logo
Inside Bill Gates' secret $990m superyacht home

Inside Bill Gates' secret $990m superyacht home

News.com.au4 days ago
A 390ft (118.8m) superyacht rumoured to be owned by billionaire Bill Gates is up for grabs with a whopping $US645 million ($A989 million) price tag.
Though never publicly confirmed by the Microsoft co-founder, the vessel — named 'Breakthrough' and also known as 'Project 821' — has long been linked to the billionaire, the New York Post reports.
Gates, however, has never actually set foot aboard the yacht, according to Luxury Launches.
Built by Dutch shipyard Feadship and designed by RWD, the seven-deck vessel took five years to complete and will be the largest yacht on display at the show.
The listing is being handled by yacht brokerage Edmiston.
'This is the one that will change it all,' Jamie Edmiston, the firm's chief executive said.
'The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise.
'It was a huge challenge, but one that the team has embraced and delivered on.'
What sets Breakthrough apart is its fuel system: a next-generation hydrogen fuel cell platform that allows the vessel to operate entirely off compressed liquid hydrogen stored below deck at minus 253 degrees Celsius.
The ship's power plant also recycles heat generated during conversion to warm pools, steam rooms, towel bars and guestroom floors.
For voyages where hydrogen is unavailable, a secondary biofuel system supplies electricity while reducing emissions by 90 per cent.
'Fuel cells will play an important role for yachts in the years to come,' Jan-Bart Verkuyl, a director at Feadship said, citing their 'superior efficiency, low particle emissions and low noise radiation.'
Beyond its green credentials, the yacht delivers the kind of luxury one might expect at this price point.
The interior is fitted with a blend of leathers, marble, limed oak and rattan, intended to evoke a coastal resort aesthetic.
There's a full-size basketball court, a cinema, several hot tubs and a private hospital on-board.
The owner's quarters span four private floors and include two bedrooms, twin bathrooms, dressing rooms, two offices — each with a fireplace — a gym, a pantry and a living room.
'It creates, in essence, a secluded four-level townhouse-by-the sea within the much larger yacht,' reads the listing.
Discreet balconies slide out from the hull at the touch of a button, their floors rising to sit flush with the yacht's interior rooms.
Edmiston notes that 'at each deck level, there are inviting private lifestyle destinations to savour,' such as a 'coffee corner and games niche,' 'a library on the main deck' and 'a private dining room with a sea terrace.'
In total, Breakthrough can accommodate 30 guests and 43 crew members.
The owner's deck alone sits 121 feet (36.8m) above the waterline.
While Gates has neither confirmed nor denied his involvement with the project, industry insiders say the yacht was built to his specifications.
Canadian billionaire Patrick Dovigi, CEO of Green For Life Environmental, is reportedly in line to acquire it.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Speed of light': Australian company secures ‘groundbreaking' $125m order for high power anti-drone weapon
‘Speed of light': Australian company secures ‘groundbreaking' $125m order for high power anti-drone weapon

News.com.au

timean hour ago

  • News.com.au

‘Speed of light': Australian company secures ‘groundbreaking' $125m order for high power anti-drone weapon

