Trump's election as president of the United States marked a number of firsts, including the institution of what has historically become the wealthiest cabinet ever in existence. The billionaire's effect on politics has become the subject of many debates, yet his influence on yachting is often overlooked. Having owned one of the largest yachts of her time, Trump once commissioned the world's largest superyacht and also briefly owned a leading Dutch shipyard.
In his former life as a billionaire businessman, Trump not only owned an 86m superyacht as well as a shipyard for a brief period of time, but he also ordered the world's largest yacht, although it was never completed. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, with a net worth estimated at $1,5 billion, and her family have been linked to no less than 13 yachts over the years.
In 1980, the late Saudi businessman and arms dealer, Adnan Khashoggi took delivery of the 86 meter (282 ft) Nabila. Built by Benetti in Italy, she became the 8th largest yacht in the world and appeared in the 1983 James Bond movie, Never Say Never Again.
When Khashoggi, however, ran into financial problems, the Sultan of Brunei took possession of the yacht to cover one of his loans. The Sultan quickly flipped the yacht to Donald Trump for a reported $29 million in 1987. In an interview in 1988, Trump said he received a $1 million discount for agreeing to change the name from Nabila, Khashoggi's daughter.
Khashoggi probably spent $200 million building this yacht, probably the best yacht ever built. I purchased it for a business. I use it for my hotels. I use it for a lot of different charities.
After acquiring Nabila, Trump renamed the yacht to Trump Princess and had it refitted by Holland-based, Amels for a near $10 million according to the LA Times. The H on the helipad was also changed to a T to stand for Trump.
Spread into over 100 separate areas over five decks, Nabila was without a doubt one of the most complex yachts of her time. With luxurious materials including onyx used for her interior, the yacht was also ahead of her time from a technological standpoint. Remote controls were installs next to the bed for shades, room service, and the entertainment center.
Amongst the yacht's main feature was a hair salon with 3 separate chairs, a sauna, a private elevator for the owner, one for guests and one for the crew, a 2.4-meter in diameter spa pool with a waterjet behind bulletproof glass. Whilst still owned by Khashoggi, many arms deals were signed onboard the yacht.
In June 1989, Donald Trump announced that he would build a larger yacht, "something in excess of 400 feet long, closer to 500 feet" as he told Newsday and that he was accepting bids from yacht builders for this project. Amels, then owned by a group of 4 British investors, secured the deal to develop the 128-meter Trump Princess II according to NRC.
In May 1990, it was announced that Trump bought Amels altogether. At a press conference in Makkum in 1990, Jeff Walker, VP of Trump's investment empire, denied that the shipyard was sold due to the previous owner's financial difficulties, which some have said, resulted from Trump canceling the construction of the Trump Princess II.
In September 1990, two months after the acquisition, Trump sold Amels to American businessman, Peter Kutell according to Deseret News due to financial problems. At the same time, the Trump Princess was put up for sale and all work on the Trump Princess II stopped. In 1991, Trump Princess was sold to Prince Al-Waleed for $19 million who renamed the yacht to Kingdom 5KR.
The superstructure for Trump Princess II allegedly remained at the Amels Makkum facility until summer 2001 when it was eventually removed. According to sources familiar with the matter, the superstructure is still parked at the Makkum facility, now owned by Feadship De Vries and reportedly sometimes used as a bike parking space.
Currently valued by Forbes at $3.1 billion, Trump serves as the United States' 45th president since January 20th 2017. Having sparked controversies throughout the world due to his polarising views on a number of domestic and foreign issues, he has recently led a series of reforms to have US conglomerates bring back a large portion of their cash back to the United States.
After getting a start at his father's real estate development company, Trump started his Manhattan real estate crusade, acquiring part of the Commodore Hotel in 1978. Following this, Trump embarked on building Trump Tower, which was completed in 1983. Five years later, Trump bought the Plaza Hotel for $407 million and invested $50 million into its refurbishment. At the same time, Trump started branching out of Manhattan, building in Palm Beach, Atlantic City and ventured int golf.
Trump's net worth is still predominantly tied to his New York-assets though, with $1,6 billion in real estate. The billionaire has another $500 million in real estate in another cities, in addition to $570 million worth of golf clubs and resorts according to Forbes. His branding business, which includes hotel management and product licensing is currently valued at $200 million. "Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game." Trump said in his book, The Art of the Deal.
