fulham owner yacht

Londoners stunned by 'biggest boat ever seen' as billionaire's super yacht rocks up next to Tower Bridge

The enormous yacht is the property of Fulham FC's owner

• 14:49, 24 OCT 2022
• Updated 14:51, 24 OCT 2022

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Londoners have been gazing in awe at a 'superyacht' that moored up near the iconic Tower Bridge, with some saying it's the "biggest boat" they've ever seen. The yacht reportedly turned up over the weekend, leaving Londoners wondering who owns it and what it's doing there. They were also keen to know the price tag.

Some found the yacht a little insensitive, considering that many people in London are struggling financially in the midst of the cost of living crisis. But as it so happens, the owner of the boat is no stranger to the capital.

Posting a picture of the boat on Reddit, one person wrote: "Seriously, this thing showed up this morning and is moored right by Tower Bridge. It's the biggest boat I have seen here, any idea who owns it?"

READ MORE: American tourist leaving US for first time has everyone in stitches asking if they 'still use euros' in London

One person replied: "Sorry but not me as I can barely afford heating, so how the heck do you expect me to own a million dollar super boat?"

Turns out the boat, named 'Kismet', is owned by billionaire Shahid Khan, who also happens to own Fulham Football Club. Shahid bought the club from former owner Mohamed Al Fayed in 2013.

The Pakistani-American tycoon also owns NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars will be in town on October 30 to play against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium, perhaps explaining why his boat is moored on the Thames.

The boat is said to currently be on sale for the cost of 169 million euros, or more than £140 million.

Not everyone was happy to see it docked in London. One said: "Waiting for Just Stop Oil to spray paint it as well. Would be brilliant." Another commented: "Think you should never show off such extravagance in a city with homeless people on the street."

Saying that, some Londoners claim they've seen better. "Gone are the Russian mega mega yachts, now come the toddlers," said one. "I mean, does this even have a helipad or two?"

Kismet, which means 'fate' or 'destiny' in Urdu, was built in 2014 and sails under the flag of Cayman Islands. It has its own swimming pool on board.

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Inside Fulham owner's £145m super-yacht with five decks, two helipads and Jaguar statue

Fulham fc and jacksonville jaguars owner shahid khan's £145m super-yacht includes five decks, two helipads and a grand staircase as well as enough floor space to host a party for 270 people.

• 11:34, 15 OCT 2021

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Shahid Khan left Pakistan as a teenager and initially washed dishes to get by - and now he owns a £4billion auto parts company with more than 10,000 employees as well as a £145m super-yacht.

The 71-year-old owner of Flex-N-Gate, who is also a sports tycoon, has an estimated net worth of £6.4billion according to Forbes , as well as being the 308th richest person in the world.

Born into a middle-class family in Lahore, Khan moved to the United States at the age of 16 and graduated from the UIUC College of Engineering four years later.

Having worked at the Flex-N-Gate Corporation for a decade, he saved enough to buy the company from his former employer and oversaw supply to the biggest automakers in the country.

With the company growing from around £15million in sales to almost £2billion in 2010 and £8billion in 2020, Khan has been able to spend his cash in some more frivolous avenues.

As well as the purchase of NFL outfit Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2011, and the move to buy Fulham from Mohamed Al Fayed for around £200million in 2014, he is also the lead investor of All Elite Wrestling .

The same year as his purchase of Fulham , the 312 ft-long superyacht Kismet was built by the Lurssen shipyard in Germany, and has an extremely expensive interior design.

With specifications of a five-star hotel, the Kismet can carry 28 crew members at any time and has as many as eight state rooms with a capacity of 16 guests.

How does Shahid Khan compare to the owner of your favourite club? Tell us in the comments section

Finished in style by Reymond Langton and Espen Oino, a deck of black marble is complete with a swimming pool, movie theatre, sauna, helipads, barbecue area, elevator and gym.

Other amenities include a wifi connection, and underwater lighting, with large windows across all decks, a large bath made of solid onyx, an electronic piano and 350kg chandelier over a grand staircase.

With a charter price of just under £1million a week, Jay-Z and Beyonce rented it out during a 2018 trip to Italy, and it was also featured in Netflix film 6 Underground starring Ryan Reynolds in 2019.

Furthermore, The Athletic report that Khan, who is back in London this week, hosted a party on the Kismet on Thursday evening, with George Ezra performing and NFL commissioner Roger Goodall a guest.

As of 2020, the Kismet has been listed for sale on Moran Yachts , with an asking price of around £145million, with a tagline of the 'highest quality superyacht available for sale in the world'.

They add: "Kismet yacht, for sale with Moran Yacht and Ship, can accommodate 16 guests in 8 opulent staterooms, with the master stateroom featuring a private deck complete with a Jacuzzi and access to the yacht’s helipad.

"Other features included a spacious sundeck complete with a swimming pool, full-service spa, and a one-of-a-kind retractable outdoor fireplace."

"My goal was to create a yacht that many years from now will be timeless and yet still be ahead of its time. I wanted to balance awesome with welcoming,” says Khan of the design.

With exterior designer Espen telling SuperYacht World: “The stakes were high. “The brief was clear: the new yacht had to be superior in all respects."

