where is the octopus yacht now

Yacht, IMO 1007213

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The current position of OCTOPUS is at North Sea reported 1 min ago by AIS. The vessel OCTOPUS (IMO 1007213, MMSI 319866000) is a Yacht built in 2003 (21 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Cayman Islands .

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OCTOPUS current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of OCTOPUS data.

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OCTOPUS Yacht, IMO 1007213

Where is the current position of octopus presently vessel octopus is a yacht ship sailing under the flag of cayman islands . her imo number is 1007213 and mmsi number is 319866000. main ship particulars are length of 126 m and beam of 21 m. maps show the following voyage data - present location, next port, estimated (eta) and predicted time of arrival (pta), speed, course, draught, photos, videos, local time, utc time..

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OCTOPUS current position is received by AIS. Ship info reports, fleet analysis, company analyses, address analyses, technical specifications, tonnages, management details, addresses, classification society data and all other relevant statistics are derived from Marine Vessel Traffic database. The data is for informational purposes only and Marine Vessel Traffic is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of data reported above herein.

Inside Octopus: Origin story of the 126m superyacht finally revealed

The barest of details have been revealed about the mysterious  Octopus  over the past 19 years. But with a new owner and on the charter market for the first time, the 126-metre  Lürssen  superyacht is finally ready to reveal her secrets past and present…

One of the best things about flying into the South of France is the view. The brilliant blue coastline is peppered with hundreds of yachts. On this flight, however, just one of the boats below us demands our attention: the 126-metre explorer  Octopus .

The following day, in the port of Marseille where her new owner’s team is wrapping up a refit before  Octopus  departs for the Galápagos, I finally see her up close. Her navy-blue hull and skyscraper decks are incredibly impressive, while on the inside she is welcoming and warm. Although she has been refitted, her history is palpable. There’s much to learn about  Octopus , and everyone involved in her story is finally ready to talk, after decades of silence.

Why was  Octopus  such a secret? In 1998, strict non-disclosure agreements were issued all around to protect the privacy of her original owner, the late American entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft. “It was the first time I was faced with an NDA,” says  Espen Øino , who has gone on to sign hundreds over the years. “NDAs are strict and long lasting and don’t necessarily pass when the client does,” notes  Jonathan Quinn Barnett , who created  Octopus ’s original interior. “I had deep respect and admiration for Mr Allen, so to be able to say even a few words about  Octopus  now is marvellous.”

For builder Lürssen, the story started with a bit of detective work. The German shipyard’s sales director, Michael Breman, heard about a mysterious box that was loaded onto Allen’s 60.6-metre Feadship  Méduse , which supposedly contained a scale model of a new vessel.

“I figured out that something was going on and we ought to be involved,” he says. “So I contacted Paul Allen’s broker, [ Fraser’s ] Stuart Larsen, to ask some questions.”

Some time after, during a trip to the South of France, Breman received the go-ahead to submit a bid and arranged for a fax containing the brief to be sent to Øino’s office in Monaco. “Put that into context, this is 1998!” Øino says with a laugh. “Michael was in our office as the fax came in and going through it, we just couldn’t believe the brief, we thought it was totally crazy.”

The brief called for an industrial-style yacht with the appearance and capability of the Finnish multipurpose icebreaker  Fennica , built in 1993. Luckily, Øino knew the vessel. “I had a photo of  Fennica  from a few years earlier when I visited her while cruising with another client in the fjords,” says the designer. What he went on to sketch in pencil and model for the presentation was a sturdy explorer with two interchangeable options for the bow and the wheelhouse. “What is remarkable is that the original sketches and ideas are so close to what it actually became,” Breman says.

Another key part of the brief was for all toys and tenders, including a helicopter, a submarine and a floatplane, to be carried in a concealed way. So Øino drew a methodical general arrangement that included a two-level 36-metre-long floodable garage opening at the stern. “Launching so many toys over the side of the boat wasn’t the optimum idea and would affect the stability; a lot of heeling would occur,” the designer says.

Instead, working with the rules that oversee subdivisions inside a ship’s hull – and deal with damage stability calculations – he created one very long and tall compartment on the yacht’s centreline with a floodable dock flanked by rows of smaller garages to store the entire toy inventory of what became known as Project Octopus.

“At Lürssen, we give everything a project name, and my daughter came up with  Octopus ,” says Breman. “Along with Paul’s love for diving, plus the fact that his previous yacht was  Méduse  [“jellyfish” in French], we thought  Octopus  was a perfect project name. Little did we know then that  Octopus  would be her name once completed and delivered.” Øino says. “She was our 15th project enquiry in 1998, and so in my office, she was known as 9815.”

The proposal Lürssen created with Øino was successful, but the German shipyard soon had to resolve its first quandary – it didn’t have a shed available. “We ended up having to build her with a partner in Kiel,” Breman says. It also had to solve the matter of the explorer’s floodable garage, which had to be approved by class. “After researching multiple alternatives, the first idea that Espen drew was the one that worked the best,” he adds. “Our in-house model department then built a scale model of the garage to demonstrate how it could work. We even tested it by driving a tender in and out.”

