As rapper Biggie Smalls once said, "mo' money mo' problems." Somewhere in the world, Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin must be crying dollar-shaped tears at the prospect of being forced to give away half his estate to his estranged wife – including his beloved $300 million megayacht.
Vladimir Potanin and Natalia Potanina split in 2007 and were granted a divorce in their home country, Russia, in 2014. That would be a sad but not uncommon tale of modern love gone sour, but in the case of Potanin, who ranks as Russia's richest oligarch with a fortune now estimated at close to $30 billion, it marked the beginning of a multi-year ordeal that might end up costing him dearly. More so than he'd like.
According to various court documents, Potanina claims the 2014 divorce decision got her $40 million of her husband's money, while Potanin himself is saying the amount rounds up to more than $84 million. The problem is that, after more than three decades of marriage, she believes she's entitled to at least $9 billion of their joint fortune, including shares in his mining firm, premium real estate in Russia and abroad, and Nirvana, the family "boat" Potanin took delivery of shortly before the divorce became final.
Potanina has long relaunched divorce proceedings and recently moved the case to the UK because, apparently, London is the capital of divorcing billionaires, as judges here are known to favor a more "generous” and equal division of assets. In other words, she's gunning for Potanin's property and liquidities, which brings Nirvana back into the spotlight.
Photo: Oceanco
Nirvana, the sanctioned floating palace
Not that it needed the extra layer of drama to warrant attention: Nirvana is one of the most spectacular vessels in the world, a title it's been holding onto since delivery in 2012. It's not even its first brush with controversy: as of 2022, Nirvana has been in hiding as a result of Potanin's inclusion on international sanctions lists.
Prior to the start of the war in Ukraine and the subsequent wave of sanctions against Russian oligarchs, Nirvana was a very popular charter platform. Given its reported price tag of $300 million, it was popular with a very specific kind of client, the one-percenter type who could afford to shill millions on a summer vacation.
Potanin is said to be a close friend and associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, so he, too, ended up on the sanctions list. Almost immediately, Nirvana sailed to Dubai, where it remains to this day, safe from grabbing hands, whether belonging to scorned, bitter exes or governments from countries choosing to apply sanctions.
Photo: Oceanco
An unprecedented achievement – and a most luxurious one
While the latest legal developments have brought Nirvana back into the spotlight, it's probably a safe bet to assume the megayacht will stay put for as long as it has to. No one commissions a $300 million floating palace to simply hand it over without a fight.
When it was delivered in 2012 as Y707, Nirvana was the biggest vessel to leave the shipyard at Oceanco and the first to feature a fiberglass pool. With interior and exterior design by Sam Sorgiovani, it measures 88.5 meters (290 feet) in total length and has a beam of 14.2 meters (46 feet). The inspiration for its interior was a tropical island rainforest, seen through the lens of an active family lifestyle.
Nirvana offers a massive interior volume of 2786 GT spread across six decks, with accommodation for 12 guests and a numerous crew to cater to every one of their whims. The 2012 delivery date might mislead you into thinking this is an "old” boat, but you'd be wrong: the classic, timeless exterior hides very modern spaces and the most mind-blowing amenities possible.
Photo: Oceanco
Highlights include a 7.5-meter (24.6-foot_ swimming pool that features a height-adjustable floor and can be filled with either seawater or fresh water. It can also transform into a dancefloor on those occasions where a pool would be in the way of dancing. Two other oversize jacuzzi are available, one on the sundeck and the other on the foredeck.
A helipad is also available, with fold-down terraces to enhance safety for the aircraft in bad weather. Inside, guests can choose between various forms of entertainment, from a 3D cinema to a massive and well-equipped gym, a traditional sauna, and several formal dining and socializing areas, both indoors and al fresco.
To create the feel of a jungle – minus any of the discomforts of being in a real one – Oceanco used over 200 different materials for the finishes, from bamboo, eucalyptus, and palm wood veneer, to white onyx, black mother-of-pearl, limestone, silks, and various art pieces.
The central elevator falls in the art category: the all-glass elevator is surrounded by a sculpture that resembles the bubbles in a whirlpool, so as you go up, it feels like you're coming up for air. It's very much in keeping with the idea that Nirvana was designed as a tribute to nature and water.
Photo: Oceanco
The overstuffed garages ensure that guests can enjoy both. Four hydraulic cranes serve a couple of Vikal tenders, designed to match the mothership in style and color, a large ski boat, four WaveRunners, and six jet skis. A separate water sports room is dedicated exclusively to diving gear.
Power comes from twin MTU engines that take Nirvana to a top speed of 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph). At a cruising speed of 14 knots (16 mph/26 kph), the megayacht has a range of over 6,000 nautical miles (6,905 miles/11,112 km). For the time being, these MTU powerplants serve as massive decoration pieces because Nirvana is not budging.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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