WhatsApp founder Jan Koum’s superyacht, Moonrise, has been spotted off Mykonos, drawing attention to the waters around one of Greece’s busiest summer destinations.
The nearly 100-meter (328-ft) vessel belongs to Koum, the Ukrainian-born American billionaire who co-founded WhatsApp. Its presence off Mykonos adds to the island’s long record of attracting large private yachts during the summer season.
Feadship delivered Moonrise superyacht in 2020
Moonrise was built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship and delivered in 2020. The yacht is among the largest vessels produced by the shipbuilder.
At the time of its launch, Feadship said Moonrise was the largest superyacht ever built in the Netherlands by waterline length. The vessel has a gray hull, long horizontal windows, a vertical bow, and a multi-deck exterior design.
WhatsApp founder Jan Koum and the Moonrise superyacht
Koum became one of the most renowned technology entrepreneurs after co-founding WhatsApp. Facebook, now Meta, acquired the messaging app in 2014 in a deal valued at about $19 billion to $22 billion, depending on the calculation.
Koum, now 50, remains among the wealthiest figures in the technology sector, with his fortune estimated at roughly $17 billion. Earlier yacht market estimates placed the value of Moonrise at around $220 million. More recently, Burgess listed the yacht for sale at €325 million ($380 million).
Inside the WhatsApp founder’s superyacht seen off Mykonos
Moonrise can accommodate up to sixteen guests in eight cabins, while thirty-two crew members handle operations and service on board. The yacht includes a private owner’s deck, movie theater, gym, massage area, hair salon, sundeck, and outdoor guest areas. It also features a beach club, a swimming platform, tenders, water sports equipment, and a helipad.
Feadship designed the superyacht with a focus on reducing noise and vibration. Its engineers worked on the propeller, stabilizers, and anchoring system to limit sound and movement while the yacht operates or remains anchored.
Two MTU engines power the vessel. Moonrise reaches a top speed of 18.5 knots, while specialist yacht listings place its cruising speed at around 16 knots. Moonrise received international recognition in 2021, when it won at the BOAT International World Superyacht Awards in the category Displacement Motor Yachts 3,000GT and Above.
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