Onlooker snaps picture of enigmatic ship moored offshore: 'One of our rulers'

A striking video showing a massive yacht drifting through the San Francisco Bay has sparked curiosity among locals. Shared on the r/sanfrancisco subreddit with the question, "Who/What Yacht is this in the bay today?" the post quickly attracted speculation and humorous commentary about extravagant yachts in a city grappling with significant income disparity.

Commenters suggested the yacht is Mogambo, a 239.5-foot luxury vessel reportedly owned by Jan Koum, co-founder of WhatsApp. Registered under the Cayman Islands flag, the yacht's location was verified through a MarineTraffic link shared by users at the time of the post.

Forbes estimates Koum's net worth at $17 billion, largely from the 2014 sale of WhatsApp to Facebook for approximately $22 billion. Mogambo is not his only extravagant vessel; Luxurylaunches reports he also has another $220 million superyacht named Moonrise, accompanied by an additional support yacht.

In the Reddit thread, a user recalled attending Koum's post-acquisition party: "Katy Perry performed for about 120 guests. Johnny Walker Blue Label lined the bars. Oysters, caviar, the whole experience. It was simultaneously fascinating and deeply sobering to witness, as nearly every attendee became a millionaire overnight."

Environmental concerns also surfaced. Large yachts like Mogambo can emit thousands of tons of carbon dioxide annually. The Guardian notes that a superyacht of this scale can produce as much carbon pollution in a year as 1,500 cars. Oxfam highlights that the wealthiest 1% account for around 16% of global pollution, labeling these ultra-rich consumers as "political-economic elites."

The contrast with San Francisco's economic reality is stark: the city hosts both tech billionaires and a population where roughly one in eight residents lives below the poverty line. Reddit users pointed out this disparity, with one commenting that the yacht represents "one of our overlords enjoying the fruits of our labor! Have fun at work today!" Another joked that the poster had "spotted too much money."

The discussion underscored a broader call for accountability, especially regarding environmentally and socially responsible behavior among the ultra-wealthy.

Author: Sophia Brooks