Bill Gates never stepped foot on his $645M hydrogen-powered superyacht he's now selling
- Bill Gates is selling his $645 million hydrogen yacht
- The yacht was built on commission years ago, and launched in 2021
- Interestingly, Bill Gates never actually used the yacht
Published on Apr 14, 2025 at 6:33 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jun 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Bill Gates is selling Breakthrough, a hydrogen yacht he ordered and never actually used.
Originally commissioned by Bill Gates over five years ago, and launched in 2021, the yacht is a state-of-the-art machine that combines luxury and tech.
Unfortunately for Gates, for whatever reason, he never set foot on it – not even once.
And now the yacht, worth around $645 million, is for sale.
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The story behind ‘Breakthrough’
The yacht was built by Feadship, a Dutch shipyard, specifically on commission for Bill Gates. It was initially launched in 2021 without a proper name.
At the time, the vessel was simply known as ‘Project 821’.
In line with Gates’ beliefs when it comes to climate change, the yacht is as efficient as an 388-foot (118 meter) yacht can be.
The boat, which partly runs on hydrogen, also boasts an efficient waste heat recovery system, which is used to heat up the pool, the Jacuzzi, and the steam room.
And you do need a lot of energy to run this massive colossus.
Interestingly, Bill Gates reportedly spent $645 million on this hydrogen yacht, which he only later named ‘Breakthrough’. But he’s now decided to sell it without ever setting foot on the yacht’s deck.
Then again we probably shouldn’t be surprised, considering he’s already sold Breakthrough’s support yacht, Wayfinder.
Bill Gates is known for being frugal… sometimes
Bill Gates became the richest person in the world in 1995 and held on to that particular title for over a decade.
After leaving Microsoft and giving a large chunk of his fortune away, he lost a few positions on that list. So much so that his former personal assistant, Steve Ballmer, is now nearly as rich as he is.
Gates is known for being relatively frugal, considering how rich he is, which is true, but with a few caveats.
While it is true that Microsoft founder tends to keep to a low profile, he does occasionally love splashing cash on cool luxury stuff.
For example, a while back, he had a Porsche 959 imported into the US.
In fact, Gates actually helped create a law to import his Porsche 959 to the USA.
Which is great news for Porsche fans. But we’d love to know what happened with the ship…
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
