Largest superyacht in America bought by Google co-founder undergoes change
- The Project Alibaba superyacht has been renamed ahead of delivery
- Rumor has it, Google co-founder Sergey Brin has acquired the luxury vessel
- The superyacht, which launched prematurely in December 2023, is now scheduled for delivery later this year
Published on Nov 05, 2024 at 2:51 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Nov 05, 2024 at 5:30 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
You’d be forgiven for assuming the largest superyacht in America is owned by Jeff Bezos or even Mark Zuckerberg.
However, the $450 million luxury vessel is reportedly owned by Sergey Brin, the billionaire co-founder of Google.
Since that initial report, there’s been a further development that all but confirms the identity of its owner.
To date, we’ve been referring to the megayacht as ‘Project Alibaba’, but its official name has now been revealed.
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What’s the official name of the superyacht?
The latest megayacht to leave the shed at luxury shipyard Lurssen now has an official name.
One of the largest private vessels in the world now goes by the name ‘Dragonfly’.
And, it just so happens, that’s the name of the main vessel in Brin’s Fly Fleet.
Has it been confirmed Brin is the owner?
Project Alibaba was due to be delivered to the Russian oligarch who commissioned her following completion.
When the shipyard was unable to do that, rumors started circulating that Brin had stepped in to buy the superyacht after the Google co-founder listed Dragonfly, the crown jewel of his own private flotilla, for sale.
Sports billionaire Shahid Khan also owns a 400-foot-long megayacht, that is also made by the same shipyard.
Out with the old, in with the new
Brin is no stranger to superyacht ownership.
His so-called Fly Fleet comprised of three yachts of various sizes: Dragonfly, Butterfly, and Firefly.
Until earlier this year, the crown jewel of his private flotilla was Dragonfly, a 2009 SilverYachts superyacht with a reported $80 million price tag.
At 73.3 meters (240 feet) in length, and with an interior volume of 833 GT, Dragonfly is one of just two superyachts of its kind built by the Australian yard.
It therefore came as a surprise when the vessel was listed for $30 million but, as it turns out, Brin had another Dragonfly waiting in the wings.
Brin’s new superyacht
Lurssen’s largest superyacht, Dragonfly, formerly known as Project Alibaba, has room enough for 24 guests in 12 staterooms.
The vessel requires a 45-person crew to serve the guests.
It also has two helipads (front and back), a beach club, and multiple swimming pools.
However, it’s still shorter than some of the world’s other megayachts.
The yacht’s owner, Brin, is known to enjoy skating, skiing, gymnastics, and trapeze.
So, a superyacht like Project Ali Baba is the perfect addition to his thrill-seeker life.
Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
