Walmart heiress unveils $300m superyacht that’s largest such vessel owned by a woman
A member of America’s richest family and heir to the Walmart fortune has unveiled her $300 million superyacht, Kaos, the largest such vessel owned by a woman.
The incredible, now 111-metre superyacht was purchased in 2018 for a whopping $300 million by Nancy Walton Laurie, daughter of Walmart’s co-founder James ‘Bud’ Walton, from a Qatari royal family.
Under her ownership, Walton Laurie transformed the then 262-foot vessel to its expansive size, having it rebuilt and modified by Oceanco, a Dutch shipyard that specializes in building custom yachts.
Upon completion in 2022, Kaos was not only considered Oceanco’s largest ship ever, but also the largest yacht ever built in the Netherlands – and the largest ship owned by a woman.
The monstrous superyacht accommodates 34 guests in stately cabins and features an owner’s deck that is separated from the rest of the yacht for privacy.
The 140 square meter main salon is a royal space equipped with a large television and royal seating.
One of the main highlights of the four-deck ship is the enormous swimming pool, surrounded by additional seating and elevated above the superyacht beach club.
The opulent beach club features an aquarium that offers captivating views of the pool above.
A member of America’s richest family and heir to the Walmart fortune has unveiled her $300 million superyacht, Kaos, the largest ship owned by a woman
The incredible now 361-foot superyacht was purchased in 2018 by Walmart heiress, Nancy Walton Laurie, daughter of Walmart’s co-founder James “Bud” Walton, from a Qatari royal family. In the photo: inside the luxurious superyacht
Kaos’ impressive features continue with a helipad, a 12-seater cinema, a massage parlour, a hammam and a gym.
The grandiose ship also features a luxurious room called ‘The London Bar’, complete with smoke machines, a DJ booth and a water wall chandelier.
The yacht also features a separate crew gym and a small hospital for medical emergencies at sea.
The ship and Walton Laurie’s property are a testament to women everywhere, as the previous owner, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, had included rooms that were reportedly off-limits to women.
These limited spaces likely included men’s quarters or meeting rooms intended for the emir’s entourage, emphasizing a traditional and hierarchical approach to luxury.
Under her ownership, 73-year-old Nancy Walton Laurie transformed the then 262-foot ship to its sprawling size, having it rebuilt and modified by Oceanco, a Dutch shipyard that specializes in building custom yachts.
However, the story took a twist when Walton Laurie became the new owner of the yacht.
The ship, once defined by exclusivity and male-dominated spaces, underwent a complete transformation under the leadership of the Walmart heiress, to reflect its new purpose: a haven for a modern and independent woman.
in 2023, her now famous superyacht was destroyed by climate activists who sprayed the ship while it was docked in Ibiza – an island off the coast of Spain.
Members of Spanish environmental group Futuro Vegetal spray-painted the stern of the yacht red and black while holding a sign reading “You consume, others suffer.”
A video of the destruction was later posted online, showing workers spraying off the paint.
Kaos’ impressive features continue with a helipad, a 12-seater cinema, a massage parlour, a hammam and a gym. Pictured: A swimming pool on top of the 111-meter-long ship, which cost $300 million
Walton Laurie, 73, is the youngest daughter of James “Bud” Walton, who co-founded Walmart with his brother Sam Walton.
The brothers opened the first Walmart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas.
Walton Laurie currently lives in Henderson, Nevada and Los Angeles Bloomberg.
In 1973, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Memphis, where she met her future husband, Bill Laurie.
When her father died in 1995, Walton Laurie inherited about half of her father’s 40 million shares of Walmart, while her older sister, Ann Walton Kroenke, received the rest.
According to Bloomberg, she now owns less than 5 percent of the company’s stock and is not actively involved in Walmart’s operations.
Collectively, members of the Walton family own an estimated stake of approximately 45 percent in Walmart.
Walton Laurie is the 269th richest person in the world as of April 29, 2024, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with an estimated net worth of $14.5 billion.
The ship, once defined by exclusivity and male-dominated spaces, underwent a complete transformation under the leadership of the Walmart heiress, to reflect its new purpose: a haven for a modern and independent woman. Pictured: Kaos moored at Butlers Wharf in London, England
In 1973, Walton Laurie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Memphis, where she met her future husband Bill Laurie (right). Pictured: Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mahomes, Nancy Walton Laurie and Bill Laurie pose for a photo outside the Red Bull Racing garage in Miami, Florida
In 1998, Walton Laurie delved into her interest in the arts when she founded a dance school in Columbia, Missouri, called the Columbia Performing Arts Center.
She also owned a contemporary ballet company called the Cedar Lake Ensemble in New York City, but the company later closed in 2015.
She and her husband owned the St. Louis Blues hockey team from 1999 to 2005.
Today, they say, they have a commercial real estate portfolio, several homes and two yachts Forbes.