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Project Tanzanite, a 120-meter Amels Full Custom superyacht, has reached the next stage of construction following her launch at the Damen Yachting facilities in Vlissingen. At 6,083 GT, she is the largest new build completed by Amels to date.The yacht first entered the Netherlands in June 2023, arriving from Damen Yachting’s hull building facility in Galati, Romania, where the hull had been constructed. Since then, she has been prepared for outfitting at the shipyard’s facilities in Vlissingen City. In the weeks leading up to the launch, Project Tanzanite was floated inside the dock before moving into open water.With the yacht now in Vlissingen for the final phase of work, more than 1,000 people, including Damen Yachting teams and members of the international superyacht supply chain, will contribute their expertise over the next year. Completion is scheduled for 2026.Project Tanzanite is a one-off Amels Full Custom design. The exterior is by Espen Øino, while details about the interior remain undisclosed. Damen Yachting provided the naval architecture for the project.Key figures for the yacht include a length of 120 meters (394 feet) and a gross tonnage of 6,083.Credits: Amels
September 5, 2025
Ferretti Group will present six world premieres at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025, held September 9–14, alongside a fleet of 25 yachts. The debuts include models from Ferretti Yachts, Itama, and Riva: the Ferretti Yachts 800, Itama 54, Riva Aquariva Special, Riva Cento, Riva 58’ Capri, and Riva 112’ Dolcevita Super. These will be joined by the Ferretti Yachts 940 and Pershing GTX70, introduced earlier this year in Venice. Wally will also be present with the wallywind110 in the sailing section at Port Canto.The Ferretti Yachts 800, designed with Filippo Salvetti and Ideaeitalia, measures 24.47 meters in length with a beam of 5.91 meters. It offers large windows, an optional salon sliding door, and a 40-square-meter flybridge. Powered by MAN V12 engines, it reaches up to 31 knots.The Itama 54, styled by Tommaso De Luca, features a double-cockpit layout with seating for 10, extended side glazing, and a lower deck with two cabins. Its LOA is 16.44 meters with MAN engine options up to 850 hp.The Riva Aquariva Special updates the long-standing Aquariva line with new navigation lights, redesigned windscreen, and expanded swim platform while maintaining analogue helm instrumentation. It measures 10.07 meters and reaches 41.5 knots.The Riva Cento, marking the 100th Rivamare, introduces new color options, integrated stern handrail, and a convertible interior dinette. With an LOA of 11.88 meters, it is powered by twin Volvo Penta engines.The Riva 58’ Capri is an evolution of the 56’ Rivale with three cabins, a fixed hardtop, and garage options for tenders and water toys. Its length is 17.27 meters with speeds up to 37 knots.The Riva 112’ Dolcevita Super, at 34.37 meters, features fold-out terraces in the stern, redesigned flybridge, and two interior layout options. Twin MTU engines deliver speeds of up to 25.5 knots.Also on display are the Ferretti Yachts 940, a 28.97-meter widebody yacht with five cabins and floor-to-ceiling glazing, and the Pershing GTX70, a 21.76-meter model with expanded exterior areas and a sundeck split into three zones.Ferretti Group’s presence at the show will be accompanied by a range of luxury partners including Range Rover, Flexjet, Dolce & Gabbana, Frette, Venini, and Lavazza, among others.Credits: Ferretti Group
September 5, 2025
Sanlorenzo S.p.A. announced consolidated financial results for the first half of 2025, reporting €454.1 million in net revenues from new yacht sales, representing a 9.4% increase compared to H1 2024. EBITDA reached €80.5 million, an 8.5% year-over-year increase. The company maintained a robust order backlog of €1.44 billion, with 93% of orders already sold to final clients.Chairman and CEO Massimo Perotti stated: "The first half of 2025 reflects the resilience of Sanlorenzo, the strength of our brand, and the timeless desirability of our yachts. Even in a global environment marked by trade tariff uncertainty and broader macroeconomic pressures, we have delivered stability and measured growth."Order intake increased 29.9% to €419.5 million, driven particularly by strong demand for yachts exceeding 30 meters. The net backlog stood at €985.2 million as of June 30, 2025, providing approximately one year of revenue visibility.Regional performance showed Europe accounting for 58.8% of revenues (€267.1 million, +15.4% YoY), Americas contributing 21% (€95.3 million, +38.6% YoY), APAC at 12% (€54.4 million, +5.8% YoY), and MEA representing 8.2% (€37.3 million, -41.3% YoY).Division performance varied: Superyacht Division revenues increased 10.2% to €137.1 million, while Yacht Division declined 6.6% to €225.8 million primarily due to market conditions below 30 meters. Bluegame Division decreased 10.9% to €43.6 million, and Nautor Swan Division contributed €47.5 million since its 2024 acquisition.The company reported net profit of €46.6 million, a 7.0% increase from H1 2024. Net working capital remained positive at €86.6 million, though inventories increased to €186.7 million due to production ramp-up and distribution hub expansion.Sanlorenzo confirmed its 2025 financial guidance, citing strong product pipeline including three new yacht debuts at the Cannes Yachting Festival and the upcoming