How One Yacht Connects Trump, Khashoggi, Saudi Royals, and Billion-Dollar Deals

20th Nov 2025
Yesterday's White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman carried the weight of unresolved shadows from 2018. ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce cut through the formalities with a pointed query about trust in a leader linked to Jamal Khashoggi's brutal killing inside a consulate. Trump's swift defense of the crown prince ignited fresh fury, especially from Khashoggi's widow who called for real justice amid the diplomatic smiles. Yet beneath this raw confrontation lies a quieter saga of extravagance and entanglement, one that loops in Trump, the slain journalist, Saudi elites, and rivers of global cash. At its heart floats a superyacht, a gleaming emblem of how the world's richest wield toys that double as tools of influence and fortune. The Epic Voyage of the Nabila: From Saudi Broker to Trump's Prize Adnan Khashoggi, Jamal's uncle, once commanded a fortune that made headlines for its sheer scale. This Saudi arms dealer pocketed billions in commissions from giants like Lockheed and Raytheon, funneling weapons deals that armored the kingdom's defenses. His wealth peaked at around $4 billion in the 1980s, fueling a life of excess with a dozen mansions, fleets of jets, and daily outlays hitting $300,000. Amid this splendor stood the Nabila, a 282-foot marvel he commissioned in 1980 for about $100 million, equivalent to nearly $400 million in today's dollars. Marble-clad bathrooms, gold accents, a cinema, disco, salon, and even a mini-hospital turned it into a seafaring kingdom, so lavish it starred as a Bond villain's hideout in Never Say Never Again. Oil price crashes and shaky contracts soon eroded Adnan's empire, leaving him unable to service debts tied to his crown jewel. The Nabila became collateral in a default, landing with Brunei's Sultan in 1988. Enter a brash New York developer eyeing his next big splash. Donald Trump snapped it up that year for less than $30 million, dubbing it the Trump Princess and parading it off Atlantic City to burnish his casino king image. Magazine covers glowed with tales of onboard galas, but Trump's own cash crunch loomed. By 1991, drowning in Atlantic City debts, he offloaded the vessel to Saudi investor Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal for $19 million to $20 million. What started as Adnan's floating dream had zigzagged through hands, each owner leveraging its shine for status and survival in the cutthroat arena of billionaire brinkmanship. This handover wasn't just a fire sale. It spotlighted how superyachts like the renamed Kingdom 5KR shuttle wealth across borders, often as quiet currency in larger power plays. Prince Al-Waleed, MBS's cousin and a linchpin in Saudi's financial web, transformed it into a badge of his stakes in hotels, banks, and media ventures. The yacht's path mirrors the volatile dance of elite fortunes, where one man's excess becomes another's lifeline, all while whispers of bigger deals echo in the wake. Inside the Ruby Suite on the Trump Princess, a bedroom epitomizing luxury and excess, once a key feature of Khashoggi’s Nabila and a symbol of high-stakes financial power. Shadows of Influence: Khashoggi's Kinship with Royals and Reporters The Kingdom 5KR's allure deepened when Prince Al-Waleed tapped Jamal Khashoggi for a bold media venture. He bankrolled al-Arabiya's short-lived rival, al-Arab, handing the journalist a platform to shape narratives in the Arab world. This move blended cash with clout, showing how Saudi money could steer stories and sway opinions. Yet Jamal's path veered toward dissent, his columns in The Washington Post blasting the crown prince's iron grip and human rights cracks. His 2018 disappearance and confirmed murder in Istanbul's Saudi consulate exposed the brutal underbelly of that very wealth machine his uncle had helped build. Fast-forward to November 19, 2025, and the White House air crackled with that history. Trump's embrace of MBS, despite U.S. intelligence pinning the killing on the prince's inner circle, felt like a gut punch to those mourning Jamal. Protests swelled outside as the widow's plea for accountability hung unanswered, a stark reminder that fortunes forged in arms and oil often shield their architects from reckoning. The yacht, still gleaming under Al-Waleed's flag, ties these strands tight. It sails as a relic of deals that enriched families like the Khashoggis, only for one member's voice to be silenced by the same networks. Heartbreakingly, Jamal's fate underscores the human toll of these gilded circuits. While Adnan's Nabila hosted stars and schemers, his nephew chased truth in a world