When yacht connoisseurs decide to upgrade, one can trust they will land on something much better! Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire owner of Landry’s Inc. and the Houston Rockets, certainly did just that. The American entrepreneur transitioned from a 164-foot Westport yacht, sold to his friend Richard Handler, CEO of Jefferies Financial Group Inc., for $65 million, to a far more luxurious Feadship superyacht, also named Boardwalk.
The new Boardwalk, crafted by the renowned Dutch shipbuilder Feadship, spans an impressive 252 feet and boasts four expansive decks designed to accommodate Fertitta’s friends, family, and lavish lifestyle. This 1848 GT vessel retains certain elements of its predecessor, such as strategic lighting to enhance the interior design, stainless-steel railings around the staircases, and gracefully curved bulwarks. However, the scale and grandeur have been significantly amplified.
The Feadship Boardwalk is a $150 million masterpiece that seamlessly blends aesthetics with performance, thanks to the collaboration between Studio de Voogt and Halffman Designs. Fertitta’s personal touch is evident in the refined features, such as bars on every deck, ensuring no area is devoid of entertainment. The main deck is a sight to behold, with a backlit opal white bar, plush seating, and a tender garage that houses two superb 8.5-meter tenders. It also boasts a custom-designed wine cellar with a capacity for 120 bottles, and its beauty is enhanced by the use of 54 different types of stone, marble, and tiles.
The lower deck is a haven for relaxation and fitness, featuring a beach club and a fully equipped fitness center with an impressive dive and watersports locker. The beach club is elegantly designed with a bar and Swarovski crystal light fixtures, reflecting Fertitta’s affinity for sophisticated lighting.
The sundeck, located at the very top, offers a mosaic-lined swimming pool, another bar, and a helideck for convenient arrivals and departures.
This luxury vessel is also equipped with a two-level engine room, complete with an SCR system and a stainless mesh floor for easy maintenance. Feadship’s 252-foot Boardwalk can accommodate 20 guests in 10 cabins, serviced by a crew of 14. She boasts a top speed of 19 knots and a range of 5000 nautical miles, making her a formidable presence on the water.
American billionaire Tilman Fertitta owns the $150 million Boardwalk superyacht-
Worth $12.4 billion, Tilman Fertitta is the chairman and chief executive of Fertitta Entertainment, which owns the Golden Nugget Casinos and the restaurant chain Landry’s Seafood. Born into the seafood restaurant business, Fertitta started his career by peeling shrimp in his father’s restaurant after school. Over the years, he has acquired and expanded several prominent restaurant brands, including Bubba Gump Shrimp and Saltgrass Steak House.
A sports enthusiast, Fertitta bought the Houston Rockets, an NBA basketball team, which was valued at $4.05 billion in 2023 according to Sportico. He attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston but dropped out to pursue his business ventures. His first major project was the Key Largo Hotel in Galveston in the 1980s. The same year, he became a partner in the first Landry’s Restaurant, Landry’s Seafood, in Texas. In 1993, he took Landry’s, Inc. public, and the company saw significant growth.
In 2005, Landry’s expanded into the casino industry with the acquisition of Golden Nugget Casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin. Fertitta has also shared his business insights in his book, “Shut Up and Listen! Hard Business Truths That Will Help You Succeed.” Reflecting his success, he owns two Gulfstream G550 private jets, highlighting his luxurious lifestyle Fertitta’s journey from a seafood restaurant owner’s son to a billionaire businessman.
