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Valve Founder Gabe Newell Acquires Superyacht Firm

Valve Founder Gabe Newell Acquires Superyacht Firm

February 7, 2026
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Valve Founder Gabe Newell Acquires Superyacht Firm

Valve co-founder Gabe Newell is embarking on a new venture, and this one has nothing to do with Half-Life 3. According to a report from Boat International, Newell is purchasing Oceanco, the yacht builder currently constructing his $400 million superyacht.

In a statement about the acquisition, Oceanco explained that Newell's passion for the brand stems from a "lifelong fascination with the ocean" and "profound respect for the people who live and work upon it." Based in the Netherlands, Oceanco has seen several changes in leadership since its founding in 1987, with private investor Mohammed Al Barwani leading the company for the past 15 years prior to Newell's arrival.

Beyond Newell's 364-foot superyacht, Oceanco is also the builder behind Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' $500 million sailing yacht, the 417-foot Koru. The company also developed the Kaos sailing superyacht for Walmart heir Nancy Walton Laurie and the Bravo Eugenia for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Newell himself is amassing a notable yacht collection, which already includes the Oceanco-built Draak (formerly named Tranquility) and the Rocinante superyacht, constructed by German builder Lürssen.

Regarding Newell's plans now that he leads a major superyacht manufacturer, Oceanco states it plainly: "His first decision? Leave the team alone. Seriously. Oceanco possesses vision, integrity, and a culture that genuinely works. Gabe doesn't want to fix it; he wants to fuel it."

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