Octopus’ s interior, meanwhile, came from a young American designer who had recently relocated from London where he’d worked with  Jon Bannenberg , to Seattle. The owner’s team chose Barnett from a small pool of interior designers to embellish the complex GA of the largest and most advanced explorer yacht ever built at the time.

“Paul Allen’s team told me the safest route would be to follow the creative direction of the owner’s two previous  Feadship  designs,” the designer says. “I did the opposite!” And the result was what Barnett describes as a “floating laboratory”, a timeless design perfectly suited to a creative genius. Included in the layout were out-of-the-box features such as a fully equipped medical centre, a storm cabin made to keep those who needed it comfortable in bad weather and a professional recording studio. “Back then, no yacht was capable of non-stop circumnavigation, while cutting an album for U2,” he says. Mick Jagger, Usher and Joss Stone are also said to have spent time in the studio – a claim no other superyacht is ever likely to make.

Barnett took a simple approach to the interior decor. While some walls are painted a neutral colour, others are covered in bee’s wing-figured eucalyptus, and it’s this vast amount of wood panelling that gives the hardy explorer the warm, comfortable feeling of a home. For Allen and Barnett, the walls were just another fun puzzle to solve. “The geometry of the panels is elegant mathematics, something Mr Allen really appreciated,” Barnett says. “The handmade veneer arrived on custom-made grids, which fitted within the yacht’s own uniquely built steel frame spacing.” The walls do not just provide insulation and conceal cableways, but originally held the ever-changing art gallery on each deck. What’s on the walls today are snapshots of  Octopus ’s adventures over the years: panoramas of Patagonian icebergs, portraits of local tribe members in Tahiti and landscapes of Asia’s ancient golden temples.

An original feature that remains on the yacht to this day is an unusual timekeeping device. Braided stainless-steel shrouds from a sailing vessel are strung on either side of the grand staircase from lower to upper deck, and they function as a clock. “I combined the old tradition of having a central clock on board a ship with my client’s unique passions for modern sculpture, mathematics, art and music,” Barnett explains. “I subcontracted a 102-year-old German specialist clock company to make it, and – I’ll tell you a secret – I used digital audio software from Apple for the tunes. Sorry, Microsoft!” he says with a laugh. “I thought the clock might become a helpful visual cue to help guests find some critical orientation. Every 15 minutes, the strings could play anything from  The Bells of St Mary’s  to Jimi Hendrix!”

Octopus  was also fitted with an huge amount of onboard electronics. “Of course, the co-founder of Microsoft required more than 54 tonnes of AV and IT equipment on board,” Øino says with a smile. While the bulk of the wiring went to the studio, each cabin was assigned 60 cables for computers, entertainment systems and more, including touchscreens – which in 1998, was an exciting innovation. “They were amazing,” says Øino, “so far ahead of their time.” The touchscreens are still used today by the crew, who also use iPads as infotainment control panels for elements such as lighting and music in guest areas.

When  Octopus  launched in 2003, it was clear she had broken new ground. With diesel-electric propulsion consisting of two ABB electric motors and eight MTU 16V 4000 M50 diesel engines, she was perfectly equipped to travel anywhere in the world. “ Octopus  was always on the go,” Øino says. “Diesel-electric wasn’t commonplace in the early millennium,” he observes, and “ Octopus  was the first yacht with dynamic positioning.”

The project propelled Lürssen into the large-yacht segment and her designers had a huge career boost. “ Octopus  blew everyone away,” Breman says. “The idea and the design are something unprecedented.” What the first aerial photographs of the yacht could make out were her winged wheelhouse, long swimming pool, two helidecks and hangars and a basketball court. Whereas on the inside, areas such as the dive centre with hyperbaric chamber, 12 cabins and private owner’s deck with its own lift, terrace and spa pool were out of sight.

After a decade of extensive travelling,  Octopus ’s engines had to be overhauled. However, her interior had worn well. “There was nothing that required a major redesign or change,” Barnett says. “All the original architecture, spaces, surfaces and design details still performed exceptionally well. Seeing it made me immensely proud.”

Although she was well-maintained and in full working order, in 2019 she was sent for a refit at the Lürssen-owned  Blohm+Voss  shipyard to prepare her for the market several months after Allen passed in 2018. She had spent two decades playing host to many parties, concerts, discoveries and expeditions, and the legacy needed to continue.

In 2021, a new owner came along with plans to make her available for select charters. Transforming  Octopus  into the remarkable charter yacht that he envisioned required a few more changes. The owner’s team enlisted Adriana Monk of  Monk Design  to retouch several spaces. Top of the list was replacing the recording studio.

