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Fact file: six things you didn't know about Steve Jobs' superyacht Venus

From her subversive use of glass to her boxy profile, Venus is one of the most recognisable yachts on the water. BOAT takes a look behind her razor-sharp lines...

"Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. Apple has been very fortunate to introduce a few of these to the world." So said Steve Jobs on the day the iPhone was first introduced at Macworld 2007. In his speech, he goes on to mention the Macintosh, the iPod and (of course) the iPhone. But he would soon have a hand in another innovation – his 78.2-metre superyacht Venus .

Construction began in 2009, with the   Feadship superyacht delivered three years later to international acclaim. While her owner's involvement might have something to do with it, Venus ' design was also unlike anything seen at the time. It was unthinkable that glass could be so structural on a seagoing vessel – but when Philippe Starck presented the initial design, Jobs responded, “I think you should make it all out of glass."

Here's six things you didn't know about one of the world's most famous superyachts...

1.   She was designed to look like an Apple product (charging port included)

Long, lean and gleaming silver, Venus' s minimalist design is purposefully suggestive of an Apple product. Innovative features include a false top deck that conceals the communication and television receivers from view (another signature of the tech brand) and a passarelle that, when opened, looks like the charging port of an iPhone.

2. Steve Jobs never stepped foot on board

Sadly, Jobs never had the chance to see Venus completed before his untimely death in 2011. The yacht remains in the family, now owned by his widow Laurene Powell Jobs. Jobs was widely reported saying the following to his biographer: "I know that it’s possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat. But I have to keep going on. If I don’t, it’s an admission that I’m about to die." Venus is entirely private and not available for charter.

3. Her interiors have never been seen –   but her wheelhouse shows something unusual

What do we know about Venus ? Her hull form was developed by De Voogt Naval Architects . Her interior volume totals 1,500GT. Key features include a side-loading tender garage , Jacuzzi and superyacht beach club . But when it comes to the elusive superyacht's interiors, the curtains have been shut for over a decade. 

When photographers have gotten up close, they've noticed something quite unusual. Photos have revealed that Venus has no ordinary bridge – instead, multiple Mac computer screens line the inside of the bridge windows. All else is rumour, including the accommodation's supposed sound-proofing. It's so comprehensive that guests (reportedly) have to rely on a high-tech internal system to communicate.

4. Her glass engineer also worked with Apple

Glass structural engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan were catapulted into the yachting arena with the commission of Venus . Their success comes as no surprise, with the London-based firm responsible for some of Apple’s most interesting structures. The glass cube of the Apple Fifth Avenue store in New York is their work, as is the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, where – in an earthquake zone – a 41-metre diameter cylinder of glass panels is the sole support for an 80-tonne carbon fibre roof. 

Bonus fun fact : At the time of Venus' s development, Lloyd's was not yet open to the idea of using load-bearing glass. O’Callaghan's work-around was to build a hidden, 10-tonne aluminium structure to support Venus 's 15 tonnes of glass walls.

5. She cost more than €100 million to build

How much is Venus worth? While the exact cost has never been confirmed, estimates lie between €105 to €120 million – with Philippe Starck said to have earned $9 million USD for his role in her design.

6. She was recently spotted cruising in Australia

Over a decade after delivery and Venus still makes headlines wherever she goes. Laurene Jobs seems particularly partial to the Gold Coast, with the yacht frequently photographed in the area during the summer months. In August 2023, Venus once again drew the crowds when she docked in Cairns, a laid-back, tropical city referred to as the "Great Barrier Reef gateway". Other adventures onboard Venus included a trip to Fethiye, Turkey, Istanbul and the Greek Cyclades .

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Steve Jobs’s stunning $120 million Venus superyacht is stealing the spotlight on Australia’s Gold Coast. Owned by the Apple founder’s billionaire widow, Laurene Powell, this futuristic 255-foot-long vessel features 6 bedrooms and 27 Mac computers for entertainment.

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The 78m-long vessel, named Venus , is one of the world’s most iconic luxury yachts, worth more than $120 million.

The yacht is owned by the Apple founder’s widow Laurene Powell Jobs, who has been sailing around the country since August.