With Khan concluding on the finished yacht: “Walt Disney once famously said, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it’. When you experience Kismet, you know this to be true."

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Shahid Khan’s $200 million megayacht Kismet is a sight to behold – Owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham F.C the billionaire once washed dishes at YMCA for $1.20 an hr. The 312 feet vessel has a massive Jaguar statue and enough space for his team to practice on.

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The superyachts owned by football club owners

BOAT rounds up the finest superyachts possessed by the owners of some of Europe's most famous football clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City and Monaco FC. 

David Beckham | Inter Miami

British football superstar David Beckham is the newest member of this exclusive club of owners after taking delivery of a brand new Riva at the end of 2021. The Inter Miami FC owner was spotted at the Ferretti shipyard in Forli earlier in the year, sending rumours swirling, before eventually placing an order for a Riva 90 Argo . Named Seven - his shirt number and the middle name of his daughter - the 28.55 metre superyacht spent its maiden season in Miami with the Beckham family in tow.

More about this yacht

Mohammad bin salman | newcastle.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has led the Saudi Arabian takeover of Newcastle FC. But bin Salman is also understood to own the 134 metre Fincantieri superyacht Serene . The yacht features exterior design by Espen Øino and interiors from Reymond Langton Design and was the ninth-largest superyacht in the world when it hit the water in 2011. Elsewhere, the yacht boasts 4,000 square meters of interior space across seven decks, plus two helipads and a hangar. Standout features include a sauna and adjacent snow room for a true Nordic experience.

Joe Lewis | Tottenham Hotspur

British businessman and owner of the Tavistock Group, Joe Lewis is the majority owner of Premier League football team Tottenham Hotspur and counts the 98.4m Abeking & Rasmussen superyacht Aviva among his possessions. When delivered, Aviva was the third yacht of its name to be owned by Lewis, who also owned a 62m Feadship and 68m also built at Abeking & Rasmussen. One key standout feature on board Aviva is the huge padel tennis court , which is 20 metres long by ten metres wide.

Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan | Manchester City

Middle Eastern royal and politician Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of Manchester City football club, is understood to have previously owned 147 metre Lürssen superyacht A+ , formerly named Topaz . First delivered in 2012, A+ was designed by Tim Heywood and is listed among the largest superyachts in the world . The superyacht features a helicopter landing pad at its bow and has been previously chartered by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio .

Shahid Khan | Fulham

Sports tycoon Shahid Khan has been the owner of Fulham football club since 2013, after buying the NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars three years earlier. His superyacht, the 95 metre Lürssen Kismet , was first launched in 2014 and went on to win a 2015 World Superyacht Award. As one of the world’s most expensive yachts for charter , Kismet has a weekly charter rate starting from €1,200,000 and has been previously chartered by celebrities including Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Kismet features exterior design by legendary superyacht designer Espen Øino and an interior by Reymond Langton Design .

John Henry | Liverpool

American businessman and investor John Henry counts the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool football club among his sporting properties, but he is also understood to be the owner of the 65.9m Lürssen superyacht Elysian . First delivered in 2014, Elysian was designed by legendary superyacht designer Espen Øino and features accommodation for a total of 12 guests and 17 crew members.

Dmitry Rybolovlev | Monaco FC

Owner of Monaco FC and Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev is understood to be the owner of the 110 metre Feadship superyacht Anna , which was first delivered in 2018. Anna’s exterior design, which is penned by Michael Leach , is characterised by a dramatic architectural curve that links the main deck with the upper deck. The interior meanwhile was also designed by leach in collaboration with the owner’s personal New York decorator Brian McCarthy Inc.

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Luxury £288m superyacht belonging Shahid Khan docks in Scotland

• The vessel, Kismet, requires staff of up to 40 to cater for dozen guests on board
• Megayacht is also available for charter, with prices starting at £2.4m per week 

It would not look out of place at the billionaires’ playgrounds of Monaco and Dubai .

So locals in the Scottish town of Troon were stunned to see the £288 million Kismet megayacht pull into harbour at the weekend.

The 400-foot charter yacht includes a helipad, a beauty salon, a spa, a sauna and a swimming pool, as well as indoor and outdoor cinemas, a dance floor and a gym.

It has accommodation for 12 guests across nine cabins, and is so large that it contains an elevator.

The luxurious interior styling is by British designer Reymond Langton Design.

Kismet arrived in Troon on Saturday on its maiden voyage after being constructed at German shipyard Lurssen.

Who is Shahid Khan? From washing dishes for 85p an hour to splashing out on a £140m superyacht... meet 'the Tache with the Cash' primed to take over ownership of £800m Wembley 

The vessel commands a staff of up to 40 workers, and belongs to Shahid Khan, the Pakistani-American billionaire businessman and owner of Premier League side Fulham.

Mr Khan is also principal owner of American football team Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kismet was spotted by keen kayaker Mark McInnes.

He said: ‘I’m from Troon, a short walk along the road to the beach to launch the kayaks.

‘Myself and my girlfriend Dawn decided to paddle out to the harbour on Saturday morning to get a closer look at the yacht.

‘Not every day these are in Troon and it was such a lovely sunny calm morning on the water.

