Citadel boss Ken Griffin is as large-hearted and magnanimous as he is rich. Yes, he is worth around $50 billion and also lives a hedonistic life as a result. From sending thousands of employees to Disneyland for the vacation of a lifetime to buying an original first edition U.S. Constitution for nearly $44 million and putting it on public display instead of locking it away at Crystal Bridges, he follows his heart. This time, the reins of his heart have been tugged not by a boat but for a boat. The 58-year-old founder of the Miami-based hedge fund firm that manages $68 billion in assets has won unanimous approval from the City of Miami Beach Planning Board to build a private marina for his yachts.
This may also imply the billionaire is perhaps going to expand his fleet, which currently boasts a superyacht called Viva, a Feadship vessel. Speaking of the yacht, the 308-footer with interiors by Peter Marino and hybrid propulsion does not fit at the compound on Star Island, the billionaire is building nearby. To moor the expensive vessel worth around $250 million safely in proper conditions, he is seeking to locate the marina along the deep channels of the Port of Miami, reported Bloomberg. The 30,000-plus-square-foot marina will house four buildings at 120 MacArthur Causeway, a 3.7-acre site on the tip of Terminal Island. “This is almost an extension of his residence where his larger boats can be berthed,” the lawyer and former Miami Beach Mayor Neisen Kasdin said.
A marina sounds like a natural step for a man who already boasts real estate valued at well over $1 billion. Completing the collection of an opulent historic mansion, an island compound, and a large swath of waterfront land for his planned $2.5 billion office tower is a marina for the luxury pleasure crafts designed by BMA Architects.
The Harvard University graduate is not sparing any expense for this marina project that will feature a two-story building for Griffin’s personal use with a private pool, art gallery, and office space. Crew members will have the time of their life not only aboard Viva but also in the marina with a pavilion for laundry, kitchen, gym with sauna and showers, and a modest rooftop pool.
Expansive and elaborate, the marina can accommodate nine vessels in all, with four ships expected to be kept there regularly. Interestingly, minor refits and repairs can be managed at the marina itself, which would include an operations center with a repair shop and marina staff offices.
Griffin moved Citadel and Citadel Securities HQ to Miami in 2022. It is becoming clear that Miami is not just where Griffin works now, but it is where he is choosing to live his life.
Viva, a wow superyacht-
If the word distinct had to be represented by a yacht, Viva would do so perfectly. Her exteriors are instantly recognizable with an open beach house style penned by Azure Yacht Design and Studio De Voogt. The 2021 Viva yacht is an upgrade from Griffin’s previous 203-foot Feadship superyacht. Its most commendable feature is the hybrid propulsion system, which allows Viva to travel at 12 knots on diesel electric power, a waste treatment plant, and heat recovery systems. Beyond boasting high-tech features, she is a thing of beauty with ample use of glass and floor-to-ceiling windows. She boasts a helipad, three pools, a 14-meter tender, and the longest hull doors on any Feadship at the time of her build.
