For many, the life of sports billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC, seems like a plot straight out of a rags-to-riches movie. Some might even say the transfer of his luxurious yacht to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was just as cinematic. Although neither of them has appeared on the silver screen, the vessel that connects them certainly has. The superyacht Whisper (formerly Kismet), now owned by the tech tycoon worth $23 billion, graced the 2019 Netflix action film 6 Underground, where it even outshone Ryan Reynolds’ good looks.
According to Yachtcharterfleet, the 312-foot Lürssen yacht was the setting for thrilling action sequences, only to be blown up in a spectacular scene, though, thankfully, that was all CGI. The vessel, far too beautiful to destroy for real, can be chartered for $1.1 million per week.
While 6 Underground was Netflix’s biggest production at the time, with a staggering $150 million budget, the opulent yacht Whisper itself was worth an even more jaw-dropping $200 million. Known as Kismet during the filming, the yacht didn’t have a pool on its aft deck, so the production team at Cinecittà Studios created a replica for a particular poolside scene.
In reality, though, Whisper boasts multiple pools, including a 12-meter mosaic-tiled pool with an integrated Jacuzzi, plus two spa pools. The yacht also features an impressive subterranean spa with a hammam, massage room, steam shower, and salon.
This floating palace includes a two-tier master suite on the owner’s private deck, which features a Jacuzzi with private access to the yacht’s helipad, when not in use; it doubles as a basketball court. The five-deck yacht accommodates guests in eight luxurious suites, offering them entertainment through an expansive beach club, beauty salon, cinema, and gym.
Whisper (formerly Kismet) was commissioned by Shahid Khan.
As for how its current owner, Eric Schmidt, acquired the vessel, that story is noteworthy. After months of trying to take the Oceanco yacht Alfa Nero home having won her at auction for nearly $68 million, the frustrated billionaire decided to change course. Within just four days, and a discount of $60 million, he finalized the purchase of Kismet for $158 million in 2023, long after the yacht had made its Netflix debut.
Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt is the current owner of Whisper.
Other superyachts that lit up the TV and big screens with their presence include Christina O in the fifth season of the Netflix series The Crown, the sailing yacht Aria I in James Bond’s Skyfall, the superyacht Solandge in the second season of Succession, and Planet Nine in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller Tenet, among others.