‘It was amazing to see it up close, so new and clean. There was even a man abseiling off the side of it to clean the windows.

‘We would have loved to get an invite on board but that didn’t happen, so we will just have to imagine what it looks like inside.’

Passengers are able to arrive by helicopter and can enjoy a dancefloor, beauty salon, spa, elevator, underwater lights, beach club and gym.

The opulent yacht is also available for charter, with prices starting at £2.4 million per week, plus expenses.

Mr Khan is well known in celebrity circles and is understood to have entertained the likes of Beyonce and Jay-Z on his yachts in the past.

His rags to riches story has seen him go from earning just 85p an hour washing dishes to making a £900million bid for Wembley stadium in 2018.

The 73-year-old businessman, who moved to the US when he was 16 with just 500 US Dollars (£360) to his name, became owner of west London side Fulham in 2013.

The married father-of-two bought the club from Mohamed Al Fayed for a fee believed to be between £150m and £200m and at the time he said: 'Fulham is the perfect club at the perfect time for me.

'I want to be clear, I do not view myself so much as the owner of Fulham, but a custodian of the club on behalf of its fans.’

He was born in Lahore, Pakistan to his mother, Zakia, a maths professor, and father, Rafiq, who sold surveying equipment.

Encouraged by his father, who stood for humility and frugality, Khan from an early age developed a nous for business.

He is said to have charged his school friends to borrow his comic books as a youngster.

Shad Khan: What you should know about the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars

For just the second time during owner Shad Khan’s tenure, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in the NFL playoffs. And for the third week in a row, the Jaguars will play a Saturday night game when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.  

The primetime game, shown on NBC and its streaming counterpart Peacock, will give the city, the team and its owner a national audience.  

For Khan, whose “rags-to-riches" story has captured the attention of Jaguars fans in Jacksonville and beyond, the game marks the latest milestone in the life of the mustachioed self-made billionaire auto parts magnate and the owner of one of just 32 NFL franchises. 

Here’s what you need to know about the 72-year-old Shad Khan. 

A growing fortune: Jaguars owner Shad Khan's net worth up more than 50 percent, per Forbes

Backstory: Shahid Khan has true rags to riches American story

Shad Khan buys Jaguars: Emotional Wayne Weaver announces Jaguars sold, coach Del Rio fired

Where was Shad Khan born? 

Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1950. At age 16, he moved to the United States to study at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill. He took a room at the local YMCA for $2 a night, where he stayed until the university’s dorms opened, and took a job working nights as a dishwasher, earning $1.20 an hour. 

Who is Shad Khan married to? 

Khan married Ann Carlson in 1977, some 10 years after they first met at the University of Illinois. The couple has two grown children, a daughter, Shanna, and a son, Tony Khan. 

How much is Shad Khan worth?  

According to Forbes.com, Khan’s real-time net worth on April 6, 2023, was estimated at $12.2 billion, ranking him No. 148 in the world. In 2022, Khan’s net worth was estimated at $7.6 billion, up from $2.9 billion in 2013, but down from $8.2 billion in 2017, according to Forbes.  

Where does Shad Khan’s wealth come from? 

Khan’s primary business is Flex-N-Gate , an Urbana, Ill.-based auto parts manufacturing company known for its one-piece truck bumpers and other components used by automakers BMW, Ford, Nissan and Toyota. In 2022, the company had $7.9 billion in revenue, Forbes reported, and employed 26,000 workers at 69 plants worldwide, making it the 69th largest private company in the United States.

How much of the Jaguars does Shad Khan own? 

Khan is the sole owner of the Jaguars, which he bought from Delores and Wayne Weaver and seven other partners for $770 million in 2011. 

How much are the Jaguars worth today? 

In August 2022, Forbes valued the Jaguars franchise at $3.475 billion, ranking it No. 28 among the NFL’s 32 teams, ahead of the Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals. The value marked a 24% increase from the year prior, Forbes reported. 

Where does Shad Khan live? 

Khan and his wife live in Naples, Fla., in a 5-bedroom, 6.5-bath, 12,000-square-foot oceanfront penthouse purchased in November 2014 for $11.5 million, according to Collier County Property Appraiser records. The pair also own an apartment on Chicago’s Gold Coast, just miles from Soldier Field, the home of the NFL’s Bears. 

What about Shad Khan’s yacht, Kismet? 

Built in 2014 by Lurssen, Shad Khan’s Kismet is a frequent fixture on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville’s downtown, most recently from mid-November to mid-December. The 312-foot-long luxury yacht, valued at nearly $200 million , sleeps 16 in eight staterooms and has a crew of 28, according to Moran Yacht & Ship’s website, which lists the Kismet for sale. Among the ship’s features are a private master deck with jacuzzi and access to the yacht’s helipad; a “world-class” gym, swimming pool and full-service spa; and a “one-of-a-kind" retractable outdoor fireplace. In late December and early January, the ship – which has a reported weekly charter rate of $1.2 million – called on Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, in the Caribbean. 

