featured on Bravo’s reality series “Below Deck Sailing Yacht,” is 177 feet long — less than half the length of Koru — and cost $18 million , according to the website SuperYachtFan.)

A spokesperson for Mr. Bezos did not comment for this article; neither did Oceanco, Koru’s builder. Here is what to know about the boat.

For traditionalists, Koru is refreshing. At a time when yacht design skews outrageous — see the lizardlike, 262-foot Artefact or the otherworldly 463-foot Yas — Koru stands out as a schooner, a sailing vessel with two or more masts. Photos reveal a large sailboat with three masts, an on-deck pool and a voluptuous mermaid on the bow, that bears a resemblance to Ms. Sánchez. But otherwise, the sleek, classic lines suggest the patrician age of yachting in the early 20th century, said Robert B. MacKay, author of “The Golden Age of Newport Yachting: Between the Wars.”

“With the clipper bow and the dark hull and the masts,” Mr. MacKay said, referring to Koru’s concave, pointy forward section, “it reminds me of a boat built in 1930 for J.P. Morgan Jr., Corsair IV. It is almost like a reincarnation. It’s certainly at odds with the stuff the oligarchs are building — those look like bloated Clorox bottles.”

Compared with the world’s very largest motor yachts — built for sheer size and the accompanying bragging rights — Koru could almost be considered quaint. Azzam, one of the world’s largest motor yachts, is nearly 200 feet longer.

The Experience

Koru will be propelled primarily by the wind. “Sailboats are usually greener than most powerboats,” said Don Anderson, a former captain of M5 , the world’s largest single-masted sailboat, at 256 feet. “I’d like to think that Koru will be one of the most ecological yachts out there, with its sails and also with the technology that will be aboard.”

“When you’re on a sailboat, you’re more in touch with the wind and the waves than on a powerboat,” he continued. “You’re more susceptible to the elements, too. But you can leave California, and once you get past the Catalinas you can basically surf downwind all the way to Hawaii. All you need to do is run with the waves.”

Mr. Bezos has been a guest on similar boats, according to Bloomberg: In 2019, he was spotted on Eos , a 305-foot sailing yacht owned by Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg.

Bill Tripp, a Connecticut-based naval architect, said the appeal of this type of boat is clear: “When you are on a powerboat, you ask, ‘Are we there yet?’ and on a sailboat, you’re enjoying the ride and the ocean so much that you don’t ask that question.”

Koru will be trailed by Abeona, a 246-foot support vessel. Superyachts often have support vessels following along behind them. These “shadows,” as they are colloquially known, are for the “toys” — the ATVs, supercars, seaplanes, motorcycles, smaller boats, scuba gear, personal submarines and even helicopters that pleasure boaters might bring on a trip. According to its builder, this model of boat can carry these gadgets along with dozens of crew members. (Ms. Sanchez flies helicopters, and the couple was recently photographed taking a helicopter to board Abeona and then Koru.)

Abeona, a motor yacht, will have enough range to follow Koru from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean — a common course for yachts — on a single tank of gas.

The Kerfuffle

Koru set off a controversy last year — before it was even completed — in a face-off with the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The boat was built at Oceanco’s facility in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands, and needed to pass the historic Koningshaven Bridge, known as “De Hef,” in Rotterdam, to undergo testing in the North Sea.

When the city announced it would dismantle the bridge to allow the boat and its mainmast — an estimated 230 feet tall — to pass through unscathed, locals were angry. They planned a protest to throw eggs at the yacht as it cruised by. In the end, the bridge was not taken apart, and the yacht was towed to a different location to have its masts attached.

Koru is Maori for “coil” or “loop” and refers to the unfurling of a fern frond. The koru design is common in traditional Maori art, where it symbolizes new life, growth and peace. Mr. Bezos included a photo of a koru frond in an Instagram post on Jan. 1, 2022.

Brad Stone, who was the first to report on Koru, in his 2021 book “Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire,” said the name was “consistent with where we see him today.”

“He is no longer this single-minded tech guy,” Mr. Stone said. “He’s in media and Hollywood and has a new relationship.”

