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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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how big 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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Paul Allen's 414-foot superyacht is for sale for $325 million. Take a look at the late Microsoft cofounder's yacht, which has 2 helipads and a glass-bottomed underwater lounge.

  • Paul Allen's former 414-foot superyacht is for sale for 295 million euros , or about $325 million, yacht brokerage Burgess told Business Insider.
  • The Lürssen-built yacht, Octopus , has eight decks, an elevator, a cinema, two helipads, and a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge.
  • The yacht, which Allen reportedly paid about $200 million to have built, has been spotted cruising all around the world in places like Cannes , Hong Kong , Argentina, the Philippines, and even Antarctica .
  • The late Microsoft cofounder was known to throw lavish themed parties on board that were attended by A-listers including George Lucas , Mick Jagger, Karlie Kloss , and Chloe Sevigny.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Insider Today

A superyacht that belonged to late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen has hit the market for 295 million euros, or about $325 million, yacht brokerage Burgess told Business Insider.

The 414-foot yacht, Octopus, has eight decks, an elevator, a cinema, two helipads, and a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge. Allen reportedly paid about $200 million to have the superyacht built by Lürssen. It was officially launched in 2003.

Allen was known for hosting star-studded parties on his yacht during the Cannes International Film Festival in France. Guests have reportedly included George Lucas, Mick Jagger, Karlie Kloss, and Chloe Sevigny.

The vessel is one of several assets the late billionaire's estate has put up for sale since his death, including a $110 million Beverly Hills property and a MiG-29 fighter jet.

Take a look at Allen's superyacht and the places it's cruised, from Cannes and London to Argentina and Hong Kong.

Paul Allen's superyacht, Octopus, has hit the market for 295 million euros, or about $325 million.

how big is paul allen's yacht

The Microsoft cofounder, who died in October 2018 , reportedly paid about $200 million to have the superyacht built by Lürssen.

The 414-foot yacht, which was built in 2003 and refitted in 2019, has some truly lavish amenities spread out over its eight decks.

how big is paul allen's yacht

On its entertainment deck , the yacht has a cinema, gym, spa, and a basketball court. 

It also comes with a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge and a hyperbaric chamber.

On its dedicated owner's deck, Octopus has a private elevator, a private bar, a hot tub, and an al fresco dining area.

how big is paul allen's yacht

The yacht can sleep up to 26 guests across 13 cabins, as well as 63 crew members in 30 crew cabins.

The superyacht has plenty of room for toys. Octopus comes with two helipads and storage space for seven tenders, two submersibles, and a large SUV.

how big is paul allen's yacht

It comes with a Pagoo , a submarine that can accommodate eight guests and two crew for dives of up to eight hours. 

Octopus is "one of the most well-traveled yachts in the global fleet," according to Burgess.

how big is paul allen's yacht

It's an ideal explorer yacht for those who want to travel to some of the world's most remote locations, according to the yacht brokerage firm. 

The superyacht has been spotted all over the world, from the coast of Turkey ...

how big is paul allen's yacht

... to London, England ...

how big is paul allen's yacht

... to Hong Kong ...

how big is paul allen's yacht

... to southern Argentina.

how big is paul allen's yacht

According to Burgess, the superyacht has also traveled to Antarctica, the Philippines, and traversed the Northwest Passage.

Allen was known for throwing star-studded parties on board Octopus during the Cannes International Film Festival in France.

how big is paul allen's yacht

The exclusive parties had a different elaborate theme each year, from Bollywood to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," as Raisa Bruner previously reported for Business Insider.

Guests reportedly included "Rolling Stones" frontman Mick Jagger, model Karlie Kloss, and Hollywood A-listers George Lucas, Mischa Barton, John C. Reilly, and Chloe Sevigny.

At the Bollywood-themed party in 2015, dancers performed musical dance numbers for the guests.

On va dire un groupe de #danse #indienne un peu particulier... Ils dansent sur la piscine recouverte pour la soirée... #Yacht #Octopus #PrivateParty #Cannes #Bilionnaire #Lifestyle #India #Bollywood A post shared by Céline Victoria Fotso (@celinefotso) on May 19, 2015 at 4:45am PDT May 19, 2015 at 4:45am PDT

For the "A Midsummer Night's Dream" party the next year, the yacht was transformed into an enchanted garden.

#enchantedgarden party aboard #myoctopus with a basketball hoop behind me and a #yellowsubmarine below and a helicopter in front! Thanks #paulallen for another incredible night aboard #octopus #cannesfilmfestival A post shared by DANIEL BENEDICT (@danielbenedict) on May 17, 2016 at 7:13am PDT May 17, 2016 at 7:13am PDT

Guests were given flower crowns and the vessel was decked out with floral arrangements and illuminated trees.