Key moments 

• 1950:  Shahid Khan is born in Lahore, Pakistan.  
• 1966:  Moves to the U.S. to study engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.  
• 1978:  Starts car-bumper manufacturing company Bumper Works, where he develops a bumper that has since become an industry standard.  
• 1980:  Buys Flex-N-Gate from owner Charles Gleason Butzow. Khan worked there before starting Bumper Works. 
• 2011:   Buys the Jacksonville Jaguars for $770 million from Delores and Wayne Weaver.  
• 2013:   Buys Fulham Football Club , a London-based soccer team, for more than $200 million.  
• 2016:   Buys 55-story, five-star Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto for $171 million.  
• 2019: Launches professional wrestling organization All Elite Wrestling with son, Tony Khan.  
• 2020: Announces plans to build a 179-room Four Seasons hotel and residences on the riverfront in downtown Jacksonville. 
• 2022: Buys Seahorse Oceanfront Inn and Lemon Bar in Neptune Beach.  

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Boat of the Week: How an NFL Owner Turned His Bonkers 312-Foot Superyacht Into a ‘Champagne-and-Caviar Palace’

Jacksonville jaguars owner shahid khan's massive vessel is a post-modern masterpiece of superyacht design., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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“The original intention was to make Kismet the most luxurious charter boat on the water,” Captain Dave Andrews told Robb Report . Nearly 10 years since the yacht was launched, Khan is ready to go bigger. His third custom-built Lürssen weighs 5,500 tons—almost double Kismet ’s weight—and is scheduled to be delivered in November. Kismet is listed for sale with Cecil Wright for a cool $160 million and is currently the largest yacht for sale on the market.

A Champagne-colored chandelier by Crystal Caviar is the most obvious feature of his brief to the designers. The statement light hangs in the central lobby next to a sweeping black-and-gold Art Deco staircase, suspended, of course, over a grand piano. There is a glass elevator in the lobby with access to all decks. The overall feel of the yacht is an ornate gentleman’s club with lavish marble, etched glass flooring, gold-leaf finishes, and backlit onyx.

“We either anchor in Canary Wharf or go to the warship mooring downstream of Tower Bridge as the boss likes the view of the bridge,” says Andrews.

The sports theme continues with two full-height video walls—used to display images of Khan’s football players when hosting business events—that flank the central staircase leading into the double-height main salon and continue across the floor, walls, and ceiling. In the sky lounge, a large sports bar opens out across the bridge deck aft for hosting large groups of people. When the party keeps going, it converts into a disco with a built-in sound system.

On the foredeck is a touch-and-go helipad, though it’s never used. Instead, regular games of basketball are played with temporary netting erected to catch any balls that bounce out of court. “We always have a deckhand standing by on a Waverunner,” says Andrews.

The foredeck serves as the owner’s private deck with a Jacuzzi and is also used for yoga. It leads directly into the master suite with twin en suites, a private office, oval skylight, and one of three bioethanol fireplaces. The other two are in the main salon. When lit, they carry a cooler flame than a naked fire. There is also a foredeck fire pit for keeping guests warm on colder nights, which converts into a cocktail table.

Kismet has seven additional guest suites, sleeping 16 guests in total. This includes two VIPs and a sea cabin on the lower deck amidships for guests who suffer from seasickness. There are also crew quarters for 26.

“The spa was mandated by the owners to be a place they can just chill out in,” says Andrews. It has a hammam, a spa bath, a cold plunge pool, a steam shower and a massage room with an onboard spa therapist. Opening shell doors in the gym allow for workouts by the water’s edge. There is also a separate hair and beauty salon, with a dedicated onboard hairdresser.

In the garage is a full chest of water toys and four tenders. Up top, the sun deck is built for lounging, with a pool and hot tub, sofas, sunpads, and outdoor dining under the hard top.

A crow’s nest platform is dedicated to viewing the ocean or sunning in privacy. It just goes to show that even on a vast, 312-foot yacht, cozy, intimate spaces rule the roost.

Click here to see more images of the mighty Kismet.

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Fulham owner Shahid Khan’s £70m superyacht boasting Jacuzzi pool, sports bar and cinema spotted on River Thames

Khan's luxurious 308ft yacht Kismet sailed through Denton Wharf in Gravesend today before mooring at Butlers Wharf on the Thames

• Holly Christodoulou
• Published : 16:00, 24 Oct 2018
• Updated : 16:27, 24 Oct 2018

FULHAM boss Shahid Khan's £70million superyacht has been spotted on the River Thames - decked out with a jacuzzi and cinema.

Lavish 308ft vessel Kismet sailed through Denton Wharf in Gravesend today before mooring at Butlers Wharf on the Thames.

The yacht, which is associated with the billionaire football club owner , boasts six bedrooms with a master room complete with its own private deck.

It also has a jacuzzi pool, sports bar and helipad - as well as lounging and eating areas on three different decks.

A-listers invited on board can enjoy a dip in the boat's pool or chow down with a fully equipped barbecue.

Kismet has been finished in a luxurious style to echo a five star hotel - including a black marble deck and large bath made from solid onyx.

The vessel replaced his Khan's previous yacht by the same name and can be hired for £1million a week.

Khan is the 158th wealthiest person in the world and the world's richest person of Pakistani origin.

He also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars who play in the National Football League (NFL).

