Biden And Allies Are Coming For Russian Billionaires’ Yachts: Forbes Tracked Down 63. Here’s Where To Find Them
Most of the yachts are registered through offshore vehicles and docked in far-flung locales..
Updated to reflect that Anatoly Lomakin is not the owner of the Sea & Us yacht on September 3, 2024. The locations in this article were last updated on January 9, 2023 and the map has not been updated since this story was originally published in March 2022.
R ussian billionaires have been in the spotlight since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24. In his State of the Union address on March 1, President Joe Biden said his administration would work with European countries to target Russian oligarchs by seizing “their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets.”
The United Kingdom and the European Union imposed sanctions on three more Russian billionaires on March 9 and the U.K. sanctioned Roman Abramovich the next day; more sanctions were announced on March 15 and on March 24; new actions have since brought the total number of sanctioned Russian-born billionaires to 50. Several yachts owned by sanctioned billionaires or their family members and associates—Roman Abramovich, Farkhad Akhmedov, Vagit Alekperov, Andrei Guriev, Eduard Khudainatov, Andrei Kuzmichev, Igor Makarov, Andrey Melnichenko, Alexey Mordashov, Dmitry Pumpyansky, Arkady Rotenberg, Gennady Timchenko, Eugene Shvidler, Alisher Usmanov and Viktor Vekselberg—were last tracked in the U.S., EU or in the U.K. and their territories after the individuals were sanctioned, including France, Germany, Gibraltar, Italy, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico and Spain.
Their personal assets in the European Union, from private jets and superyachts to luxury real estate, may now be frozen. Italian authorities froze Mordashov’s Lady M yacht and Timchenko’s Lena yacht on March 4. On March 12, Italian police froze Melnichenko’s Sailing Yacht A in Trieste. On March 21, authorities in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar detained Dmitry Pumpyansky’s Axioma yacht, the same day French authorities froze a yacht owned by Alezei Kuzmichev. On April 4, Spain’s Guardia Civil and the FBI seized Vekselberg’s Tango yacht in Palma de Mallorca . On April 13, German authorities froze Dilbar , a yacht that was owned by Alisher Usmanov until he transferred ownership to his sister Gulbakhor Ismailova in 2020. On May 5, Fiji seized Suleiman Kerimov’s yacht Amadea at the request of U.S. authorities.
It’s still unclear whether the EU, the U.S. or the U.K. will declare additional sanctions on other individuals. As recently as February 28, Forbes tracked the wealth of more than 100 Russian billionaires. Using data from yacht valuation experts VesselsValue, Forbes has compiled a list of every yacht owned by Russian-born billionaires and recent dropoffs—both those that have been sanctioned and those that have not. At least 12 Russian billionaires fell out of the three-comma-club on March 1.
According to VesselsValue’s head of superyachts, Sam Tucker, yacht “ownership is notoriously private.” The firm has 90% confidence in its data on these yachts, which are generally owned through offshore companies registered everywhere from the Isle of Man to the Cayman Islands. Collectively, the 63 yachts are worth at least $6.3 billion. The 53 yachts owned by sanctioned Russian billionaires are worth at least $4.7 billion.
“Technically speaking, these yachts are owned by a special purpose vehicle, often being in a different jurisdiction to the beneficial owner,” Tucker said. “There are also lease systems, which further distance the [owner] from the asset.” Lease systems are legal structures commonly used to purchase yachts, allowing individuals to own a yacht through a separate company—often registered in places such as Malta and Cyprus—that then leases the yacht to the individual.
While the Russian economy crashes under the weight of sanctions, yachts owned by the country’s billionaires have anchored in much sunnier climes: everywhere from Monaco and Barcelona to Dubai and the Seychelles.
Here is a list of all of the yachts owned by Russian billionaires and billionaires born in Russia tracked by Forbes and VesselsValue (Location data from VesselsValue, MarineTraffic and VesselFinder):
Alexander Abramov
Sanctioned by australia, u.k., yacht name: titan, length: 257 feet, last recorded location: dubai, united arab emirates on january 9, 2023, registered in: bermuda, value: $82 million.
Alexander Abramov's Titan yacht.
