Yachts have long been considered the ultimate playtoys of the rich and famous. These floating palaces, costing millions to purchase and maintain, reflect not just a skyrocketing bank balance but also a love for thrill, speed, and exclusivity. For athletes who have reached the pinnacle of their careers, owning a yacht is a testament to their success and a luxury-coated way to enjoy their hard-earned free time. In our article, we look at the most expensive yachts owned by sports stars and everything that these sleek water vehicles are equipped with.
As Mike Green from Boats For Sale puts it, “Elite athletes often seek the pinnacle of quality and performance, so, when they buy yachts, they’re looking for vessels that match their success and lifestyle, featuring the latest in design, technology, and comfort.” From boxing legends to football icons, these athletes have spared no expense in ensuring their machines are the best money can afford.
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First on our list is the undefeated boxing legend, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and his staggering USD 200 million superyacht. Known for his lavish lifestyle, Mayweather’s yacht is a testament to his moniker, “The Money.” Although little is known about the specifics of the vessel, it is rumoured to be equipped with several bedrooms, a cinema room, and a sizable swimming pool.
In 2023, Mayweather offered a glimpse into his luxurious life on the yacht while docked in Miami, sharing a series of Instagram posts. These snapshots showed the 47-year-old enjoying sunshine on the deck with a box of cigars, each personalised with “TM” – the initials spelling out his nickname. He captioned one photo, “I’m the Yacht Master and I ain’t talking about a Rolex” [sic]. This yacht, though unnamed, certainly lives up to the boxer’s larger-than-life persona, making it the most expensive yacht owned by a sports star.
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Next up is basketball royalty Michael Jordan, whose fleet of luxurious boats is the stuff of legend. Jordan’s most extravagant vessel is the 230-foot custom superyacht named Joy, which he purchased for USD 80 million in 2016. The yacht is bigger than most apartments, featuring eight lavish bedrooms connected by a glass elevator, capable of hosting up to 12 guests. The array of entertainment options include a full bar, state-of-the-art gym, on-deck jacuzzi, and even a basketball court.
Maintaining such opulence does not come cheap, with monthly maintenance costs reportedly reaching up to USD 800,000 when the yacht is chartered. But for a man of Jordan’s stature, these expenses are just part and parcel of owning a piece of nautical paradise.
In addition to Joy, Jordan also owns Mr Terrible, a USD 21 million yacht purchased in 2022, and Catch 32, a USD 7 million Viking sportfish boat. While smaller than Joy, Mr Terrible offers a split-level living space and luxurious interiors, comfortably hosting up to six guests. An 80-foot sportfishing boat, Catch 32 can reach speeds up to 40 knots and is a frequent entrant in professional fishing tournaments, showcasing Jordan’s competitive spirit off the basketball court.
Golfing superstar Tiger Woods makes the list with his custom yacht, Privacy, which he bought in 2004 for USD 15 million. This 155-foot superyacht is the perfect blend of luxury and functionality, featuring an on-deck jacuzzi, gym, and even an inflatable decompression chamber for diving. It’s powered by two 1,800-horsepower MTU engines and features a 12,000-gallon fuel tank. The yacht has a range of 4,000 nautical miles. Adding to its mechanical prowess is an eye-watering maintenance cost of around USD 2 million per year.
Woods, who is an avid diver, has spent considerable time mastering scuba diving, even undergoing Special Forces training with the Marines in 2009 to enhance his skills. Privacy, quite literally, offers Woods a serene escape from the public eye, allowing him to relax and enjoy his passion for diving in the comfort of his own luxury yacht.
While four-time NBA champion Tony Parker is known for his high-speed career on the court, he has embraced a slower lifestyle retiring in 2019. Swapping the basketball court for the open seas, Parker commissioned Turkish shipyard AvA Yachts to build his dream 35-metre explorer yacht, Infinity Nine.
Growing up sailing off the coast of Normandy, Parker always felt at home on the water. “Diving is so peaceful. It’s kind of like meditation,” he told Boat International, spotlighting his love for underwater exploration. This passion influenced his decision to create a yacht capable of long, leisurely voyages around the globe. “My dream is to go around the world and take our time doing it,” Parker added.
Infinity Nine, which is the second hull in the Kando 110 series, boasts a range of over 6,500 nautical miles. With chartering on the mind, Parker insisted on a configuration that includes two owners’ suites and six bedrooms, making Infinity Nine one of the few 35-metre yachts with such capacity.