The £70million superyacht

Kismet boasts an incredible range of luxurious features - including:

• Five decks in total including three outdoor lounging spaces
• A pool and hot tub complex
• A fully-serviced spa
• Six bedrooms and a master bedroom with its own private deck
• A fully equipped barbecue.
• Dining space for 12 including a formal dining room

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The team are due to play Philadelphia Eagles at Wembley on Sunday.

Khan bought then Premier League side Fulham FC from Mohamed Al Fayed in July 2013.

It is estimated the deal was worth between £150 to 200million.

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Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan’s Superyacht Is For Sale

• The 312-foot yacht Kismet was built by German shipbuilder Lürssen in 2014.
• As of 2018, it has an estimated value of $200 million.

Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham F.C. owner Shahid Khan’s superyacht is officially on the market.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Front Office Sports (@frontofficesports)

The asking price for Kismet — the 312-foot yacht built by German shipbuilder Lürssen in 2014 — is not on the official listing and will only be revealed upon serious inquiries. Still, the ship’s value was estimated at $200 million in 2018 .

Kismet can accommodate 16 guests in eight luxurious staterooms and can carry a crew of up to 28. The master stateroom features a private deck with a Jacuzzi and access to the yacht’s helipad.

The ship’s interior, designed by world-renowned Reymond Langton Design, is opulent and features a grand living space, boardroom, bar, world-class gym, and a full-service spa.

Outside, a spacious sundeck leads to a swimming pool with another Jacuzzi and a one-of-a-kind retractable outdoor fireplace.

The superyacht, with a steel hull, carries a gross tonnage of 2,928 and can reach a speed of 17 knots.

Khan is worth an estimated $12.1 billion per Forbes ’ most recent rankings. He made money as the auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate owner and launched the wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling in 2019.

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NFL owner Shad Khan selling luxurious yacht for incredible amount of money

You're going to need a lot of cash to wrangle this away from the jacksonville jaguars owner.

Shad Khan , the billionaire owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and the English Premier League’s Fulham FC and co-owner of All Elite Wrestling, has put up his luxurious yacht Kismet for sale.

And it can all be yours for about $198.8 million.

NBA LEGEND CHARLES BARKLEY SAYS HE LOST $100G BETTING ON FALCONS IN SUPER BOWL LI

The yacht was built in 2014 by German shipyard Lurssen. The 312-foot vessel has eight staterooms sleeping 16 guests. The vessel can accommodate 28 crew members.

The Kismet comes with a pool and a helipad (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

“Built under the supervision of the Moran yacht construction team, the 95m KISMET yacht was delivered by luxury yacht builders Lurssen in 2014. This award-winning superyacht features a gorgeous exterior design by Espen Oeino and a decadent interior by the world-renowned Reymond Langton Design,” a description on the Moran Yacht & Ship website read .

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“KISMET yacht, for sale with Moran Yacht and Ship, can accommodate 16 guests in 8 opulent staterooms, with the master stateroom featuring a private deck complete with a Jacuzzi and access to the yacht’s helipad. Other features included a spacious sundeck complete with a swimming pool, full-service spa, and a one-of-a-kind retractable outdoor fireplace.”

The yacht includes a pool, movie theater, sauna, helipad, gymnasium and elevator.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXBUSINESS.COM

Khan, who is Pakistani born and has a net worth of nearly $12 billion, is the second-richest NFL owner. Forbes evaluated him to have $11.8 billion. He is reportedly the richest person of Pakistani origin.

The 5 tragic minutes that sank a superyacht

PORTICELLO, Italy — Survivors of a storm that sank a superyacht off Sicily recounted their ordeal to one of the doctors who rushed to their aid, with some saying it took mere minutes for the 180-foot ship to go down. 

Dr. Fabio Genco, head of the Palermo Emergency Medical Services, told NBC News on the phone Thursday that he arrived in the seaside village of Porticello before dawn Monday, about an hour after the $40 million Bayesian sank in the violent and sudden storm.   

Of the 22 people onboard, 15 survived despite storm conditions and darkness, climbing onto a lifeboat before being rescued by a nearby sailboat. The crew members have made no public statements so far, though some have been interviewed by investigators.

“They told me that it was all dark, that the yacht hoisted itself up and then went down,” Genco said, recounting what the survivors told him. “All the objects were falling on them. That’s why I immediately made sure, by asking them questions, if they had any internal injuries,” he said. 

It appears they had just minutes to abandon the sinking ship, Genco said. 

“They told me that suddenly they found themselves catapulted into the water without even understanding how they had got there,” he said, “And that the whole thing seems to have lasted from 3 to 5 minutes.”

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini Navi, the Bayesian's shipbuilder, told Sky News that there were no flaws with the design or construction of the yacht. He said their structure and keel made boats like that “unsinkable bodies.”

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he disavowed responsibility, blaming instead the actions of the crew. “Mistakes were made,” he said. 

Genco said one of his colleagues who arrived at the scene before him initially thought that only three people survived, but the coast guard reported there were other survivors and more emergency services were called in. 

When Genco arrived, he found scenes of panic and despair. 

“Unfortunately, we are used to such panic scenes because we are used to the shipwrecks that happen on Lampedusa ,” Genco said, referring to the island southwest of Sicily, where the wreckage of boats carrying migrants on the sea journey from North Africa to Italy are often found . 