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Coast Through Italian Riviera On $500 Million Superyacht Following Engagement The pair was spotted off the coast of Portofino, Italy.

By Emily Rella Jun 14, 2023

Jeff Bezos' $500 million superyacht has been making waves (and not just in the ocean) since the public learned of its controversial riff with the Dutch shipyard where it was being built and its over-the-top amenities and features.

Now in sailing shape, photos of Bezos cruising through the Italian Riviera with his fiancé Lauren Sanchez hit the internet on Wednesday, showing the billionaire dotingly playing the role of "Instagram Fiancé" as he snapped photos of Sanchez to get the perfect shot.

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos on the Koru sailing yacht on June 12, 2023, in Portofino, Italy (Getty Images)

Bezos named the vessel Koru, which is the name of a spiral shape based on the appearance of a new "unfurling silver fern frond." In Māori culture, the symbol symbolizes new life, growth, strength, and peace.

A figure of a woman's body is also emblazoned on the front of the boat, which eagle-eyed Bezos fans have noticed bares an uncanny resemblance to Sanchez. Bezos has not confirmed nor denied the speculation.

The boat is roughly 417 feet long and reportedly the largest sailing yacht in the world.

In the sculpture, the woman figure is wearing a necklace with the Koru symbol.

Bezos' net worth as of Wednesday afternoon was an estimated $151 billion.

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An inside look at jeff bezos’ $500 million superyacht and what it costs to keep it afloat.

Cliché but true, the second-richest man on the planet, according to Forbes , owns the tallest sailing yacht in the world . In fact, the 417-foot Koru is so big, it has its own 250-foot support vessel .

Priced at $500 million, the Koru hit the sea for the first time in 2023 and has since ferried Jeff Bezos and company around the globe. Complete with three massive 229-foot masts, it can reach a top speed under sail of 20 knots, according to the New York Post — which is approximately 23 miles per hour.

Made for a group, up to 18 guests can set sail on the yacht, allowing Bezos to bring family and friends on vacation with him. Here’s a look at the Koru’s extravagant features and how much it costs to operate his floating mansion.

Also take a look at Bezos’ mansion collection.

See More: Robert Kiyosaki: 7 Ways To Become Wealthy Beyond the 9-to-5

Read Next: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Key Features

As expected Bezos’ yacht is dripping with luxury. With a net worth of $203.8 billion — as of May 4, 2024, according to Forbes — he can afford to outfit the Koru with nothing but the best and he did just that.

The superyacht has three outdoor decks, with two containing swimming pools, according to the New York Post. It also features a cinema, several lounges and multiple business areas, according to Luxuo .

Highly personalized, the yacht is complete with a figurehead modeled after Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez. Even its masts are luxurious, as the Amazon founder chose in-boom furlers, which keep the canvases at the bottom of the mast above the deck, creating a pristine and spacious rope-free deck.

For You: Make Yourself Money Smart: 20 ChatGPT Prompts To Increase Your Wealth

Support Vessel

One of the most shocking features of the Koru is the fact that it requires its own support vessel. The $75 million Abeona features a helipad that Sanchez has been spotted using to park her personal helicopter, according to the New York Post.

Designed to carry extra gear, four jet skis, two fast launches and a dinghy were spotted on the Abeona during a 2023 trip to Mallorca, Spain, according to the New York Post. It’s also capable of lifting a small submarine, but Bezos isn’t believed to own one — at least not yet.

Additionally, the support ship has two extra staterooms, which can accommodate four guests. This could come in handy if Bezos wants to entertain a larger group than can fit on the Koru.

On-Board Crew

It probably isn’t a surprise that operating both the Koru and the Abeona is no small task. From staff to drive the boats and maintain them to caring for guests onboard, Bezos needs a small army at sea.

The Koru has a crew of up to 36 people, according to The New York Post. If you think that’s a lot, the Abeona requires up to 45 crew and support staff.

Annual Operating Costs

Purchasing the Koru and Abeona cost Bezos more than half a billion dollars, but his expenses didn’t end there. As you might imagine, the annual cost to maintain a superyacht and its own enormous supporting yacht is more than most people earn in a lifetime.