“Unless you’re really into music, a studio is a niche thing to have,” says Alan Pike, one of two rotational captains. Now in the studio’s prime position – aft on the bridge deck – is a modern bar/ lounge. On either side of the new bar, new guitars hang from the original wall mounts and the grand piano has stayed put. In keeping with the beach bar look Monk created, new bleached oak flooring matches the original weathered teak deck outside.

“The vocal booth is now a DJ booth,” says the captain. “We’ve kept the soundproofing, so this place is perfect for a party, or any kind of dining.” With a new sound system and outdoor lighting, “we can really go for it”. Outdoors, there’s a glass- bottom pool that, at the touch of a button, can be made into an on-water dance floor. There’s also a wood-fired pizza oven, a service bar with a beer tap and three barbecue cooking stations.

On the entertainment deck, the former formal dining room became a wine bar. On the ceiling are scenes from Allen’s 2015 shipwreck dive to the Second World War battleship  Musashi  in the Philippines. “I was granted exclusive access to the ROV footage of the  Musashi  expedition to select shipwreck stills for the backlit ceiling,” Monk says.

Nearby, the guest observation lounge was, and still is, a firm favourite. “To dine here while cruising is a joy that’s hard to describe,” says Barnett. “I like to think of this area’s design as a mid-century sunken living room.” The feeling is created by two large sofas that snake around the room looking out over the bow. The seats look low, but the view is perfect. The rest of the deck is fun and social, as there’s also a 12-seat 4D cinema, the owner’s chef ’s galley, a table-tennis table, gym, smoothie bar, hair and massage salons and a grand library, complete with an ethanol fireplace.

Soft beige and cream carpets with wave patterns have replaced patterned blue and green rugs, and in addition to the new custom-designed pieces, free-standing items of furniture selected by Monk have helped give the interior a feel that suits  Octopus ’s new charter lifestyle. But it’s nothing dramatic. “We have kept as much as possible true to the original,” the captain says. “I strove to respect the spirit of  Octopus  while capturing the new owner’s lifestyle and vision,” Monk adds. “It was an intense and challenging project.”

The yacht’s charter schedule was entrusted to  Camper & Nicholsons .  Octopus ’s range of 12,500 nautical miles and true explorer credentials offer a huge scope for charter, and as the ripples prove on the hull’s strong plating, she is more than capable of going the distance. “She can do anything!” says charter marketing manager Gayle Patterson, who has already booked the superyacht on two excursions to Antarctica. The demand has been equal to the yacht’s renown. “We’ve grown our yacht management team to give her the care she deserves,” she adds.

Since  Octopus  was delivered, many more superyachts have adopted technologically forward designs and groundbreaking engineering and have undertaken impressive expeditions. But none have achieved what  Octopus  has. As she continues to move around the world, more people will get the opportunity to step on board. And when they do, perhaps they will feel the undeniable magic that seems to linger. One thing is for sure: wherever  Octopus  carries her guests, it is a journey they will remember for the rest of their lives.

The Toy Chest

Built to explore,  Octopus  has an incredible fleet that revolves around the cavernous 36-metre internal wet dock where the two main tenders are stored and launched through a giant transom door. Today the main tender is an 18-metre Delta 54, built in carbon with an impressive range of 450nm at 30 knots; the original was  Man-of-War , an 18-metre custom Vikal, later replaced by a 13-metre Hinckley. Sharing that space was a yellow 10-person custom submarine, named  Pagoo . A new Triton 3300/6 will take that spot when it is delivered in early 2023. Most of the other tenders have dedicated garages on either side of the wet dock. They are a 9.3-metre custom Vikal limousine and two 8.7-metre custom Zodiacs, one for diving, the other for guests. Two 5.8-metre Zodiac Milpro MK-V are also available for watersports, as is an array of WaveRunners, jet skis, kayaks, surfboards, wakeboards, kitesurfers, windsurfers and electric foil Fliteboards, plus plenty of diving equipment, The icing on the cake is a remotely controlled submarine (ROV) able to dive to 2,700 metres. To conclude this impressive list,  Octopus  has two helipads and a helicopter hangar for two. Moving forward, helicopters will be chartered as needed.

The Voyages

Octopus  is one of the most active superyachts ever built. Multiple circumnavigations, the  Northwest Passage , the High Arctic,  Antarctica , Papua New Guinea and Challenger Deep were all on the menu. One of Paul Allen’s passions was naval history. A few missions that offered the opportunity for great discoveries were well publicised, like the discovery of the Japanese warship  Musashi  in the Sibuyan Sea in March 2015 after eight years of intense work. The largest battleship ever built (aside from her sistership) sank in October 1944, but the exact location was unknown.  OctoROV  took the first photos of this lost wreck in a depth of 1,000 metres. Later that year, in August, after two attempts, another expedition recovered the bell of HMS  Hood , sunk by the Germans off Greenland in 1941.

