Imagine a boat so big that it’s longer than a football field. Now, imagine that this boat is not just a regular boat, but a floating palace with a spa, a movie theater, and even a hair salon! This is not a dream; it’s the new superyacht of Jan Koum, the man who created WhatsApp.
Jan Koum’s story is like a real-life fairy tale. He came to the United States from Ukraine with his mother and grandmother when he was just 16 years old. They didn’t have a lot of money, and Jan had to work as a cleaner in a supermarket to help his family. Can you believe that the boy who once swept floors now owns a boat that is worth more than most people can even imagine?
This incredible boat is named Moonrise, and it is a masterpiece of modern engineering and design. It was built by a famous Dutch company called Feadship, which is known for making some of the most luxurious and technologically advanced yachts in the world. The Moonrise is 101 meters long, which is about 331 feet. To give you an idea of how long that is, an American football field is 100 yards long, which is about 300 feet. So, the Moonrise is even longer than a football field! It’s like a giant floating island that can travel across the oceans.
The Moonrise is not just big; it’s also incredibly beautiful and luxurious. The outside of the yacht is painted in a sleek combination of snow-white and metallic grey, which makes it look very modern and stylish. The inside of the yacht was designed by a famous French designer named Rémi Tessier, who is known for his simple yet elegant style. While we don’t have pictures of the inside, we know that it has a private owner’s deck, a cinema on the bridge deck, and a huge sundeck with a gym, a massage area, and even a hairdressing salon. Imagine getting your hair done while sailing in the middle of the ocean!
One of the coolest things about the Moonrise is that it’s a very quiet boat. The engineers who built it worked very hard to reduce the noise from the engines and the water, so when you are on board, it’s almost completely silent. This makes it a very peaceful and relaxing place to be. The yacht also has some very advanced technology. For example, it doesn’t have the big, ugly satellite domes that you see on most yachts. Instead, it has integrated Starlink receivers, which give it a super-fast and stable internet connection without ruining its sleek look.
Of course, a boat like this is not cheap. The Moonrise is estimated to have cost around $330 million to build. And that’s not all! It also costs about $30 million a year to keep it running. This includes the salaries of the crew, the cost of fuel, and the fees for docking at different ports around the world.
But Jan Koum is not new to the world of superyachts. The Moonrise is actually his newest and biggest yacht, but he also owns another superyacht called Mogambo and a support vessel called Nebula. A support vessel is like a smaller boat that travels with the main yacht and carries all the extra toys and equipment, like speedboats, jet skis, and even a helicopter! This way, the main yacht can stay clutter-free and elegant.
Jan Koum’s journey from a poor immigrant to a billionaire yacht owner is a true inspiration. It shows that with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible. He once said, “I want to do one thing and do it well.” And he certainly did that with WhatsApp. He created a simple and reliable messaging app that changed the way we communicate with each other. And now, he is enjoying the fruits of his labor by sailing the world in his magnificent floating palace.
The story of Jan Koum and his superyacht is a reminder that dreams can come true. It’s a story of hope, perseverance, and the power of a good idea. And who knows, maybe one day, you will be the one building a boat that is even bigger and more amazing than the Moonrise!
