The late Paul Allen’s superyacht is up for sale. The co-founder of Microsoft bought the yacht in 2003 and has described it as a spaceship.
For a cool US $326 million, the Octopus yacht could be yours. Clocking in at 126 metres (m) or 414 feet (ft), it is one of the largest yachts in the world, as well as one of the most incredible. Something of a floating palace, the boat has two helipads, a basketball court and even a recording studio once used by Mick Jagger.
Allen, who died in 2018, co-founded Microsoft along with Bill Gates but left the company in 1983. While that sounds like a massive business blunder, Allen still amassed a fortune of around US $26 billion according to Bloomberg. Like Gates, Allen branched out to philanthropy and charity, acquiring sports teams, real estate and art, he also joined the Giving Pledge charity.
His German-built superyacht was one of three in his collection, he also had the 301 ft Tatoosh yacht, and the 198 ft Medusa.
The Octopus however is one of the biggest private entertainment vessels in the world, capable of holding up to 26 guests and 63 members of crew. Those 26 guests can enjoy an exhaustive list of amenities including heated pools, a spa, sauna, a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge, elevators and even a car and boat garage.
Video from SuperYacht Times
The boat storage includes space for a submarine, as well as a variety of other smaller yachts if one massive boat wasn’t enough for you and your pals.
As written within his 2011 memoir “Idea Man.” At the time (2003), it was the fourth-largest yacht in the world, and that:
“When I first stood on the bridge, I felt as though I was on a spaceship,”
The massive Octopus recently underwent an 8-month refit as to keep it in tip-top condition and as luxury as possible.
It is what’s called an expedition boat, meaning it can handle more intense voyages and carry out crucial roles in naval exploration and aid. It has been used not just for recreation, but also research trips and rescue missions.
According to Burgess, the superyacht has explored Antarctica, discovered the wreck of a WWII battleship in the Philippines and helped the UK Royal Navy retrieve the bell of sunken battlecruiser HMS Hood. The yacht is built to Ice-class 1A, meaning it can operate even through sea ice.