And it looks like the story will continue.  Octopus , according to BOAT Pro data, has already cruised 9,047 nautical miles since leaving Marseille after her refit in December. In less than three months, she had already crossed the Atlantic and visited Panama including Coiba, Costa Rica and Cocos Island and the Galápagos. This winter, Camper & Nicholsons has announced that she will be heading south to test her ice-class capabilities in the frozen landscapes of Antarctica once again.

For more information please visit: www.boatinternational.com

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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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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.

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.”

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:

Courtesy of Camper & Nicholsons

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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OCTOPUS YACHT CHARTER

126.2m  /  414'1   lurssen   2003 / 2021.

• Previous Yacht

Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• Stunning interiors with 13 guest suites
• Vast Owner's deck, including bar, Jacuzzi, alfresco dining area and private elevator
• Large aft swimming pool surrounded by loungers and full cocktail bar
• Cinema suite
• Superb wellness amenities
• Glass-bottomed observation lounge on her tank deck
• 2 helicopters with dedicated hangar
• Personal submarine for 8 people, plus 2 crew
• Dive centre with hyperbaric chamber
• 12,500nm range

With a range of 12,500nm, Octopus is ideal for the adventurous at heart

The 126.2m/414'1" 'Octopus' expedition yacht built by the German shipyard Lurssen is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 13 cabins. This yacht features interior styling by American designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

For adventures off the beaten track, Expedition yacht Octopus has all the bells and whistles, designed to offer a sublime combination of luxury and convivial spaces that serve to welcome you from the moment you step onboard. She has sensational features such as a helipad, movie theatre, spa, elevator, underwater lights, beach club and gym.

Guest Accommodation

Built in 2003, Octopus offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 13 suites comprising a master suite and twelve double cabins. The supremely spacious full beam master suite benefits from a his and her bathroom. A crew of forty-two, who specialize in creating exceptional charters, are on hand to provide guests with a yacht charter vacation to remember.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

A charter on Octopus is comfortable and convenient thanks to the provided amenities including a dancefloor where you and your guests can celebrate in style. Meanwhile Octopus boasts a movie theatre, perfect to relax after a long day on the water. Revive yourself after an intense workout in the sauna and in addition take the opportunity to be thoroughly pampered and indulged in the spa. The swimming pool is perfect for exercising or admiring a romantic sunrise. Head to the beach club and take advantage of indoor-outdoor living and entertaining or a gym with all the latest equipment is available for a good work out. Sit back with a glass of champagne in the deck jacuzzi.

Octopus benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter including an elevator, making any part of the yacht quickly and easily accessible. Seamlessly travel from land to see thanks to the helipad and in addition stay connected to the outside world on long voyages with satellite communications. Make your evenings more memorable with stunning underwater lights or with Wi-Fi connectivity you don't have to lose contact with the outside world, unless you want to. You can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

Built with a steel hull and steel superstructure, she offers greater on-board space and is more stable when at anchor thanks to her full-displacement hull. Powered by 8 x MTU engines, she comfortably cruises at 12 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 19 knots with a range of up to 12,500 nautical miles from her 1,034,000 litre fuel tanks at cruising speed. An advanced stabilisation system on board reduces the side-to-side roll of the yacht and promises guests exceptional comfort levels at anchor or when underway.

Set against the backdrop of your chosen cruising ground, you and your guests can enjoy endless days of fun on the water with the exceptional collection of water toys and accessories aboard Octopus. Take to the sea on a Jet Ski offering you power and control on the water. Guests can experience the thrill and adventure of riding one of the four Yamaha FX140 WaveRunners. Additionally, there are towable toys offering fun and adventure. If that isn't enough Octopus also features waterskis, a Kite Surfer, kayaks, WindSurfers, fishing equipment and much more. When it comes to Tenders, Octopus has you covered - with five tenders, including a 18.1m/59'5" Delta Powerboats Tender.

Octopus is available upon request for charter this winter. She is already accepting bookings this summer for cruising in Northern Europe.

This ocean-going luxury charter expedition yacht carries up to 42 professional crew who will cater to your every need.

TESTIMONIALS

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Octopus Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Octopus has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Octopus is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x 18.1m  /  59'5 Delta Powerboats 54' Tender
• 1 x 9.34m  /  30'8 Vikal Custom Limo Tender with 2 x 260 HP engines
• 2 x 8.7m  /  28'7 Zodiac Custom Tender
• 2 x 5.8m  /  19' Zodiac Milpro MK-V Tender Volvo 70 HP engine
• 1 x 4.7m  /  15'5 Zodiac RIB

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

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For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Octopus' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

$2,200,000 p/week + expenses

High Season

Cruising Regions

Northern Europe Norway

Winter Season

October - April

Please enquire .

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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

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2 years after being seized, the Russian oligarch’s $580 million megayacht which is even bigger than Jeff Bezos’ Koru left Trieste and sailed for Venice. Just so that it would not escape on the high seas the 469 feet long vessel was guarded by armed ships of the Italian forces.

