Saudi Crown Prince MBS beat Bill Gates to a superyacht by wiring $550M in one go and securing it in just two days

When it comes to high-stakes luxury, few stories match the tale of Saudi Crown Prince MBS, Bill Gates, and a $550 million superyacht.

In a stunning display of wealth and decisiveness, MBS, whose full name is Mohammed bin Salman, beat the Microsoft co-founder to purchasing one of the world’s most lavish vessels: Serene.

While Gates had chartered and fallen in love with the yacht, MBS saw it, wanted it, and closed the deal in under 48 hours.

The saga has since become legendary in the yachting world.

VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie

A lost opportunity for Bill Gates

In the summer of 2014, Gates vacationed with his family aboard Serene in the South of France.

The yacht, owned at the time by Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler, cost an eye-watering $5 million per week to charter.

For reference, this 242-foot superyacht ‘only’ cost Hollywood celebrity Sydney Sweeney $750,000 a week, and this is in 2025-dollars.

Gates reportedly began each day with a helicopter flight to Sardinia for tennis, before returning to the yacht for snorkeling, jet skiing, and sunbathing.

So impressed was he by the experience that he started exploring the possibility of purchasing the vessel outright.

But in 2015, MBS entered the picture.

While vacationing in the same area, he spotted Serene and decided he wanted it.

For the Saudi Crown Prince, it wasn’t important whether it was up for sale or not.

An aide was sent with a simple message: $550 million, wired immediately.

Within 24 to 48 hours, the transaction was complete, Shefler was told to vacate, and Gates’ hopes of owning Serene vanished.

While the superyacht was on his wishlist back in 2015, the Saudi Crown Prince has since moved on to different goals, like building the world’s tallest skyscraper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

And for Bill Gates, this lost opportunity may have spurred on fierce desire for a superyacht of his own.

Years after this incident, he commissioned a $645 million hydrogen-powered superyacht, which is even pricier than Serene.

However, in an interesting twist, he never ended up stepping foot on the massive superyacht before he listed it for sale.

What makes Serene so special

Serene itself is a floating palace: built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri and delivered in 2011, the vessel was originally purchased by Yuri Shefler for roughly $330 million.

At 439 feet in length, with room for 24 guests and 52 crew, the vessel boasts many features that are standard in superyachts, like helipads, multiple pools, a climbing wall, spa facilities, and more.

While it’s not the largest megayacht out there, it’s still one of the largest yachts in the world.

Today, Serene is part of the Saudi royal fleet and has reportedly housed Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, purchased by MBS in 2017.

Whether entirely accurate or slightly embellished in the retelling, the story of Serene has become a truly legendary tale.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie