When most superyachts move from one port to another, it barely registers. But when it’s a vessel as celebrated as Flying Fox, it makes headlines. The 446-foot Lürssen-built beauty has reportedly been sold in a private deal to an undisclosed buyer. Once available for charter at an eye-watering $4 million a week, the $450 million megayacht has now changed hands.
According to The Yacht Report, the vessel, originally commissioned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Kamenshchik, has found a new home in the United Arab Emirates. While the buyer’s identity remains unconfirmed, speculation points to the ultra-wealthy Al Nahyan royal family of Abu Dhabi. With a combined net worth estimated at over $305 billion, they are considered the richest royal family in the world and are no strangers to owning some of the largest yachts afloat, including the 590-foot Azzam, 482-foot A+, and 479-foot Opera.
Ironically, if Flying Fox does join their collection, it would actually be the smallest in their fleet. Only time will tell if the yacht, which was designated as “blocked property” by the U.S. Treasury Department in June 2022 due to its management by Imperial Yachts, is now free to reach its full potential under new ownership. Since its delivery in 2018, Flying Fox has spent much of the past few years docked and dormant. But in better days, she was a favorite of music royalty, Beyoncé and Jay-Z among them.
A celebrity favorite fit for the stars-
From Leonardo DiCaprio to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who famously skipped the 2021 Met Gala to celebrate Beyoncé’s 40th birthday aboard the yacht, Flying Fox has hosted its fair share of A-listers. Jeff Bezos was also rumored to have chartered it in the past, sparking wild speculation that the Amazon founder owned it.
Spanning six decks and standing as tall as three London buses stacked end-to-end, the yacht is a floating temple of extravagance. Its 400-square-meter sea lobby leads to one of the most luxurious spas ever installed on a superyacht, complete with heated limestone floors and louvered oak paneling.
The two-level wellness center includes a beauty salon, a dry massage room, a treatment suite with rain showers, and even a cryotherapy chamber.
Beyond wellness, Flying Fox is fitted with a professional dive center, an onboard hospital, and two helipads. The 9,022 GT marvel accommodates 20 guests across 10 suites, offering an experience that truly blurs the line between private yacht and floating palace.