Six of the passengers were declared missing Monday, and by Thursday, the bodies of five had been recovered from the wreck , some 160 feet underwater.

Among those who survived is Angela Bacares, wife of the British tech mogul Mike Lynch , whose body was recovered Thursday. 

Another survivor has been identified as Charlotte Emsley, 35. She told the Italian news agency ANSA that she had momentarily lost hold of her year-old daughter, Sofia, in the water but managed to retrieve her and hold her over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were pulled into safety.

Dr. Domenico Cipolla at the Di Cristina Children’s Hospital in Palermo is also part of a team of medical professionals treating the shipwreck survivors. He told the BBC on Wednesday that Emsley and her daughter, as well as the father of the child, who Cipolla said also survived, are continuing to receive psychological help. 

“Psychological support was constant and is constant even today, because basically it is the wounds of the soul that are the most in need of healing in these cases,” Cipolla said.

Genco also told NBC News that he was especially concerned about the child. “She did not understand anything. She was soaking wet and cold,” he said. 

Karsten Borner, the Dutch captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell, a yacht that was anchored near the Bayesian, said by phone Wednesday that he saw a thunderstorm come in at around 4 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET) Monday, followed by what looked like a waterspout, a type of tornado that forms over water. 

The International Centre for Waterspout Research noted on X that there was a “waterspout outbreak” off Italy on Monday, the day the Bayesian sank. 

“I turned on the engine and made maneuvers so that we wouldn’t collide with the Bayesian, which was anchored about 100 meters from us,” Borner said. “Then all of a sudden it disappeared. Then the wind calmed down, we looked around and saw a red flare.”

Borner said he got into his boat’s tender and saw a life raft with 15 people on it. Members of the crew were administering first aid. 

“I don’t know why it sank so quickly, but it may have something to do with the mast which was incredibly long,” he said. Questions have been raised about whether the mast was to blame for the accident as tall masts, even with the sails down, have more surface area exposed to the wind, which can contribute to tipping a vessel in a storm.

The CCTV footage that emerged Tuesday showed the yacht’s 250-foot mast, believed to be one of the tallest aluminum sailing masts in the world, lashed by the storm as it appears to tilt to one side before disappearing.

Claudia Rizzo is an Italy based journalist.

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

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This'll make the commute easier! Superyacht owned by Fulham chairman Shahid Khan is moored in the Thames and you can rent it for just £1million a week

• Kismet, a 308ft luxury craft said to be the toy of Fulham FC owner and billionaire Shahid Khan, is in London
• The stunning vessel, which can be hired for £1million-a-week, was pictured sailing past the City of London
• Kismet accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, with the master stateroom boasting its own private deck

By Keiran Southern For Mailonline

Published: 12:18 EDT, 29 March 2018 | Updated: 18:13 EDT, 29 March 2018

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A superyacht belonging to one of the world's richest men has been pictured sailing up the Thames. 

Kismet, a 308ft luxury craft, is said to be the toy of Fulham FC owner and billionaire Shahid Khan and was spotted in London today.  

The stunning vessel was seen sailing past the City of London.

Kismet is a sister-vessel to a 223ft yacht formerly owned by Mr Khan, also called Kismet and rechristened Global, after it was sold for a rumoured £69million in 2013.

This is the superyacht pictured sailing past the City of London today. Kismet, a 308ft luxury craft, is said to be the toy of Fulham FC owner and billionaire Shahid Khan

The yacht has been especially designed to have both social and private spaces to suit guests throwing a glamorous party or by simply relaxing over a few drinks

The vessel is equipped with 'all of the amenities necessary for satisfying the modern charterer'

The stunning vessel accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, with the master stateroom boasting its own private deck with Jacuzzi and a helipad

According to the website, YachtCharterFleet.com, the Kismet is 'unquestionably the realisation of both luxury and uncompromised perfection'.

Kismet accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, with the master stateroom boasting its own private deck with Jacuzzi and a helipad.

There are lounging and eating areas on three different decks including a sundeck with a swimming pool with integrated Jacuzzi and fully equipped barbecue. 

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The Kismet is available for charter for a cool £1,050,768-a-week (€1,200,000). 

Mr Khan, a Pakistani-American billionaire businessman, is the 158th wealthiest person in the world, and the world's richest person of Pakistani origin. 

As well as Fulham FC he also owns the NFL franchise the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The Kismet is available for charter for a cool £1,050,768-a-week (€1,200,000). There are lounging and eating areas on three different decks including a sundeck with a swimming pool with integrated Jacuzzi and fully equipped barbecue

Mr Khan, a Pakistani-American billionaire businessman, is the 158th wealthiest person in the world, and the world's richest person of Pakistani origin

The yacht has been described as being an unrivaled charter choice and a premier entertainer

There are lounging and eating areas on three different decks including a sundeck with a swimming pool with integrated Jacuzzi and fully equipped barbecue

A winding staircase a short distance away provides access to a dedicated observation deck which can be enjoyed throughout the day

Among innovative features on Kismet are her video walls, extending up to two decks high, able to show regular television but also capable of displaying high-definition moving artwork

In addition to its impressive interior, the vessel also boats a helipad on its foredeck which nicely doubles up as a basketball court

The vessel is very much geared towards evening relaxation and boasts a host of bars and relaxation areas 

Located on the lower deck, a fully dedicated spa area features both a beauty salon and gymnasium to take care of guests whilst they’re away on vacation

The bridge of Kismet contains all the latest computer technology and has a touch of James Bond about it

The colour scheme and architecture inside the vessel have been described as being reminiscent of the Art Deco movement

The vessel was delivered by Germany-based Lurssen in 2014 to Mr Khan as a replacement for his previous 68-meter Kismet,  hellomonaco.com reported.

