Multi-millionaires and billionaires trade up and down their assets according to the market, their needs, and, most importantly, their whims. But you know something is off when a world-famous billionaire is willing to let go of his iconic superyacht at a $30 million price reduction.
MY Global, previously known as Kismet, has joined the market, and the asking is startling compared to last year's valuation of the same vessel. A 2007 delivery, Global is not a new superyacht (obviously), and neither is it among the world's biggest or most expensive. But it's a Lurssen vessel, and that alone is enough to make it noteworthy, while its features and previous ownership have turned it into a proper icon.
Global is now offered for sale as charter-ready, with an asking of €79 million, which is roughly $84.8 million at the current exchange rate. Just last year, the same superyacht was valued at $115 million, which would make the listing the best bargain right now, if you happen to have this kind of cash just lying around and were looking for a new boat.
To boot, Global comes with all the modern amenities the one-percenter of today can't live without, from a helipad to an onboard spa, sumptuous guest suites, and generously sized working and socializing spaces. With that price reduction, what's there not to love, right?
Photo: Lurssen
The owner of Global and the tell-tale signs of trouble ahead
Global is owned by Lars Windhorst, a 47-year-old billionaire dubbed the "German Bill Gates."
Windhorst is an investor and businessman with his hands in many pies and many failed business attempts over the years. He always managed to get back on his feet, with his more recent buys including the Bundesliga football club Herta BSC, the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) commercial shipyard, and the Nobiskrug luxury shipyard.
Nobiskrug is the same shipyard that built iconic vessels like Artefact, Paul Allen's Tattoosh, and Andrey Melnichenko's revolutionary, now seized and controversial Sailing Yacht A.
Photo: IYC
Windhorst bought Global in 2013 from its original owner, American billionaire and sports tycoon Shahid Khan, who is currently on his third and biggest Kismet. As per his own admission, Windhorst was never the kind to take extended vacations around the year, let alone to cruise the entire summer on his boat, since he works almost around the clock and gets by with less than 4 hours of sleep.
Global was more than a pleasure boat for him, it was a moving venue where he could do more business. Then, for a few days around Christmastime, he would take his family onboard for a short vacation with no phones. That was always the ultimate luxury for Windhorst.
Still, in 2022, the billionaire was proudly speaking about his acquisition of the Nobiskrug shipyard and how he planned, once the bulk of backorders was done, to built himself a new superyacht there.
As of late last month, Windhorst is being investigated for embezzlement in his home country, with the prosecutor's office accusing him of withholding or embezzling wages at Nobiskrug. The investigation has already resulted in the Navy withdrawing an order to repair a floating crane, though it was presumably with FSG, not Nobiskrug.
Photo: IYC
Reports in the local media claim that Windhorst's various businesses are facing bankruptcy again, which might explain the decision to hold a firesale. Even if he's ridding himself of Global at a huge discount, he can still get enough money to stay afloat for a while longer.
Global, the sophisticated, elegant superyacht
Delivered with an exterior design by Espen Oino and interiors by Reymond Langton Design, Global carried a certain exotic theme under original ownership. It has since gone through a couple of extensive refits, including one that saw it extended by almost 6 meters (19.6 feet) to the current LOA of 74 meters (242 feet).
Global has a total of six decks and offers an interior volume of 1,906 GT and accommodation for as many as 12 guests across six suites. A crew of 24 is always on hand to cater to their needs, from private chefs to wellness professionals.
Photo: Lurssen
Re-styled to fit Windhorst's work-centric lifestyle, Global features a gorgeous master suite with its own private office and a private terrace divided into his and hers balconies. We've heard of his and hers bathrooms, but this is taking the need for privacy to a whole new level – and it was probably just what Windhorst needed to continue working without interruptions.
Amenities range from a packed tender garage to today's standard private cinema, a "discotheque," a wellness area that includes a spa and a well-equipped gym (Windhorst is somewhat of a fitness fanatic), a helipad, a jacuzzi, formal and informal dining areas, and a beach club where you can chill, relax, and do whatever else multi-millionaires do on vacation.
Described by Lurssen as a bold presence with timeless elegance and poise, Global is now getting ready to cater to other one-percenters looking for a bargain.
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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