Billionaire Jan Koum knows how to make money—and how to spend it. The 48-year-old WhatsApp founder, whose rags-to-riches story is nothing short of inspirational, recently hosted a lavish bash on Lopud, an island in the Adriatic Sea near Dubrovnik. For someone who grew up in a small village without basic amenities like hot water, Koum has come a long way. This event was one of the most exclusive parties of the year in this part of Europe. It was a grand affair, attended by the world elite, including globally renowned British artist Sam Smith and German DJ Steffen Linck, known as Monolink.
What made the event even more surreal was its historic and unique setting. The party took place at the Lopud Monastery, where the famous musicians likely performed hits like “Dancing with a Stranger” and “Like I Can.” The centuries-old monastery was restored by renowned art visionary, Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, turning Lopud 1483 into a haven of happening parties.
It offers five-suites, and can be rented exclusively for private stays and events. Koum’s guest list included billionaires, celebrities, and VIPs who arrived at the picturesque island by afternoon. As expected, this influx of high-profile attendees brought with it a parade of luxury, including helicopters ferrying guests to Koum’s shadow vessel, the $40 million Nebula. The 223-foot yacht was anchored in the Elaphiti archipelago for several days.
Meanwhile, his $220 million superyacht, Moonrise, the largest ever built by Dutch shipyard Feadship, was seen cruising the Adriatic, according to Marine Traffic. JustDubrovnik reported that the $360 million Kismet (formerly known as Project Jag), a striking superyacht also available for charter, was spotted in Lopud Bay. Clearly, when you throw a party to remember, one superyacht isn’t enough—you need two massive vessels to truly stun your guests.
Belonging to American businessman Shad Khan, the Kismet, a 400-foot-long superyacht, was perhaps chartered by the WhatsApp founder for his VIP guests, or maybe a secretive billionaire decided to rent it to make a grand entrance at the party. The Kismet is available for charter at $3.5 million++ per week, but then again, for a billionaire, it’s just chump change.
The tech tycoon used several tenders to transport guests to shore and deployed a team of security guards around the pier to ensure the privacy of the high-profile event. Koum, now worth $16.2 billion, immigrated to California from Ukraine with his mother at the age of 16, starting his journey by sweeping floors to make ends meet, survived on food stamps—a stark contrast to his current lifestyle, enveloped in luxury, lavish toys, and every amenity money can buy. He is known to possess an impressive collection of 100 Porsches as well.