Not a Saudi prince or an oligarch, but it is American video game billionaire Gabe Newell that has an armada of luxury yachts worth around $1 billion. Take a look at his 6 vessels that range from an research vessel, a 365 feet long luxury yacht and even a hospital ship.

Two swimming pools, a beach club, a waterfall, an aquarium, and a helipad – Designed by an influencer this stunning 255 feet superyacht concept looks more like a gliding resort.

While his brother owns the world’s largest superyacht – This billionaire sheik may have bought himself the newly launched $450 million Lurssen Opera megayacht – The 478 feet long vessel is spread across 7 decks, has a large swimming pool, and a beach club.

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

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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

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

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?

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.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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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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The superyacht world is speculating that Mark Zuckerberg just bought this 118-meter boat

• The 118-meter superyacht Launchpad made her maiden voyage last week.
• The yacht world is speculating that her owner is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
• Here's what we know about the luxury vessel.

In the world of superyachts , privacy is the most valuable asset. It can be next to impossible to discern the details of a superyacht transaction — and that's particularly true if the vessel in question is worth nine figures.

Yet some in the boat blogging world are speculating that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the new owner of Launchpad, a megayacht currently moored in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after she made her maiden voyage from Gibraltar to St Maarten last week. Launchpad clocks in at 118 meters long, about nine meters shorter than Jeff Bezos' superyacht Koru .

The transaction could not be confirmed, with yacht world insiders declining to share what they know and representatives for Zuckerberg not responding to a request for comment from Business Insider. In the past, reports about Zuckerberg owning superyacht Ulysses have proven false.

Related stories

"It is Feadship's standard policy to never divulge any information about our yachts with reference to ownership, costs, or delivery, etc," Feadship, the ship's builder, wrote to BI. "Whether it is an 18-meter Feadship from the 1960s or a 118-meter Feadship from the 21st century, we do not share private information."

But Zuckerberg's name has been connected to Launchpad for a few months now, beginning in December when reports swirled that he visited Feadship's shipyard in the Netherlands.

Then, earlier in March, yachting bloggers like eSysman SuperYachts and Autoevolution started speculating that he officially snagged the boat, originally built for a sanctioned Russian businessman, at a $300 million price tag. (While that's a seemingly huge amount, it's still less than 0.2% of Zuckerberg's $177 billion net worth.)

Another clue that might point to US ownership is that the yacht bears the flag of the Marshall Islands, a US territory and commonplace for American buyers to register their ships, according to public marine tracking.

If Zuckerberg were to have bought Launchpad, he would join a cohort of superyacht-owning tech billionaires . Along with Bezos, the likes of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have purchased impressive boats with even more impressive amenities.

SuperYacht Times , an industry publication and intelligence platform, has some of the best images of the yacht. Photos show a swimming pool on her main deck and a large helipad.

While less is known of the interior, a vessel of her size can likely sleep dozens of guests and crew and may have amenities like an expansive gym where Zuckerberg could practice his jiu-jitsu or a spa with a massage area. We suspect there's also space for plenty of toys — which could include his viral hydrofoil foil .

Do you have any details about Launchpad or any other superyachts? Email reporter Madeline Berg at [email protected].

Watch: Walmart heiress' superyacht vandalized by activists in Ibiza

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Science | Updated: March 13, 2024 | Originally Published: October 31, 2013

Ten Wild Facts About Octopuses: They Have Three Hearts, Big Brains and Blue Blood

These bizarre creatures have been around for hundreds of millions of years, and for humans, they’ve inspired horror, admiration and culinary prestige

Rachel Nuwer; Updated by Sonja Anderson

Octopuses, those whip-smart, bizarre cephalopods , embody everything creepy and mysterious about the sea. Their soft, squishy bodies, lurking in the oceans’ dark reaches, have inspired monsters from the sailor-eating Kraken of Nordic legend to the Caribbean sea demon Lusca . The creatures’ otherworldly forms and unfurling tentacles have inspired modern monsters and villains, too—think Disney’s sea witch Ursula or Spider-Man’s enemy Doctor Octopus . (And don’t forget the many octopus-themed horror movies .)

As science journalist Katherine Harmon Courage writes in her 2013 book, Octopus! The Most Mysterious Creature in the Sea , octopuses are more than culinary delicacies or ogle-worthy curiosities. They’re intelligent, anatomically unique creatures that have inspired both ancient Greek philosophy and Japanese erotic art. Here, we highlight a few of the animals’ fascinating traits, from their ability to play to their tragic sex lives.

1. Octopuses have been around for a long time.

The oldest known fossil of an octopus ancestor belongs to an animal that lived some 330 million years ago , long before the dinosaurs. Discovered in Montana’s Bear Gulch limestone formation and described in 2022, the specimen has ten limbs, whereas modern octopuses have eight. Previously, the oldest octopus fossil found was an approximately 296-million-year-old, soft-bodied invertebrate called Pohlsepia mazonensis . Harmon Courage described it as a “cow patty—flattened out into a globular splat,” but a close examination revealed the telltale eight arms, two eyes and possibly an ink sac. Long before life on land had progressed beyond puny reptiles, octopuses had already established their shape for millions of years to come.

