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Inside Paul Allen’s Former Yacht on Sale for $90 Million

By Katie Schultz

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The estate of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is offering the sale of his 303-foot-long superyacht , Tatoosh , for a cool $90 million, according to Dirt . If you’re thinking those stats aren’t impressive enough for the billionaire and tech magnate , well, you’d be right. Tatoosh , which is currently the 60th largest yacht worldwide, was just Allen’s secondary vessel. His main yacht, Octopus , sold last year for $325 million and stretches 414 feet long, making it the 20th largest yacht in the world.

As for Tatoosh , the recently-listed vessel was custom-built by German shipyard Nobiskrug in 2000 for fellow American tech mogul Craig McCaw before being bought by Allen the following year for an estimated $100 million. The craft was put up for sale shortly after Allen’s death in 2018, but was taken off the market for an extensive refitting that was completed last year.

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The dining room aboard the ship. 

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where is paul allen's yacht

Inside the vessel, 11 staterooms can accommodate up to 19 guests with access to a lengthy list of lavish amenities that includes a heated swimming pool with a hydraulic-powered mosaic floor that can raise and lower, a parquet floor salon complete with a limestone fireplace and a bar, a movie theater adorned in red velvet, a beauty salon, a gym, two helicopter pads, a sunbathing and diving area decked out with a blue-tiled spa, bulletproof windows, a fleet of jet skis, multiple 43-foot tenders, and a crew of 31 to oversee it all. The owner’s quarters include a private deck, two dressing rooms, and an observation lounge with a private galley, all spanning across two of the ship’s five decks, which are all accessible via elevator.

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The owner’s stateroom aboard the ship. 

To maintain and staff the superyacht, which will be one of the largest yachts on display during the Monaco Yacht Show later this month, potential new owners will have to be prepared to pay $9 to $10 million per year in addition to the hefty price tag. Tatoosh is being represented by the Monaco-based yachting company Fraser.

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When late Paul Allen’s 126m Lürssen superyacht Octopus was launched in 2003, she was easily the largest explorer yacht ever built, and one of the biggest yachts outright.

Iconic yachts: On board Paul Allen's 126m Lürssen superyacht Octopus

When the late Paul Allen’s Octopus was launched in 2003, she stood alone in the yachting world. At 126m length, she was easily the largest explorer yacht ever built, and one of the biggest yachts outright. But in many ways, she heralded a new era of owning very large boats – one where science and research were every bit as important as luxury finish, spas and swimming pools.

Allen himself was said to have commented that his yacht was more of a Land Rover than a Bentley. It’s a view that pays homage to capabilities including an ice-class 1A steel hull, hangar space for two helicopters, a battery of tenders, submersibles and remotely operated vehicles plus a comprehensive dive centre including a hyperbaric chamber. But the boat also has a lavish interior.

Octopus was built by Lürssen in Bremen and Kiel with external styling and design work from Espen Øino . He remembers starting work on her back in 1998, when she was the largest project of his career. “It was a very ambitious brief, because none of the tenders, tools, RVs, subs, helicopters could be outside – they should all be concealed,” remembers Øino. “Particularly the very large tender and the sub. We came up with an interesting solution for launching those through the big transom door, and the travel lift.”

The solution was revolutionary for a private yacht. When the transom door folds up it reveals a world straight out of a Bond movie – a high walkway alongside a 36 metre internal wet dock area overhung with big cranes on gantries. Øino chuckles at the memory: “The stern dock is just an amazing space,” he says.

Allen’s motivation for all this was his love of diving for shipwrecks , which has driven Octopus to many remote corners of the oceans. Her 10-person Pagoo submersible was custom built for the boat – there was no alternative at the time. Subsequently, an autonomous unmanned vehicle was added to the arsenal of equipment, capable of scanning the seabed for features of interest for hours before returning to the mothership. She has six tenders and numerous toys besides.

