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US to Sell Russian $300 Million Superyacht With Golden Piano, Pools, and Lobster Tank
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
The US prosecutors won the right to auction off the $300 million superyacht “Amadea”, which was confiscated from sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, The Financial Times reported on March 16.
Authorities seized the 106-meter (348-foot) yacht, which features a helicopter pad, a swimming pool, a spa, a gym, a wine cellar, and even a lobster tank, in May 2022 in Fiji over alleged violations of US anti-money laundering laws.
The vessel was later transported to San Diego, where it has remained under US custody.
One of the yacht’s most extravagant features is its hand-painted Pleyel grand piano, crafted entirely from 24-karat gold—from its pedals to its hinges.
While US prosecutors insist the vessel belongs to Kerimov, the Russian oligarch has denied ownership.
However, the US Justice Department presented testimony from the yacht’s crew and logbook data proving that Kerimov and his daughters were the yacht’s first guests. They also oversaw interior modifications and ordered equipment changes.
At one point, Eduard Khudainatov, the former CEO of Russian oil giant Rosneft, tried to claim ownership, but a US court ruled that he was merely a frontman acting on behalf of sanctioned elites. This cleared the way for the yacht’s sale.
The auction marks a major victory for the US Justice Department’s “KleptoCapture” task force, which was launched in March 2022 to seize assets linked to Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin.
The sale will also relieve American taxpayers, who have been footing the yacht’s staggering $7 million annual maintenance bill while it remained impounded.
Under US law, assets seized under sanctions enforcement can be transferred as an aid to Ukraine—raising the possibility that proceeds from this luxury yacht could ultimately help fund Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.
Earlier, Finnish authorities seized approximately 40 properties owned by the Russian state, valued at over €35 million, including a recreational beach area utilized by Russian diplomats.
According to YLE, this action follows a ruling by the Arbitration Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ordered Russia to pay $5 billion to the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz due to losses incurred from the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Among the seized assets are the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Helsinki and a seaside property in Kirkkonummi, which spans 17 hectares of land and 3.5 hectares of marine waters.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")