Bloomberg disclosed on April 11 that Dalian Wanda Group has decided to transfer a controlling stake in British yacht manufacturer Sunseeker International to Lionheart Capital in order to mitigate potential financial risks. At the same time, a tycoon nicknamed Germany's Bill Gates is also facing the specter of bankruptcy. In order to alleviate the financial pressure, he decided to sell his Lürssen superyacht at an unprecedented discount of $30 million. The superyacht is staggeringly luxurious, with a length longer than an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and luxurious amenities including a spa, a spacious master suite, and a helipad.
In the business world, many wealthy people are known for their extravagant shopping activities, but German multimillionaire Lars Weinhorst has chosen a very different path and is in the midst of a fire sale. Following his takeback of the German football team Hertha Berlin, the tycoon now intends to put his superyacht "Global" on the shelf. Shockingly, he was willing to let the yacht change hands for a price far below last year's valuation.
The "Global" has joined the brokerage market, and its asking price is shocking compared to the valuation of the same period last year. The co-founders of Tennor Group will bid farewell to a luxury yacht worth $115 million a year ago for $85 million. When he was willing to part with his iconic superyacht at a hefty $30 million discount, it was a strong signal to the market, signaling something unknown to the market.
Yacht enthusiasts may be no stranger to the Global, as it was once under the name of billionaire Shehid Khan, when it was called "Kismet". The 242-foot superyacht is now sold by the brokerage company International Yacht Company (IYC). Considering its excellent specifications and lavish finishes, its current selling price is undoubtedly an excellent value for money. Let's explore the luxury details of this yacht and why it appeals to potential buyers for a whopping $85 million.
Originally commissioned by American billionaire and sports mogul Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Superyacht Global, a meticulous superyacht from Lürssen in Germany, has attracted attention with its unique design style and exotic theme since its launch in 2007. The exterior of the yacht was designed by renowned designer Espen ino and the interior was designed by Reymond Langton Design, both of which contribute to the yacht's extraordinary charm.
In 2013, Winderhorst took over the Global from Shehid Khan, who is currently working on the construction of his third and largest Kismet, a 122-metre megayacht currently under construction at the Lürssen shipyard with interior designs revealed in March. Since then, Windhorst has undergone several bold modifications to the Global, transforming it into a luxurious and functional palace on the water. One of the most striking modifications was the increase in the length of the yacht by almost 6 metres to its current height of 74 metres, with the design of the six decks showing its grandeur.
The yacht's interior is equally breathtaking, with the 1906 GT's six luxurious cabins for 12 distinguished guests, while the 24-person crew quarters ensure that the yacht's day-to-day operations run smoothly. In particular, the new suite, which is tailored to the owner, not only features a king-size bed, Jacuzzi and private balcony, but also features an office, which perfectly combines privacy and work, catering to Mr. Wenderhorst's work-centric lifestyle.
Other luxurious amenities on board include an impressive helipad, a beach club with sauna and massage rooms, garage for annex boats, disco, fully equipped gym (Winderhorst is a fitness fanatic), formal and informal dining areas and a meeting room as he uses his yacht as his office to conduct business with elites from all over the world.
The interior of the yacht is elegant and welcoming, with a clever mix of brown woods and finishes, complemented by neutral floors, creating a harmonious and balanced atmosphere. The yacht is powered by two Caterpillar engines, has a maximum speed of 16 knots, a cruising speed of 12 knots, and a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles.
Lars Windhorst, 48, is a household name in Germany as a young entrepreneur, earning him the nickname Bill Gates of Germany. His business career spanned many sectors and he never gave up despite his failures. Wenderhorst was a co-founder of the Sapinda Group, which later became the Tennor Group, which invested in lingerie brand La Perla, Hertha Berlin Football Club, FSG Commercial Shipyard and German superyacht manufacturing plant Nobiskrug.
Nobiskrug is the shipyard that built iconic yachts such as the "Tatoosh", "Artefact" and Andrei Melnichenko's revolutionary, now seized, controversial sail-assisted superyacht "A".
By his own admission, Windhorst has never been the type to take long vacations throughout the year, let alone cruise on his yacht all summer, as he works almost day and night, sleeping less than four hours a day. For him, the Global is not just a yacht, but also a mobile workplace. He takes care of all kinds of business here, and only around Christmas will he take his family with him, get away from it all and enjoy a peaceful holiday. For Winderhorst, this is the greatest luxury.
The businessman has experienced more ups and downs than an ECG, especially after the pandemic, when La Perla was shut down due to paying taxes and Avatera Medical, a German robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery startup, filed for bankruptcy. Local media reports suggest that several of Windhorst's businesses are facing bankruptcy again, which may explain their decision to sell the Global at a low price. And this deal could become a pillar that will help him get enough money to sustain him for a longer period of time.
Still, in 2022, the billionaire spoke proudly about his acquisition of the Nobiskrug shipyard and how he plans to build a new superyacht for himself there after completing most of the backlogs.
As of the end of last month, Windhorst was under investigation for embezzlement in his home country, and the prosecutor's office accused him of withholding or misappropriating Nobiskrug's salary. The investigation has already led the Navy to withdraw the order for the repair of floating cranes, although it may be the FSG shipyard, and not the Nobiskrug shipyard.
According to Bloomberg, in 2022, he was forced to sell his stake in Hertha Berlin FC. Even at the time of writing, the German financier is facing a trial in a London court when trying to get investors involved in new deals. If there was a poster of the "never say die" spirit, it would only feature Windhorst as the main character. His personal net worth is believed to be around 800 million euros ($870 million). He once lost a private jet on a snowy Christmas, he lost an ear (which was later plugged in), and he braved economic storms time and time again, and he was not yet 50 years old!