Billionaire Showdown at Sea: Superyachts Venus and Lady Moura Collide Near Italy
Two of the world's most notorious luxury yachts, belonging to two of the world's wealthiest men, have collided off the coast of Naples in Italy earlier this week
The incident, captured on video by Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, shows the yacht Venus—built for Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and now owned by his widow Laurene Powell Jobs—drifting into Salinas’ yacht, Lady Moura. Despite the crew’s efforts to avert the collision, including sounding the horn and shouting warnings, Venus struck Lady Moura. Fortunately, the damage was limited to a superficial scratch, with no breaches to either vessel's hull.
Salinas, visibly frustrated, took to Instagram to vent, calling the crew of Venus “idiots” for failing to avoid his massive yacht. In a tongue-in-cheek comment, he urged his followers to buy Apple products from his retail chain, Grupo Elektra, suggesting the profits might help fund repairs for Powell Jobs’ yacht.
Reports confirmed that neither billionaire owner was aboard during the incident.
Venus, a $120 million masterpiece designed by Philippe Starck, features sleek lines and extensive glasswork, reminiscent of Apple’s signature aesthetic. Steve Jobs, however, never got to see the completed vessel, as it was launched after his death in 2011. On the other hand, Lady Moura, launched in 1990, is a symbol of opulence, capable of hosting up to 27 guests and supported by a crew of 72.
Laurene Powell Jobs, ranked 126th on the global rich list with a net worth of $14.4 billion, manages her wealth through philanthropy organizations like the Emerson Collective and Waverley Street Foundation. Ricardo Salinas Pliego, heir to Grupo Elektra and TV Azteca, ranks 221st with an estimated fortune of $10 billion.
This unusual clash of billionaire yachts is a reminder that even the most luxurious vessels are not immune to everyday mishaps on the open seas.