2. Octopuses have three hearts.

Two of the hearts work exclusively to move blood past the animal’s gills, where it releases carbon dioxide and gains oxygen. Then, the third heart circulates that oxygen-rich blood to the organs and muscles, giving them energy. But the latter heart actually stops beating when the octopus swims, explaining the species’ penchant for crawling rather than swimming, which exhausts them.

3. The plural of octopus is octopuses.

The word “octopus” comes from the Greek oktopus , meaning “eight foot,” and its plural form has long sparked debate. The first attempt at making the word plural was “octopi,” using a common pattern in Latin words, such as how “alumnus” becomes “alumni” when pluralized. Others have argued that, as a word that stems from Greek, “octopus” as a plural should incorporate a Greek word ending, becoming “octopodes.” But with the English adoption of the word, a classic English “-es” has become the generally accepted pluralization of octopus. Sorry, “octopi” and “octopodes.”

4. Octopuses aren’t as dumb as Aristotle thought they were.

In History of Animals , written around 350 B.C.E., the Greek philosopher claimed , “The octopus is a stupid creature, for it will approach a man’s hand if it be lowered in the water; but it is neat and thrifty in its habits: that is, it lays up stores in its nest, and, after eating up all that is eatable, it ejects the shells and sheaths of crabs and shellfish, and the skeletons of little fishes.” After describing a few more quirks of octopus life—it releases ink for self-defense, it’s slimy, it can crawl on land—he signs off with a flippant burn on the octopus’ phylum : “So much for the mollusca.”

Aristotle’s dismissal has since been proved wrong. Octopuses have big brains for their size, and they’re able to figure things out, like how to open a clamshell that’s been wired shut . They can navigate mazes, solve problems, remember solutions and take things apart for fun. Octopuses even have distinct personalities, as explored in the Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher . Finally, the cephalopods play —in one instance, by conducting a pseudo-game of catch with a floating bottle.

5. Octopus’ arms have a mind of their own.

Two-thirds of an octopus’ neurons reside in its arms, not its head. As a result, some of the arms can figure out how to crack open a shellfish while the rest of the animal is busy doing something else, like checking out a cave for more edible goodies. Octopus tentacles can even react after they’ve been completely severed from a dead animal. In one experiment, amputated tentacles jerked and curled up when researchers pinched them.

6. Octopus ink doesn’t just hide the animal.

The ink also physically harms enemies. It contains a compound called tyrosinase , which, in humans, helps to control the production of the natural pigment melanin. But when sprayed in a predator’s eyes, tyrosinase causes irritation. It also garbles creatures’ senses of smell and taste.

7. Octopuses have blue blood.

To survive in the deep ocean, octopuses’ blood is powered by a copper-containing protein called hemocyanin , instead of the more common, iron-based hemoglobin in human blood. Whereas our iron-rich blood is red when it meets oxygen, the copper in octopus blood makes it appear blue. Hemocyanin, a bigger protein, transports oxygen more efficiently in the extreme environments inhabited by octopuses: At the bottom of the ocean, water temperatures are very low, and there isn’t much oxygen around. Unfortunately, octopuses’ blood also causes them to be extremely sensitive to changes in acidity. If the surrounding water’s pH dips too low, the animals can’t circulate enough oxygen to survive. Accordingly, researchers worry about what will happen to octopuses as climate change increases the ocean’s acidity .

8. To some, octopuses are erotic muses.

“ Tentacle erotica ” goes as far back as a sensual 1814 woodblock print , published in Katsushika Hokusai’s Kinoe no Komatsu collection of erotic books. According to Harmon Courage, the image takes inspiration from a legend about a female shell diver who is chased by sea creatures, including octopuses, after attracting the eye of a sea dragon god. As Japanese art curator Ann Yonemura wrote for the Pulverer Collection , the 1814 print referred to a longtime erotic association with abalone divers . “Nonetheless,” she notes, “the unease that many viewers initially experience arises in part from the startling realism of the octopus.”

9. After mating, it’s game over for octopuses.

Mating and parenthood are brief affairs for octopuses, which die shortly after. The species practices external fertilization. A male inserts his spermatophores directly into the female’s mantle cavity, using his hectocotylus , a special, longer arm. Afterward, the male’s “ sex arm ” falls off, and the animal dies. As for the females, they can lay up to 400,000 eggs , which they obsessively guard and tend to. To prioritize their motherly duties, females stop eating . By the time their eggs hatch, female octopuses are either dying or dead. Their optic glands rapidly produce self-destructive chemicals, causing a rapid change in cholesterol metabolism and ultimately killing them. Some captive octopus mothers have been known to intentionally speed up their own deaths by mutilating themselves .

10. Most of the octopus we eat comes from North and West Africa.

Octopus meat has been a popular food item in East Asia, Spain, Greece and other countries for centuries, and recently, its demand extended to the United States and beyond.