An Australian technology company has secured a 'groundbreaking' $125 million deal with a European country for a 'high energy laser weapon system' designed to shoot down over a dozen drones within a minute. Electro Optic Systems (EOS) signed a contract with a European NATO Member State – the name of which has not been disclosed – to deliver the 100-kilowatt anit-drone weapon between 2025-2028. 'The new laser counter-drone capability was developed by EOS to address the urgent market need and emerging strategic requirement to defend against drone swarm attacks at an economical cost,' EOS said in a statement on its website. 'This is the world's first export order for a 100-kilowatt class laser defence system.' The company said the order, which is valued at €71.4 million (or about $A125 million), will be fulfilled in Singapore, where EOS has a laser innovation centre. 'EOS is already an established global leader in counter-drone capability using kinetic weapons and missiles to bring down drones. The high-power laser builds on these core competencies and substantially extends them.' The system – which is mobile and can work on a truck – operates 'at the speed of light' and can shoot down as many as twenty drones in a minute, Dr Andreas Schwer, Chief Executive Officer of Electro Optic Systems told 'The laser can hit a target almost instantly … unlike a bullet which takes a second to get there,' Dr Schwer said. He said the system works by amplifying lasers to high power levels. '(It) then combines multiple laser beams together,' he explained. 'It tracks targets very accurately – this is critical – and keeps the laser beam on the target … The light energy typically degrades the drone target in 1-2 seconds.' While missiles generally have a longer range, the high-power laser system 'can shoot down many more targets' at a cheaper cost within a two to five kilometre range. 'Missile systems cost $0.5m – $2.0m per shot fired,' Dr Schwer said. 'The laser system costs less than 10 cents per shot.' 'Lasers can shoot directly upwards, which ballistics (bullets and missiles) often cannot do,' he added. With drones becoming increasingly more common in modern warfare and swarms posing a 'real threat', Dr Schwer said militaries will need to employ a 'layered solution', including laser systems, rocket systems and longer-range missiles to protect their valuable assets. 'Drones are a big threat both in military and civil domains,' he said. 'Because drones get cheaper every year, everyone is using them and many valuable assets are very vulnerable.' He noted other countries are trying to develop laser weapon technology, 'but it is very complex'. 'This is the first very international supply contract of this size in the laser weapon industry – a groundbreaking deal for our industry and for EOS,' he said in a video on the company's website. Looking to the future, Dr Schwer said laser weapons will continue to play a role on the battlefield, becoming more powerful and portable over time. Going forward, the company is looking to expand its 50 to 100 kilowatt family and develop systems towards the 150 kilowatt class to meet future needs. 'We are also looking to develop naval variants of our models, giving the critical gap in the market for effective counter-drone solutions.' Russia tests laser defences It comes as Russia last month conducted large-scale tests of new laser systems to defend against drones – which both Ukraine and Russia have deployed during the nations' three year war. 'These technologies will form one of the key elements of the universal air defense system President Vladimir Putin recently called for,' the Board of the Military-Industrial Complex said in a statement. 'The test results will be used to refine existing models and create systems capable of providing reliable protection against modern air attack weapons.' Meanwhile, Ukraine last year announced it had developed its own laser weapon which can target and down aircraft at altitudes exceeding two kilometres. Speaking at the 'European Defense Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Defense Industry' conference in December, Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi said the country's military proudly declared Tryzub (trident) 'laser is real and operational', adding that efforts were underway to scale up its capabilities against Russia. Colonel Sukharevskyi also introduced the concept of 'mother drones' or 'queen drones' — unmanned aerial systems capable of carrying two FPV (first-person view) light attack drones during his address. According to the Kyiv Independent, the announcement marked a significant leap in Ukraine's military innovation.

Dutch windmill village churned by overtourism debate
Dutch windmill village churned by overtourism debate

News.com.au

time2 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Dutch windmill village churned by overtourism debate

With its historic windmills and gabled wooden houses nestling by a meandering river, the picture-perfect and TikTok-famous area of Zaanse Schans is a must-see for any visitor to the Netherlands. But the village of centuries-old buildings near Amsterdam has become "a national symbol of overtourism", according to local authorities, who now want to charge a hotly contested entrance fee. The fierce debate over the 17.50-euro ($20) ticket planned for next year comes during a global backlash against mass tourism that has seen hotspots like Venice charge for day trips. On a glorious summer day when AFP visited, long queues for the world-famous windmills snaked outside the doors and crowds shuffled over bridges, waiting in line for Instagram-ready snaps of the bucolic scenery. Buses disgorge scores of day-tripping tourists all day long, packing into a relatively small area that is public and free to visit -- for now. The council in nearby Zaanstad says the fee is vital to preserve the heritage buildings, which are coming under "severe pressure" from high tourist numbers. "For several years now, the Zaanse Schans has been a national symbol of overtourism," said alderman Wessel Breunesse. Around 2.6 million tourists visited last year, a figure set to rise to three million in coming years if nothing is done, the council says. An entrance fee could reduce the annual volume to around 1.8 million and bring in millions of euros to preserve these historic buildings. "Doing nothing is not an option. Without sufficient resources for adequate maintenance, the heritage will be lost in the short term (five to seven years)," said the council in a statement sent to AFP. - Tourism-dependent economy - What many tourists do not know until they arrive is that while many of the buildings date from the 16th century, the site itself is a recent and artificial oddity. After World War II, traditional timber construction was in danger of dying out for good. Eager to preserve this slice of history, local mayor Joris in 't Veld came up with a plan: he would uproot the houses and relocate them to a new protected site. The first mill arrived in 1955, the first house a few years later. Eventually, the "Zaanse Schans" site was famous enough to be officially "opened" by Queen Juliana in 1972. "The Zaanse Schans was never conceived as the international crowd-puller it is today, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world," noted alderman Breunesse. But for local resident and businesswoman Ingrid Kraakman, the plan to charge an entrance fee would spell disaster, both as a citizen and for the cheese shop in which she works. "As a resident from this area, I don't want to live behind a fence... that's not OK," the 62-year-old told AFP from her 17th-century home in the heart of Zaanse Schans. Kraakman and her husband Ko have lived in the area for 33 years and believe an entrance fee would be a death blow for the local economy and jobs. "There's a lot of fear," she said, estimating that around 80 percent of the local economy is dependent on tourism. Her cheese shop is brimming with tourists, attracted by free samples and souvenirs, but she said the fee would be a major drag on spending. A family of four would already be paying around 80 euros with parking, reducing their budget for on-site purchases, she noted. "They don't buy cheese. They don't buy clocks. They buy a souvenir or maybe the smallest cheese there is," she told AFP. - Referendum demand - The Kraakmans have collected more than 2,000 signatures for a referendum on the issue, but their push has so far fallen on deaf ears in the town hall. Aware of some local hostility, the council has pledged the site will stay free for locals and that there will be no physical fence around the area. Although the plans are for next year, an amendment was introduced to allow for the possibility of delays. Now 2026 seems too short a deadline -- a "moonshot", said one local official on condition of anonymity. Most tourists said the trip would be worth it even if they had to pay. Spanish visitor Robert Duque told AFP: "It's a lovely place but sometimes it's too crowded and you don't really get to enjoy the full experience." The 35-year-old operations manager said he would welcome the entrance fee to crimp tourist volumes. "I think it's good, so we can stagger the arrival of guests and we can enjoy the facilities more," said Duque.