where billions buy silence. The contrast stings, a poignant clash of opulence against outrage that lingers long after the headlines fade. The communal lounge on the Trump Princess, designed for entertaining elite guests in style, highlighting the extravagant spending that defined Khashoggi’s and Trump’s high-profile financial dealings. Beneath the Waves: Superyachts as Secret Weapons in Wealth Wars In the shadowed economy of the ultra-rich, vessels like the Kingdom 5KR do more than idle in azure harbors. They act as collateral, the financial term for pledging an asset to secure a loan without surrendering ownership. Imagine it like a home mortgage, but for a seafaring estate, where banks lend against the yacht's value to fund fresh ventures, from real estate flips to stock surges. This keeps cash flowing for owners like Trump or Al-Waleed, turning a pleasure craft into a powerhouse for expansion. According to analysis reviewed by Finance Monthly, such strategies let billionaires borrow at low rates, often 2% to 4%, far below standard loans, amplifying their empires while the yacht bobs untethered. This isn't mere trivia. It offers a window into why these floating fortresses matter to everyday folks navigating their own money moves. By using luxury holdings as backing, the elite sidestep selling at a loss during dips, preserving control and compounding gains. Brooke Harrington, sociologist and author of Capital Without Borders, captures the chill of it all. She explains how these tactics let the top 0.01% "weaponize" assets to dodge taxes and regulations, creating parallel financial universes where accountability evaporates. Her work reveals a system rigged for resilience, even as markets quake. Consider the scale. The global superyacht market hit $21.6 billion in 2025, per industry reports, with over 5,000 vessels over 100 feet slicing through swells worldwide. One anonymized case from yacht brokers shows a Middle Eastern tycoon unlocking $50 million in credit against his 200-footer, plowing it into energy stocks that doubled in two years. For consumers eyeing big-ticket dreams, like a family boat or home upgrade, grasping collateral unlocks smarter borrowing. It teaches that value isn't static, your prized possession could fuel tomorrow's windfall if lenders see its shine. Yet the emotional edge cuts deep, these mechanics prop up inequalities that let tragedies like Khashoggi's slide into footnotes, a bitter pill wrapped in polished teak. Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman outside the White House, a high-profile moment that underscores the president’s family’s lucrative Saudi business ventures and the ongoing debate over ethics, profits, and international deals. Unveiling More Secrets: Reader Questions Answered What Is Trump's Net Worth in 2025? Forbes pegs Donald Trump's net worth at $6.3 billion as of September 2025, a figure buoyed by his real estate holdings, Truth Social stakes, and a surge from his $Trump cryptocurrency launch earlier this year. This marks a rebound from legal battles and market dips, with liquid assets alone topping $2.4 billion. Bloomberg's January estimate hovered at $7.08 billion, while Parade cited $6.6 billion in November, reflecting ongoing fluctuations tied to his political comeback and brand revivals. These valuations blend public disclosures with expert audits, highlighting how Trump's portfolio thrives on spectacle and diversification amid volatility. How Did Trump Acquire the Nabila Yacht? Donald Trump spotted an opportunity in 1988 when the Nabila, Adnan Khashoggi's debt-plagued icon, passed to Brunei's Sultan. He negotiated the purchase for under $30 million, a steal compared to its $100 million build cost, and rebranded it the Trump Princess to dazzle Atlantic City crowds. The deal fit his flair for high-visibility assets, but three years later, amid casino woes, he sold it to Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal for about $20 million. This quick flip underscored Trump's early knack for leveraging luxury to project power, even as personal finances teetered. Who Owns the Kingdom 5KR Yacht Today? Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal has held the Kingdom 5KR since 1991, transforming the former Trump Princess into a cornerstone of his $19 billion empire. The 282-foot Benetti-built superyacht, now valued around $90 million, remains a fixture in his portfolio of hotels, tech investments, and media plays. Despite his 2017 detention in an anti-corruption purge, Al-Waleed emerged stronger, keeping the vessel as a symbol of enduring Saudi wealth ties. It cruises global waters, a silent witness to decades of deals linking royals, reporters, and real estate moguls.