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Mark Zuckerberg’s Superyacht Burned 500K Gallons of Diesel, Causing Massive CO₂ Emissions
Greek Reporter ^ | August 6, 2025 | Nisha Zahid

Posted on 08/06/2025 6:05:25 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Mark Zuckerberg’s $300 million superyacht Launchpad burned more than 528,000 gallons (2 million liters) of diesel in nine months, releasing over 5,300 tons of carbon emissions, before docking this week at France’s La Ciotat shipyard for maintenance.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has faced growing criticism over the environmental impact of his 387-foot Feadship superyacht as it toured destinations from the South Pacific to Europe. It will now undergo servicing at one of the world’s top superyacht facilities, the same yard that previously handled Jeff Bezos’ yacht Koru.

Months of travel draw scrutiny

The yacht’s journey has drawn attention not only for its opulence but also for its extensive mileage. In January, Luxurylaunches reported that Launchpad and its $30 million support vessel Abeona spent almost two months awaiting Zuckerberg’s arrival in the South Pacific.

He never boarded, and the two vessels returned to Port Everglades, completing a 9,600‑nautical‑mile round trip from San Francisco — a voyage that consumed an estimated 178,700 gallons (676,800 liters) of diesel.

Stops in Norway and Greece

By April, the yacht began a new series of voyages with Zuckerberg, his wife Priscilla Chan, and their children, visiting remote destinations worldwide. The first leg included a 5,280‑mile trans‑Atlantic journey to Norway, where the vessel anchored in the fjords as a base for heliskiing.

Grecian Delight supports Greece

Zuckerberg arrived via helicopter directly onto the yacht’s helipad to comply with Norwegian landing rules. Despite backlash from locals over the yacht’s presence, the family continued their travels across Europe.

The summer itinerary later took them to Greece, where Facebook executives joined to celebrate Zuckerberg’s 40th birthday aboard the vessel. Designed by Espen Øino, Launchpad features four decks, accommodations for 26 guests in 13 cabins, and a crew of 42. The yacht’s design reflects modern luxury, but its carbon footprint has raised questions among environmental observers.

Carbon emissions spark environmental debate

Data from The Yacht CO₂ Tracker Collective reveals the scale of its impact. The yacht emitted 6.2 tons of CO₂ while burning almost 630 gallons (2,394 liters) of fuel during just four days of sailing between Positano and Naples. It has consumed over 528,000 gallons (2 million liters) of fuel since October 2024, releasing more than 5,300 tons of CO₂.

Engines and fuel use

Launchpad is powered by four MTU 20V 4000 M93L diesel engines, each using about 291 gallons (1,101 liters) of fuel per hour. Combined, they allow a top speed of 24 knots and draw from a fuel tank that holds 112,000 gallons (423,700 liters) of diesel.

Reports note that the yacht burns approximately 1,165 gallons (4,410 liters) of fuel per hour during standard cruising, releasing around 40 tons of CO₂, equivalent to the emissions of 630 average family cars.

In broader terms, one hour of cruising equals the carbon output of driving a gasoline car about 99,000 miles, or four trips around the Earth.

With the vessel now docked for service in France, the respite may be for the yacht itself, even as scrutiny over the environmental cost of such luxury travel continues to grow.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Hobbies; Travel
KEYWORDS: emissions; markzuckerberg; superyacht; yacht
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To: crusty old prospector

Giving money to the poor is a waste of the money. Most rich people are not born rich (yes I know there are exceptions that fat odious sack of s*** Pritzker comes to mind) but most rich people are born without wealth and are rich because they do things that make them rich. Most poor people are poor because they do things that keep them poor. Giving them money incentivizes them to continue doing stuff that keeps them poor. I’m sure some bleeding heart will take care exception to that, but I said most of all. There are people who are poor that simply have bad luck - big medical bills etc


21 posted on 08/07/2025 6:50:16 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
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To: from occupied ga

I was just using a libtard talking point.


22 posted on 08/07/2025 6:57:15 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: crusty old prospector

Ah. I thought that might have been the case, but couldn’t help myself😊


23 posted on 08/07/2025 7:52:17 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
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