Among the notable missions undertaken by Octopus was the recovery of the ship’s bell of HMS Hood , sunk by the Bismarck in 2,700m off Greenland, and the discovery of the Japanese warship Musashi 1,000m down in the Sibuyan Sea.

For all that, Octopus is a true superyacht, fitted out in luxurious style by Jonathan Barnett . The interior finish includes an antique bronze door from the 1930s, and is said to set a “harmoniously rugged” tone. There’s solid furniture, lots of wood panelling and serious-looking stainless steel handrails.

She boasts an owner’s deck with a private jacuzzi and dining area plus a dedicated owner’s lift. Other features include an observation lounge, beach club, pool (which converts into a dancefloor), gym and spa. Most notably, Octopus is fitted with a large cinema and a fully-equipped recording studio – something that has hosted artists from Mick Jagger and Bono to Usher and Joss Stone. “Mr Allen’s interest in music was enormous and the acoustic quality was nothing less than a shore-based one,” says Øino. “There were 54 tonnes of AV/IT equipment aboard. A very complex boat in many ways. I think he loved it.”

The boat sleeps 26 guests in 13 cabins, as well as 57 crew. She had an extensive refit at Blohm+Voss in 2019 and was one of the biggest sales of 2021.

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Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's superyacht is on sale for $91 million. See inside the 303-foot boat, which has 2 helicopter pads, a beach club, and a private apartment.

  • A 303-foot luxury superyacht owned by the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen is up for sale.
  • "Tatoosh" was designed to give its owners their own 2-story private apartment, alongside 10 cabins.
  • See inside the luxury yacht, which is currently on sale for over $90 million.

A 303-foot luxury superyacht that formerly belonged to Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen is up for sale.

where is paul allen's yacht

Before his death from cancer in 2018, Allen amassed an estimated fortune of $20.3 billion, according to Forbes Billionaires Index. The yacht is the latest part of his estate, which included multiple properties and two sports teams, to be sold-off.

where is paul allen's yacht

Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen owned 2 pro sports teams before he died in 2018. Rumors are swirling about their fate — and now Nike's founder could pay $2 billion to own one of them.

Paul Allen's estate just off-loaded a chunk of the late Microsoft cofounder's massive real estate portfolio, selling 10 properties across the US for a combined $168 million

The yacht, named 'Tatoosh' is on sale for 90 million euros (around $91.3 million), following an extensive 11-month refit, according to Fraser Yachts, which is handling the sale.

where is paul allen's yacht

According to the listing by Fraser Yachts, the "instantly recognizable" Tatoosh can sleep 19 passengers, and has space for 31 crew. It was custom-built by Nobiskrug for the American cellphone mogul Craig McCaw, who sold the boat to Allen in 2001.

where is paul allen's yacht

Source: Fraser Yachts , New York Times

"Tatoosh should feel gracious like a home and also cozy," McCaw told Boat International on September 8, about the process of designing the yacht.

where is paul allen's yacht

Source: Boat International

The yacht has 10 individual staterooms, but McCaw also wanted to ensure that his family had their own private space while aboard, so decided to section off a separate owner's cabin, he told Boat International.

where is paul allen's yacht

The apartment has two ensuite bedrooms, a lounge, its own pantry, a galley, and gym among other things, per Boat International.

where is paul allen's yacht

"After two weeks, the crew and the owner need a little space from each other, so I wanted a galley where I could make some dinner," McCaw said.

where is paul allen's yacht

However, the boat still has plenty of areas for socializing with guests, including a heated swimming pool on the main deck, as well as its own 'beach club' area, per the listing.

where is paul allen's yacht

Guests can also enjoy a private cinema room, and an elevator with access to all five decks of the ship, per the listing.

where is paul allen's yacht

The gym features weights, a treadmill, and other equipment.

where is paul allen's yacht

There's also room for two helipads, as well as two tender boats called 'Chase' and 'Julia,' which can carry people to and from the yacht, according to Boat International.

where is paul allen's yacht

The superyacht will be on display at the Monaco Yacht show between September 28 and October 30, per Fraser Yachts.

where is paul allen's yacht

It's not the only yacht that belonged to Allen, who was a keen ocean explorer. Another boat, the 414-foot "Octopus," was sold to a mystery buyer in 2021, having been listed for $278 million.

where is paul allen's yacht

Mystery buyer purchases $278 million superyacht once owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen. It includes 13 guest suites, 2 submarines, and a pool that turns into a dance floor.

where is paul allen's yacht

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Microsoft cofounder paul allen’s 414-foot-long explorer yacht ‘octopus’ is for sale.