The yacht has a lightweight aluminium hull and its own speedboat, and was designed by French super yacht designer Philippe Starck, with Jobs adding his own adjustments.

The yacht was described in the Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. In the book, Isaacson wrote about Jobs showing him models and architectural drawings of the yacht, which Isaacson described as “sleek and minimalist.”

The late Apple chief executive was aware he might not live to see the boat launched, but continued to tinker with its design.

Kristy Hinze and billionaire husband selling their super yacht

Jobs died in 2011, a year before the yacht was completed.

In the Isaacson book, Jobs said: “I know that it’s possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat. But I have to keep going on it. If I don’t, it’s an admission that I’m about to die.”

Venus remains docked at the Southport Yacht Club.

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$120million Venus superyacht owned by Steve Job's billionaire widow Laurene Powell docks in Cairns, Australia as workers stock the 255ft vessel with supplies

• The $120million Venus superyacht boasts six bedrooms and is 255ft long
• It docked in Cairns, Queensland on Friday
•  The vessel is owned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs

By J. Peterson For Daily Mail Australia and Rachael Bunyan For Mailonline

Published: 11:16 EDT, 26 August 2023 | Updated: 11:44 EDT, 26 August 2023

View comments

The Venus superyacht is one of the most expensive and luxurious boats in the world.

And on Friday, the $120million vessel owned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs docked in Cairns, Australia. 

It's unclear if Laurene, 59, was on the scene, but various staffers were pictured loading Venus with supplies.

The superyacht looked like the picture of perfection as it sat in the crystal green and blue waters of Queensland .

At 255ft long, it dwarfed several smaller yachts that were docked nearby.

The $120million vessel owned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs docked in Cairns, Australia on Friday

The late tech CEO (left) and his wife Laurene Powell are pictured together in Hollywood in 2010

The superyacht looked like the picture of perfection as it sat in the crystal green and blue waters of Queensland

The mammoth size of Venus can be seen in comparison to some nearby cars that are parked on the dock

The spectacular sea vessel was last spotted in November, 2022, when Laurene enjoyed a holiday in Barbados. 

The glamorous socialite had spent the afternoon swanning around the luxury 5-star hotel Sandy Lane's restaurants, shops and spas. 

Powell was left widowed after Jobs passed away, age 56, from complications from pancreatic cancer in October 2011. They had three children together and Powell is also step-mother to Jobs' daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs.

A number of people were pictured on board and seemed to be inspecting something down below

At 255ft long, it dwarfed several smaller yachts that were docked nearby

The modern and sleek design of the superyacht is much different the more old fashioned style seen on many other yachts

Powell (pictured in 2019) was left widowed after Jobs passed away, age 56, from complications from pancreatic cancer in October 2011

When Jobs died, most of his assets passed on to his wife, making her one of the 50 richest people in the world.

Powell married Jobs in 1991 - ten years before the release of the first iPod - and now manages a fortune estimated to be worth $12.3 billion according to Forbes.

In addition to the Venus, she owns two private jets, four large real estate properties and a large stake in the Walt Disney Company.

The Venus was Steve Jobs' final masterpiece, after he commissioned it in 2008 and worked painstakingly on the design with superstar French product designer Philippe Starck.

He did not survive to see the ship completed and launched, dying of pancreatic cancer a year before work was finished in 2012.

It's unclear if Laurene, 59, was on the scene, but various staffers were pictured loading Venus with supplies

Boxes were being unpacked from several vehicles and were then brought on board the superyacht

The superyacht looked far more impressive than the vessels featured on reality shows such as Below Deck

In his final years, Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson: 'I know that it's possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat. But I have to keep going on it. If I don't, it's an admission that I'm about to die.'

Starck helped design the sleek 256-foot long vessel, and Jobs enlisted the chief engineer of the Apple Stores to design reinforced glass for its walls, according to his biographer Walter Isaacson.

Starck spoke about Venus in an interview with French Vanity Fair, explaining the yacht houses six bedrooms along with communication systems between the kids' rooms in the front and the adult quarters in the rear.

