Mysterious $150M superyacht docks in LA with hidden name and magical connection
A mysterious nine-figure superyacht sailed into a Los Angeles marina with its name concealed, but locals apparently didn't need long to figure out the famous name behind the massive vessel.
The boat, which has been docked in Marina del Rey since Sunday, belongs to "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, according to the California Post.
The Post cited its sources, one of whom called it "the worst kept secret on the Marina."
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The yacht's name was reportedly covered soon after docking, but that did little to keep the vessel's identity under wraps.
The superyacht was spotted by those behind the Instagram account twogirls.oneboat, with several commenters identifying the vessel as Rowling's Samsara, according to the Post.
The Post reported that while Rowling has been confirmed as the owner, the "Harry Potter" author has not been seen publicly.
Pictures show the enormous white superyacht docked in the marina, towering over its surroundings.
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Superyacht broker Chris Cecil-Wright told Fox News Digital owners will sometimes take steps to make their vessels less easily identifiable, although he said concealing a yacht's name is "very rare."
"Quite often, you'll find that if a boat is at anchor or in a port you might switch off AIS [Automatic Identification System], so people can't instantly work out where you are," the United Kingdom-based expert said.
"Very occasionally, if there's a particular event or something going on, you might find an owner might conceal the obvious names on the side of the boat."
Cecil-Wright said privacy itself is a major draw for wealthy and high-profile yacht owners.
"Particularly when you're a recognizable face or name, it becomes increasingly difficult to be able to relax anywhere in public," he said.
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"So being on a private yacht, which is often sort of looked at as a private island, is the real luxury."
At 290 feet long, the ship is nearly the length of a football field.
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The vessel can accommodate 12 guests and a crew of 26, and features a circular swimming pool, cinema and beach club, according to the website SuperYachtFan.
The superyacht was built by Oceanco and delivered in 2015 under the name Infinity.
The yacht is worth an estimated $150 million, according to SuperYachtFan, with an estimated running cost of up to $15 million a year.
The ship's first owner was businessman Eric Smidt, who sold it to Australian billionaire businessman Brett Blundy.
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In 2023, the ship was sold to Rowling, who named the boat Samsara, a Sanskrit word meaning "wandering."
Fox News Digital reached out to Rowling, but she declined to comment.
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Rowling, who was a single mother receiving government assistance when "Harry Potter" was published, has since become one of Britain's wealthiest authors.
Her net worth stood at a staggering $1.2 billion as of Sept. 4, according to Forbes.
For the ultra-wealthy, superyachts offer a rare combination of luxury and privacy, essentially serving as floating mansions that can travel from one exclusive destination to another.
Earlier this year, Fox News Digital reported that luxury hotel brands were increasingly taking their five-star services to sea, launching intimate superyachts aimed at wealthy travelers who have traditionally avoided crowded cruise ships.