Who has the biggest yacht in the USA

So you wanna know who’s got the biggest boat in America? It's kind of a flex, right? Well, the guy with the biggest bragging rights is David Geffen—yeah, the record and movie guy. His toy? A monster called the Rising Sun, clocking in at a ridiculous 453 feet (138 meters). Sure, the ultra-rich from other countries have even bigger floating palaces, but for US owners, this is as big as it gets. Funny thing is, it was originally built for Oracle's Larry Ellison, but Geffen snagged it back in 2010.

What is the exact name and size of the biggest USA-owned yacht?

It's called Rising Sun. Built by the Germans at Lürssen, launched in 2004. The numbers are nuts: 453 feet long, a beam of 60 feet, and a gross tonnage around 5,300 GT. Philippe Starck designed it, and honestly, people either love or hate the look—super long, low, and lots of glass. It sleeps 18 guests, needs 45 crew to run, and has a private cinema, a basketball court, a giant spa, and a master suite that’s basically its own zip code.

Who owned the biggest yacht before David Geffen?

Before Geffen, it was Larry Ellison's project. He's a big sailor, you know? Ordered it from Lürssen in the early 2000s. But then, before it was even finished, he backed out. Word was it was just too damn big for him—he wanted something he could actually sail himself, not just watch from a deck chair. So Geffen stepped in and bought it in 2010. Ellison? Oh, he just went and built another yacht, the Musashi. Only 288 feet. Small change, right?

How does Jeff Bezos's yacht Koru compare to the Rising Sun?

Jeff Bezos, the Amazon guy, has the second-biggest American yacht—the Koru. Launched in 2023, it's 417 feet. So 36 feet shorter than the Rising Sun. But here's the twist: it's a sailing yacht. Yeah, the biggest one in the world, actually. Three masts. Looks way more classic and elegant compared to Geffen's kinda boxy modern thing. Plus, Bezos has a support boat, the Abeona, which is 246 feet on its own—carries helicopters and jet skis. So in a straight line, Geffen wins on length. But the Koru is way more advanced and, honestly, turns more heads.

Are there any larger yachts owned by US companies or trusts?

Short answer? No. The Rising Sun is the king of American private yachts. But let’s be real—most of the world's biggest yachts aren't American at all. The Azzam (591 feet) belongs to the UAE royalty. The Eclipse (533 feet) is Roman Abramovich's. Some US billionaires hide their yachts behind trusts or LLCs—like Zuckerberg's Launchpad—but the real owner is still them. No US company owns a bigger one for personal kicks; research ships and cruise liners don't count. So yeah, Geffen's still the champ.

Checklist: What to know about the biggest USA yacht

• Owner: David Geffen (record executive, film producer)
• Yacht Name: Rising Sun
• Length: 453 feet (138 meters)
• Builder: Lürssen (Germany)
• Year Delivered: 2004
• Designer: Philippe Starck
• Guest Capacity: 18 guests
• Crew: 45 crew members
• Notable Features: Private cinema, basketball court, spa
• Estimated Value: $590 million

Frequently Asked Questions