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Paul Allen's 414-foot-long superyacht Octopus is one of the largest private yachts in the world

It’s well known that Microsoft cofounder, investor and philanthropist Paul Allen lived a big life before he died of cancer last year at the age of 65. He was also an ocean explorer who’d travelled the world’s ocean’s aboard his 414-foot-long Explorer Yacht Octopus since it was launched back in 2003. And now that the yacht is for sale , it might be pretty hard to top Allen’s list of adventures that include:

Look closely at this photo that shows one of Octopus' two hell-pads, large pool and ample sun decks.

exploring the coast of Antarctica, traversing the Northwest Passage and recovering the ship’s bell from the wreck of HMS Hood at a depth of 2.8km (1.7 miles) for the Royal Navy.

Paul Allen hosted a star-studded party aboard Octopus off Cannes last year. (Photo by Dave ... [+] Benett/Getty Images)

Then again, with accommodation for up to 26 guests in 13 cabins, and 63 crew in 30 cabins, Octopus ’ new owner may not need to “discover” anything except a peaceful anchorage in the South Pacific for the ultimate escape.

This shot shows just how large and well-equipped for ocean exploration Octopus is. Notice the crew ... [+] members on the back of the boat (and on Octopus' large personal submarine) to get a sence of scale.

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The yacht has an entire deck dedicated owner. It has a private bar and hot tub forward and private al fresco dining area aft to provide the owner with a sanctuary of privacy and security. While the yacht has two elevators servicing the guest areas onboard, one is dedicated to the owner’s exclusive use for travel throughout the yacht with discretion and ease. 

Paul Allen's 414-foot long superyacht and it's helicopter on the bow.

On the bridge deck below, guests have plenty of room for outdoor entertainment including a large pool aft along with al fresco dining, a bar and pizza oven. Just beneath the bridge deck is a deck dedicated solely to entertainment where guests can enjoy a range of facilities including a spa, library and bar, cinema, gym, multiple lounges including a forward-facing observation area and a basketball court on the deck below. There is also a glass-bottomed observation lounge in the tank deck. 

Paul Allen's Octopus and its armada of support boats.(Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

In addition to seven tenders, two life rafts, an ROV capable of diving to 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) and several jet skis, Octopus is also capable of housing an SUV and two helicopters in the garage (one each for the fore and aft helipads), and its stern-access dock is home to a 13meters (42.6 feet) Hinckley Talaria tender and Pagoo, a submarine accommodating eight guests and two crew that can dive for up to eight hours. A dive center and hyperbaric chamber are also on board, along with a beach club with bar on the starboard side.

Bill Springer

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Late billionaire Paul Allen's yacht can now be yours for $90 million.

The superyacht of the late Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, has hit the market for a cool $90 million.

Allen, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 65 after losing his battle with cancer, purchased the vessel in 2001 for an estimated $100 million.

Named Tatoosh, it’s considered the 60th largest superyacht in the world spanning 303 feet wide.

It was last listed in 2021, before it was taken off the market for an 11-month retrofit. Tatoosh will be available for viewing at this month’s Monaco Yacht Show, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. It can also be available upon request.

Pegged as “one of the world’s best super yachts,” it’s equipped with two helicopter pads, large tenders, a heated swimming pool, a beach club and a dive center, a cinema and an elevator servicing all decks, the listing states.

The yacht spans 303 feet.

