How Mark Zuckerberg's $100M support yacht differs from a superyacht with its unusual features such as a basketball court

Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht collection is already one of the most talked-about on the planet, but one vessel in his fleet stands out for a very different reason.

While most billionaires focus on buying ever-larger superyachts packed with luxury suites and swimming pools, Zuckerberg reportedly added the $100 million U-81, a giant support yacht to his fleet.

The 80-meter vessel works alongside his $300 million superyacht Launchpad, acting as a floating garage, toy box, and logistics hub rather than a traditional luxury yacht.

And despite being less glamorous than its mothership, U-81 comes with some seriously unusual features of its own, including a basketball court.

Why Mark Zuckerberg’s $100M support yacht is different from a superyacht

At first glance, U-81 looks more like a commercial ship than a billionaire’s luxury superyacht.

That’s because it wasn’t originally built as a superyacht at all.

The vessel was constructed as an offshore supply ship before being transformed by Dutch builder Damen into a dedicated yacht support vessel.

Unlike a conventional superyacht, which prioritizes guest accommodation, lavish interiors, and entertainment spaces, support yachts are designed to carry everything that won’t fit on the main yacht.

That means extra tenders, jet skis, diving gear, helicopters, spare supplies, and even additional crew.

U-81 reportedly has room for eight guests and 16 crew members, but the majority of the vessel is devoted to storage and operational capability rather than luxury living.

The yacht also features a large crane capable of lifting heavy equipment and launching tenders, along with vast deck space that would normally be filled with water toys and support craft.

With a range of more than 5,000 nautical miles, it’s built to follow Launchpad virtually anywhere in the world.

According to reports, Zuckerberg acquired the vessel in 2025 after it was sold by New Zealand billionaire Graeme Hart.

The unusual features that make U-81 stand out

Despite its workhorse appearance, U-81 isn’t exactly basic because one of its most surprising features is a full-size basketball court painted onto the expansive upper deck.

It’s a fitting addition for Zuckerberg, who has frequently shared his love of sports and fitness.

The vessel also boasts a large helipad positioned above storage areas, allowing helicopters to land directly on board while freeing up valuable space on Launchpad.

In many ways, support yachts like U-81 represent a growing trend among ultra-wealthy yacht owners.

Rather than cramming every toy and piece of equipment onto a single boat, owners increasingly pair a luxury superyacht with a dedicated support ship.

The result is effectively a two-boat fleet, with the support yacht handling all the practical duties while the main yacht remains focused on comfort and luxury.

For most people, owning one yacht would be enough.

For Mark Zuckerberg’s tech bro lifestyle, apparently, it takes two vessels and around $400 million worth of floating hardware to get the job done.