What a dreamy night thanks #PaulAllen for yet another spectacular evening. #octopus #superyacht #cannesfilmfestival #cannes2016 #festivaldecannes 🍾🍾🍾 thanks to @ivanbittonstylehouse @ivanbitton for styling me 💞💞 A post shared by Sheila Shah (@iamsheilashah) on May 16, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT May 16, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT

While performers were always brought on board, Allen was known to get onstage himself and rock out to some Led Zeppelin.

Paul Allen is really cool! Playing Led Zeppelin himself for guests on Octopus yacht A post shared by Vasily Klyukin (@vasilyklyukin) on May 17, 2016 at 6:56am PDT May 17, 2016 at 6:56am PDT

Allen's $325 million superyacht is among several sizable assets that have been put up for sale by the late billionaire's estate since his death.

how big is paul allen's yacht

The estate is also selling a $110 million plot of land in Beverly Hills that Allen owned for more than 20 years and his MiG-29 fighter jet.

how big is paul allen's yacht

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Microsoft Cofounder Paul Allen’s 303-Foot Superyacht Has Finally Sold

The late billionaire's epic art collection is also being auctioned off later this month., rachel cormack.

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Paul Allen's superyacht Tatoosh

After nearly two years on the market, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen’s superyacht Tatoosh has sold.

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Built by German shipyard Nobiskrug , Tatoosh was first delivered to telecom exec Craig McCaw in 2000. Just one year later, Allen snapped up the steel-hulled vessel for $100 million. Named after a mountain range near the tech titan’s lifelong hometown of Seattle, Tatoosh has a generous interior volume of 3,229 GT and no less than five decks.

Paul Allen's superyacht Tatoosh

The exterior was penned in partnership with Claus Kusch, while the interior was brought to life by Terence Disdale. The yacht is full to the brim with amenities befitting a billionaire, including two helipads, a cinema with surround sound, a pool that doubles as a dance floor, a dive center with a pressure chamber, a beach club, a sauna, a beauty salon and even a basketball court.

Tatoosh can accommodate up to 19 guests across 11 staterooms, along with 31 crew. The full-beam owner’s suite features dual dressing rooms, an ensuite, a private study and an observation lounge with a bar offering uninterrupted views. Tatoosh is no slouch on the seas, either, with a top speed of 19 knots and a range of nearly 6,855 nautical miles.

The Tatoosh superyacht

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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Late Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen’s Yacht, Tatoosh, Lists for €90 Million

The vessel boasts two helicopter pads, a swimming pool, a beach club and a cinema, one of the late microsoft co-founder paul allen’s superyachts has hit the market for 90 million., newsletter sign-up, week in review.

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One of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s superyachts has hit the market for €90 million (US$90.5 million). 

The more than 300-foot vessel, known as Tatoosh, was custom-built by the German shipyard Nobiskrug, according to the listing with Fraser Yachts, which is handling the sale. 

“Having just completed an extensive refit, Tatoosh offers an exceptional layout in a Terence Disdale interior,” the listing said, referring to the U.K.-based luxury yacht and aircraft designer.  

More: San Francisco Mansion With the ‘Pacific Ocean as Your Backyard’ Lists for $32 Million

Replete with over-the-top amenities, the boat features a swimming pool, a beach club, an elevator and a screening room, the listing said. Accommodations include an owner’s full-beam stateroom—meaning it is as wide as the boat—and an adjoining apartment complex, plus 10 additional staterooms. It can accommodate up to 19 guests. 

Transportation to and from the yacht is possible via large tenders, or smaller boats made to take to shore. In addition, there are two helicopter pads.

The more than 300-foot yacht has two helicopter pads.

Tatoosh will be available for viewings during the Monaco Yacht Show, beginning Sept. 28. Fraser Yachts is marketing the yacht; a broker from the company declined to comment for this article. 

Allen, who died in 2018 at age 65, purchased the yacht in 2001 for $100 million from telecommunications entrepreneur Craig McCaw, according to an article at the time in The New York Times. 

The tech titan had a net worth of $20.8 billion when he died, according to Forbes. Allen’s sizable estate also included a 414-foot yacht, a research and recreation vessel dubbed Octopus , which sold last August. It was most recently listed for US$278 million.

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His sister, Jody Allen, is the executor and trustee of his estate, and has been selling his assets off in recent years. Christie’s announced it would auction his art collection —worth an estimated $1 billion and including works by Paul Cezanne and Jasper Johns—in November. 

