‘World’s most beautiful’ superyacht, garage for 500 cars and his own private airline – meet Royal Ascot’s richest owner

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IN this world there are the rich, the super-rich… and then there are the having-your-own-private-airline rich.

Where millions won’t do and instead we’re talking billions – hundreds and hundreds of them.

Aerial view of the superyacht Al Lusail in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The tiny figures of the crew can just about be made out on Al Lusail, the awesome £370million superyacht dubbed ‘the world’s most beautiful’ and owned by Royal Ascot owner and head of Wathnan Racing, the Emir of Qatar[/caption]

The Al Lusail yacht, owned by the Emir of Qatar, at sea.

The astonishing vessel is one of the most luxurious in the world and much about remains a closely-guarded secret[/caption]

The helicopter landing pad sits atop the bow of the ship, while the four decks at the back provide ample viewing space[/caption]

Two men walking down a red carpet in front of a plane.

Portrait of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will aim for more riches at Royal Ascot with his superstar squad of horses[/caption]

That’s where Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al-Thani, better known as the Emir of Qatar, comes in.

And nowhere will his seemingly limitless buying power – his family are said to be worth £250billion – be on bigger display this week than at Royal Ascot.

In racing terms, Sheikh Tamim is a relatively new kid on the block compared to the established old guard.

The likes of Godolphin, owned by the Ruler of Dubai with his own £300m yacht, and Juddmonte, run by the family of the late Sheikh Khalid Abdullah, who was a member of the House of Saud, have been dominating racing for decades.

But in just three years, the Emir, with his impressive Wathnan Racing operation, has made an almighty splash – and got the veterans very, very worried.

They won the Gold Cup – Ascot’s feature race – at their first attempt with Courage Mon Ami in 2023.

At last year’s Ascot they had four winners.

And they haven’t slowed down since, their awesome buying power – highlighted by the recent massive-money purchase of awesome sprinter Lazzat – showing they have money to burn.

But it’s not just on the racecourse that this unimaginable wealth is on display.

He might not fancy mooring it up in the Thames, but The Sheikh owns a staggering £370million superyacht called Al Lusail.

Said to ‘put the super in superyacht’ and hailed as ‘the most beautiful in the world’, it is believed to boast ‘several’ indoor pools.

The 400ft vessel has its own helicopter landing pad and its ‘extraordinary’ decor was put together by March and White, the award-winning interior designers based in London.

President Donald Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani waving goodbye after a signing ceremony.

The Emir has entertained Donald Trump at his opulent palace in Doha[/caption]

The Emir’s car collection – which is believed to live in a garage big enough for 500 motors – is said to feature an ultra-rare Bugatti Divo, of which only 40 were ever made[/caption]

Inside you’ll also find the ship’s own lift, movie theatre and beauty salon – enough to keep the yacht’s 36 guests over 18 bedrooms and 56 crew happy.

When they’re at home the ruling family of Qatar reside in their £1bn Royal Palace – dubbed a ‘golden architectural marvel’.

It’s actually 15 palaces in one, with a garage big enough for 500 cars, a collection which is said to include a £6m Bugatti Divo, of which only 40 were ever made.

There are also Bugatti Veyrons and Chirons, a LaFerrari Aperta, Lamborghini Centenario – you name it, it’s probably there.

The ultimate mode of transport, though, is Qatar Amiri Flight, the Emir’s own private airline.

With 14 planes in all, it serves only the royal family and is believed to have among its fleet three Boeing 747-8 jets, each costing over £300m.

Don’t be surprised to see some artwork on there either.

The Qatari Royal Family’s collection is, you guessed it, worth hundreds of millions.

And among their most significant pieces of art is one of Paul Cezanne’s ‘The Card Players’ paintings, bought for £260m in 2011 – the most amount of money ever paid for a painting at the time.

There are also works by Andy Warhol and Mark Rothko worth well north of £100m.

All in all, it makes the £567,100 Lazzat would win with victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday look insignificant.

But as they say – nothing beats the feeling of a winner!

Paul Cezanne’s ‘The Card Players’ painting, bought for £260m in 2011 by the Qatari Royal Family, was the most amount of money ever paid for a painting at the time[/caption]