'Amadea' Sold at Auction... Finally

Photo- AmadeaAuction.com /Fraser Yachts

One of the most turbulent legal dramas involving a superyacht appears to be over.

According to Business Insider, the Amadea, which was seized by U.S. authorities in Fiji in 2022 from suspected Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov, has finally been sold. The deal was confirmed by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The auction was announced in August 2025 with a strict set of parameters to satisfy everyone involved, including the U.S. government and a team of lawyers still contesting Kerimov's ownership.

Despite Kerimov's lawyers claiming those parameters were not satisfied, the sale of the vessel was completed after bidding closed on September 10th.

The announcement of the sale is a surprise in its own right, as the vessel had been unpopularly docked in San Diego since June 2022. The extended stay was due to a legal dispute preventing its auction between Kerimov's lawyers and the U.S. Justice Department in a Manhattan federal court.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of Public Affairs event went so far as to release a statement clarifying their reasons for forfeiture. The statement made it clear that Amadea, or any other sanctioned superyacht, would be a target for U.S. authorities.

“...I warned that the department had its eyes on every yacht purchased with dirty money,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in a press release after the vessel's seizure in 2022.

The 106 meter (347 foot) vessel was built by Lurrsen and only launched in 2021 with an estimated $230 million USD price tag. Kerimov was always suspected as the owner despite the common layers of bureaucracy that disguise most superyacht purchases. When the U.S. sanctioned several Russian oligarchs at the outset of the war in Ukraine, Kerimov was among the targets and the vessel was seized while docked in Fiji trying to evade detection.

However, Kerimov's ownership came into dispute. U.S. courts eventually held that Kerimov was the owner after multiple hearings and appeals, but a rival claimant appeared during the process from another Russian and former Rosneft executive Eduard Khudainatov, who argued that he controlled the vessel through a “straw-owner” scheme. In March 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in favour of Kerimov’s ownership, rejected Khudainatov’s claim, and set the stage for its sale.

The auction was administered by National Maritime Services with help from yacht brokerage Fraser Yachts. Neither the winning bidder nor the final sale price were disclosed.

Since Amadea was seized in 2022, the yacht has reportedly cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated US $32 million in upkeep, with a monthly maintenance cost around US $1 million. The maintenance expenses were a cornerstone argument by lawyers trying to clear the vessel for auction despite the ownership scandal.

Despite being idle for nearly four years, Amadea is still one of the most advanced superyachts currently on the water. She boasts luxury features like a foredeck helipad, swimming pool, wine cellar and humidor, spa and sauna rooms, and a fire pit on the owner's deck. Her exterior was designed by the renowned Espen Oeino and her interior was crafted by Zuretti Interior Design. She carries room for 16 guests across 8 ensuite staterooms, plus room for a crew of 36.

As for the auction, qualified buyers would have been a select few. The rules set by U.S courts demanded bidders submit a $11.6 million USD deposit in order to qualify and must also demonstrate a net worth of at least $500 million in order to participate. The winning bidder had to make deposit of an additional $10 million into escrow within 10 days of the auction closing, and pay the remaining balance within 28 calendar days.

The U.S. Marshals Service did not confirm the winning bid price.

Now that the 28 calendar days have passed, Amadea has a new owner and is free to leave San Diego.

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