Malaysian billionaire Ong Beng Seng’s confidant reportedly behind purchase of Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s $31M superyacht

People familiar with the matter informed Bloomberg of the purchase but provided no additional information about the buyer. The transaction price was also not revealed.

Filings showed that the yacht, now named Capricorn, was transferred to a new holding company in late October, but did not name its ultimate owner.

Earlier that same month, Ong was charged in a political scandal that gripped Singapore and was barred from leaving the country without court approval. During a court-sanctioned trip, his itinerary included a visit to the superyacht, but it was unclear whether he actually went on board.

Ong Beng Seng is seen ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2023. Photo by Reuters

Ong was convicted last month of abetting in obstructing the course of justice. According to prosecutors, he had, in 2023, helped to bill former Singapore transport minister S. Iswaran for a S$5,700 (US$4,400) business class ticket while authorities were investigating the matter, as reported by The Business Times.

He was fined S$30,000 but avoided jail, with the judge noting that his medical condition warranted mercy and that imprisonment could risk endangering his life.

Ong, who is credited with bringing Formula 1 racing to Singapore, and his wife Christina oversee Hotel Properties, which owns major hotels worldwide, including the Concorde Hotel in New York and the Four Seasons in the city-state. The couple also hold a majority stake in British luxury handbag brand Mulberry.

This year, Forbes ranked them 26th on the list of Singapore’s 50 richest, with a combined net worth of US$2.15 billion.

The 73-meter superyacht, previously named Dragonfly and listed for sale last June by broker Y.CO. It can accommodate up to 18 guests and an equal number of crew.

It has a principal with a lounge, bathroom and dressing area, along with other luxury amenities like a helipad, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym, and an outdoor move theater. Promotional images suggest the yacht is also outfitted with paddleboards, Jet Skis, eFoils, and wakeboards, according to Business Insider.

The Capricorn yacht. Photo courtesy of Y.CO

Originally launched in 2009, the vessel was praised for its advanced design, speed, and fuel efficiency and underwent a major refurbishment in 2022 that saw new engines installed.

Brin started tech giant Google with Larry Page in 1998 while both were graduate students at Stanford University. Forbes currently ranks Brin as the world’s sixth richest person, with a net worth of US$190.6 billion.