Seized Russian yacht worth $325 million, equipped with 8 staterooms, a helipad, gym, and spa, up for auction by the US government
US Government to Auction Seized Russian Yacht Amadea
The United States Marshals Service is set to auction the luxury yacht Amadea, seized three years ago, in a move that marks the first major sale of a yacht linked to Russian sanctions imposed following the Ukraine war. The auction, scheduled to close on September 10, 2025, will take place in San Diego, California.
The yacht, a 348-foot-long custom-built vessel by the German company Lürssen in 2017, has been docked in San Diego since its seizure. It features an interior with extensive marble work, eight state rooms, a beauty salon, a spa, a gym, a helipad, a swimming pool, and an elevator. The yacht accommodates 16 guests and 36 crew members.
The real owner of the Amadea has been legally determined to be the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 for alleged money laundering. Despite claims of ownership from Eduard Khudainatov, a former chairman and CEO of the state-controlled Russian oil and gas company Rosneft, a U.S. District Court ruled in March 2025 that Khudainatov was only a "straw man" acting on behalf of Kerimov.
Following the court ruling, the yacht was forfeited by order of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. All appeals by Khudainatov to regain ownership have since been denied. The yacht is now owned by the United States Marshals Service.
Bidders interested in purchasing the yacht must put in a 10 million euro deposit, equivalent to roughly $11.6 million, to be considered. The auction will be a sealed bid, with the auction managed by National Maritime Services in cooperation with Fraser Yachts.
If the sale proceeds, Eduard Khudainatov, the former Russian oil and gas executive, has stated he will go after the proceeds from the sale of the yacht. Meanwhile, Ford, a representative, stated that the yacht may not attract a rational buyer due to potential legal challenges to ownership outside the United States.
The proceeds from the sale of the Amadea can be used for the benefit of Kyiv, a city attacked by Russia in February 2022. The U.S. aid package for Ukraine, signed into law in May 2024, grants the U.S. the ability to seize Russian state assets located within the U.S.
References:
- CNN
- Bloomberg
- National Maritime Services
- Fraser Yachts
- U.S. Marshals Service
Interested parties must submit a 10 million euro deposit to bid on the forfeited yacht Amadea, which was legally determined to belong to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov. If the yacht is sold, it may generate funds that could be utilized for the benefit of Kyiv, a city affected by recent Russian attacks.
