Schmidt Acquires Luxurious Superyacht Previously Owned by a Russian Oligarch

**Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Purchases Alfa Nero Superyacht**
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has acquired the Alfa Nero superyacht, which was abandoned in Antigua after Russian troops invaded Ukraine in March 2022. The purchase was made in a transparent auction for $67.6 million, according to Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua’s ambassador to the US. Schmidt, who has an estimated net worth of $25 billion, did not provide any comment on the acquisition.

**Background of the Alfa Nero Superyacht**
The 267-foot Alfa Nero superyacht, equipped with a baby grand piano and a swimming pool that transforms into a helipad, was left behind in Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour after the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Russian fertilizer billionaire Andrey Guryev. Guryev denies the US Department’s claim that he purchased the yacht in 2014 for $120 million.

**Eric Schmidt’s Acquisition**
Schmidt successfully won the auction for the Alfa Nero superyacht, despite a last-minute injunction filed by Guryev’s daughter, asserting her ownership of the vessel. Antigua Port Manager Darwin Telemaque confirmed the sale and mentioned that the proceeds would be used to cover the yacht’s outstanding bills, including monthly crew expenses amounting to $112,000. The sale price was determined to cover all liabilities associated with the vessel.

**Impact of Russian Sanctions**
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on numerous wealthy individuals from the country. These sanctions have resulted in the freezing of over two dozen superyachts, worth approximately $4 billion, in ports worldwide.

**Eric Schmidt’s Profile**
Eric Schmidt, who served as Google’s CEO for approximately ten years, has an estimated net worth of $25 billion, based on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. In addition to his business ventures, Schmidt was appointed as the chair of the Broad Institute, a research organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, two years ago.

**Summary**
Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO and billionaire, has purchased the Alfa Nero superyacht for $67.6 million. The yacht had been abandoned in Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour following the US Treasury’s sanctions on Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev. The acquisition by Schmidt, who has an estimated net worth of $25 billion, reflects the impact of sanctions on Russia’s wealthiest individuals. The sale proceeds will cover outstanding bills and liabilities associated with the vessel. Schmidt’s purchase reaffirms his position as a prominent figure in both the business and philanthropic spheres.