The Koru costs approximately $25 million in operating expenses per year, according to the Daily Mail . Much less, but still sky-high, Bezos spends around $5 to $10 million on annual maintenance costs for the Abeona, according to Super Yacht Fan ).

When their owners are on dry land, yachts have to find a parking space. However, even this doesn’t always come cheap for Bezos and the Koru.

In November 2023, the billionaire’s yacht arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but was too big to fit in the port with all the outer superyachts, according to the Daily Mail. Therefore, it had to be docked with cruise ships at Port Everglades, at a rate of $16,500 per week.

While one week of storage might be more than the average person can afford, picking up the tab for any number of weeks would clearly be no issue for Bezos. While his superyacht and the many expenses surrounding it are clearly astronomical, he’s still living well within his budget.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : An Inside Look at Jeff Bezos’ $500 Million Superyacht and What It Costs To Keep It Afloat

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez kiss and celebrate engagement on $500 million yacht in Italy: report

Amazon founder jeff bezos and journalist lauren sánchez throw their engagement party on their $500 million bezos' yacht..

The Amazon founder, 59, and the Emmy-winning journalist, 53, had a party to celebrate their engagement on Wednesday.

The couple got engaged in May, hosted the bash on Bezos' yacht on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez went public with their romance in January 2019, shortly after Bezos announced he was divorcing MacKenzie Scott after 25 years of marriage.

Sánchez was also ending her 13-year marriage to Patrick Whitesell around the same time. She shares two children with him, and a son from a previous relationship with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez.

An insider quoted to PEOPLE after their engagement that Bezos and Sánchez "are really in love and happy which makes everyone who knows them happy."

"All of her friends say this is her dream come true. She found the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with and they felt the time was right," the report said.

The duo have been enjoying their time together on the $500 million yacht this summer.

Last week, they were seen kissing while traveling in Capri.

The yacht, named Koru, is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world and has a wooden sculpture that looks like Bezos' fiancée on the prow. The sculpture wears a necklace with the symbol for Koru, which is Māori for loop or coil and is based on the spiral shape of an unfurling silver fern frond.

Bezos, who stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021, has been focusing his efforts on conservation and his space exploration company, Blue Origin. He and Sánchez also work together for the Bezos Earth Fund, an initiative they launched to help fight climate change, which Sánchez co-chairs.

ALSO READ| Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez snuggle and smooch on Capri yacht

During a joint interview last year, the Amazon founder said he plans to give away most of his $124 billion fortune in his lifetime, focusing mainly on fighting climate change and supporting others who can help improve the deep divide over social and political issues.

"The hard part is figuring out how to do it in a levered way," he said of his philanthropic strategy as Sánchez said that they make "really great teammates."

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2 years after being seized, the Russian oligarch’s $580 million megayacht which is even bigger than Jeff Bezos’ Koru left Trieste and sailed for Venice. Just so that it would not escape on the high seas the 469 feet long vessel was guarded by armed ships of the Italian forces.

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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 .

Large sailing yachts available for charter

88m Perini Navi 2006 / 2023

86m Oceanco 2016

76m Damen Oranjewerf 2000 / 2009

65m Camper & Nicholsons 1927 / 1985

64m Van der Graaf 2010

64m Segel Masten Yachten 2011 / 2021

63m Holland Jachtbouw 2010 / 2023

57m Aegean Yacht 2009

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez get cozy on mega yacht in Italy

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It’s the Bezos’ love boat!

Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was spotted canoodling with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez aboard a mega yacht in Venice, Italy, on Thursday evening.

The pair exchanged hugs and kisses — and also checked their phones — aboard the boat, which is owned by fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg and her hubby Barry Diller.

They were joined by movie producer Jason Blum and his wife Lauren Schuker along with Allison Williams’ ex, Ricky Van Veen.

Bezos and Sanchez got off the boat shortly after they were spotted in each other’s arms, and were later seen walking hand in hand in the Italian city.

Bezos, the world’s richest man, claimed in February that he was  extorted by supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer  because of his relationship with Sanchez.