The yacht’s interior is a blend of quiet sophistication and masculine elegance, handled in-house by AvA Yachts with contributions from Parisian designer Caroline Andréoni. Parker’s priority was to make it child-friendly, ensuring there were no sharp edges or fussy furnishings. “So I never have to worry about my kids,” he shared.
Parker included a recessed ledge on the upper deck as a diving platform. He also reunited with Captain Arnaud De Battisti and chief stewardess Géraldine Galas, whom he met a decade ago, and brought them on as part of his crew. Infinity Nine features a sundeck with a spa pool and a DJ station, perfect for entertaining guests. The extended swim platform also provides ample space for gatherings. “This space makes it look like we’re on a 40-metre,” Parker proudly notes.
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Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo owns the Azimut Grande, a custom-made 88-foot yacht worth USD 6.9 million. This luxurious water vessel boasts five cabins, accommodating up to ten guests who can indulge in a suite of activities including waterskiing, enjoying the on-deck jacuzzi, or watching movies under the stars with an outdoor projector. Designed in Azimut Benett’s shipyards in Versilia, the carbon fibre yacht weighs a whopping 93 tonnes, but is capable of reaching 28 knots courtesy of its two 1,900 horsepower engines.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is the proud owner of Viva la Vida, a USD 6 million Wajer 77 yacht. Purchased in 2021, this mini superyacht measures 77 feet and can host up to nine people. Unlike most yachts of its kind, Viva la Vida can be operated without a captain’s license, allowing Brady to take the helm himself. This unique feature, along with its luxurious amenities, makes Viva la Vida a standout in Brady’s impressive portfolio of assets.
The interior offers a sun-soaked ambiance, with high ceilings adding to the sense of openness. It features multifunctional seating, a fully functional galley, and practical storage for water sports equipment. Van Oossanen Naval Architects are the brains behind the hard-chine, high-performance aluminum hull, which cruises efficiently around the 32 mph range with maximum speeds of up to 43 mph.
Tennis ace Rafael Nadal owns Great White, a USD 5.4 million catamaran purchased in 2019. The twin-hull design provides additional stability and space, making it perfect for leisure and entertainment. The 23.9 metre Sunreef catamaran features a flybridge with a bar and barbeque, a waterfall-fed spa pool, a stern garage for a jet ski, and elegant interiors in cream and coffee tones spread out over 360 square metres of living space – all of which reflect Nadal’s Mallorcan roots.
“The pressure of competing every single day is high, you can’t hide that,” the tennis legend told Boat International back in 2022. “When I come back home, I have the chance to go out and spend maybe just one day away from everything without thinking about tennis, just diving and spending the night on board.” Keeping up with his request for privacy, Nadal’s master suite features a walk-in dressing room, sofa, flip-down ceiling TV above the double bed, and a fold-down balcony. Additionally, the sports star also opted to forgo a jacuzzi on the flybridge, preferring open spaces and the natural beauty of the sea. This decision underscores his practical approach to luxury, focusing on enjoyment and functionality.
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Last but not least on our list of sports stars with the most expensive yachts is UFC superstar Conor McGregor with his Lamborghini Tecnomar 63, masterfully dubbed as the “Supercar of the Sea.” Purchased in October 2020 for USD 3.6 million, this 63-foot vessel is one of only 63 produced. McGregor chose the 12th edition to honour his whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve.
The yacht features two luxurious suites with Alcantara interiors and a covered outdoor dining area, making it a perfect spot for McGregor and his guests to enjoy the sea breeze and stunning views. Powered by twin MAN V12 engines, each capable of producing 2000hp, the 24-ton vessel can reach a speed of 60 knots, making it one of the fastest boats in its class.
(Main Image: Georgina Rodriguez/Instagram; Featured Image: Sunreef Yachts)
This story first appeared on Prestige Hong Kong.
Maintaining a yacht is a costly affair, often involving high monthly expenses for upkeep, crew, and docking. These costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars per month, but for sports stars, these expenses are part of owning such luxurious assets.
Senior Digital Writer, Fashion, Culture and Lifestyle
As a pop-culture enthusiast with a penchant for fashion, Srijoni found herself graduating with a degree in History from Miranda House, DU and a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Indian Institute of ..Read More