But such culinary prevalence has had an impact on octopus populations around the world. The international demand for octopus inspired North and West African fisheries to start targeting the animals in the 1980s, and overfishing in those waters has shifted the industry from Morocco to Mauritania and, more recently, Senegal . According to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership , worldwide production of octopus has now surpassed 550,000 tons per year.

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Rachel Nuwer | | READ MORE

Rachel Nuwer is a freelance science writer based in Brooklyn.

Sonja Anderson | READ MORE

Sonja Anderson is a writer and reporter based in New York City.

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Yacht Rock Gold Experience 2024 (Aventura)

Experience the ultimate Yacht Rock Gold Experience at Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on June 22, 2024. This exclusive concert will take place at 3385 NE 188th Street, Aventura, FL, 33180, featuring a lineup of classic hits that will transport you back to the smooth sounds of the 70s and 80s. From soft rock to smooth grooves, this event promises to be a memorable journey through the golden age of yacht rock. Tickets for this not-to-be-missed event will be available for purchase starting from March 8, 2024, at 5:00 PM, until June 23, 2024, at midnight. Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of Yacht Rock Gold live on stage. Mark your calendars and secure your tickets for a night filled with timeless music and unforgettable memories.

Provided by AustinKelly | Published Mar 19, 2024

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Animal Behavior

The fascinating secret social lives of octopuses, author sy montgomery explains what it is like to be an octopus..

Updated March 15, 2024 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

• Based on the latest scientific research and wonderful stories, 'Secrets of the Octopus' is a must-read.
• One of the most astonishing fields of inquiry centers on octopuses' social lives; they're not loners.
• Almost everything we once thought we knew about octopuses is wrong.

Octopuses are amazing animals. They're extremely intelligent and highly emotional, sentient, large-brained beings whose behavior continues to fascinate people around the world. Award-winning author Sy Montgomery—often called the "octopus whisperer" based on her outstanding book The Soul of an Octopus —along with Warren K. Carlyle IV, have produced a new book titled Secrets of the Octopus that will endlessly fascinate readers. Did you know that the large brain of these amazing animals occupies their whole body—not just their heads? And they can adjust their genetic makeup to respond to the demands of the environment ? And octopus mothers are deeply dedicated to their children even though they usually die shortly after their offspring hatch?

I'm thrilled that Sy could answer a few questions about her landmark book based on the latest science and wonderful stories. Here's what she had to say about what it is like to be an octopus.

Why did you write Secrets of the Octopus ?

My first book about octopuses, The Soul of an Octopus , caught everyone, including me, by surprise. The book became an unexpected bestseller and was an even more unexpected finalist for the National Book Award. The book even inspired the creation of OctoNation, the world's largest octopus fan club! And then, suddenly, octopuses were everywhere: on mugs and tee-shirts, tattooed on people's skin, headlining in magazines and newspapers and research journals.

Craig Foster's film My Octopus Teacher won an Oscar. Remarkably Bright Creatures , a novel starring an octopus protagonist, became an overnight hit. And while I had earlier always kept an eye out for news about octopuses, now it seemed there was a virtual explosion of new scientific discoveries about these intelligent, sensitive marine invertebrates—and the research was attracting attention (and presumably funding) like never before.

So when National Geographic contacted me about writing a book to pair with the new film series the iconic society was creating for television, I accepted with delight. This allowed me to take a deep dive into octopus research, much of which was entirely new and almost unimaginably exciting since I had first begun working on The Soul of an Octopus in 2011.

How does your book relate to your backgrounds and general areas of interest?

All my books are about animals, and all of them—from the picture books for little people too young to read to the ones that also delve into philosophy and science—reveal the same truth: Our world is full of wonders that should split our hearts open with awe . The new research highlighted in this book shows that octopuses are even more dazzling than we previously understood—gifted with otherworldly powers, from their senses to their intellect to, in some cases, their unexpectedly complex social lives.

Who do you hope to reach in your interesting and important book?

Nature lovers, science lovers, and folks intrigued by sea life.

What are some of the major topics you consider?

The book, like the TV series, is divided into three parts, reflecting new discoveries about octopus camouflage, intelligence , and (surprisingly!) sociality. The octopus's ability to change color and shape has always seemed magical, but today, scientists are documenting how these animals do far more than match their background; several species masquerade as animals as utterly different from themselves as snakes and flatfish. Others mimic the weather! These powers are under the octopus' conscious control and demand a level of intelligence wholly unexpected in a creature closely related to clams and snails.

Octopuses use tools. They will lug two coconut halves, for instance, long distances for later assembly as a safe Quonset hut. They may seize shells as shields to protect themselves against attackers.