In addition to his art collection, several of Allen’s luxury residences have also been sold. That includes the $101 million sale of two apartments on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in July; a collection of eight properties on Mercer Island in Washington state that sold for $67.1 million, also in July; and a Los Angeles compound that sold for $55.5 million in July 2021. 

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Microsoft co-founder Allen’s luxury yacht ‘Octopus’ at Aydin, Turkey in 2015.

Secret buyer nabs Microsoft grandee’s superyacht for £200m

For £1m a week you can rent 126-metre ship built for Paul Allen, with two helicopters, two subs and a recording studio

A vast “explorer class” superyacht built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has been sold for almost £200m, and is now available to rent for anyone with about a £1m to drop for a week.

Octopus was the world’s largest yacht when she was built for Allen in 2003 and the 126-metre vessel marked a turning point in superyacht design, capable of being used for deep sea exploration as well as living a life of luxury on the high seas.

On the market since Allen’s death in 2018, the superyacht was originally listed for sale at €295m (£250m) before being reduced to €235m. It is believed to have sold for slightly under the asking price. The Allen family office declined to comment.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen died aged 65 in 2018.

The identity of the Scandinavian buyer is unknown, but it is to be made available for charter via Mayfair-based yacht broker Camper & Nicholsons . The broker, which declined to comment, has not yet set a weekly rental price. However, other very large superyachts can cost as much as £1m a week to rent.

Octopus, the yacht of Microsoft Corp. co-founder billionaire Paul Allen, moored off Venice’s Grand Canal in 2005.

In 2019, Kylie Jenner, the Keeping up with the Kardashians reality TV star and cosmetics empire billionaire, spent €1.1m chartering the 91.5m (300ft) yacht Tranquility .

The eight-deck Octopus has 13 guest suites, including a private owner’s deck. There is also a cinema, a gym, a spa, a basketball court, a pool (which converts into a dancefloor) and a pizza oven. It features not one but two helicopters, two submarines and space for seven tenders and a large SUV. The yacht has quarters for up to 63 crew.

Allen, a keen adventurer, asked superyacht designer Espen Øino to create a yacht capable of carrying out expeditions. “It was a very ambitious brief, because none of the tenders, tools, RVs, subs, helicopters could be outside – they should all be concealed,” Øino has said.

The Octopus pops up in June 2020.

The ship was used by the Titanic director, James Cameron, for a dive to the bottom of the 10,925 metres to the Mariana trench, the deepest point in the world.

Allen also used the ship to help to recover the bell from the British battleship HMS Hood, which was sunk by the Bismarck in the North Atlantic.

“When I first stood on the bridge, I felt as though I was on a spaceship,” Allen wrote in his autobiography Idea Man. He said having a pool, basketball court, cinema, and recording studio on the boat meant “all my passions come together in one movable feast”.

Paul Allen’s yacht Octopus moored at Canary Wharf during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

“It turns out if you go 1,000 ft down in the ocean, it’s really dark, and the animals are really strange,” Allen said in 2011. “But if you put on some Pink Floyd, it’s fantastic.”

The onboard recording studio has been used by Mick Jagger, Bono, Usher and Joss Stone. Øino has said equipping the recording studio to Allen’s demands had been a particular challenge.

“Mr Allen’s interest in music was enormous and the acoustic quality was nothing less than a shore-based one,” Øino said. “There were 54 tonnes of AV/IT equipment aboard. A very complex boat in many ways. I think he loved it.”

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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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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

how big is paul allen's yacht

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Paul Allen’s Superyacht Finds Buyer After $278 Million Listing

219 superyachts were sold in the first quarter of 2021, more than double the number during the same period in 2020, says Vessels Value.

Paul Allen. Photographer: Ramin Talaie/Bloomberg

Microsoft Corp. Co-Founder Paul Allen Paul Allen. Photographer: Ramin Talaie/Bloomberg

Bloomberg — The late Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen’s 414-foot superyacht “Octopus,” last offered for 235 million euros ($278 million), has been sold to an undisclosed buyer.

The sale comes amid a record-hot market for the world’s largest luxury boats. A surge in personal wealth due to buoyant markets and a newfound interest in private, socially distanced leisure among the ultra-rich are driving unprecedented numbers of sales of both new and used superyachts.

