Superyacht Venus is a 256-foot-long vessel launched in 2012 for the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple. The Feadship-built superyacht is a design collaboration between Jobs and French designer Philippe Starck. It all started with a simple phone call “. “Would you like to make a boat?” Jobs asked Starck. “Well… sure,” he replied. From that moment, the two visionaries worked together to create elegance through dematerialization “forming ‘a single brain with four lobes”. Philippe Starck comments, “We reinvented marine technology; our work was a philosophy in action.” Unnecessary functional tools and equipment onboard have been cleverly concealed, similar to Job’s approach to Apple products.
Tragically, Jobs never got to see Venus set sail before he died at the tender age of 56 back in 2011 after battling pancreatic cancer. His wife Laurene Powell Jobs Powell inherited the $120 luxury yacht and is still the proud owner today.
From the streamlined aluminum hull to its exterior glass walls, Venus echoes the minimalist aesthetic of Apple’s signature style. Extensive use of glass and lightweight aluminum exteriors provide a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. A unique glass was designed specifically for installing eight-foot-high windows across the hull. Providing guests with visual freedom was of the utmost importance, after all when on board long-distance voyages there is a strong desire to change our scenery. Glass walls allow the environment to become a moving wallpaper of sorts. Large cabin windows have been installed along the yacht and a row of circular portholes just above the water line punctuate the elongated white hull with light, proving a ‘goldfish tank’ effect.
Venus accommodates up to twelve guests in six staterooms. At the time of its inception, the children’s rooms were positioned forward-facing, and the adult quarters abaft, with communication systems in between. It is reported that Jobs was obsessed with silence, ensuring his children could be set up in the front of the boat when he was at the back and vice-versa. Naturally, there are seven 27-inch iMacs on board. The cockpit structure is made up of a curved piece of glass, 23 meters long and 6 centimeters thick.
Jobs lived a relatively simple lifestyle, except for owning a few select toys. Since he was a perfectionist with a strong aversion to clutter, he never acquired furniture in his home. So one if itching to know what the interiors look like. But details of the boat are wrapped up in mystery, with no photos reported. Jobs wanted enough room for “family and crew.” with no elaborate luxury amenities. His wish was to create something beautiful and practical combined with cutting-edge technology.
Above: Venus is one the most elegant superyachts on the planet. The vessel underwent a refit at Monaco Marine in La Ciotat in 2015. Copyright : Feadship
Specifications
Venus is powered by two MTU engines (large Rolls-Royce diesel engines) enabling her to reach top speed of 20.5 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots.
LOA: 256 ft
Beam: 37 ft
Draft: 10 ft
Gross tonnage: 1500
Q&A
Who Owns Steve Jobs’ Yacht?
Venus is now owned by Steve Job’s ex-wife and widow, Laurene Powell Jobs; unlike many private superyachts that charter their yachts to cover some astronomically high running costs, Powell does not charter the yacht and rarely uses it herself. She was last seen on holiday in Barbados in November 2022.
Where Is The Yacht Venus Now?
Venus has been spotted cruising in Fethiye, Bozburun Peninsula, Kuşadasıand, İstanbul, Ayvalık Göcek in Turkey, Milos, Samos, and Paros in Greece. According to Vessel Finder, Venus is currently en route to the port of Papeete, French Polynesia, sailing at 14 knots and is expected to arrive by mid-June. She is used extensively, as illustrated in the plot below, which marks her cruising stomping grounds, where she has sailed for the past five years.
Above: Venus’ cruising grounds. Image via Feadship.
How Big is Venus Yacht?
Venus yacht measures 256 ft.
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