Canadian hockey player Patrick Dovigi spent $435,000 on one tank of fuel to move Bill Gates’ former superyacht
Published on Dec 17, 2025 at 4:19 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Dec 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Canadian billionaire and former National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender, Patrick Dovigi, has officially put Bill Gates’ once-hyped superyacht through its paces.
The 119-meter hydrogen hybrid megayacht, named Breakthrough, recently sailed from Europe to Miami after a massive refuelling stop in Gibraltar.
It was the longest trip that the Canadian hockey player had taken on the yacht, and the fuel he needed to take the trip came with an eye-watering price tag.
That single fuel bill reportedly came in at a staggering $435,000.
EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie
Patrick Dovigi bought Bill Gates’ superyacht
Breakthrough is no ordinary superyacht, built by Dutch shipyard Feadship, the 118.8 metre vessel is widely known as Project 821 and was originally commissioned by Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates.
The yacht made headlines for its futuristic design and hydrogen fuel cell system, which allows it to operate on green hydrogen for limited distances.
Despite the cutting-edge tech, the tech founder reportedly never used the yacht, and it was quietly put back on the market shortly after delivery.
In late 2024, ex-Canadian hockey player and current billionaire Patrick Dovigi stepped in and acquired Breakthrough in a deal that was reported to be worth more than $650 million, after selling his current yacht.
The superyacht purchase instantly rocketed the ex-hockey player among the world’s most high-profile superyacht owners.
It cost $435,000 to cross the Atlantic
Breakthrough’s recent journey from Europe to Miami showed how expensive the reality of operating even the most advanced yachts is.
While the yacht is designed to reduce emissions, long-distance sea crossings still rely heavily on normal fuel.
Before setting off across the Atlantic, Breakthrough reportedly slurped up around 605,000 litres of fuel in Gibraltar.
That single eye-watering refuelling stop cost approximately $435,000, just to prepare the yacht for the voyage.
The crossing demonstrated that hydrogen technology, while groundbreaking, is not yet capable of fully replacing conventional fuel for global travel on long voyages.
Now docked in Miami, Breakthrough joins a fleet of some of the world’s most expensive yachts, and the eye-watering fuel bill serves as a reminder that when it comes to ultra luxury at sea, even sustainability comes with a shockingly high price tag.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
