US auctioned off Russian oligarch Kerimov's superyacht
Photo: Lürssen

The superyacht Amadea, which in 2022 confiscated from the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, has changed hands, reported Business Insider.

The U.S. Department of Justice has put the 106-meter vessel on the closed auction which ended on September 10, and sold it to an unknown buyer.

This information was confirmed to the publication by the U.S. Marshals Service. The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

According to the US Department of Justice, Amadea's value was as high as $300 million, while the latest independent assessment reduced it to $230 million.

The American authorities wanted to sell Amadea as soon as possible, as the yacht's maintenance cost taxpayers almost $1 million a month to pay for the crew, fuel, and insurance.

Since its confiscation, the yacht's maintenance has cost the U.S. authorities about $32 million.

The yacht was arrested in May 2022 in Fiji at the request of the United States in connection with sanctions against Kerimov, and then towed to San Diego. In June 2025, a New York federal court authorized the sale of Amadea.

Amadea was one of the most high-profile finds of the KleptoCapture operation, which the US Department of Justice launched after Russia's invasion of Ukraine to search for and confiscate assets of sanctioned businessmen.

Suleiman Kerimov has been under sanctions since 2018 for his ties to the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and was nicknamed the "Russian Gatsby".

Owning a confiscated yacht carries risks, as ownership may be challenged.

The former head of Rosneft, Eduard Khudainatov, claimed that he was the owner of Amadea. In April 2025, he asked the court to suspend the sale of the yacht and prohibit its sale at a price below $230 million pending an appeal.

Khudaynatov argued that the auction at a reduced price would "harm" the owner, recalling a similar situation with Dmitry Pumpyansky's yacht, which was sold in Gibraltar for half the estimated price.

Russian media also call Khudaynatov a real owner of the yacht Scheherazadeattributed to Vladimir Putin.

  • the 106-meter yacht Amadea was launched in 2017 at the German shipyard Lürssen, which builds some of the most expensive yachts in the world. Its exterior was designed by the famous Norwegian designer Espen Oino, and the interior was created by François Zouretti.
  • The vessel has a helipad, infinity pool, beauty salon, gym, two spa areas, two elevators, several bars, a grand piano, and eight cabins for 16 guests and 36 crew members. The interior is marble and gilded.
  • The yacht is capable of sailing up to 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 km) without refueling. The maximum speed is 20 knots. The yacht has a wine cellar, a humidor, a pizza oven, a jacuzzi, and a fully equipped infirmary.