There are 11 state rooms in total that can accommodate 19 guests.

Stuart Larsen with Fraser holds the listing .

The listing comes as Christie’s announced that Allen’s billion-dollar art collection would be auctioned off, which includes 150 artworks spanning 500 years.

Meanwhile, Allen also owned another mega yacht, called Octopus, which spans 414 feet wide and was considered the 20th largest ship in the world. Back in May, the boat was listed for rent .

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The cinema.

Allen co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend, Gates, in 1975. According to Forbes, just before his death, he was ranked the 44th wealthiest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion.

Considered a recluse, Allen expressed interest in one day having a romantic life and a family, but ultimately never married or had children.

In 1982, he was diagnosed with Stage 1-A Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and was successfully treated after several months of radiation. He was diagnosed with the same cancer again in 2009, and was again successfully treated.

Allen, right, pictured with friend and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in 1984.

The cancer returned in 2018, which led to his death by septic shock on October 15, 2018.

“Paul loved life and those around him, and we all cherished him in return,” Gates said in a statement following his death. “He deserved much more time, but his contributions to the world of technology and philanthropy will live on for generations to come. We will miss him tremendously.”

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The yacht spans 303 feet.

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Paul Allen’s 414-Foot Superyacht ‘Octopus’ Will Be Available for Charter in Antarctica This Winter

Camper & nicholsons has designed a seven-day tour for intrepid explorers to see the southernmost continent., demetrius simms, demetrius simms's most recent stories.

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Octopus Superyacht at Sea

Paul Allen’s megayacht Octopus created serious waves when it was launched back in 2003. It’s one of the world’s largest vessels, after all. Now, for the first time, the epic 414-footer will be available for exclusive charter in Antarctica .

The late Microsoft co-founder’s beautiful behemoth, which was added to the Camper & Nicholsons charter fleet back in 2021, will spend the summer in Central America, Northern Europe and the Pacific, before journeying to the Earth’s southernmost continent in late 2022. From here, the UK-based yachting company’s seven-day Antarctica tour will allow intrepid explorers to come face to face with some of the most breathtaking natural wonders.

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Covering an array of notable destinations, from King George Island to the Gerlache Strait to Deception Island, the itinerary is packed with ski tours, polar plunges, scenic hikes and more. You’ll also have the chance to see Antarctic fur seals, humpback whales and penguins, while contributing to wildlife conservation with locally based scientists.

Octopus Superyacht Pool

A look at the ship’s pool, jacuzzi and deck.  Courtesy of Camper & Nicholsons

As you might expect, seafarers will be kept in the lap of luxury while aboard Octopus. The ice-class megayacht, which was designed by Espen Oeino , comes fitted with an array of glitzy amenities, including a glass-bottomed aquarium, an observation lounge, a pool, gym, spa and cinema. The vessel also sports two helipads to facilitate comings and goings, along with an array of toys and tenders for day trips and further exploration.

Jonathan Quinn Barnett ‘s interior, meanwhile, which was refit by Monk Design in 2021, comprises multiple dining areas and bars, along with an extravagant master suite, two VIP suites, seven double staterooms and three twins. Naturally, there’s plenty of space for the crew, too.

“She’s the perfect yacht to undertake such a voyage,” Jacqui Lockhart, head of charter marketing Europe for Camper & Nicholsons, said in a statement . “She’s well-equipped to host intrepid charterers off the beaten track with a fully equipped medical suite and dive center on board—complete with hyperbaric chamber—as well as a submarine and two helipads.”

Octopus Superyacht VIP Bedroom

One of the VIP bedrooms on board the Octopus .  Courtesy of Camper & Nicholsons

Octopus has an impressive range of 12,500 nautical miles when sailing at 12 knots and can clock 19 knots when cutting through the sea at maximum speed. Allen, who was an avid ocean explorer, took the vessel to the farthest corners of the globe to further oceanographic research. Now you can make your own discoveries. Charter rates start at $2.2 million per week.

