Yachts: toys for billionaire Russian oligarchs

Usmanov's is the most capacious

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Lurssen, among the best-known makers of elite yachts, confirmed the dimensions of the new yacht acquired by billionaire Alisher Usmanov at the end of June 2016. According to Forbes, Russia's wealthiest person is worth $12.5 billion. 

His yacht ‘Dilbar’, named in honour of his mother, is 156 metres long and weighs 15,917 tons, making it a record holder in terms of capacity. This is not the yacht's only novel record. It also has the largest yacht pool in the world (180 cubic meters) and the most powerful diesel engine with a capacity of 30,000 kW. 

Usmanov's yacht features two helicopter pads, a movie theatre, an elevator and a Jacuzzi. The vessel's value has never been publicly revealed. According to some estimates, however, it is worth close to $600 million.

Abramovich has the longest yacht

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Roman Abramovich, worth $7.6 billion and owner of the Chelsea Football Club, has long been a trendsetter among the Russian rich. He was one of the first Russian oligarchs who was not embarrassed to show off his expensive mansions and opulent yachts to the world.

For almost a year, the billionaire owned the world's longest yacht. ‘The Eclipse’ (162.5 metres) held the title until it was beaten by ‘Azzam’ (180.6 metres), a yacht belonging to the family of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates.

It took five years to design and build Abramovich's yacht. It is equipped with a 500-square-metre command deck, an exhibition hall, two pools, a concert hall, a movie theatre and a wine cellar. The cost of the yacht’s construction is estimated to have been between $400 million and $1.2 billion. 

Melnichenko's is the largest sailboat

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The ‘Sailing Yacht A,’ which belongs to billionaire Andrei Melnichenko, (estimated to be worth $8.2 billion), is the world's largest sailboat. It has eight decks and can accommodate 20 guests and 54 crew members. 

The yacht, with a transparent base, also makes a remarkable impression with its luxurious interiors. One of the rooms on the yacht has a transparent bottom, allowing guests the opportunity to observe marine life. The vessel was designed by Frenchman Philippe Starck and its estimated value is $404 million. 

Prokhorov's is the most futuristic

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Mikhail Prokhorov, who is worth $7.6 billion and even ran for the presidency of Russia in 2012, cannot be called a yacht lover. He himself says that he spends no more than two weeks a year on his boat. Nevertheless, he possesses a rather unique vessel, the ‘Palladium’.

The yacht’s uniqueness lies in its unusual futuristic exteriors, which were developed by the Michael Leach Design firm. It was nominated in 2010 for the prestigious World Yachts Trophies for best design. The Palladium’s value is estimated to be roughly $230 million.

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