Two hundred and nineteen superyachts were sold in the first quarter of this year, more than double the number during the same period in 2020, according to ship valuation service Vessels Value. Would-be buyers who once preferred to dabble in renting, or chartering, before springing for a purchase are now diving right in and buying. Smaller starter yachts are being bypassed for 100-footers. The sometimes sleepy secondhand market is suddenly pulsing as clients unwilling to wait a few years for a custom build prowl for deals.

Read our best stories in our English News section

Explorer yachts such as “Octopus” are a particularly hot category. Capable of cruising 9,000 miles without needing to stop for a refuel, they minimize the number of port stops and thus, opportunities for viruses to infiltrate the guests and crew.

Put on the market about a year after Allen’s 2018 death, “Octopus” was originally offered at 295 million euros, according to its initial listing. A third longer than a football field, it’s one of the world’s largest explorer yachts, capable of traveling beyond the traditional Caribbean and Mediterranean hotspots.

A spokesperson for Burgess, one of the superyacht brokers retained to market the eight-deck vessel, along with Fraser Yachts, confirmed the sale but declined to comment further. The new owner intends to make “Octopus” available for hire for the first time from next year through yacht firm Camper & Nicholsons, according to the SuperYacht Times, which first reported the sale.

Representatives for Camper & Nicholsons didn’t respond to a request for comment. Vulcan Capital — Allen’s family office — declined to comment.

The boat’s 13 cabins can accommodate 26 guests and it also has space for 63 crew members. Other features include two elevators, two helipads, garage parking for both cars and helicopters and an eight-person submarine. The yacht is worth $208 million, excluding the submarine and other specialist equipment, according to Vessels Value estimates.

Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975 and left in 1983. He turned his stake into a $26 billion fortune over the next three decades, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Through Vulcan, Allen acquired sports teams, real estate, art and invested in startups. Allen had no spouse or children to inherit his empire, though his sister, Jody Allen, is Vulcan’s chair.

Allen had a deep affinity for the German-built superyacht. When it was first delivered in 2003, Allen was overwhelmed by its size, according to his 2011 memoir “Idea Man.” At the time, it was the fourth-largest in the world, with the top three built for heads of state, he said.

“When I first stood on the bridge, I felt as though I was on a spaceship,” he wrote, adding that with features including a pool, basketball court, movie theater, a recording studio with ocean views, “all my passions come together in one movable feast.”

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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?

how big 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?

how big 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?

how big 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?

how big 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?

how big 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?

how big 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

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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

how big 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

how big 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?

how big 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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COMMENTS

  1. Octopus (yacht)

    Octopus is a 126-metre (413 ft) megayacht built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. She is one of the world's largest yachts. Launched in 2003 at a cost of $200 million, [1] Octopus is a private vessel that has been loaned out for exploration projects, scientific research and rescue missions. [2]

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    Katie Warren. Oct 12, 2019, 7:12 AM PDT. George Lucas and Paul Allen aboard Octopus in Cannes, France, in 2005. Dave Benett/Getty Images. Paul Allen's former 414-foot superyacht is for sale for ...

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    After nearly two years on the market, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's superyacht Tatoosh has sold. The lavish 303-footer was listed for $90 million in February 2021 following an extensive refit.

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    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.

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    "They're too big, and there are too many of them," the late Paul Allen once said about his fleet of yachts. Now, the biggest is for sale — with a price ... Allen talked about his yachts and the ...

  13. Tatoosh, a superyacht owned by Paul Allen, is sold after ...

    The sale price and buyer were not disclosed. A listing for the yacht by brokerage and management firm Fraser says the Tatoosh is no longer available and the sale was trumpeted in a brief blog post ...

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    One of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's superyachts has hit the market for €90 million (US$90.5 million). The more than 300-foot vessel, known as Tatoosh, was custom-built by the ...

  16. Paul Allen's Mega-Yacht on Sale for $326 Million

    September 6, 2019 at 9:01 AM PDT. Listen. 3:14. The late Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen 's 414-foot super yacht "Octopus" is on the market. At 295 million euros ($326 million), the ...

  17. Secret buyer nabs Microsoft grandee's superyacht for £200m

    Last modified on Fri 6 Aug 2021 13.00 EDT. A vast "explorer class" superyacht built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has been sold for almost £200m, and is now available to rent for anyone ...

  18. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's superyacht lists for $90M

    Fraser; Getty Images. 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 ...

  19. A billionaire got Paul Allen's 414-foot-long Octopus megayacht to the

    That late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's 414-foot superyacht, Octopus was the biggest yacht at this year's Monaco Grand Prix is no secret. Being big in size and stature also entails wider attention and, indeed, some very giant bills.

  20. Paul Allen's Superyacht Finds Buyer After $278 Million Listing

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