Check out more images below:

Octopus Superyacht Deck

Courtesy of Camper & Nicholsons

Octopus Superyacht Pool Close-Up

Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. After starting their career in PR, they transitioned to freelance writing in 2020. Their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture…

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A billionaire got Paul Allen’s 414-foot-long Octopus megayacht to the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix and paid $138,000 just to moor it near the tracks and enjoy the race from the $285 million vessel

where is paul allen's yacht

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Octopus Yacht Uncovered: An Insider’s Look at the Luxury Yacht

Ian Fortey

Launched back in the year 2003, the Octopus yacht was built by famous shipyard Lurssen out of Germany. Lurssen has been behind numerous other superyachts such as Kismet and Dilbar and many more. The exterior design was handled by Espen Øino Naval Architects while the interior was handled by American designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

Who Owns the Octopus Yacht?

where is paul allen's yacht

The Octopus yacht was owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. In addition to being a private pleasure yacht for Allen, the Octopus has served a variety of purposes over the years thanks to him loaning it out. It has served as an exploration vessel, been used for scientific research and has even seen use as a rescue vessel.

Allen died in 2018 and at that time the yacht underwent a refit at Blohm + Voss. In 2019 it was put on sale for a price of €295 million. The price was dropped by about 60 million and in 2021 it was picked up by an anonymous buyer. However, the anonymity didn’t last long and it was later revealed that Swedish billionaire Roger Samuelsson.

How Big is the Octopus Motor Yacht?

where is paul allen's yacht

The Octopus more than qualifies as a superyacht coming in at an incredible 126.2 meters or 414 feet. While the largest yachts in the world are over 500 feet, the Octopus is clearly massive and could rightly be labeled a megayacht and one of the world’s largest yachts as well.

Aside from the incredible length of the vessel, it features a beam just shy of 69 feet across. The gross tonnage is 9,932.

How Much Did the Yacht Octopus Cost?

where is paul allen's yacht

Paul Allen purchased the Octopus back in 2003. At that time the vessel cost him $200 million. Adjusted for inflation, that would work out to about $327 million by today, clearly making this one of the more expensive yachts in the world. That said, it still doesn’t meet the bar for one of the most expensive yachts ever by quite a bit.

Can You Charter the Octopus Yacht?

The Octopus is available for charter through the yacht firm Camper and Nicholsons but it’s definitely not available for most budgets. We’ve covered other yachts before that are owned by billionaires and are available for charter at some steep prices that often range around $1.2 million per week. The Octopus goes to the next level. 

You can charter the Octopus for about $2.2 million per week and that doesn’t include expenses. So you’ll be paying for things like food and fuel separately. Suffice it to say that this is not a charter for everyone but the option is there. 

Is the Octopus Yacht for Sale?

where is paul allen's yacht

After its initial purchase in 2003 the Octopus was not available for sale until 2019 after owner Paul Allen passed away. There are currently some websites that claim the Octopus is for sale now and you can make an offer but the reliability of those sites is unknown and they do list the previous sale price from 2019 so they may not be current.

How Fast is the Octopus Yacht and What Engines Does it Use?

where is paul allen's yacht

The Octopus has a cruising speed listed at 12.5 knots and a top speed listed at 19 knots. This is provided thanks to 8 MTU diesel engines that can generate a total of 19,200 hp. The yacht has an impressive range of up to 12,500 nautical miles at cruising speed thanks to her 1,034,000 liter fuel tanks 

What’s the Octopus Yacht Interior Like?

where is paul allen's yacht

The Octopus covers eight decks and has room on board for a total of 26 guests and 63 crew. The guests can find accommodations in a full-beam master suite, two VIP suites, seven double rooms and three twins, one with an additional single bed.

The master suite is on a dedicated owner’s deck and features a king size bed, his and hers en suite bathrooms and a private observation deck that includes an al fresco dining area. There’s also a private bar and Jacuzzi There is also an owner exclusive private elevator for use. 

