Howard Schultz Superyacht Arrives in Auckland
An American billionaire’s luxury superyacht arrived in Auckland, bringing a massive vessel valued at US$300 million to New Zealand waters, the NZ Herald reported. Howard Schultz, known as the “king of coffee”, owns the floating palace.
The 73-year-old businessman built his fortune leading Starbucks. He served multiple stints running the company from 1986 to 2023.
Schultz has a net worth of US$3.8 billion. Under his leadership, Starbucks grew from a minor Seattle bean retailer into the largest coffee-house chain in the world.
Global Coffee Footprint
Schultz took Starbucks public in 1992. The company now operates 35,000 stores globally.
That global footprint includes locations across New Zealand. Auckland hosts 18 of those stores, while Hamilton and Wellington operate three each. Christchurch features four Starbucks locations.
The vessel’s arrival follows recent Pacific stops made by other high-end vessels like the yacht Pi, which spent time in Cairns. Built in 2025 by Dutch luxury shipbuilder Feadship, Pi costs an estimated US$30m ($54.30m) annually to run and recently won top honours at the World Superyacht Awards 2026 in Venice for its sculptural hull and architectural build.
Luxury Superyacht Features
Schultz’s mega-yacht includes high-end amenities suited for a billionaire owner. The vessel features a glass-bottom pool and an on-board spa pool.
A sundeck acts as a large beach club platform positioned close to the water. Designers also included concealed hatches on the foredeck to store jet skis.
French architect and interior specialist Christian Liaigre styled the interior spaces. The design incorporates natural woods, neutral tones, and vintage furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Vessel
What are the dimensions and crew capacity of comparable superyachts?
For comparison, the newly built Feadship yacht Pi features 16 cabins split into seven guest staterooms and nine rooms for crew members.
Where else has the vessel travelled in the Pacific?
Superyacht movements across the region regularly include stops in Australian and New Zealand ports. The yacht Pi recently made stops throughout the Pacific, including spending time in Cairns.
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