Superyachts owned by celebrities are often known for possessing characteristics such as unique or expensive, and most of the time are shown to the world as works of art. But Tiger Woods' yacht's name says it all — it's a mysterious fortress that has remained mysterious for nearly 20 years.
Earlier this year, Forbes confirmed that Tiger Woods was a billionaire. In addition to LeBron James and Michael Jordan, Woods is one of only three known billionaire athletes and the highest-paid golfer in the world. Despite the ups and downs, the 46-year-old is considered by many to be a living legend and one of the most famous golfers in history. Like many other sports stars, his life has so far been both extravagant and controversial.
In a world where rich and famous people don't hesitate to move from one luxury toy to another, it's rare to see a celebrity still keeping a yacht nearly 20 years later. Some celebrities are always looking for new, shinier toys, while others share their incredible boats with those who can pay high rental fees. But Tiger Woods didn't do that. His famous luxury yacht is as mysterious as it was decades ago.
The Privacy's voyage was a boom — more precisely, related to a privacy case. When it was delivered in 2004, the golf champion was not satisfied. Instead of enjoying the brand-new luxury yacht, Woods sued the yacht's builders, alleging that it used his name and photos in promotional materials without authorization.
In 2006, ESPN reported that a privacy lawsuit over Privacy was ultimately resolved in an "undisclosed amount" (rumored to total $1.6 million). The builder in question was Christensen, a well-known American shipyard. Most likely because of the lawsuit, Christensen never revealed further details about the yacht's design.
The world has the opportunity to see its silhouette on three main occasions – the 2006 Winged Foot U.S. Open, the 2018 Sinacock Mountain U.S. Open, and the 2019 PGA Championship. It makes a splash every time. In 2019, sports anchor Justin Walters shared a photo of the rare yacht, saying, "That's what $20 million looks like on the water."
It's not one of the biggest or most expensive superyachts owned by celebrities, and photos of it docked at various marinas show that it dwarfs many other superyachts. But at the time of its launch, the 155-foot (47-meter), three-deck, supposedly $20 million yacht caught the eye of many. Aside from Woods's private circle, no one knows exactly what the yacht looked like inside, and it is true today.
Designed by Carol Williamson & Associates, Privacy has five stateclass cabins for ten guests and four cabins for nine crew members. Most of the activity is focused on the main deck, which doubles as an observation room. As you might expect, passengers on board can enjoy luxurious amenities such as a cinema, a spacious bar on deck, a Jacuzzi for eight people, and a gym equipped with all the latest equipment.
Of course, this elegant yacht isn't just about serving as Woods' water home at sporting events. Like most family yachts, it comes with a variety of water toys, including several kayaks, motorcycles, jet skis, and even a decompression cabin for scuba diving.
The interior design of "privacy" remains a mystery, with only a handful of photos circulating on the web at the moment, although it seems to lean towards the classic, cherry wood décor that supposedly includes a transparent staircase and a cherry handrail. In addition to this, there is a large elevator connecting the deck.
The 155-foot yacht appears to have an annual operating cost of up to $2 million. This is a yacht that can hold more than 12,000 gallons (45,425 liters) of fuel and has a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles (4,600 miles/7,408 kilometers). That's enough for its owner, because it doesn't seem to be too far from the United States. The Privacy is powered by two MTU engines, and in terms of its size, it is also impressive in speed, easily cruising at 16 knots (18.4 mph / 29.6 km/h).
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Privacy has never had the opportunity to make waves at sporting events as it has in the past. Last year, there were even rumors that Tiger Woods wanted to sell a yacht that was exactly 20 years old. Officially, the famous "Privacy" cannot be made public. But only a potential deal in the future will allow us to finally get a closer look at the most mysterious superyacht owned by the famous billionaire.