The Venus was Steve Jobs' final masterpiece, after he commissioned it in 2008 and worked painstakingly on the design with superstar French product designer Philippe Starck

In his final years, Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson: 'I know that it's possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat. But I have to keep going on it. If I don't, it's an admission that I'm about to die'

Designer Starck spoke about Venus in an interview with French Vanity Fair, explaining the yacht houses six bedrooms along with communication systems between the kids' rooms in the front and the adult quarters in the rear

It's unbelievable size seemed to stretch out for eons as it remained docked and floated on the Australian seas

The 255ft yacht is made of light-weight aluminium and Jobs employed the chief engineer of his Apple stores to help design special glass that allowed the ship to be installed with ten-foot-high windows across the hull

'Steve wanted to be sure that the teenagers could be set up in the front of the boat when he was at the back and vice-versa. He was obsessed with silence,' Starck said.

'In his home, children did not make noise, nor the dog, nor his wife … no one made any noise, ever.'

The 255ft yacht is made of light-weight aluminium and Jobs employed the chief engineer of his Apple stores to help design special glass that allowed the ship to be installed with ten-foot-high windows across the hull.

It's unclear why the Venus was docked in Cairns and where it will be headed to on its next voyage

The interior also features 27-Mac computer screens, with large cabin windows along the yacht

The yacht can fit 12 guests on board in six suites as well as 22 crewmembers.

The interior also features 27-Mac computer screens, with large cabin windows along the yacht. 

Looking like a floating Apple store, the yacht bears all the hallmarks of a new Jobs-inspired creation — crisp white lines, polished metal, glass.

The superyacht has a long white hull with a row of circular portholes just above the water line and two glass-walled cabins on the top deck, one on top of the other.

Laurene Powell Jobs' $120million luxury yacht Venus

The $120 million luxury yacht Venus was designed by Steve Jobs and French product designer Philippe Starck.

Jobs commissioned the yacht in 2008, but he did not survive to see the ship completed and launched, dying of pancreatic cancer before work was finished in 2012.

The yacht can fit 12 guests on board in six suites as well as 22 crewmembers. 

Starck spoke about Venus in an interview with French Vanity Fair, explaining the yacht houses six bedrooms along with communication systems between the kids' rooms in the front and the adult quarters in the rear. 

Looking like a floating Apple store, the yacht bears all the hallmarks of a new Jobs-inspired creation — crisp white lines, polished metal, glass. 

The superyacht has a long white hull with a row of circular portholes just above the water line and two glass-walled cabins on the top deck, one on top of the other. 

Share or comment on this article: $120million Venus superyacht owned by Steve Job's billionaire widow Laurene Powell docks in Cairns, Australia as workers stock the 255ft vessel with supplies

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Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

'Below Deck's 10 Worst Charter Guests, Ranked

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The Below Deck guests are part of the franchise charm, but some visitors had obscene demands and left a poor impression on both the crew and the viewer's minds. In every charter season, the yachties entertain a handful of guests. They do their best to always say “yes” on a super yacht, no matter the request. Whether the guests want a stripper, a ten-course meal, or a blowout on the beach, the Below Deck crew members often find a way to make their dreams come true.

And yet, some guests were insatiable, requesting more demands than their presence sheets listed. Others had a nasty attitude and disregarded critical superyacht safety rules. Some guests even destroyed property on the yacht, making the crew's job even more difficult than it already was and upsetting the Captain . Here are some of the most troublesome guests and what they did to earn their villainous title within the franchise.

10 Timothy Sykes

Usually, charter guests expect a seven-star luxury service when they board a superyacht. Others expect a typical day just on the ocean. While Timothy Sykes may not have had many outrageous demands, complaining and returning almost every meal was certainly annoying. Especially since those gourmet meals were traded for something more traditional, like chicken tenders for his girlfriend. The food wasn't the only problem for this guest.

The Wi-Fi was inconsistent, making it difficult for him to work as a day trader on the yacht. Snorkeling and half-underwater lunches are not for everyone. However, what particularly made Timothy a villain in the franchise was waving an envelope full of cash in front of Captain Lee Rosbach's face and then removing 5 grand from it, leaving the Below Deck crew with only a 17-thousand dollar tip.