The yacht boasts a jaguar on the bow of the yacht, symbolic of the owner’s NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, which he bought in November 2011 for £540 million according to the New York Times.

'Built with corporate entertainment and charter in mind, Kismet stretches over five decks suitable for parties of up to 270 guests,' hellomonaco said. 

'Among innovative features on Kismet are her video walls, extending up to two decks high, able to show regular television but programmed to display high-definition moving artwork.'

Share or comment on this article: Superyacht owned by Fulham chairman Shahid Khan moored in the Thames

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Sport | Football | International Football

Who is Shahid Khan? As Wembley Stadium bid ends we look at the flamboyant Fulham owner

Shahid Khan first grabbed the headlines in England in 2013 when Fulham swapped one flamboyant owner for another with Mohamed Fayed ’s sale of the west London football club in a deal worth £150 million.

With his handlebar moustache and lustrous, though often unruly, hair the Pakistan-born car parts tycoon is one of the most instantly recognisable owners in English football. But the potential purchase of “hallowed turf” of Wembley will make him a major power player with a status in the game far beyond ownership of a Championship team.

Khan, 67, known to friends as Shad, was born in Lahore, but moved to America in 1967, aged 16, to study engineering at the University of Illinois. His first few days in America were spent in a $2-a-night YMCA.

He made his fortune by developing a one-piece car bumper that became the industry standard in America. He became a US citizen in 1991 and steadily climbed the rankings of wealthy Americans. Last year he was thought to be worth more than $8.7 billion (£6.25 billion), making him the 158th wealthiest person in the world.

In 2011 he bought Florida-based Jacksonville Jaguars for $760 million, becoming the first owner of an American football team from an ethnic minority background. The Jaguars have been regular visitors to London. In 2012 they signed a deal to play a game a year at Wembley. For London fixtures the Jaguars are the designated “home” team.

After buying Fulham he began spending more time in London and his mega-yacht, the 95.2m Kismet, was more frequently spotted on the Thames.

He is said to get on well with another Khan of Pakistani heritage, Sadiq, the Mayor of London. He has also spoken of his love of London, even saying it has “better Indian and Pakistani restaurants than India and Pakistan”. He is married to his college sweetheart, Ann Carlson Khan, pictured with him.

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Questions for Investigators Trying to Unravel Mystery of Luxury Yacht’s Sinking

The investigators searching for answers about the shipwreck, leaving seven dead, face questions about extreme weather and possible human error or problems with the yacht itself.

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By Alan Yuhas

More than 180 feet long, with a mast towering about 240 feet and a keel that could be lowered for greater stability, the Bayesian luxury yacht did not, in the eyes of its maker, have the vulnerabilities of a ship that would easily sink.

“It drives me insane,” Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company that made the ship, said after its wreck last week. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

But the $40 million sailing yacht sank within minutes and with fatal results: seven dead, including the British technology billionaire Michael Lynch, his teenage daughter, four of Mr. Lynch’s friends and a member of the crew. Fifteen people, including the captain, escaped on a lifeboat.

Mr. Lynch had invited family, friends and part of his legal team on a cruise in the Mediterranean to celebrate his acquittal in June of fraud charges tied to the sale of his company to the tech giant Hewlett-Packard.

The Italian authorities have opened a manslaughter investigation, searching for answers from the survivors, the manufacturer and the wreck itself. They face a range of questions and possible factors.

An ‘earthquake’ in the sky?

When the Bayesian sank around 4 a.m. on Aug. 19, the waters in its area, about half a mile off the Sicilian port of Porticello, were transformed by an extremely sudden and violent storm, according to fishermen, a captain in the area and meteorologists.

But what kind of storm is still a mystery, compounded by the fact that a sailing schooner anchored nearby did not have its own disaster. Also unclear is whether the crew was aware that the Italian authorities had issued general warnings about bad weather the night before.

Karsten Börner, the captain of the nearby passenger ship, said he’d had to steady his ship during “really violent” winds . During the storm, he said, the Bayesian seemed to disappear behind his ship.

Severe lightning and strong gusts were registered by the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, according to Attilio Di Diodato, its director. “It was very intense and brief in duration,” he said.

The yacht, he said, had most likely been hit by a fierce downburst — a blast of powerful wind surging down during a thunderstorm. His agency put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about possible storms.

Locals have said the winds “felt like an earthquake.” A fisherman in Porticello said that he had seen a flare go off in the early-morning hours. His brother ventured to the site once the weather had calmed about 20 minutes later, he said, finding only floating cushions.

