Two Of The World’s Most Famous Luxury Yachts Collide Off The Coast Of Italy
Two of the world’s most luxurious yachts collided off the coast of Naples, Italy, on July 22, 2024.
The incident involved Laurene Powell Jobs’ $120 million yacht, Venus, and the Lady Moura, owned by Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego.
The incident occurred while both the vessels were anchored in the Bay of Naples, with neither of the billionaire owners on board.
According to a representative of the yacht Venus, the accident was caused by a sudden and significant change in wind speed.
The Lady Moura had twice as much chain out as the Venus, providing more leeway to drift, but the Venus miscalculated the length of Lady Moura’s chain, which led to the collision.
Neither yacht dragged its anchor, but the collision was caused by an unexpected storm with strong winds reaching 50-55 knots.
Salinas Pliego posted a video on Instagram showing the Venus drifting towards his yacht, Lady Moura, while the crew members tried to avoid a collision.
Video Credits: The Free Press Journal/YouTubeSalinas expressed frustration, questioning the crew’s alertness. He later asked his followers to purchase Apple products through his Grupo Elektra retail chain to help Powell Jobs with the repair costs, which he estimated would be huge.
The local coast guard confirmed that no formal investigation was launched as neither yacht reported the incident.
Both parties resolved the situation peacefully and professionally, with minimal damages to the yacht.
Venus, designed by Philippe Starck, was custom-built for the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and completed in 2012.
The Lady Moura, once owned by a Saudi businessman, is one of the world’s largest and most luxurious yachts, measuring 105 meters and accommodating 27 guests and 72 crew members.
Salinas Pliego acquired the Lady Moura yacht for approximately $125 million- a significant drop from its original price of $200 million.
The Venus, worth $120 million, was designed to resemble an Apple product with sleek lines and extensive glass walls.
Despite Steve Jobs’ death before its completion, the yacht continues to serve as a symbol of his legacy.
Powell Jobs’ who inherited the yacht, is a well-known philanthropist with a net worth of approximately $14.4 billion.
Salinas Pliego, owner of the Grupo Elektra and TV Azteca, is the world’s 221st richest person, with a net worth of $10 billion.
Reference: Forbes, Bloomberg
