Fury as Trump's billionaire Italy ambassador parties on $450MILLION yacht... staggering photos reveal hot tubs and helipads on 383ft 'love boat'

UK Daily Mail ^ | 08/31/2026 | ROSS IBBETSON

[DFG]

Theodore Roosevelt was famous for gunboat diplomacy.

But Donald Trump's ambassador to Italy has found a rather more luxurious way to win friends: love boat diplomacy.

Billionaire entertainment mogul Tilman Fertitta, 69, is wooing foreign officials from the deck of his $450 million mega yacht, the Boardwalk, as he cruises around Italy on a two-and-a-half-month 'Coastal Diplomatic Tour.'

The 383ft vessel boasts two helipads, two swimming pools, four hot tubs, a fully equipped spa, scuba room, putting green and cinema, with business tycoons and sports personalities rubbing shoulders with government officials at lavish receptions.

Fertitta, the world's 312th-richest person according to Forbes, is also joined on board by his wife Lauren Ware Fertitta and their five-year-old daughter, Elle.

CNN, which toured the yacht, found deckhands polishing chrome railings and pillows being plumped before guests arrived, while Fertitta showed off the floating mansion's family kitchen and its stocked fridge.

The cruise comes at Fertitta's own expense - apart from security provided by the Italian government. He estimates the coastal tour will cost him about $1 million, with the voyage also serving as a celebration of America's 250th anniversary and a way to avoid renovations at his official residence in Rome.

But for some Italians, the billionaire's floating summer of excess is beginning to feel less like Roman Holiday and more like the last days of Rome.

Fertitta's extravagance has sparked protests and prompted questions about the cost to Italy. The Boardwalk was greeted by demonstrators when it docked in Venice last month, with chants of 'No space for billionaires' and 'Venice is not the United States.'

[MplsSteve]

He’s pumped a lot of money into his alma mater, the University of Houston as well.

[griswold3]

I do not envy people with more than me. But I have a raw spot for those who do not create value to get rich.

[TigersEye]

Who is furious? The Daily Mail?

Have they ever worked up so much as a mild irritation that a quarter of a million UK girls have been raped by muslims?

[central_va]

If they hire Americans then I have no problem.

[stanne]

Some of us are not communist.

As the boys who accomplished D-Day, in part to prevent communism here, would say, “smoke ‘em if you got ‘em”

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

Fertitta showed off the floating mansion's family kitchen and its stocked fridge.

He should replicate Pelousy’s huuuuuge ice cream stash. With his money, the ice cream freezers could have a golden plaque:

Dedicated To Nancy Pelosi, And All Of Her Great Stock Tips

[Liz]

Tilman's Las Vegas Golden Nugget.

Sicilian-American Tilman's "Landry's" portfolio includes: The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos; Morton's The Steakhouse; Rainforest Cafe; Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.; McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks; Saltgrass Steak House; Claim Jumper; Chart House; The Oceanaire; Mastro's Restaurants; Grotto Restaurants, The Boathouse Restaurants,[ and Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse. In 2017, Fertitta acquired half of EMM group, owner of the Catch Restaurants. He is also the owner of the holding company Fertitta Entertainment.....the Huston Rockets team.....and many Hotels.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Yes, the boat I tow behind my aircraft carrier looks like that.

[Liz]

Tilman’s 117-meter Lürssen superyacht is officially registered in the Cayman Islands.-—wiki

[Liz]

Quite a guy. Glad he’s a conservative.

[Hildy]

Oh fury Well that makes me care not a bit

[PGalt]

Thanks. A successful businessman employing a lot of individuals.

[Beowulf9]

Instead of what, the gays partying on drugs and alcohol nd having sex in some sleazy club?

[Flaming Conservative]

“The cruise comes at Fertitta’s own expense - apart from security provided by the Italian government.”
End of story. The man was uber rich before he became an ambassador.

[Afterguard]

It IS flying the Stars and Stripes from the top of the bridge

[econjack]

My feeling about things like this are as old as I am: I wish I were rich. Being rich isn’t bad. This guy feeds, clothes, and houses thousands of employees and has every right to enjoy the fruit of his labor. People like this grow the economy, create new jobs and allow Liberals to find jobs so they can leave their parents’ basement.

[healy61]

Remember, a lot of men and women got good paychecks building that.

[StolarStorm]

True, but you don’t know where he got his seed money....

[dfwgator]

[Williams]

Well I agree we have corruption and yet Italy and many other countries are well known to be even more corrupt.

When they try to build a bridge to Sicily, corruption and the mafia are listed as very real obstacles that may make it impossible.

It’s not that common here for officials to tell you that they will not approve whatever unless they get a bribe. Likewise postal and customs workers routinely steal items or of your mail.

Living in Italy always lists the buerocracy as a major obstacle to ordinarily life.

Getting the simplest thing approved can take forever and people have to do things like cry and beg.

So yes they are more corrupt and less opportunity to succeed in business.