Roman Abramovich
Sanctioned by u.k., eu, canada, australia, switzerland, yacht name: eclipse*, length: 533 feet, last recorded location: bodrum, turkey on january 9, 2023, value: $438 million.
*Abramovich also owns eight small vessels “used to support the operations” of Eclipse, named Eclipse 1 through Eclipse 8.
Yacht name: Solaris
Length: 458 feet, last recorded location: marmaris, turkey on january 9, 2023, value: $474 million, yacht name: halo, length: 180 feet, last recorded location: göcek, turkey on december 16, 2022, registered in: cook islands, value: $38 million, yacht name: garcon, length: 220 feet, last recorded location: fethiye, turkey on august 8, 2022, value: $20 million, yacht name: kewpie, length: 80 feet, last recorded location: saint barthélemy on january 6, 2023, value: $3 million, yacht name: sussurro, length: 162 feet, last recorded location: la ciotat, france on january 9, 2023, value: $17 million, yacht name: umbra a, length: 40 feet, last recorded location: not available, registered in: not available, value: $1 million, yacht name: aquamarine*, length: 164 feet, last recorded location: vlissingen, netherlands on april 5, 2022, registered in: russia, value: $29.9 million.
* Aquamarine is owned by Jersey-based MHC Jersey Limited, which is owned by British Virgin Islands-based Norma Investments Limited. Prior to February 24, 2022, Norma’s beneficial owner was Abramovich; Norma’s ownership was transferred to David Davidovich, a business associate of Abramovich, on the same day, according to public filings. Davidovich was sanctioned by the U.K. on April 14 .
Roman Abramovich's Eclipse yacht.
Farkhad Akhmedov
Sanctioned by eu, u.k., canada, switzerland, yacht name: luna, length: 375 feet, last recorded location: hamburg, germany on july 4, 2022 ( frozen by german authorities on may 12, 2022), registered in: marshall islands, value: $196 million.
Farkhad Akhmedov's Luna yacht.
Vagit Alekperov
Sanctioned by u.k., australia, canada, yacht name: galactica super nova, length: 230 feet, last recorded location: off the coast of budva, montenegro on march 2, 2022 (departed tivat, montenegro on march 2), registered in: sierra leone, value: $67 million, yacht name: space, length: 114 feet, last recorded location: sevastopol, crimea on august 23, 2022, value: $8 million, yacht name: galactica, length: 263 feet, last recorded location: vladivostok, russia on october 1, 2022, value: not available.
Vagit Alekperov's Galactica Super Nova yacht.
Oleg Deripaska
Sanctioned by u.s., u.k., eu, canada, switzerland, australia, yacht name: clio, length: 238 feet, last recorded location: adler, russia on october 27, 2022, registered in: cayman islands, value: $58 million, yacht name: sputnik, length: 197 feet, last recorded location: göcek, turkey on november 9, 2022, registered in: antigua and barbuda, value: $19.75 million, yacht name: elden, length: 95 feet, last recorded location: volga river near sknyatino, russia on october 8, 2022, value: $1.9 million.
Oleg Deripaska.
Sergey Galitsky
Yacht name: quantum blue, length: 341 feet, last recorded location: off the coast of salalah, oman on march 22, 2022, value: $213 million.
Sergei Galitsky's Quantum Blue yacht.
Andrei Guriev
Sanctioned by u.s., u.k., yacht name: alfa nero, length: 267 feet, last recorded location: falmouth harbour, antigua and barbuda on november 3, 2022 ( blocked by the u.s. on august 2), value: $81 million.
Andrei Guriev's Alfa Nero yacht.
Dmitry Kamenshchik
Yacht name: flying fox, length: 446 feet, last recorded location: göcek, turkey on december 27, 2022 ( blocked by the u.s. on june 2), value: $455 million.
Dmitry Kamenshchik's Flying Fox yacht.
Suleiman Kerimov
Sanctioned by u.s., eu, u.k., canada, switzerland, australia, japan, yacht name: amadea, length: 348 feet, last recorded location: san diego, california on june 6 ( seized by u.s. authorities on may 5, 2022), registered in: united states, value: $300 million.
Suleiman Kerimov's Amadea yacht.