delivery of the 74Steel model. The company continues to focus on yachts under 2,000 GT where it believes the risk-return profile remains most favorable.Sustainability initiatives progress includes development of bi-fuel green methanol propulsion technology, though the launch timeline for the 50 X-Space project has been adjusted to align with expected infrastructure availability toward the end of the decade.The company maintains its net financial position with €8.3 million net debt as of June 30, 2025, following dividend payments of €34.7 million and €11.1 million share buyback program execution during the period.Sanlorenzo was founded in 1958 in Viareggio by yacht builder Gionvanni Jannetti. In 2005, Massimo Perrotti became the majority shareholder in the shipyard. Sanlorenzo builds yachts ranging from 28.60 to 73 meters in length. Credits: Sanlorenzo
September 5, 2025
Italian marine manufacturers Castoldi and Nauta have developed the Jet Tender 34 Limo, marking Castoldi's first entry into the limousine tender segment. The 10.4-meter vessel will serve as ship-to-shore transportation for a new boutique cruise ship fleet under construction in Italy, with four limousine tenders and two support vessels ordered per vessel.Giacomo Castoldi, CEO of Castoldi, stated: "This project represents a new chapter for Castoldi that expands our offerings to new markets, while maintaining the commitment to innovation, quality, and luxury we are known for." The collaboration utilizes Castoldi's waterjet propulsion technology and semi-serial production capabilities combined with Nauta's design approach.Nauta Director Guido Valtorta noted: "Typically, limousine tenders are custom-made for large yachts, but this project allowed us to merge bespoke luxury with the efficiency of semi-serial production." The design incorporates multiple boarding points, configurable seating arrangements, and ceiling lighting systems aimed at creating spacious interior environments.Technical features include Castoldi's ACES electronic control system and waterjet propulsion designed for commercial vessel applications. The tender achieves cabin cooling within 15 minutes and incorporates noise-reduction systems within rub rails. The platform allows for Open Limo and Support Vessel configurations through modular design principles.The first unit is scheduled for delivery in late 2025, with project presentation planned for the Monaco Yacht Show. The tender measures 10.4 meters in length with limousine-style enclosed cabin accommodation. Production follows semi-serial methods rather than custom one-off construction, representing a new operational approach for Castoldi in this vessel category.The partnership combines Castoldi's marine engineering capabilities with Nauta's yacht design experience, targeting the growing market for luxury tender operations in cruise ship and superyacht sectors. The design emphasizes functional elements including pantry facilities and toilet accommodations within the compact hull form.Credits: Nauta
September 4, 2025
Extra Yachts has launched the X145 Global, a 44-meter explorer yacht designed for long-distance cruising. The steel-hulled vessel features an aluminum superstructure designed by Agon Studio, with interior spaces by Hot Lab.The yacht offers 4,000 nautical mile range with five deck levels and 9.1-meter beam while maintaining under 500 GT volume. The layout places all five guest cabins on the main deck utilizing maximum beam width, with an owner's private terrace on the bridge deck. Crew accommodations include four double cabins with ensuite bathrooms on the lower deck.Technical specifications include dual-mode hull design balancing performance and fuel efficiency. Storage capacity includes an 8.5-meter tender, rescue boat, two jet skis, and additional water toys in the aft garage. The beach club area provides 80 square meters of space with fold-down platforms and day facilities.Interior design incorporates large glazed surfaces, oriental-inspired details, and open-plan layouts emphasizing spatial perception. The upper deck features 360-degree viewing lounge with separated dining and seating areas connected by a central staircase.The X145 Global represents Extra Yachts' expansion into the explorer yacht segment, combining extended range capabilities with contemporary interior aesthetics. The design prioritizes crew operational areas with dedicated mess and laundry facilities alongside professional galley space.The yacht's configuration focuses on long-term autonomous operation with reduced fuel consumption parameters compared to traditional motor yachts of similar dimensions. The explorer market continues to show growth as owners seek vessels capable of extended itineraries with self-sufficient capabilities. Extra Yachts continues production at its Italian facilities, with the X145 Global positioning the brand in the 40-45 meter explorer segment. The company's product range includes both fiberglass and metal-hulled yachts with varying mission profiles from coastal cruising to global expedition capabilities.Extra Yachts specializes in the development of yachts with a strong personality. Its distinctive lines are combined in a variety of motor yacht models ranging from 76' to 130' and a 30-meter motor catamaran. Developed thanks to the advanced technical experience of ISA Yachts, Extra offers customers all the advantages of being part of the Palumbo Superyachts network.Credits: Extra Yachts
September 4, 2025