The Enquirer published an expose on his affair with Sanchez, which included salacious text messages between the pair.

In an email to Bezos, the tabloid’s editor threatened to publish more of his text messages, including nude photos, if he did not end a private investigation into the company.

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Jeff Bezos’s massive yacht anchors next to oil tankers as boat is too big for port

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Amazon founder, space enthusiast , and the third wealthiest man in the world Jeff Bezos has a parking problem with his mega-yacht .

At a Florida marina this week it became apparent that the $500m ship was too big to be moored with the other private yachts at Port Everglades.

At an impressive 417ft in length, “Koru” — the Maori word meaning new life or regeneration — had to be moored alongside oil tankers, container ships and the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship.

Port Everglades is a major gateway for Caribbean cruises and international trade, but the yacht section cannot accommodate vessels larger than 400ft.

At just over that length (almost twice the length of an Airbus A380 or equivalent to four blue whales) other accommodations had to be made.

A spokesperson for the port told The Times that it was in an area for energy ships and that when such large yachts come into port, they are docked wherever there is space.

Koru came into port last week from Gibraltar and with three masts is the second-largest sailing vessel in the world after Sailing Yacht A, owned by Russian fertiliser billionaire Andrey Melnichenko and designed by Philippe Starck.

While it is pipped in length, it is nevertheless the tallest sailing yacht in the world with its masts reaching 230ft into the air.

Despite its enormous size — or perhaps because of it — Koru has a support vessel, the Arbeona, on which Bezos keeps his helicopter, jet skis, and luxury cars. That 246ft boat is docked four miles away at Dania Beach.

It costs an estimated $25m per year to staff and operate Koru, which has three decks and a pool. The Amazon founder proposed to fiancée Lauren Sanchez onboard over the summer after five years of dating.

During an interview with Vogue , Sanchez was asked about her apparent resemblance to the figurehead of the yacht — depicting a woman carved in the style of a Roman goddess with long hair and a flowing gown — after press suggested that it was a carving of her. However, according to Sanchez, that speculation is not true.

“I’m very flattered, but it’s not,” she said, before adding that the figurehead was one of Bezos’ favourite mythological figures, Freyja, the goddess associated with love, sex, war and gold.

She also poked fun at what the statue would look like “if it was” her, as she jokingly made the gesture of having larger breasts.

Bezos and Sanchez recently announced they are relocating from Seattle to Miami to be nearer his mother and adoptive father who are both in their late 70s.

The billionaire has bought two neighbouring properties on Indian Creek Island alongside Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Tom Brady, and Norman Braman, who owns the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Lauren Sánchez 'Keeps Playing' with 'Huge' Engagement Ring from Jeff Bezos: 'She Loves It,' Says Source

"They are usually hand-in-hand" and "look very happy," a source tells PEOPLE of Sánchez and Bezos, whom recently got engaged

Lauren Sánchez is showcasing her romance with her now fiancé , Jeff Bezos .

A source tells PEOPLE that the recently engaged Emmy Award-winning journalist, 53, and Amazon founder, 59, have been all smiles while vacationing in the South of France.

"They have been in a great mood and are obviously enjoying their trip," the source explained. "When they first arrived in Spain, Lauren especially seemed giddy with excitement as they toured the yacht. Lauren keeps enjoying the tanning deck. They stopped for lunch in Ibiza mid-week before continuing on to France, where they spent the weekend."

The source tells PEOPLE how the pair "are usually hand-in-hand," and "look very happy."

" Her engagement ring is beyond stunning. And huge! She keeps playing with it and looking at it," they continued. "You can tell she loves it."

The source also revealed how the couple has been cruising the Mediterranean onboard his superyacht, Koru, which features a wooden sculpture made in the likeness of Sánchez .

The couple's weekend was jam-packed with activities that included attending the premiere of Apple Original Films' Killers of the Flower Moon at the Cannes Film Festival . They were also spotted enjoying a romantic walk together .

"He proposed last week," a source close to the couple told PEOPLE. "They're on cloud nine — so happy and madly in love."

The newly engaged couple made their relationship public in January 2019 after Bezos announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott after 25 years of marriage and four children together.