Drive and dine: Where your luxury car can come to dinner
Drive and dine: Where your luxury car can come to dinner

Daily Telegraph

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Telegraph

Drive and dine: Where your luxury car can come to dinner

Positioned between the ocean and the village heart of Rose Bay the crowning penthouse in the Villia collection is ready for its first owner. The luxury residence has its own private indoor pool plus its own outdoor spa, more than 360sq m of internal space, a glass garage visible from the living area and views from the harbour to the ocean. From the street Villia, at 1/131 Victoria Rd, Bellevue Hill, looks like a majestic home set behind ornate wrought-iron gates. But behind those gates are very private and bespoke homes poised on a hill where each residence has its own lift, pool and sauna. MORE: Pub baron's lavish lifestyle while owing $1bn criticised Highland Double Bay Malouf director David Malouf said the market had never seen anything like this level of luxury living, the penthouse has just been unveiled and buyers were wowed. 'The level of craftsmanship and luxury finishes at this scale has taken prestige living to another level,' he said. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom residence with double parking has a $17.5m price guide in an expressions of interest campaign. The property promises privacy, timeless architectural style and impeccable detailing all within moments of harbour beaches, village cafes and prestigious schools. A lot of thought, imagination and craftsmanship has gone into this tri-level villa which has a huge sense of scale and a subtle nod to European architecture. Developer Travis Su, of Skyland, has spoken of his desire to create timeless design without compromising on space and with families and downsizers in mind. Su talks about a home being a place for celebration and entertaining as well as rest. The Villia has been inspired by romantic memories of European travel. There are soft curves in the architecture, lots of light and even handmade glass especially for this project. There is also an emphasis on wellness at home with the pool, spa, sauna and northeast facing terrace and therapeutic view. Plus there is an entertainment level with 10m of bar joinery with a Subzero wine fridge. The living areas have heated natural stone floors, Venetian plastered ceilings and custom-made joinery with integrated real flame gas fireplace. There are multiple living spaces including lounge, family and a flexible living space with timber flooring that could be used as a home office, studio or cinema. The main bedroom suite has its own private stone balcony, a designer dressing station and a pair of walk-in wardrobes. Again there is underfloor heating in the ensuite, dual vanities, a freestanding bath and beautiful brass detailing. Each of the other three bedrooms have their own ensuite. And the spacious terrace with the stone-clad spa has a custom-designed barbecue. Other features include smart home automation, ducted reverse cycle airconditioning, skylights and even the laundry has stone finishes and brass tapware. Floor to ceiling Vitrocsa glass doors frame the view from inside and the interiors connect seamlessly. Finally, car lovers will appreciate the glass garage that sits above the dining area with a switch to convert the glass from clear to opaque. Quite stunning. MORE: Icebergs founder to sell ex brothel

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store