At first glance, a yacht seems like the ultimate indulgence—a floating palace built for leisure rather than logic. For decades, that was the perception: a yacht was something you spent on, not something you expected to earn from. But in 2025, the conversation is changing.
A quiet shift is underway in the world of high finance and luxury, where rare yachts are beginning to be seen not just as lifestyle statements, but as assets worthy of a place in serious investment portfolios.
The yachts attracting attention aren’t just the largest or the most expensive. They are vessels with stories—boats built by shipyards with centuries of heritage, crafted with materials and techniques that will never be replicated, or produced in such small numbers that owning one is akin to holding a piece of history.
A classic Riva Aquarama, for instance, or a limited-edition Feadship isn’t merely a way to cross the Mediterranean; it’s a scarce cultural object whose value is enhanced precisely because there are so few like it.
Numbers back up the shift in perception. Data from the Superyacht Times shows that sales of yachts over 30 meters grew by 18% in 2024, but within that market, the rarest models achieved premiums far above estimates and often sold faster than standard builds.
Investors are beginning to notice that scarcity, heritage, and exclusivity—qualities that long defined blue-chip art or collectible watches—are now just as relevant on the water.
This raises an intriguing possibility: could rare yachts be on their way to joining the ranks of fine art, wine, and vintage cars as established trophy assets?
Early signs suggest the answer may be yes, as more experienced investors start to view these vessels as a blend of passion, prestige, and portfolio diversification.
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What Makes a Yacht a Rare and Valuable Asset
Rarity in the yacht market is not about sheer size or flashy features—it comes from elements that cannot be easily replicated. Shipyards with long legacies, such as Feadship, Lürssen, or Benetti, produce vessels that combine cutting-edge engineering with a level of craftsmanship few competitors can match.
When production is limited to a handful of commissions per year, scarcity becomes baked into the yacht’s DNA, ensuring that ownership is tied to both prestige and exclusivity.
Some yachts have become icons precisely because of this balance between craftsmanship and rarity. The Riva Aquarama Special, for example, remains one of the most collectible models in the world, with classic editions fetching prices at auction that far exceed their original build costs.
More recently, unique creations like the Feadship Savannah, celebrated for its hybrid propulsion system and award-winning design, have entered the conversation as examples of yachts that combine innovation with enduring value. Investors see these vessels as more than just leisure assets—they are cultural artifacts on the water.
Scarcity is what ultimately drives long-term appreciation. Unlike standard production yachts, which often depreciate quickly once delivered, rare models hold their value precisely because supply is fixed. This mirrors the dynamics of other collectible markets, where rarity creates a floor for pricing and, in many cases, fuels steady appreciation.
For experienced investors, that scarcity turns a rare yacht into more than a luxury purchase—it becomes a store of value with lifestyle benefits attached.
Why Yachts Are Becoming a Trophy Asset for Investors
The rise of yachts as trophy assets reflects a broader evolution in how wealthy investors think about value. For decades, art, rare watches, and classic cars defined the category, prized for their scarcity and the prestige that came with ownership.
Yachts are now entering that conversation because they offer something those assets cannot: the combination of exclusivity with a highly visible lifestyle statement. When a collector moors a Feadship in Monaco or a custom Lürssen in St. Barths, the yacht becomes both a personal retreat and a public display of status.
Exclusivity has always been at the heart of trophy investing, and yachts fit the definition perfectly. Unlike traditional financial assets, they are not mass-produced or easily exchanged. Each rare yacht represents years of design, bespoke engineering, and craftsmanship tailored to its owner.
This uniqueness is what makes them desirable to experienced investors, who understand that value often lies in what cannot be copied.
For many seasoned collectors, yachts also occupy a psychological space beyond other trophy assets. While art and cars can be admired, they are ultimately passive; a yacht offers both enjoyment and prestige while still holding investment potential.
As one of our Associated London-based wealth managers explained, “Clients who once put money into Picassos or vintage Ferraris are now asking about yachts—not because they expect the same kind of liquidity, but because they see them as assets that deliver both financial and lifestyle returns.”
