Amadea yacht sold to new owner in the USA
The famous Amadea superyacht, owned by Russian billionaire and senator Suleyman Karimov, has been sold to a new owner. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This was announced by the Business Insider publication. The U.S. Department of Justice completed the forfeiture process by selling the 106-meter luxury vessel to an unknown buyer on September 10.
The auction was organized by the National Maritime Services company in Florida. Official sources did not disclose the deal's value, but the yacht's initial price was around $300 million, later reduced to $230 million following an independent appraisal.
U.S. officials aimed to sell the yacht quickly because its maintenance cost taxpayers approximately $1 million per month. These funds covered crew salaries, fuel, and insurance expenses.
Amadea is not an ordinary ship but a true floating palace. It was built by Germany's Lürssen shipyard and its name translates from Latin as "Love of God."
The yacht consists of six decks, with interiors decorated with marble, rare wood, and precious stones. It features eight luxury cabins, a helipad, swimming pool, fitness center, spa, conference hall, wine cellar, and a lobster aquarium.
The centerpiece of the yacht is a hand-painted Pleyel grand piano, all parts of which are covered with 24-carat gold. This detail makes Amadea one of the most richly decorated private vessels in the world.
However, owning the yacht involves significant risks and legal issues. Its legal status is disputed, and some claimants have not withdrawn their demands.
Amadea was seized in the spring of 2022 in the Fiji Islands at the request of the U.S. and later brought to the port of San Diego. Although Karimov denied ownership of the yacht, the U.S. prosecutor's office presented court documents including crew testimonies and proof that the billionaire was the first passenger aboard Amadea.
Additionally, the yacht's interior design was redone at the personal request of the Karimov family, including the installation of a pizza oven and relaxation rooms. One crew member was tasked with preserving a pair of Karimov's favorite Nike sneakers.
Suleyman Karimov was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 as a person playing a significant role in advancing Russia's harmful activities. According to reports, in 2021 he agreed to purchase the yacht through trusted individuals.
Later, Amadea was registered as the property of Millemarin Investments Ltd.
Errigan Marine firm and Imperial Yachts CEO Yevgeniy Kochman also participated in this process. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, from October 2021 until the seizure, Karimov and his family members traveled on the yacht several times and developed plans to modernize and refit it for long voyages.
He spent two million dollars on maintenance and repairs. Interestingly, after the yacht was seized, former Rosneft head Eduard Khudainatov claimed to be its true owner, but the U.S. prosecutor's office considered him a front person used by Karimov to conceal ownership.
Finally, in July 2025, the New York federal court authorized the auction of Amadea. Thus, one of the world's most expensive private yachts passed to a new owner.
However, its true value and future fate remain unknown.
