If you have ever spotted a 400-foot vessel moored in Canary Wharf during a London football weekend, or anchored outside New Orleans during the Super Bowl, chances are you were looking at Kismet — one of the largest and most technically advanced private superyachts in the world.
The name itself means destiny or fate in Urdu, and for the man who owns it, that feels entirely intentional.
Who Owns Kismet Yacht?
Kismet is owned by Shahid Khan — the Pakistani-American billionaire businessman and founder of Flex-N-Gate, one of the world’s largest private automotive parts suppliers.
He is also the owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC of the English Premier League. Khan is estimated to be worth approximately $13 billion as of 2026, making him one of the wealthiest NFL team owners in America.
Kismet is Khan’s second superyacht to carry that name. The previous one — a 95.2-meter Lürssen built in 2014 — was sold in 2023 and now sails under the name Whisper, currently owned by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The name Kismet moved with Khan to his new, much larger vessel.
Kismet Yacht Specifications at a Glance
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Owner | Shahid Khan |
| Builder | Lürssen, Germany |
| Former Project Name | Project Jag |
| Length | 122 metres (400 feet) |
| Gross Tonnage | 4,918 GT |
| Beam | 17.8 metres |
| Year Delivered | 2024 |
| Exterior Design | Nuvolari Lenard |
| Interior Design | Reymond Langton Design (with Shanna Khan) |
| Guest Capacity | 12 guests in up to 9 cabins |
| Charter Rate | From €3 million per week (approx. $3.1M+) |
| Charter Agent | Cecil Wright & Partners |
| Estimated Value | ~$360 million |
| Award | Motor Yacht of the Year 2025 |
Built by Lürssen: Germany’s Finest Shipyard
Kismet was built by Lürssen, the Bremen-based German shipyard widely regarded as one of the most prestigious superyacht builders in the world. Khan has worked with Lürssen on multiple projects — making Kismet his third consecutive collaboration with the yard. The vessel was originally commissioned under the working name Project Jag, a clear nod to his Jacksonville Jaguars ownership.
Moran Yacht & Ship, the American yacht brokerage firm that sold the vessel in 2019 and supervised its construction throughout, also wrote the technical specifications and negotiated the interior costs.
The yacht completed sea trials off the coast of Kiel, Germany before being delivered in 2024 — with its first port of call being Troon, Scotland.
The Design: Two Studios, One Vision
The exterior of Kismet was designed by Nuvolari Lenard, a celebrated Italian naval architecture and design firm. The most striking features include a distinctive bow, multiple outdoor deck spaces, and an overall silhouette that is sleek and powerful without being aggressive.
The design team created what they described as a floating private estate spread across six decks, organized for both long-term private residency and high-intensity charter use.
The interior was crafted by Reymond Langton Design — the same studio Khan had used on the previous Kismet — with significant creative input from Khan’s daughter Shanna Khan.
Key interior features include a two-level open-plan entrance area with sweeping video walls, an underwater cinema called the Nemo Cinema on the lower deck featuring a 150-inch television, a 7-star wellness area, a beauty salon, a spa, two movie theaters, three swimming pools, a gym, a dance floor, and a submarine.
The vessel can host parties of up to 270 people while also providing intimate private spaces for solo use or small family gatherings.
A Yacht Built for Both Privacy and Business
Shahid Khan has always been intentional about how Kismet is used. He has spoken openly about designing the yacht for both deep personal use and commercial charter — and those two purposes informed every design decision.
The yacht is listed for charter through Cecil Wright & Partners at a rate starting from approximately €3 million per week — one of the highest charter rates of any vessel currently on the market.
At that price, it serves an extremely small global audience of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and private corporate groups. Khan has described the space as somewhere he can host business partners and dignitaries while also retreating for genuine solitude — a balance that few vessels at this size manage to achieve.
Kismet docked in Canary Wharf on the Thames in October 2024 during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ annual London game — a neat piece of brand storytelling that placed one of the NFL’s most visible assets at one of London’s most photographed waterfront locations.
The same yacht showed up outside New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX in early 2025, continuing the tradition of making Kismet part of the story wherever Khan’s sports properties are in the spotlight.
Shahid Khan: The Man Behind the Yacht
Shahid Rafiq Khan was born on July 18, 1950 in Lahore, Pakistan. He moved to the United States at 16 with $500 in his pocket — his family’s entire savings — and took a job washing dishes at the YMCA for $1.20 an hour while studying engineering at the University of Illinois. After graduating, he joined Flex-N-Gate as an employee and eventually purchased the company from its founder in 1980.
Under his leadership, Flex-N-Gate grew from a single-plant operation into a global automotive supplier with more than 25,000 employees and 69 manufacturing plants across the United States, China, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, France, Germany, and Canada.
The company generates an estimated $9–10 billion in annual revenue and supplies bumpers and assemblies to virtually every major automaker.
He bought the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wayne Weaver in 2011 for $770 million, becoming the first member of an ethnic minority to own an NFL franchise. In 2013, he purchased Fulham FC from Mohamed Al-Fayed for approximately $300 million.
His son Tony Khan co-founded All Elite Wrestling (AEW) with him in 2019, adding a third major sports entertainment property to the family empire.
The Previous Kismet — Now Called Whisper
Before the current 122-meter vessel, Khan owned a 95.2-meter Lürssen also named Kismet, which was built in 2014 with an exterior by Espen Øino and interiors by Reymond Langton.
That yacht became well known for hosting some of the most recognizable names in entertainment — Jay-Z and Beyoncé were photographed aboard her, a moment that brought significant media attention to the vessel.
Khan sold that yacht in 2023. It was subsequently renamed Whisper and is now owned by Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google. The Kismet name — which carries personal meaning for Khan as it comes from his native Urdu — transferred exclusively to the new, much larger build.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns the Kismet yacht?
Kismet is owned by Shahid Khan, the Pakistani-American billionaire founder of Flex-N-Gate and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC.
Q2. How much is the Kismet yacht worth?
The current 122-meter Kismet is estimated to be worth approximately $360 million, with a charter rate starting from €3 million per week.
Q3. Who built the Kismet yacht?
Kismet was built by Lürssen, the renowned German shipyard based in Bremen, and delivered in 2024 after sea trials off Kiel, Germany.
Q4. What was the Kismet yacht originally called?
During construction, the yacht was known as Project Jag — a reference to Shahid Khan’s ownership of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Q5. Is the Kismet yacht available for charter?
Yes. Kismet is available for charter through Cecil Wright & Partners at a rate starting from approximately €3 million per week, plus expenses, for up to 12 guests.
Q6. What happened to the previous Kismet yacht?
Khan sold his earlier 95.2-meter Lürssen Kismet in 2023. It was renamed Whisper and is now owned by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
Q7. Who designed the Kismet yacht interior and exterior?
The exterior was designed by Nuvolari Lenard and the interior by Reymond Langton Design, with creative input from Khan’s daughter Shanna Khan.
Q8. What award did Kismet win?
Kismet was named Motor Yacht of the Year 2025, recognising it as one of the most exceptional superyacht builds of the year.
Kismet is owned by Shahid Khan — the Pakistani-American billionaire who arrived in America at 16 with $500 and built one of the world’s largest private automotive companies before becoming a major force in NFL, Premier League, and professional wrestling ownership.
The current Kismet is a 122-meter Lürssen delivered in 2024, valued at approximately $360 million, and chartered at around €3 million per week. It won Motor Yacht of the Year 2025 and represents the pinnacle of what modern private shipbuilding can produce. For Khan, it is both a floating private estate and a travelling symbol of everything he has built from nothing.