And for me, one of the most astonishing fields of inquiry looks into octopuses' social lives. When I began researching my earlier book, it was thought that almost all octopus species were loners, coming together only for copulation or cannibalism (and sometimes both: Occasionally, a romantic encounter turns out to be a literal dinner date, when the female eats the male). Not so! Several species of octopus previously believed to be solitary—including the giant Pacific octopus, the species most often displayed in public aquaria—have now been documented living in aggregations so tightly packed they resemble octo condos. An Australian species known as the gloomy octopus (not because they are sad; they just have big, expressive eyes) has been documented living in dens so closely packed together that two study sites are known as "Octopolis" and "Octlantis."

Octopuses also work together with fishy associates, cooperatively hunting prey, like a person with a German short-hair pointer. A fish will come and signal to the octopus that it's found a good spot where they can both find good prey. The fish may point out the spot, and the octopus will pour its bendy, almost liquid arms into a crevice that the fish could never reach. Both species benefit.

In fact, the one thing that can be said about our new understanding of octopuses is that almost everything we once thought we knew about octopuses is wrong!

How does your book differ from others that are concerned with some of the same general topics?

There are some excellent books out on the octopus right now, such as my friend David Scheel's Many Things Under a Rock and Other Minds by another friend of mine, the philosopher Peter Godfrey-Smith. These books rightly highlight the work of their authors—as my Soul of an Octopus mainly focused on my own personal experience with individual animals. Secrets of the Octopus , however, showcases brand-new, groundbreaking research by a variety of researchers around the world. And it's paired with octo-profiles of some of the mind-blowing species, written by OctoNation founder Warren Carlyle, and with astonishing images for which National Geographic is justly world-renowned.

Are you hopeful that as people learn more about these amazing beings, they will be more open to developing and maintaining a relationship of coexistence that is a win-win for everyone?

Absolutely! And that's especially important right now, as our oceans are increasingly endangered by global warming, pollution, ship traffic, over-fishing, and noise—not to mention the cruel and environmentally dangerous plans to factory farm octopuses in the Canary Islands. With everything I write, I aim to help readers join me in falling in love anew with this life and with the creatures in it. For once we do, we deepen our commitment to treat all our neighbors—human and non, vertebrate and invertebrate—with renewed respect and compassion. Who better than octopuses to show us the way?

In conversation with award-winning author Sy Montgomery , called “Equal parts poet and scientist” by The New York Times and “Part Indiana Jones and part Emily Dickinson" by The Boston Globe . Sy has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda, hunted by a tiger in India, and swam with piranhas, electric eels and pink dolphins in the Amazon, and her work has taken her from the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea (for a book on tree kangaroos) to the Altai Mountains of the Gobi (for another on snow leopards). Octopus expert Warren K. Carlyle IV, is the founder and CEO of OctoNation®, the world's largest octopus fan club, a nonprofit organization with over a million followers. Dubbed the OctoKing by Sy Montgomery, OctoNation has evolved into a world-class community, regularly collaborating with a global network of underwater photographers, marine biologists, research institutions, artists, celebrities, aquarists, and octopus fans. These connections have led to groundbreaking discoveries and engaging educational content that captivates audiences worldwide.

Octopuses: The Fascinating Lives of Sensitive, Clever Beings ; What Is It Like to Be an Octophant?

Marc Bekoff, Ph.D. , is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

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Are Nvidia, Tesla Employee Stock Grants Allowing Staff To Buy Yachts — Former AI Chief Says 'Most People Don't HODL'

Andrej Karpathy , former director of AI at EV giant Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), said on Sunday that a few Tesla employees might be on a yacht right now, thanks to their stock grants , like Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) employees.

What Happened: Karpathy said that the company has had “very few” true believers of the company working there and taking all employee stock options over a decade. These people did not sell the stock immediately and could now be on a yacht, Karpathy said, while adding that most of these long-term holders, however, are likely awaiting for Tesla to achieve fully autonomous driving with its FSD software before they sell at a premium.

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However, many employees do sell, Karpathy acknowledged. “Most people don't HODL…,” Karpathy said. He was responding to Openfounder co-founder JD Ross who reminisced about his roommate who went on to join Nvidia after graduating in 2013. “I wonder which yacht he lives on now,” Ross wrote.

Nvidia Vs. Tesla Growth: Both Nvidia and Tesla provide their employees with stock grants. While Nvidia shares have risen about 1879% over the past five years and over 100,000% since listing in 1999, Tesla shares have jumped 12,679% since listing in 2010. Compared to Nvidia, Tesla’s is a significantly smaller jump. However, Tesla has also had fewer years on the exchange as a listed, public company.

Why It Matters: Musk has often hailed stock grants at Tesla. In March 2022, the company CEO said in an X post that Tesla has made several workers millionaires with stock grants. He attributed it as among the reasons for the company not having witnessed unionization thus far.

However, in December, Bloomberg reported that the EV giant did not offer any merit-based equity awards in 2023 to some of its salaried employees. Tesla employees usually get merit-based stock grants in addition to their existing equity during performance reviews. Whether this is a long-term shift in Tesla’s compensation plan is unknown, the report said.

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