Reports are circulating about the alleged arrival of Mark Zuckerberg’s superyacht, rumored to be worth $300 million, in the United States. Named ‘Launchpad’, the 387-foot-long vessel has completed a journey of 4,700 miles and is currently docked at the Ft. Lauderdale seaport, flanked by tugboats.
The superyacht, a creation by Feadship, made its grand entrance at Port Everglades in Florida. Accompanying Launchpad was its support vessel, Wingman, formerly known as Dapple and previously owned by American video game billionaire Gabe Newell. Interestingly, the opulent vessel, now christened Project 1010 or Launchpad Yacht, was originally commissioned by Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin. However, due to sanctions, Potanin couldn’t take possession of the magnificent 387-footer.
Now, the superyacht has found a new owner in the form of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. After languishing for a year in Dutch waters without a buyer, the vessel has finally departed the Netherlands. Despite the conspicuous purchase, Zuckerberg has yet to make any formal announcement regarding his acquisition of Launchpad.
Although Zuckerberg’s presence aboard the vessel in the Netherlands shipyard seems to confirm his ownership, official confirmation is still awaited. According to reports from YouTuber eSysman SuperYacht and UK tabloid The Sun, the Silicon Valley magnate is indeed the proud new owner of the Feadship beauty.
The $300 million vessel is now in Florida, but speculations suggest that it may not stay there for long. There’s a possibility that Launchpad will soon set sail for Hawaii, where Zuckerberg is constructing one of the largest homes in the US. This urban estate will encompass several mansions, an underground bunker, and more, making it an ideal destination for a majestic vessel like Launchpad and its companion, the $30 million Wingman Yacht.
Vladimir Potanin, with a net worth of $31.4 billion according to Bloomberg, is one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals. He is known for his role as the president of Norilsk Nickel and his control over Rosbank, a Russian universal bank. However, Potanin’s plans to acquire the Feadship superyacht were thwarted by UK sanctions imposed in 2022.
Potanin, the sole Russian signatory of The Giving Pledge, aims to donate at least half of his wealth to charitable causes. He is currently embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with his ex-wife, Natalia Potanina, in the UK’s Supreme Court, in what is considered one of the most significant divorce cases in English legal history. Following the loss of Project 1010, Potanin swiftly relocated his $300 million luxury yacht, Nirvana, to a secure superyacht haven in Dubai.