This dual nature is why yachts are being embraced as more than luxury purchases. They are increasingly treated as symbols of wealth that align with the growing desire among investors to hold assets that carry cultural weight, scarcity value, and personal utility all at once.
“Art hangs on a wall, wine rests in a cellar, cars sit in a garage—a yacht moves, entertains, and lives with you, and that’s what makes it incomparable.”
Stefanos Moschopoulos, Co-Founder of The Luxury Playbook
How the Market for Rare Yachts Has Evolved
As yachts move into the realm of trophy assets, it is worth looking at how their market has changed over time. For much of the 20th century, yachts were seen purely as lifestyle luxuries. They were depreciating assets, expected to lose value the moment they left the shipyard, much like a new car.
What has shifted is not only perception but also the behavior of buyers, who are increasingly treating certain vessels as cultural and financial assets worth preserving.
Historical pricing trends show just how far the market has come. In the early 2000s, only a small fraction of yachts over 30 meters were resold at or above their build cost. By 2020, that figure had more than doubled, according to industry data from SuperYacht Times.
By 2024, sales of superyachts over 30 meters grew 18% year-on-year, with limited-edition or iconic models trading well above expectations at auctions in Monaco and Fort Lauderdale. The shift was not just about size—it was about scarcity, design, and pedigree, which now play a central role in driving prices.
In 2023, a classic Riva Aquarama Lamborghini edition sold for over €1.2 million, more than four times its original value, cementing its reputation as one of the most collectible small yachts in the world.
Larger vessels have followed the same path: a custom-built 60-meter Feadship, originally delivered in 2015, was resold in 2024 at nearly 30% above its launch price, a rare achievement in a market once defined by depreciation. These examples show how select yachts have crossed into the same territory as blue-chip art—rare, story-driven, and increasingly seen as financial assets.
Demand from ultra-high-net-worth individuals has accelerated this evolution. According to Wealth-X, the number of billionaires owning yachts increased by 12% between 2018 and 2024, with many viewing them as both lifestyle symbols and stable-value assets.
Brokers in Monaco and Dubai report that younger investors, particularly from tech and finance, are driving demand for distinctive, rare vessels rather than the largest or most ostentatious. This generational shift is helping redefine the yacht market from luxury consumption to collectible investment.
Investment Benefits of Owning a Rare Yacht
The transformation of yachts from symbols of indulgence into serious investment assets has naturally raised questions about what kind of returns they can deliver. Investors are beginning to see that these vessels, when rare and distinctive, offer not only the prestige of ownership but also measurable financial benefits.
Unlike other trophy assets, they blend cultural significance with a lifestyle that can be actively enjoyed, making them stand out in a crowded field of alternatives.
To start with, capital appreciation is a key attraction. Data from SuperYacht Times shows that between 2019 and 2024, resale values for rare yachts with strong pedigrees increased by 15–25% above their original build prices, while standard production models typically depreciated.
This mirrors the dynamics of the art market, where collectors are willing to pay significant premiums for uniqueness, provenance, and craftsmanship. In other words, scarcity translates directly into value, and investors who secure the right vessels often see their foresight rewarded.
Beyond resale value, charter income has emerged as a compelling complement to long-term appreciation. Rare yachts, especially those above 40 meters, can generate between €150,000 and €500,000 per week in charter fees during peak Mediterranean and Caribbean seasons.
Because annual operating expenses typically run between 10–12% of the yacht’s value, a well-managed charter strategy can offset much of the cost of ownership. This turns what was once viewed as a pure expense into an asset capable of producing yield while continuing to appreciate in value.
The case for yachts also gains strength when viewed through the lens of portfolio diversification. In times of market turbulence, tangible assets that rely on scarcity—such as fine art, collectible cars, and increasingly rare yachts—tend to hold or even increase their value.
