The Yachts Behind the Names — Part III
In Part I and Part II, we explored some of the world’s largest private superyachts, many of which are owned by Middle Eastern royalty and Russian oligarchs. For Part III, the focus shifts to superyachts, megayachts and even a few smaller vessels associated with names you’re likely to recognize. Some are current owners, others have since sold their yachts, but the connections remain just as intriguing.
So, let’s take a closer look at the yachts behind the names.
Larry Ellison
Listed as #117 on the current list of the world’s largest yachts by length, yacht enthusiast, world champion sailor, multi-time sponsor of American Cup racing, philanthropist and co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation Larry Ellison is a true boater.
Ellison was reportedly the original intended owner of the 453-foot (138-metre) Rising Sun, now owned by David Geffen and profiled in Part I of this series. His own megayacht, Musashi, is considerably smaller but no less impressive. Built by Dutch shipyard Feadship in 2011 at a reported cost of US$160 million, the yacht takes its name from Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary Japanese samurai warrior.
Spanning five decks, Musashi combines Japanese-inspired design with Art Deco influences. The yacht accommodates up to 18 guests in 10 suites, including two VIP cabins, while two master staterooms are located on the upper and bridge decks. Crew accommodations on the lower deck comprise 10 cabins for up to 24 people. This deck also houses a gym and spa.
Amenities throughout the yacht include a large whirlpool and bar on the upper deck, a glass-enclosed elevator, a movie theatre, a swimming pool, a beach club, a basketball court, a beauty salon and at-anchor stabilizers.
Power comes from twin MTU diesel engines, each producing just under 6,000 horsepower. Together, they propel Musashi to a reported cruising speed of 21 mph (34 km/h) and a top speed of 23 mph (37 km/h).
Robert Maxwell
In an article about the yachts behind the names, it's hard to ignore this one. Originally named Lady Ghislaine, the yacht carries a name that has considerable notoriety following years of legal proceedings and headlines surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of publishing mogul Robert Maxwell. In 2021, Maxwell was convicted in connection with her involvement in the sexual abuse of minors by Jeffrey Epstein.
Her father, Robert Maxwell, purchased the superyacht shortly after its launch in 1986. In November 1991, while cruising off the Canary Islands, Maxwell was found dead in the Atlantic Ocean after apparently falling overboard. He was 68. The circumstances of his death have never been conclusive. Speculation has persisted over whether it was an accident, suicide, or foul play.
It was later discovered that Maxwell's media empire was in deep financial trouble and he was accused of fraudulent misappropriation of Daily Mirror newspaper pension funds. The yacht was sold in 1993 and renamed Lady Mona K. In 2017, it changed hands again and acquired its current name, Dancing Hare. The yacht's ownership history took another unexpected turn when it was purchased by Anna Murdoch, the former wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell had been fierce competitors in the newspaper publishing business. According to reports, Anna Murdoch was unaware of the yacht's connection to Maxwell when she purchased it.
Lawrence Stroll
Lawrence Stroll may not be a household name outside the worlds of fashion, collectible automobiles, and Formula One, but he is among Canada’s wealthiest people. He began his career in his father’s clothing business, which held Canadian licensing rights for Pierre Cardin and Polo Ralph Lauren. Later, partnering with businessman Silas Chou, Stroll acquired and expanded the Tommy Hilfiger brand internationally before taking the company public. The business was subsequently sold in 2006 for a reported US$1.6 billion.
Stroll also has a huge collection of vintage Ferraris and classic cars, reportedly paying more than US$25 million for a single Ferrari. His interests also extend to motorsports, including ownership of Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains. In 2018, he led a consortium that acquired the Force India Formula One team. Two years later, after supporting struggling British automaker Aston Martin, he eventually became a shareholder and executive chairman of the company. He also owns the Aston Martin Formula One team.
His son, Lance Stroll, began his racing career at Circuit Mont-Tremblant before progressing through sedan, Formula 4, and Formula 3 competition. In 2017, he joined the Williams Formula One team alongside veteran driver Felipe Massa. He moved to the Aston Martin team in 2021.
But beyond fashion, automobiles and racing, Stroll has another passion: megayachts.
Delivered by Dutch shipyard Feadship in 2025, his 262-foot (80-metre) Faith replaced an earlier, larger Feadship yacht of the same name, measuring 317 feet (97 metres). Stroll reportedly sold the original Faith to Michael Latifi, father of former Formula One driver Nicholas Latifi. The yacht was subsequently renamed Sophia. Stroll reportedly opted for a smaller, more manoeuvrable yacht better suited to accessing smaller harbours.
The new Faith features four decks and accommodates up to 14 guests in five staterooms, supported by a crew of 28. Amenities include an open fireplace in the main salon, a spa, a gymnasium, and an elevator. A tiered stern incorporates a swimming pool on the main deck and a beach club below.
