Photo: Worth Avenue Yachts
Despite the high-luxury DNA that unites them, superyachts can have shockingly different trajectories. For instance, the ones owned by Russian oligarchs proved that you can go from worldwide admiration to total disgrace in no time. That's certainly not the case for this majestic Feadship known as Samadhi. Despite its considerable age and a controversial incident, it was recently sold in record time.
Yachts that are arguably more interesting and innovative than Samadhi can stay on the market for at least half a year. Others can be sold or auctioned off for half of their worth. Samadhi seems to be blessed.
Built in 2006 and used extensively as a luxury charter yacht, this huge 200-footer (61 meters) still managed to change hands successfully. It sold in just three months, a record time when it comes to the luxury yacht market, and for an amazing price - €42,5 million ($45.6 million).
What's behind this impressive sale? A reputable pedigree and famous billionaire owners. Samadhi was born with a funny name – April's Fool. It was built by one of the top shipyards of all time, the Dutch Feadship. Its original owner was allegedly Sandy Weill, an American high-ranking banker.
Exactly a decade ago, the New York hedge fund billionaire Daniel Loeb bought the 200-footer and renamed it Samadhi, as it's known to this day. Samadhi is a traditional Buddhist term linked with spiritual practices and the concept of enlightenment – an enlightenment worth at least $360,000. This was the weekly rate for Samadhi during its busiest times. Like most ultra-wealthy yacht owners, Loeb shared his luxury toy with charter customers whenever he wasn't enjoying it himself.
Three years ago, the lucky Samadhi hit a rough spot. While anchored at a famous diving site in Belize, it accidentally hooked part of the coral reef, damaging the barrier. Since this was a Unesco World Heritage site, the incident sparked local people's outrage, as well as a formal investigation of the Belize Port Authority and its Department of the Environment.
Loeb issued a formal statement, saying that he was "horrified" about what had happened (he wasn't onboard at the time) and that he would be working with local specialists to restore the reef. One year later, Samadhi took time off for a refit. The original builder, Feadship, completed the refit at its facilities near Amsterdam.
Two years later, the billionaire "life-long surfer" (as Loeb described himself) decided to part with his famous superyacht after a long, fruitful decade. Even after so many years had passed, the billionaire owner got an excellent deal, considering that he reportedly paid $50 million for Samadhi back in 2013. As for the nearly two-decade-old superyacht, it claims to be in great shape and ready for at least two more decades of luxury cruising.
Built in 2006 and used extensively as a luxury charter yacht, this huge 200-footer (61 meters) still managed to change hands successfully. It sold in just three months, a record time when it comes to the luxury yacht market, and for an amazing price - €42,5 million ($45.6 million).
What's behind this impressive sale? A reputable pedigree and famous billionaire owners. Samadhi was born with a funny name – April's Fool. It was built by one of the top shipyards of all time, the Dutch Feadship. Its original owner was allegedly Sandy Weill, an American high-ranking banker.
Exactly a decade ago, the New York hedge fund billionaire Daniel Loeb bought the 200-footer and renamed it Samadhi, as it's known to this day. Samadhi is a traditional Buddhist term linked with spiritual practices and the concept of enlightenment – an enlightenment worth at least $360,000. This was the weekly rate for Samadhi during its busiest times. Like most ultra-wealthy yacht owners, Loeb shared his luxury toy with charter customers whenever he wasn't enjoying it himself.
Three years ago, the lucky Samadhi hit a rough spot. While anchored at a famous diving site in Belize, it accidentally hooked part of the coral reef, damaging the barrier. Since this was a Unesco World Heritage site, the incident sparked local people's outrage, as well as a formal investigation of the Belize Port Authority and its Department of the Environment.
Loeb issued a formal statement, saying that he was "horrified" about what had happened (he wasn't onboard at the time) and that he would be working with local specialists to restore the reef. One year later, Samadhi took time off for a refit. The original builder, Feadship, completed the refit at its facilities near Amsterdam.
Two years later, the billionaire "life-long surfer" (as Loeb described himself) decided to part with his famous superyacht after a long, fruitful decade. Even after so many years had passed, the billionaire owner got an excellent deal, considering that he reportedly paid $50 million for Samadhi back in 2013. As for the nearly two-decade-old superyacht, it claims to be in great shape and ready for at least two more decades of luxury cruising.
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