9 Steve Bradley

According to the various Below Deck members, drunk and handsy charter guests are part of the yachting experience. Unrealistic expectations are also part of the yachting charm. Sometimes, guests are all of the above . Steve Bradley appeared in Season 3 with some crazy demands, like a foam party when the weather wasn't suitable.

He also made inappropriate comments about how the stewardesses should wear a bikini . It turned out that ‘Uncle’ Steve was totally harmless and just liked to go buck wild on vacation. He appeared later in the series with similar demands, but since the crew already knew him, the second time around wasn't as uncomfortable.

8 Charles Yim

Sometimes influencers, clout chasers, or other reality stars will join the series, and they would also like to carve out memorable moments with the franchise. In Season 6, fellow reality star Charles Yim joined the superyacht. The trip was for both work and fun, but the Below Deck cast members were uncomfortable with how much time the guests spent on their devices.

To make the situation worse, when steward Caroline Bedol went to clean the suites, she found a used condom on the nightstand. The string of surprises continued as, later on, the crew also claimed the guests were having sex on the deck, and they could see it all on the cameras. While his group may have been boring compared to the other guests, his lack of regard for privacy or the crew members' jobs certainly earned him a villainous title.

7 Michael Blackton

‘Uncle’ Steve and his flirtatious ways may have been harmless, but the same cannot be said for the other guests. Michael Blackton would appear in Season 7 and develop a liking for stew Simone Mashile . This wasn't the first time she'd encountered flirty charter guests, but this quest would be the hardest to fend off.

She tried to avoid his advances and maintain a level of professionalism, but Michael wasn't taking no for an answer. The flirtatious behavior was beginning to escalate, making everyone, especially Simone uncomfortable. As a result, Chief Stew Kate Chastain had no choice but to keep Simone separated from Michael to make sure she was safe for the rest of the trip.

6 Chelsea Gonella

This guest baffled everyone on the boat, especially Chef Rachel Hargrove . In Season 9, charter guest Chelsea Gonella would board the superyacht with a broken jaw. Her mouth was wired shut and, as a result, she couldn't eat solids . This meant that the Below Deck Chef needed to blend every meal. While the other guests were eating delicacies like lobster on perfectly plated dishes, Chelsea was sucking it up through a straw.

To make matters worse, though, she never seemed satisfied. She was still hungry and stressed the Chef out even more. At one point, the other guests refused to eat until Chelsea had her meal. Ultimately, no one, especially Rachel, could understand why she wouldn't reschedule the vacation like a “normal person.” In the end, they were left with a measly 22 thousand dollar tip, piercing Rachel's already broken heart even more.

5 Krystal Bradley

This spot goes to another guest in Season 6. When the crew received the preference sheets, they thought this trip was going to be a fun little girl's adventure. They would soon realize that Krystal Bradley was one of their worst nightmares. Krystal, like many of the other guests, was overly demanding. That wasn't the main issue, though . Krystal also had a knack for laying hands on other people when she was intoxicated.

First, she got into a fight at the dinner table. Then she passed out, which was a blessing for everyone because her friends left her there, knocked out. They later returned to help her to her room, but Krystal had other plans and responded by punching her friend in the face. What made their stay even worse was how she acted like nothing happened the next day once she sobered up.

4 Brandy Bock Tott

It's not uncommon for the Below Deck stars and guests to let loose while vacationing on a superyacht. It's also common for guests to enjoy alcohol, or even request to have a drink in their hand at all times. Brandy Bock Tott from Season 7 was on another level, though. It was obvious that the charter guests were partying before they arrived, as Brandy showed up on the yacht incredibly wasted.

Her intoxication levels were already worrisome for the crew, especially since she was either sleeping off the liquor or drinking wine and mimosas nonstop. However, their charter got worse after she passed out on an excursion. To make matters worse, her group of friends seemed unbothered and barely gave Brandy a second glance. As a result, the Below Deck crew was left to tend to the passed-out drunken guest, only to find out that she had been drinking champagne every day for two weeks before her arrival.

3 Delores Flora

The Captain and the Below Deck crew do their best to give the guests whatever they want. No request is too big or too small. While they try to make sure all guests are satisfied, they have to prioritize safety above all. They are at sea, surrounded by predators, after all. Unfortunately, though, Delores Flora from Season 8 didn't seem to get the memo. Like many of the other guests, Delores got way too drunk and struggled to hold her liquor. After a few drinks, she was ready to party, which meant she wanted to jump off the boat late at night.

