Transport

Frustrated with waiting for more than 55 days despite making the highest bid for the abandoned Alfa Nero superyacht, billionaire Eric Schmidt has backed out of buying the oligarch’s vessel

by
Via Charterworld


It would be accurate to say that just like superyacht Alfa Nero’s sailing days are behind her, so are ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s waiting days. The billionaire is finally done with waiting for the Oceanco beauty that made legal troubles her best friend. Fate remains unchanged for the 269-foot vessel abandoned in February 2022 by Russian oligarch Andrew Guryev. Schmidt has backed out of purchasing a superyacht incessantly mired in lawsuits and withdrew his $67.6 million bid. According to Bloomberg, Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to the US, Ronald Sanders confirmed the Silicon Valley tycoon withdrew his winning offer made on 16th June 2023 for the luxury vessel several days ago.

Eric Schmidt had been advised by his lawyers against making the payment to Antiguan government for a few days.

“Schmidt, because of the legal wrangling, determined that we could not give him clear title of the ship, ” Sanders said in a Friday interview. “That’s not accurate, because the ship belongs to us, it is owned by the government.” Schmidt lawyers and advisers believe otherwise; in their opinion, any property subject to litigation isn’t free and clear.

Also read -  Will American billionaire Warren Halle back out from buying the Alfa Nero superyacht just like Eric Schmidt? Yulia Guryeva, the daughter of the sanctioned oligarch who allegedly owns the 269-foot-long vessel, has vowed to relentlessly pursue a legal battle until it is returned to her.


The 267-foot Alfa Nero, complete with a baby grand piano and a swimming pool that turns into a helipad, would be an excellent asset for any billionaire, but that’s not Eric Schmidt, after all.

The master cabin of Alfa Nero.Via Charterworld

Perhaps the government will iron out the legalities, and Alfa Nero may land in the lap of American billionaire Warren Halle, who has sued the government of Antigua for breach of contract and not letting him take the yacht home per the auction rules.

Tags from the story
Neha Tandon Sharma
Written By
With over 15 years in luxury journalism, Neha Tandon Sharma is a notable senior writer at Luxurylaunches. Her expertise spans luxury yachts, high-end fashion, and celebrity culture. Beyond writing, her passion for fantasy series is evident. Beginning with articles on women-centric gadgets, she's now a leading voice in luxury, with a fondness for opulent superyachts. To date, her portfolio boasts more than 2 million words, often penned alongside a cappuccino.

You may also like

The Antiguan military has boarded Russian billionaire’s $120 million superyacht, Alfa Nero – The 265 feet long vessel is now being auctioned and has already received more than 20 bids from across the world.
Inspite of having all the luxuries onboard, the acting captain of the abandoned Alfa Nero superyacht likened living aboard the motionless $120 million palatial vessel to residing in a monastery. The crew, scared of the KGB, never wears the yacht’s uniform when they venture out.
Inspite of being ‘dark’ and cleverly hidden for months, the FBI traced the location and raided the $120 million superyacht ‘Alfa Nero’ of sanctioned oligarch Andrey Guryev.
After 18 grueling months, the crew of the abandoned Alfa Nero and its sister superyacht, the Luminosity—both allegedly owned by sanctioned billionaire Andrey Guryev—will receive their pre-sanction salaries.
Just a day after the Alfa Nero superyacht, owned by the sanctioned Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, was relocated, a massive fire engulfed and destroyed the Antigua Marine Yacht Club. The 267-foot-long vessel was unharmed.
Despite paying $100,000 every month for more than a year to maintain the Russian billionaire’s abandoned superyacht, Antigua has made a massive profit of $63 million on the sale of the Alfa Nero to ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The proceeds will add 4% to the country’s GDP.
Desperately trying to get rid of the seized $120 million superyacht Alfa Nero, the government of Antigua has filed a counter-appeal against the sanctioned Russian oligarch’s daughter, to proceed with the sale of the vessel to ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt
Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt will have to wait longer to take delivery of the $67,000,677 Alfa Nero superyacht as someone has filed claim to the ownership of the abandoned vessel
Antigua and Barbuda’s plan to sell Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev’s $120 million superyacht may fail miserably as a man from Moscow is now claiming ownership of the Alfa Nero – The Carribean nation had even amended its law to auction the vessel.