The Italian authorities have so far declined to say whether investigators had seen any structural damage to the hull or other parts of the ship.

Open hatches or doors?

The boat executive, Mr. Costantino, has argued that the Bayesian was an extremely safe vessel that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing. His company, the Italian Sea Group, in 2022 bought the yacht’s manufacturer, Perini Navi, which launched the ship in 2008.

Mr. Costantino said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, would be to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

At a news conference on Saturday, almost a week after the sinking, investigators said the yacht had sunk at an angle , with its stern — where the heavy engine was — having gone down first. The wreck was found lying on its right side at the bottom of a bay, about 165 feet deep.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

Water pouring into open hatches or doors could have contributed to the sinking, experts say, but that on its own may not account for the speed at which such a large boat vanished underwater.

Asked about the hatches at the news conference, the authorities declined to comment on whether they had been found open at the wreck.

The authorities have also not specified whether the boat had been anchored, whether it was under power at the time or whether its sails had been unfurled.

A retracted keel?

The Bayesian had a keel — the fin-like structure beneath a boat that can help stabilize it — that could be retracted or extended, according to its manufacturer. On some yachts, keels can be raised to let the large vessel dock in shallower water, and extended downward to help keep a boat level.

But like the hatches, the status of the keel alone may not explain why a large ship sank with such precipitous speed. Investigators have not disclosed what divers may have seen at the wreck, aside from saying divers had faced obstacles like furnishings and electrical wiring in tight quarters. Officials want to raise the wreck to better examine it, a process that may take weeks.

Human error?

Ambrogio Cartosio, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said at the news conference that it was “plausible” crimes had been committed, but that investigators had not zeroed in on any potential suspects.

“There could be responsibilities of the captain only,” he said. “There could be responsibilities of the whole crew. There could be responsibilities of the boat makers. Or there could be responsibilities of those who were in charge of surveilling the boat.”

It remains unclear what kind of emergency training or preparation took place before the disaster, or what kind of coordination there was during it. So far, none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened the night the ship sank.

Prosecutors said they want to ask more questions of the captain and crew, who have been in a Sicilian hotel with other survivors. They said that neither alcohol nor drug tests had been performed on crew members, and that they have been allowed to leave Italy.

Prosecutors also said they were also investigating why the captain, an experienced sailor, left the sinking boat while some passengers were still on board.

Besides possible manslaughter charges, the authorities are investigating the possibility of a negligently caused shipwreck.

The bodies of five passengers were found in one cabin, on the left side of the yacht, the authorities said. The five were most likely trying to flee to the higher side of the boat and were probably sleeping when the boat started to sink, they said.

Manslaughter probe announced in Sicily yacht wreck that killed 7

Italian authorities are opening an investigation into whether the sinking of the luxury yacht Bayesian, which killed seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, was manslaughter.

Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said Saturday that the investigation is not targeting specific individuals so far, but that it was "plausible" that the crimes of manslaughter or causing a shipwreck through negligence were committed.

The Bayesian went down off the port of Porticello, near Sicily's capital of Palermo, after an unexpected storm early Monday morning. Fifteen people, including Lynch's wife and the owner of the yacht Angela Bacares, were rescued from the water.

A frantic search of the water and the sunken vessel ultimately recovered the bodies of seven people over the next few days: Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah; lawyer Christopher Morvillo, an American, and his wife Neda Morvillo; Morgan Stanley executive Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer; and Recaldo Thomas, who was the ship's chef. Lynch had recently been acquitted in a fraud trial in the U.S.; Christopher Morvillo was one of his lawyers and Jonathan Bloomer served as a character witness on Lynch's behalf.

Investigation underway to find out how yacht sank

Investigators will pull the sunken ship from the sea bottom, where it is lying on its side about 160 feet down.

"It's in the interests of the owners and managers of the ship to salvage it," Cartosio said, adding that it's not out of the question for the investigation to shift to focus on a person.

The catastrophe has puzzled naval experts, who say the yacht should have withstood a storm of this magnitude. No other boats in the area reported damage from the storm.

Survivors, including the Bayesian's captain James Cutfield, have been questioned by authorities about what happened on the ship, but haven't yet spoken publicly. Cutfield was "extremely cooperative," Raffaele Cammarano, another prosecutor, said Saturday.

A maritime legal expert told USA TODAY the disaster could lead to lawsuits and possible criminal charges against Cutfield. Mitchell Stoller, a maritime expert witness and captain, said it was Cutfield's duty to monitor weather and prepare to maneuver the boat through rough waters instead of staying anchored. Italian authorities have said the Bayesian was likely anchored before the disaster. It's not clear if Cutfield has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf, and messages seeking comment to a Facebook profile appearing to belong to him went unreturned on Friday.

WHY DID THE BAYESIAN SINK? Investigators seek answers to why the luxury superyacht sank in storm

"Indescribable, unreasonable errors" by the crew, not issues with the boat's design, led to its sinking, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, told Reuters.

Cammarano said the passengers were likely asleep when the storm hit, which could be why several were unable to escape. The bodies of most were found on the left side of the boat, where they may have gone to try and find pockets of air as it sank, Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra of Palermo's Fire Brigade said.

Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY; Reuters