Mark Zuckerberg’s new US$300 million superyacht, Launchpad: the Facebook boss dropped millions on his new toy and its support vessel – but you might be surprised to learn who commissioned the project

How much did Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht cost?

The Meta CEO reportedly shelled out a cool US$300 million for his latest toy. The ship – which Zuck christened Launchpad – was reportedly commissioned by Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin, who wasn’t able to take delivery of the beauty due to US sanctions.

The 118-metre vessel is fitted out with 13 cabins capable of accommodating 26 guests, and can also carry a crew of 49, per YachtCharterFleet. The master suite, according to the same website, has its own study and dressing room as well as a his-and-her bathroom. According to Boat International, Launchpad’s facilities include a swimming pool and helipad.

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Just how luxe is Mark Zuckerberg’s superyacht?

Facilities on board the midnight-blue vessel include a beauty salon, private cinema, beach club, gym and deck jacuzzi, per YachtCharterFleet. The interiors were designed by Zuretti – which also worked on major vessels including the Luminance, Crescent and Scheherazade, per Superyacht Times, with the latter reportedly owned by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Launchpad has a beam of 15.5 metres, a cruising speed of 16 knots and a top speed of 24 knots, according to the same publication. It was built by Dutch company Feadship, with exterior design by Espen Øino International and naval design by De Voogt Naval Architects. According to Megayacht News, the ship is extra special as it is the largest-volume Dutch-built superyacht to date, at 4,999 gross tons.

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In addition to Launchpad, Zuckerberg also reportedly bought a support vessel, Wingman. Such ships are designed to ferry additional supplies, staff and equipment not carried by the main vessel. According to Autoevolution, Wingman alone is worth around US$30 million.

According to Business Insider, Launchpad was delivered to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after making its maiden voyage from Gibraltar to the Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten. Per Megayacht News, Zuckerberg christened Launchpad back in December 2023, when he visited the shipyard in the Netherlands. Traditionally this involves breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow for luck.

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Asked last month to comment on Zuck’s acquisition of Launchpad, Feadship stated that its standard policy is “to never divulge any information about our yachts with reference to ownership, costs or delivery”.

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While these vessels offer recreational fun, they also provide tax breaks for the super-moneyed. According to HMY Yachts, superyachts can be declared as a personal business, lowering tax liability. This means that the ship can be listed as an asset and future depreciation can be minimised.