While a mystery billionaire celebrates buying the seized $300 million Amadea superyacht at a discount, the real celebration is happening in Washington, as the U.S. taxpayer is finally free from paying $1 million a month to maintain the six-deck, 348-foot vessel with a golden elevator.

Amadea is a stunning yacht, one that, ironically, endured the fate usually reserved for billionaires themselves, endless legal battles, injunctions, and courtroom drama. Yet, through it all, she retained her beauty, thanks largely to the American taxpayer who shelled out an eye-watering $850,000 every month for her upkeep. Formerly owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, Amadea was seized in Fiji in 2022 after a dramatic international legal battle. On September 10, the saga reached a turning point as the vessel was finally sold.

Though the legalities still hover over the 348-footer, let’s set those aside for now. The six-deck Lürssen masterpiece has a new owner and a new flag, ready to set sail into the high seas, or so it seems. Realistically, her journeys may be limited to U.S. waters.

Once abroad, her ownership could be contested in foreign courts, effectively leaving her stranded, reported Business Insider. It begs the question: why buy a yacht you can’t freely sail across the Mediterranean? Perhaps because even moored, Amadea remains a floating palace that anyone would be lucky to inhabit.

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Built by Lürssen, Amadea is a masterclass in luxury yachting. She boasts an infinity pool, a Jacuzzi, a helipad, two spas, and a private cinema. Her interiors rival the most extravagant palaces, with a grand piano, gilded bar, golden elevators, and even a lobster tank. The lavish cinema room features a 160-inch screen, D-Box motion seating, and a popcorn machine.

For me, the most breathtaking space aboard the $325 million Amadea (original price) is the forward-facing master suite framed by more than ten oversized windows, offering sweeping sea views and a symphony of natural light and sea breeze. It’s a seamless blend of nature’s beauty and human craftsmanship.

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It doesn’t sound like something one would pass up, right? The new owner clearly didn’t think so, even depositing a cool $10 million just to participate in the auction. U.S. Marshals confirmed the sale but have not disclosed the buyer, marking one of the first major U.S. auctions of a seized Russian megayacht. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is likely the happiest party in this transaction, finally rid of the Lürssen gargantuan’s maintenance costs, crew salaries, fuel, and insurance that added up to nearly $1 million per month for three years since 2022.

Amadea is now sailing around San Diego under the U.S. flag. The new owner and the final sale price, however, remain undisclosed.