Captain Lee wasn't convinced the waters were safe enough, so he told the guests no. Delores thought she was above all because she jumped in, anyway. Captain Lee was irate and ready to cancel the entire charter. The crew had to take turns watching her room to make sure she didn't escape again. In the morning, Captain Lee decided it wasn't fair to punish the entire charter group, so he only made Delores go home. Delores wasn't finished leaving her final impression, though. On the way out, Delores jumped off the tender boat that was bringing her back to shore, ultimately proving Captain Lee made the right call.

2 Justin Richards

Sometimes, guests are rude to the workers and make their jobs more difficult. While it's not always appropriate, rude guests, especially when intoxicated, comes with the Below Deck territory . However, Justin Richards from Season 9, took it way too far. On the first night, most of the guests had gone to bed, except for Justin and a female guest. They were drinking and arguing, but at some point, their argument became a little too intense.

Both guests were beyond drunk and were crossing into belligerent. The crew tried to step in and smooth over the situation and suggested that maybe it was bedtime. Justin wasn't pleased. So instead of going to bed, he told Chief Stew Heather Chase to “go f**” herself and "Go throw yourself off the boat.” Captain Lee wasn't happy at all and was ready to cancel the charter trip.

1 Karan Bakshi

Some guests were never satisfied, no matter how hard the Below Deck crew worked. This was the case for Season 10 guest, Karan Bakshi . Karan boarded the superyacht with his family and a list of outrageous demands . One request in particular was to have hookah-friendly smoking spots. Fraser Olender and the interior crew made it happen, but that didn't stop the guests from pushing their limits.

They still tried to light up the hookah inside, almost causing a fire. They partied on the deck until 5am, making second stew Alyssa Humber stayed up all night with them . After they left, interim Captain Sandy Yawn realized they had broken property on the yacht and left burn holes. To top it all off, their tip was a measly 20 thousand, despite the crew going above and beyond in ways they had never before.

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KEEP READING: What’s Going On With ‘Below Deck Down Under’s Captain Jason Chambers After Season 2?

Xerox’s CEO says taking a pay cut and a lower title helped him reach the corner office

There’s no clear path to success, Xerox CEO Steve Bandrowczak told me. But whenever faced with an easy role or a difficult one, he always opted for the tougher job that would prove most beneficial to his career.

“If it was challenging, if it was hard, I always did it,” he said. 

Take the salary cut.  In 2005, Bandrowczak left his role as chief information officer at the logistics company DHL ( No. 134 on the Fortune Global 500 ), overseeing a $4 billion IT budget and some 10,000 employees, to be CIO of the Beijing-headquartered Lenovo. At Lenovo, he presided over roughly 300 employees and a fraction of his former budget: $300 million.

Despite a drop in salary and manpower, the move to Lenovo allowed him to spearhead the company’s keenly watched acquisition of IBM’s PC business. “I knew what we were doing would be historic, creating the first global country out of China, based in China, And I learned so much culturally and about the people.” The role stretched him in a way that proved pivotal to his career, he said, adding, “I took a  huge  salary cut, but the experience I gained there was invaluable.

Take the lower-ranking role . After a two-year stint as Lenovo’s CIO, reporting to the CEO, he moved to the now-defunct Canadian telecommunications company Nortel. There, he accepted a sales leadership role that was two levels below his previous title. 

“I accepted that role because I had never run a sales team before, and I knew it was important to gain that experience,” he said, stressing, “I always took jobs that filled and created more capabilities on my resume.” In August 2022, he was appointed CEO of Xerox after four years as its COO.

Ruth Umoh [email protected] Today’s newsletter was curated by Natalie McCormick

Leadership lessons

Bandrowczak says people often ask him why they haven't been promoted after years in a role and receiving high performance marks.

His response: How have you made yourself more valuable?

“If you really want to be CEO, it’s not just about driving IT, for instance, or driving processes. What are the things you need to know about capital allocation, about the board, and about all the skills that are important to get to the corner seat, especially in an era of constant change and transformation?”

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