After 5 years Bill Gates’ unique hydrogen fuel-cell-powered superyacht is finally ready
- Built by a Dutch shipyard, Project 821 is the first hydrogen-powered yacht of this kind
- It also has a clever heat waste recovery system that powers, among other things, the steam room
- It even has a hospital on board
Published on May 07, 2024 at 12:24 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on May 09, 2024 at 11:55 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Bill Gates is one of those celebrities who – on the surface, at least – appears to live a relatively frugal life.
The key word is he ‘appears’ to be frugal – because sometimes he does enjoy spending his billions.
And its latest purchase is probably the most high-tech yacht we’ve ever seen.
READ MORE: Bill Gates’ billionaire success comes from ‘hidden skill’
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.
But make no mistake, Gates still has enough money to make sure the next 10 or 20 generations of his family don’t have to work again, if they didn’t want to.
At the time of writing, per Forbes, he’s the ninth richest person in the world with a net worth of $129 billion.
People sometimes forget, sort of, because he’s never seen sporting flashy watches or driving exotic cars.
And he’s never really done that, not even when he was younger.
He does spend his money, though.
In 1988, he bought a gigantic property in Medina, Washington for just $2 million but then spent over $60 million to renovate it and turn it into a high-tech billionaire’s lair.
And his new ‘Project 821’ yacht, recently launched in The Netherlands, is equally high-tech.
The 388-foot yacht, five-decker is powered by hydrogen, which is a world first for a yacht of this kind.
It also has an efficient waste heat recovery system, which is used to heat up the pool, the Jacuzzi, and the steam room.
And by the way, the yacht also has a hospital on board.
Built by Feadship, a Dutch shipyard, the yacht doesn’t even have a name yet, because ‘Project 821’ is just a code name.
Interestingly, there’s a chance it won’t actually be Gates to give her a name.
This is because the billionaire commissioned the yacht, but seems determined to sell it now.
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.
