U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta is facing backlash from Italians who accuse him of "flaunting" his wealth as he plans to sail his $450 million superyacht into Venice. The six-story vessel, reportedly equipped with two helipads and multiple swimming pools, is part of a tour of the European country.
Fertitta, a billionaire businessman and owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, intends to visit Venice for the Festa del Redentore, an annual festival commemorating the end of the 1576 plague. The U.S. embassy has described the journey, named Freedom 250, as "coastal diplomacy" to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S.-Italian relations. The ambassador's tour began on June 13 in Civitavecchia and he is currently in Naples, with plans to sail to Palermo and Cefalù for Independence Day on July 4.
However, the yacht's arrival for one of Venice's significant events has ignited fury among locals. A resident-run group, Laboratorio Occupato Morion, which previously protested at the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice, has labeled the ambassador's visit as a "slap in the face" and an "exploitation of Venice."
Federica Toninello of Laboratorio Occupato Morion told The Times that "flaunting that level of wealth is a slap in the face to people who are increasingly struggling to make ends meet and find a home in Venice." The group plans to hold a meeting to discuss measures to prevent the yacht's arrival, with Toninello expressing doubt about the value of the U.S.-Italian relations being honored in this manner.
Locals have voiced growing frustration with what they perceive as the use of Venice by billionaires and celebrities to display extravagant wealth. Last year, protests erupted when Amazon owner Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez held their wedding celebrations in the city, with residents staging marches and hanging banners.
Forbes reports that Fertitta has a net worth of nearly $11 billion, ranking him as the 304th richest person globally. He plans to host politicians and business leaders aboard the luxury vessel during 13 stops along the Italian coast, including a visit to Genoa.
Details regarding where the yacht will moor remain unconfirmed by an embassy source. Venezia Terminal Passeggeri, the authority responsible for managing large vessel moorings, stated that there are no available berths for large yachts in the immediate area. Furthermore, the Giudecca Canal is scheduled to be closed during the Festa del Redentore festival, according to The Times.