A 2024 Credit Suisse report highlighted that “scarcity-driven collectibles” returned an average of 8.5% annually over the past decade, outpacing many fixed-income products. This positions yachts not only as status symbols but as inflation-resistant assets that can play a stabilizing role in diversified portfolios.
What ultimately differentiates yachts from other trophy assets is the ability to combine financial logic with lived experience. A rare painting may sit in a climate-controlled room and a vintage Ferrari may be driven only occasionally, but a yacht can be used to travel, entertain, and enjoy some of the world’s most exclusive destinations—all while functioning as a store of value.
This dual nature is why more experienced investors are beginning to treat rare yachts not just as passion purchases but as sophisticated tools for wealth preservation and growth.
Risks and Challenges of Investing in Rare Yachts
Although rare yachts are gaining recognition as trophy assets, they remain among the most complex investments to manage. For every advantage in exclusivity or long-term appreciation, there are costs and risks that can offset returns if they are not carefully planned for. To treat yachts as serious portfolio pieces, investors need to consider the challenges with the same diligence they would apply to art funds or private equity.
One of the most pressing issues is the cost of ownership. Unlike a painting or vintage watch, a yacht cannot simply be stored away without ongoing expense. Annual maintenance, insurance, docking, and crew salaries typically amount to 10–12% of the yacht’s value.
This means that a €30 million vessel can cost as much as €3 million a year to operate. As a result, even investors accustomed to large outlays must weigh whether the potential appreciation and charter revenue can realistically balance such significant ongoing expenses.
Beyond the issue of cost, liquidity presents another challenge. The market for rare yachts is far narrower than for art or collectible cars, which can be sold at major auction houses with relative ease.
Finding a buyer for a 50-meter Feadship or a classic Riva often takes months, and the negotiation process can be highly individualized. Because the buyer pool is so limited, yachts should be approached as medium- to long-term investments rather than assets that can be easily converted into cash.
Legal and tax considerations add yet another layer of complexity. Yachts frequently move across borders, operating under different flag states and entering waters with varying tax and regulatory regimes.
Questions of VAT on purchases, compliance with crew employment laws, and local maritime regulations can significantly affect both operating costs and eventual sale proceeds. Without expert guidance, investors risk losing value not because of the yacht itself but because of the regulatory environment in which it operates.
How Rare Yachts Compare to Other Trophy Assets
When rare yachts are considered as investments, they naturally invite comparison with other trophy assets such as fine art, vintage wine, and classic cars. All share the common qualities of scarcity, prestige, and cultural resonance, yet the role yachts play within this ecosystem is distinct. To understand their place in a portfolio, it is important to look at how they differ not only in performance but also in utility.
From a financial perspective, art has long set the standard for trophy assets. Masterpieces by established names such as Picasso or Basquiat have achieved extraordinary appreciation, with blue-chip works regularly crossing the $100 million threshold at auction. While yachts have not yet reached such stratospheric returns, they offer an alternative form of value creation.
Unlike art, which passively gains or loses value depending on demand, yachts can actively generate revenue through chartering. A well-positioned 50-meter vessel can earn €150,000 to €500,000 per week in peak seasons, allowing owners to offset annual operating costs while still holding an appreciating asset.
This revenue-generating potential sets yachts apart from other collectibles like fine wine or cars. Wine, for instance, has produced steady 8–10% annualized returns over the past two decades, while classic cars such as the Ferrari 250 GTO have achieved legendary resale values.
Yet both are ultimately static forms of wealth: wine is consumed and cars are displayed or driven only occasionally. By contrast, yachts combine scarcity and prestige with a tangible lifestyle benefit. They are not simply collected or admired—they are experienced, enjoyed, and showcased in some of the world’s most exclusive settings.
However, this duality comes with trade-offs. Whereas wine requires only careful storage and cars relatively minimal upkeep, yachts demand continuous expenditure on crew, docking, and maintenance. Liquidity is also more limited, as the pool of potential buyers is far smaller than in the art or wine markets.
This means yachts should be approached not as replacements but as complementary holdings, ideally by investors who already have exposure to more liquid trophy assets.
