SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the not-available-from-the-windows-store dept.
[Update: 20200210_181822 UTC] The original source of the story reported the cost of the yacht to be £500; there were conversion errors in the stories quoted here. Click the spoiler for the details:
The Telegraph (a UK publication):
- Reports the price was: £500m
ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- Referred to The Telegraph as its source.
- Apparently gets the value wrong and thinks the £500m was $US500.
- Then converts the $US500 to Australian dollars.
- Being an Australian publication, it converts the $US to $AUS.
- reports it as (local $AUS) as: "$747 Million".
BBC then steps in and reports:
- that there was no such deal
- and states the amounts to be: £500m ($644m)
According to https://www.x-rates.com/, the current exchange rates are:
- 1.00 GBP = 1.291 USD
- 1.00 USD = 1.498 AUD
- 1.00 GBP = 1.935 AUD
Which then gives us:
- 500 GBP = (500 * 1.291 USD) = $646 USD
- 500 USD = (500 * 1.498 AUD) = $750 AUD
[The original, unmodified, story appears below.]
Microsoft founder Bill Gates is one of the world's richest men, so it's no surprise that he can afford to splash out on luxury items every now and then. But, even for him, $US500 million [$747 million] is a large chunk of money.
And what has he spent it on? A hydrogen-powered superyacht, that he won't take possession of until the year 2024.
The yacht, designed by Dutch company Sinot, will be 112 metres long and run on liquid hydrogen.
It will feature an infinity pool, helipad and spa and will have room for up to 14 guests.
The yacht was first revealed in Monaco in 2019 and advertised as being suitable for a "forward-looking" owner.
"For the development of Aqua we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology, to combine this in a superyacht with truly innovative features," marine designer Sander Sinot said at the time.
But Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story reported by the BBC:
Billionaire Bill Gates has not commissioned a hydrogen-powered superyacht from designer Sinot, the firm has told the BBC.
It has been widely reported that Mr Gates ordered a £500m ($644m) luxury vessel, based on the concept which was displayed in Monaco in 2019.
Sinot said it had "no business relationship" with Bill Gates. It added that that the concept yacht, called Aqua, was "not linked" to either him or any of his representatives. "Aqua is a concept under development and has not been sold to Mr Gates," a spokeswoman said. She added that it was shown "in Monaco [and] meant to build a better future, and inspire clients and the industry."
Bill Gates has been contacted by the BBC for comment.
Also at:
https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/bill-gates-orders-644-million-hydrogen-powered-superyacht-with-gym-helipad-infinity-pool/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/09/bill-gates-orders-500m-hydrogen-powered-superyacht
Meanwhile escquireme.com is supporting the BBC story and reporting that this is not true.
(Score: 4, Informative) by edIII on Monday February 10 2020, @07:57PM (1 child)
Doesn't actually bother me. The idea of billionaires, or being able to buy this boat is pretty attractive and inspiring. It's like the NBA too, millions dreaming, dozens living the dream. To be fair, those dozens that are living the dream are pretty damn talented and worked for it.
Having some people high in the stratosphere so to speak isn't the problem. It's when people are getting there at the extreme expense and suffering of others. In other words, billionaires are just fine when the middle class is huge and wealthy. When the average household has 5 years savings, people are very self-sufficient, and America is strong in general. When the middle class is huge and strong, there isn't cause to be screaming about taxes and social programs, because those would be quite affordable. Social programs would shrink quite substantially as well since that middle class only expanded by the poor getting on their feet. Americans are in general fairly hospitable and charitable (when not hit with a concerted FUD effort by politics to convince them their under attack), and a strong middle class will help take care of the poor regardless of social programs.
It's about a minimum. When everyone has a decent minimum, which doesn't imply something given and not deserved, and they can live good humble lives, then we don't need to give a fuck if a few of us live in the stratosphere. Especially, if those people are being rewarded for their talents and contributions to humanity, not their sociopathic behaviors, opportunism, corruption, and nepotism.
Remember, in a ideal world, that 747 million dollars would represent a lot of economic motion primarily benefiting the middle class and society at large. Since the damn thing is hydrogen powered, it's even green.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ikanreed on Monday February 10 2020, @08:28PM
"It's even green".
Even if they somehow make all their hydrogen from solar instead of the cheaper fracking byproducts, I guaranfuckingtee you just building that piece of shit probably used about as much goddamn carbon as I will in my entire car-mandatory lifetime.