The yacht's design incorporates advanced hydrodynamic features intended to reduce drag and improve efficiency. Its hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system comprises twin Veth pod drives with a reported combined output of just over 5,000 horsepower. The propulsion arrangement also incorporates a counter-rotating system. Faith reportedly reaches a top speed of approximately 18 mph (29 km/h), with a cruising speed of around 14 mph (23 km/h).
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods hardly needs an introduction. Widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers ever, he has won 15 major championships and holds the record for the most consecutive weeks and the greatest total number of weeks ranked as the world’s No. 1 golfer.
At 155 feet (47 metres), Privacy is a relatively modest-sized superyacht compared with some of the world’s largest privately owned vessels. Built by Christensen Shipyards in Washington State, the tri-deck yacht was reportedly purchased by Woods in 2004 for US$20 million.
Founded by Bob Christensen in 1984, the shipyard specializes in custom luxury yachts.
Constructed using composite materials, including fibreglass, Privacy is powered by twin MTU diesel engines, each producing 1,800 horsepower. The yacht reportedly cruises at approximately 18 mph (29 km/h) and reaches a top speed of around 21 mph (34 km/h).
The interior accommodates up to 10 guests in five cabins, each with an ensuite bathroom. The master stateroom is situated aft, while the guest accommodations are located amidships. One of the twin cabins has reportedly been converted into a workout room equipped with exercise equipment. Nine crew members, accommodated in four cabins, provide onboard services.
Additional amenities include a gymnasium, an eight-person whirlpool, an elevator and several indoor and outdoor lounging areas. The yacht has also been reported to carry a decompression chamber.
Woods has occasionally used Privacy as his personal accommodation during golf tournaments, allowing him to stay aboard when convenient rather than relying on hotel accommodations.
Elvis Presley
I was hoping the name above the picture of the superyacht Potomac would get your attention. It's perhaps a sleight of hand, but the legendary rock ’n’ roll star Elvis Presley did, in fact, own this yacht for about two weeks in 1964. However, its most notable owner was President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used it as the Presidential Yacht from 1935 to 1945. That distinction alone earns Potomac a place among the vessels associated with the rich and famous.
Built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding in Wisconsin, the vessel was launched in 1934 as USCGC Electra, a United States Coast Guard cutter used for submarine-chasing duties and anti-bootlegging operations. In 1935, it was transferred to the U.S. Navy, renamed USS Potomac and converted into the new Presidential Yacht for Roosevelt. The vessel was substantially refurbished to make it more comfortable and accommodating for Presidential purposes as well as making it wheelchair accessible.
It soon became known as the Floating White House and hosted countless foreign dignitaries. Among its most historic occasions was the 1939 visit to Washington, D.C., by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the first reigning British monarchs to make a state visit to the United States.
Following Roosevelt’s death in 1945, President Harry Truman opted for a larger, more stable vessel. The USS Potomac was decommissioned and subsequently served as a fisheries enforcement vessel in Maryland until 1960. After being sold into private ownership, it took on a succession of roles, including ferry service and use as a gambling boat in the Caribbean. Eventually, it ended up in Long Beach, California, where engine problems left it stranded and it was repurposed as a museum ship.
Four days after the Beatles’ landmark American television appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in January 1964, Elvis Presley’s manager, Col. Tom Parker bought the Potomac in Elvis’s name for $55,000. to be gifted to The March of Dimes charity as a way to generate publicity for Elvis in the face of the Beatles popularity.
The March of Dimes declined the gift. The yacht was subsequently offered to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, through entertainer Danny Thomas. The hospital accepted the donation but later sold the vessel at auction for US$65,000. Although Presley owned Potomac for only a short time, the transaction became one of the lesser-known episodes in his extensive history of charitable giving.
The yacht’s subsequent history was less glamorous. In 1980, U.S. Customs seized Potomac during a drug enforcement operation during which it sank in San Francisco Bay. It was refloated by the U.S. Navy and sold at auction to the Port of Oakland, California, for US$15,000.
Determined to preserve the historic vessel, the Potomac Association was formed to raise funds and oversee its restoration. The work was completed in 1993, and by 1995, Potomac had become an established tourist attraction at Jack London Square in Oakland.
Today, the former Presidential Yacht continues to operate harbour cruises, giving visitors an opportunity to experience a vessel whose history encompasses presidential diplomacy, American popular culture and a remarkable journey through nearly a century of changing fortunes.
As with Parts I and II, there are plenty more fascinating yachts and famous owners still to explore. I’ve saved some particularly interesting ones for Part IV, including those owned by such names as J.K. Rowling, Queen Elizabeth II, Johnny Depp and a few other names you’re sure to recognize. So, stay tuned as we continue uncovering the stories behind the yachts of the rich and famous.
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