Inside billionaire Gabe Newell’s new $500 million superyacht, complete with underwater garage and its own hospital

Leviathan was built by Oceanco, a Dutch shipyard that Newell purchased in August for an undisclosed sum after working closely with the company on the construction and design of his yacht.

Newell, the 62-year-old co-founder and chairman of Valve, whose net worth is around $11 billion, has a fondness for the ocean: In a recent interview with a YouTuber with fewer than 2,000 subscribers, he said he likes to “get up, work, [and] go scuba diving. Additionally, it already owns a few superyachts and a small fleet of maritime vehicles through its marine research organization, Inkfish.

One of Newell’s research vessels, the Limiting factorholds records for the deepest crewed dives in the world’s five oceans. It is also currently building another 100-meter research vessel, estimated to cost around $300 million.

Inside Leviathan

Newell’s latest treasure is the culmination of what Deniz de Koningh, Oceanco project director, called “a new philosophy of yachting – one that places a greater purpose at the heart of design, ownership and operations.” Leviathan spans 364 feet in length with a beam of 58 feet, making it the 50th largest yacht in the world and Oceanco’s largest delivery by volume. The superyacht can accommodate up to 26 guests and 37 crew members.

Its most distinctive features, however, reflect Newell’s dual interests in marine research and gaming. The lower decks include an underwater garage, dive center and full laboratory, as well as an onboard hospital with a live-in nurse and 3D printing workshop.​

“The goal was to determine where the most valuable experiences for the community of people on board take place,” Newell said in a statement to The world of yachts. “By increasing crew productivity, we allow them to focus on creating meaningful experiences for everyone. »

The bridge deck, meanwhile, houses a games room with 15 high-performance gaming stations and two racing simulators. Additional amenities include two gyms, a 250 square meter beach club with spa and bar, diving platforms and a basketball court.

Marcel Onkenhout, CEO of Oceanco, said: Leviathan is “the most comfortable yacht ever designed, built and delivered” by the company. The ship’s captain, Alan Pike, added that the ship is “remarkably quiet” with “extraordinarily” low noise and vibration levels, even at full speed.

The yacht features a diesel-electric propulsion system combined with battery storage that allows for extended periods of quiet, emissions-free operation. The yacht also features an advanced wastewater treatment system, a waste heat recovery system to address environmental concerns, and a whopping 280 miles of cabling to power systems ranging from air conditioning and satellites to medical equipment.​

“Working with the Oceanco team is incredibly enjoyable and a lot of fun; everyone is professional, creative and dynamic,” Newell said in a statement. “We knew we were asking for unusual things, and Oceanco accepted it with open arms. »

Newell acquired Oceanco from Mohammed Al Barwani, the billionaire Omani businessman who had owned the shipyard for 15 years. Oceanco described Newell as “a hands-on visionary who respects the sea, the boat and, above all, the people who make it possible.” The project involved more than 2,000 people whose names are engraved on a glass panel in the main staircase.

You can learn more about Leviathan on Oceanco’s website, and you can get a glimpse of the ship in this teaser from the company, embedded below.