Topics: Celebrity, Jeff Bezos, Travel, US News
Jeff Bezos' $500,000,000 superyacht was raided by customs officers on New Year's Eve as his fiancée Lauren Sanchez sunbathed on deck.
The boat, named Koru, was sailing near by Caribbean Island of St Barts when officers began the inspection, according to Page Six.
The surprise raid was only 'routine' but took around three hours.
While Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wasn't pictured on Koru himself, photos of Sanchez looking unbothered as she relaxes in a bikini, while the raids that took place have since circulated on social media.
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Sanchez's ex-boyfriend, Tony Gonzalez, who she shares son Nikko, 23, with, was also pictured on board the boat.
Named Koru, Bezos first commissioned the bespoke boat in 2018, with Netherlands-based yacht-builder Oceanco, beginning the build in 2021.
The 127 meter-long (417 foot) vessel was finally put into action by Bezos in April 2023.
And it's got some sentimental meaning too; it was the very place he proposed to now-fiancée Sanchez in May 2023.
Sanchez, who had been dating Bezos since 2019, admitted to Vogue she 'blacked out a bit' when Bezos opened the ring box.
And only weeks ago, Bezos denied rumors he was set to wed Sanchez in a $600,000,000 wedding in Apsen, Colarado.
Lauren Sánchez was sunbathing aboard her fiancé Jeff Bezos’ $500 million yacht, Koru, when she was interrupted by customs officers for a routine search that lasted 3 hours on New Year’s Eve. She smiled unbothered pic.twitter.com/MVuA3nfTJ7
— Theresa Longo Fans (@BarkJack_) January 2, 2025
Three sources had told the Daily Mail that the couple had bought out a fancy sushi restaurant to celebrate their event, which was reportedly set to go ahead on December 28.
Bearing in mind that Bezos has a net worth of $244 billion, $600 million might not actually be that wild of a figure.
However, Bezos himself shut down reports about his extravagant wedding on X, writing: "This whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening.
"The old adage 'don’t believe everything you read' is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies can get ALL the way around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out there folks and don’t be gullible."
Bezos' boat has been papped in some luxurious locations in the past few years, including Portofino in Italy and Palma in Mallorca, Spain.
Bezos even went on to have another boat built to accompany Koru, costing $75 million.
This means he, ironically, has spent almost $600 million just on having both boats built.
Named Abeona, after the Roman goddess of travelers, the 76 meter (250 foot) support vessel is still bigger than your average yacht.
It has space for some water toys on deck and can accommodate up to 45 crew and support staff.
But Abeona's crowning jewel is its rear-deck helipad and hangar, which is large enough to fit an Airbus ACH135 helicopter.
Because why wouldn't you want a spot to park your $5.7m helicopter, while you unwind on a Mediterranean getaway?