For years the details of the interior were a closely guarded secret while Paul Allen was still the owner. In fact, designer Espen Oeino said that this was the first yacht that ever required him to sign an NDA to keep its design secret. Since then he’s signed many more, but the Octopus was where it started. However, since Allen’s passing and the sale of the yacht, the transition to a vessel available for charter has allowed us to learn a lot more about the Octopus and its amenities and entertainment facilities.

Features and Amenities

where is paul allen's yacht

The Octopus is an ice-class exploration yacht so it can go where many other luxury yachts cannot. It has two helipads as well as garages to house two helicopters. In addition, guests can find the following on board.

  • There’s a large swimming pool to the aft of the yacht on the main deck. It features numerous loungers and its own cocktail bar. There’s also a retractable glass floor that covers the pool when not in use.
  • A dance floor for parties
  • A movie theater
  • A well equipped gym for working out
  • A relaxation spa that includes a sauna
  • A large indoor/outdoor beach club area
  • A large deck Jacuzzi
  • A glass bottomed observation lounge
  • A well-stocked library for those evenings when you want to curl up with a good book

where is paul allen's yacht

For those who want to have some more intense fun out on the water, the Octopus has a number of toys that can be used.

  • 59’5” Delta Powerboats 54′ Tender
  • 30’8” Vikal Custom Limo Tender with a pair of 260 HP engines
  • A 10-person submarine named Pagoo which we’ll talk more about shortly
  • A dive center with a hyperbaric chamber and scuba gear
  • A large swim platform
  • A diving platform
  • 4 separate 2 seat Yamaha FX140 Waverunners
  • 2 separate 2 Person Hobie Pursuit Kayaks
  • An Epic V5 Kayak
  • 3 Windsurfers for a range of skill levels
  • A stand up Yamaha jet ski
  • 3 surfboards
  • Kite surfers 
  • Water skis and a variety of towable toys 
  • Snorkeling gear
  • Fishing gear

Octopus Rescue Work

where is paul allen's yacht

The Octopus also features a not entirely typical on board submarine and also a very rare ROV or remote operated vehicle which is essentially a remote control sub. These had been used a number of times on rescue operations when Paul Allen owned the vessel.

The sub and ROV were used to help find a pilot and two officers who vanished off the coast of Palau, and even aided the Royal Navy in finding the bell from the HMS Hood which sank off of Denmark in WWII.

The Octopus has also aided in scientific research, most notably when researchers were studying coelacanth, a species of prehistoric fish thought to have been extinct for millions of years. 

What is the Octopus Yacht Deck Plan?

where is paul allen's yacht

You can see the full deck plans here. The Octopus was designed to feature some things you would never expect to find on a yacht. For instance, it had a fully equipped recording studio where the band U2 did some recording. The studio also hosted Usher, Mick Jagger and Joss Stone. However, the studio has since been replaced with a bar and lounge area.

In addition to the studio the yacht was designed with a storm cabin to help minimize the effects of bad weather and a full medical center in case of emergencies. Many of these features no longer exist since the retrofit after Paul Allen’s death.

One extremely unique feature is the central clock. Braided stainless-steel shrouds from a sailing vessel were strung on either side of the grand staircase from lower to upper deck. The designer enlisted the aid of a 102-year-old German clock making company to help bring the idea to life. It also uses digital audio software so that on a regular basis the strings can play snippets from literally any song to indicate the passage of time.

The Bottom Line

The Octopus yacht was once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen until his death in 2018. Afterwards, some of the yacht was redesigned and it was sold for close to $300 million to Swedish billionaire Roger Samuelsson. 

The Octopus is a massive exploration yacht measuring 414 feet making it large but nowhere near as big as something like the massive Azzam . It has been used for scientific research and rescue missions in the past and is now available for charter though at a steep price.

While it has many of the expected amenities of luxury yachts it also features some more exotic fare like the minisub with room for 8 passengers and two crew, as well as a stunning array of toys and other features.

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