At the time, the former Good Day LA co-host was also divorcing her husband of 13 years, Patrick Whitesell . Sánchez has two children with the agent and a son from a previous relationship with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez .

RELATED VIDEO: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Soak Up the Sun During Outing on Rumored $500M Yacht

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Early in their relationship, a source also shared with PEOPLE that the pair formed a close relationship through their philanthropic efforts.

"Both Jeff and Lauren are really energized by the work they are doing in philanthropy," they told PEOPLE in 2021 . "It's been a focus and bright spot for them, particularly over the last year."

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Billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg spend six figures a year maintaining their superyachts. Here's how.

• Superyachts  are one of the most expensive assets money can buy.
• The true cost of ownership is even more, adding up to millions a year.
• Here's how much it costs to own a superyacht — and what that money is going toward.

Financial advisors are quick to warn prospective owners that a boat is nothing more than a hole in the water in which to throw money. When it comes to superyachts , you'd better have bags and bags of cash.

As one luxury agent told Business Insider at the Palm Beach International Boat Show: "Buying a boat, it's a huge purchase — and nobody needs a yacht."

A superyacht, generally over 30 meters long, is one of the most expensive assets money can buy, with the largest costing more than a lot of real estate or a private jet. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs each spent nine figures on their megayachts.

That doesn't include operating costs. Owners should expect to pay about 10% of a yacht's new-build price each year, experts told Business Insider. That's tens of millions of dollars annually for the most luxurious boats.

"It's a small-to-medium-sized business in its own right," said Jeffrey Beneville, a senior vice president at insurance company NFP, where he specializes in consulting clients about yachts.

Unlike many smaller boats, superyachts need staff, not just a captain. Some superyachts have space for dozens of crewmembers , including a chef, engineer, and masseuse for the guests onboard. Each gets an annual salary — the highest-ranking members earn six figures — and benefits. Eric Schmidt's yacht fits a crew of 28 for a ratio of about two crewmembers per guest.

Then there's fuel, dockage fees, routine maintenance, and insurance. The latter hinges on everything from the reputation of a yacht's shipyard to where an owner wants to take it (if a vessel is taking frequent trips to the South China Sea, for example, expect to pay a higher premium). If a superyacht has a support yacht — or a support superyacht, in Bezos ' case — expect to pay another 10% of that boat's price annually.

"The cost to maintain a yacht is so high that they just think that money's getting lit on fire," Matthew Fleissig, the CEO of wealth management firm Pathstone, told BI of his clients who choose to charter rather than own.

One of his firm's clients who does own has a 23-meter yacht valued at $5.2 million. The annual cost to staff, maintain, dock, and insure the boat is $346,297, according to documentation provided to BI. The lion's share is spent on marina fees ($95,970) and maintenance work ($88,408.) While not exactly a Sunfish, that boat is too small to count as a superyacht.

At 106 meters, the Amadea, owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch , definitely does. The $300 million yacht, which was seized in 2022 and is docked in San Diego, cost $922,000 a month to maintain, a court filing showed: $360,000 for crew salaries, $75,000 for fuel, $144,000 for insurance, $178,000 in dry-docking fees, and $165,000 for maintenance, waste removal, food for the crew, and miscellaneous expenses.

"And that's an inactive yacht that's in the water," NFP's Beneville said.

If it were operational and carrying guests, the costs would be about twice that, or between $20 million and $30 million a year, he added.

Of course, it makes more financial sense for the non-obsessives to charter, and many of Fleissig's clients do. And some owners choose to offer their yachts for charter — the most luxurious cost as much as $1 million a week — to offset the costs.

"If you charter the boat for 50 days a year, it's going to help a lot," Anders Kurtén, the CEO of brokerage firm Fraser Yachts, told BI.

Then again, the running costs don't matter as much at a certain point. "If you're worth $30 billion, it's nothing. And if you're worth $117 billion — and these are the guys we're talking about — they're in it as long as it's still enjoyable for them," Beneville said. "It's not a money thing."

Watch: Why South Sea pearls are so expensive

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