Gaming billionaire had perfect way of celebrating the 2,000 people who built his $400 million superyacht
Published on Aug 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Aug 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This gaming billionaire and owner of custom yacht developer Oceano, Gabe Newell, had the perfect way of celebrating the 2,000 people who built his $400 million superyacht.
Normally, yacht designers celebrate their company owners. But Newell has turned this idea on its head, making his company’s newest yacht, Leviathan, an homage to those who built it.
Leviathan is a great yacht, not because of its grandeur, amenities, or even the number of cabins it has, but because of the names etched into its main stairway.
Newell is known to celebrate people and their individual skills, pushing a ‘flat hierarchy’ at Oceano. And his latest move is very in keeping with the kind-hearted billionaire’s appreciation of the people who helped get him there.
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Celebrating the 2,000 people who built his $400 million superyacht
It’s very rare that anyone who builds a superyacht gets their name forever etched into the walls of it. But in the case of kind-hearted gaming billionaire and owner of Oceano, Gabe Newell, he made sure of it.
Instead of commissioning a spectacular superyacht made in his image, he dedicated Oceano’s newest superyacht, Leviathan, to the people who built it.
While the 364-foot vessel is amazing, with several decks and multiple pools, it’s actually the wall in the main stairway that’s the important part.
Turns out that such a tiny part of the yacht means the most.
The kind-hearted gaming billionaire
Newell is known for fostering an atmosphere of radical collaboration at Oceano, spearheading a working ‘flat hierarchy’, celebrating individuals and their skills rather than their positions.
When you step onto Leviathan and head towards the main stairway, there’s a glass panel affixed to the wall where the names of all 2,000 people who brought the yacht to life have been etched.
The gaming billionaire has seriously got stuck in helping to design the yacht. But the fact that he reflected the glory back on his crew makes him someone who doesn’t mind being known for being kind.
Hopefully, Newell’s move will start a chain reaction of people appreciating their workers more for doing a great job.
Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