Igor Kesaev
Yacht name: my sky, length: 168 feet, last recorded location: crossroads superyacht marina, maldives on june 16, 2022, value: $30 million, yacht name: sky, length: 166 feet, last recorded location: limón bay, panama on january 9, 2023, value: $23 million.
Igor Kesaev.
Eduard Khudainatov
Sanctioned by eu, yacht name: divina barbara, length: 115 feet, last recorded location: rendsburg, germany on november 17, 2016, registered in: united kingdom, value: $9 million, alexey kuzmichev, sanctioned by u.s., eu, u.k., canada, switzerland, australia, yacht name: la petite ourse, length: 79 feet, last recorded location: antibes, france on august 11, 2022 ( frozen by french authorities on march 16, 2022; released after court decision on october 5, 2022), registered in: malta, value: $4.5 million, yacht name: la petite ourse ii, length: 54 feet, last recorded location: cannes, france on june 6, 2022 ( frozen by french authorities on march 21, 2022; released after court decision on december 9, 2022), value: $1.2 million, igor makarov, sanctioned by canada, australia, yacht name: areti i, length: 128 feet, last recorded location: st. augustine, florida on october 24, 2022, value: $7 million.
Igor Makarov.
Iskander Makhmudov
Sanctioned by: u.s., u.k., yacht name: predator, length: 239 feet, last recorded location: kuşadası, turkey on january 4, 2023, registered in: st. kitts and nevis, value: $55 million, dmitry mazepin, sanctioned by: u.k., eu, switzerland, canada, australia, yacht name: aldabra, length: 97 feet, last recorded location: bodrum, turkey on october 7, 2022 (frozen by italian authorities), registered in: isle of man, length: 72 feet, last recorded location: n/a (frozen by italian authorities), registered in: n/a, andrey melnichenko, sanctioned by eu, u.k., u.s., switzerland, australia, yacht name: my a, length: 390 feet, last recorded location: ras al khaimah, united arab emirates on may 28, 2022, registered in: isle of man ( deregistered on march 16, 2022), value: $204 million, yacht name: sy a, length: 469 feet, last recorded location: trieste, italy on january 9, 2023 ( frozen by italian authorities on march 12, 2022), value: $578 million (valued by italian government).
Andrey Melnichenko's SY A sailing yacht.
Leonid Mikhelson
Sanctioned by U.K., Canada, Australia
Yacht name: pacific, length: 280 feet, last recorded location: abu dhabi, united arab emirates on december 25, 2022, registered in: malaysia, value: $115 million, yuri milner, yacht name: andromeda, length: 352 feet, last recorded location: off the coast of nassau, bahamas on january 9, 2023, value: $129 million, andrei molchanov, yacht name: aurora, length: 243 feet, last recorded location: istanbul, turkey on august 21, 2022, value: $110 million, alexey mordashov, sanctioned by eu, u.k., u.s., switzerland, australia, japan, yacht name: lady m, length: 213 feet, last recorded location: imperia, italy on june 6, 2022 ( frozen by italian authorities on march 4, 2022), registered in : cayman islands, value: $27 million, yacht name: nord, length: 464 feet, last recorded location: malacca strait near kuala selangor, malaysia on october 24, 2022.
Alexey Mordashov's Nord yacht.
Alexander Nesis
Yacht name: romea, length: 268 feet, last recorded location: malé, maldives on january 9, 2023.
Alexander Nesis.
Vladimir Potanin
Sanctioned by u.s., u.k., canada, australia, yacht name: nirvana, length: 290 feet, last recorded location: dubai, united arab emirates on january 9, 2023 ( blocked by the u.s. on december 15), value: $120 million.
Vladimir Potanin's Nirvana yacht.
Mikhail Prokhorov
Yacht name: av (formerly palladium), length: 312 feet, last recorded location: fort lauderdale, florida on january 9, 2023, value: $157 million.
Mikhail Prokhorov's Palladium yacht.
Dmitry Pumpyansky
Sanctioned by eu, u.k., u.s., switzerland, canada, australia, yacht name: axioma, length: 236 feet, last recorded location: gibraltar on january 9, 2023 ( detained by gibraltarian authorities on march 21, 2022)*, value: $42 million.
*Axioma was auctioned in August 2022 and is no longer owned by Pumpyansky.
