Florida man revealing cost of running a $12,000,000 yacht warns against buying one if you don't have big pockets
Published on Feb 03, 2026 at 12:34 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 02, 2026 at 7:35 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A Florida man has revealed the cost of running a $12 million luxury yacht, with many extra expenses you wouldn’t think about, making it a costly venture.
YouTuber Ben Mallah bought the massive yacht for less than half of its original value, but that didn’t mean it would be cheaper to run.
Early in the video, the YouTuber warned that you have to have deep pockets and not to finance it, given the number of things you have to pay for.
The video highlights just how many extra costs are involved with any yacht or superyacht.
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What makes a yacht so expensive to run?
Forget the outright cost of the yacht, but there are plenty of things that make running one so pricey.
For starters, where are you going to keep the luxury vessel?
Mallah says you will need a dock, and that could cost anything from $10,000-$15,000 a month.
Then you need to think of staff costs, for example, if you hire a captain.
Most yacht owners won’t want to drive it; they will want to enjoy it.
A $100,000 a year salary is not unheard of, nor is $50,000 for a captain’s mate.
Don’t forget insurance, which could cost up to $50,000 a year, depending on the boat’s size.
You might think that’s where the costs end, but they keep on coming.
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Running a luxury boat is not for the faint-hearted.
Mallah continued to list the seemingly endless things you need to consider when owning a luxury yacht.
For example, think of the money you will spend on food and drink if you have guests on the boat.
Then there is the fact that, with such a large boat, you will likely hire someone to clean it for you.
That includes both the inside and the outside.
If you thought that was the end of the costs, then think again.
Want to look after your luxury boat?
You are looking at up to $50,000 a year, maybe more if something goes badly wrong.
Fuel is another high cost, which could fluctuate wildly depending on where you are getting it from.
So, there you have it, running a luxury yacht is not a cheap endeavour.
If you are lucky enough to have enough money to buy one, make sure you still have plenty left to run it!
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