Dmitry Pumpyansky's Axioma yacht.
Viktor Rashnikov
Sanctioned by eu, u.k., u.s., canada, switzerland, australia, yacht name: ocean victory, length: 459 feet, last recorded location: malé, maldives on march 1, 2022, value: $294 million.
Viktor Rashnikov's Ocean Victory yacht.
Arkady Rotenberg
Sanctioned by eu, u.s., u.k., australia, canada, japan, switzerland, yacht name: rahil, last recorded location: sochi, russia on december 1, 2022.
Arkady Rotenberg's Russian-registered Rahil yacht.
Boris Rotenberg
Length: 157 feet, last recorded location: marseille, france on january 9, 2023, registered in: luxembourg ( deregistered in april 2022, frozen by french authorities), value: $15 million, dmitry rybolovlev, yacht name: anna, length: 361 feet, value: $250 million.
Dmitry Rybolovlev.
Anatoly Sedykh
Yacht name: hermitage, length: 225 feet, last recorded location: dubai, united arab emirates on december 16, 2022, value: $73 million.
Anatoly Sedykh's Hermitage yacht.
Eugene Shvidler
Sanctioned by u.k., australia (shvidler was born in the u.s.s.r. and is a citizen of the u.s. and the u.k.), yacht name: le grand bleu, length: 354 feet, last recorded location: ponce, puerto rico on june 6, 2022, registered in: palau, value: $109 million.
Eugene Shvidler's Le Grand Bleu yacht.
Andrei Skoch
Sanctioned by u.s., eu, u.k., australia, canada, japan, switzerland, yacht name: madame gu, length: 325 feet, last recorded location: dubai, united arab emirates on march 6, 2022 ( blocked by the u.s. on june 2), value: $156 million.
Andrei Skoch's Madame Gu yacht.
Alexander Svetakov
Yacht name: cloudbreak, length: 246 feet, last recorded location: singapore on january 9, 2023, value: $98 million.
Alexander Svetakov's Cloudbreak yacht.
Gennady Timchenko
Sanctioned by: eu, u.s., u.k., australia, canada, japan, switzerland, yacht name: lena, length: 126 feet, last recorded location: sanremo, italy on september 24, 2022 ( frozen by italian authorities on march 4, 2022), registered in: british virgin islands.
Gennady Timchenko.
Oleg Tinkov
Sanctioned by u.k., australia ( dropped off forbes real-time billionaires on march 1), yacht name: la datcha, length: 252 feet, last recorded location: cabo san lucas, mexico on january 9, 2023, registered in: panama, value: $121 million, yacht name: ycm 90, length: 90 feet, value: $2 million.
Oleg Tinkov's La Datcha yacht.
Alisher Usmanov
Sanctioned by eu, u.k., u.s., australia, canada, japan, switzerland, yacht name: dilbar*, length: 512 feet, last recorded location: hamburg, germany on may 6, 2022 ( blocked by the u.s. on march 3, 2022 and frozen by german authorities on april 13, 2022), value: $588 million, yacht name: begham*, length: 131 feet, last recorded location: olbia, italy on october 25, 2021, value: $10.5 million.
* Dilbar is owned by Caymans-based Navis Marine Ltd. and Begham is owned by Caymans-based Highseas Yachting Ltd. Both Navis Marine Ltd. and Highseas Yachting Ltd. are owned by Cyprus-based Almenor Holdings Ltd. Almenor is in turn owned by Switzerland-based Pomerol Capital SA, which holds the shares "in trust for the benefit of" the Sister Trust, which a German Federal Police investigation found is held by Gulbakhor Ismailova, Usmanov’s sister. Ownership of Navis Marine Ltd. and Highseas Yachting Ltd. was transferred to Almenor in 2020.
Alisher Usmanov's Dilbar yacht.
Viktor Vekselberg
Sanctioned by: u.s., u.k., japan, canada, australia, yacht name: tango, length: 255 feet, last recorded location: palma de mallorca, spain on january 9, 2023 ( blocked by the u.s. on march 13, 2022 and seized by u.s. and spanish authorities on april 4, 2022), value: $90 million.
Viktor Vekselberg's Tango yacht.
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