Carl Le Souef wanted to build the world’s largest superyacht — a 728-foot behemoth dubbed Somnio — embodying the idea that if you’re going to dream, you may as well dream big. Sadly, big ideas come with big invoices, and the Australian tycoon has learned the hard way that passion projects don’t simply run on ambition alone; they run on cold, hard cash.
Superyacht Dream Sinks Into Legal Drama
First imagined in 2019 with British design giants Winch Design, Somnio was set to cost a staggering $500 million (c. A$800 million).
However, after an initial down payment of $250,000, Le Souef decided to ghost the design team on three subsequent invoices worth over $900,000. Unsurprisingly, Winch Design wasn’t about to let that slide.
Instead of pouring more time and money into the mammoth residential yacht, they filed a hefty lawsuit.
By January this year, the High Court of Justice in London ruled Le Souef personally liable for the unpaid invoices… plus interest.
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An $800 Million Voyage That Never Set Sail
True to its Latin name — “to dream” — Somnio was meant to be a floating utopia for 39 ultra-wealthy backers, each snapping up a custom apartment starting at $11.2 million.
Plans included every available luxury: top-tier restaurants, a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, an onboard beach club, high-end fitness facilities, and more.
Under the guidance of former The World captain Erik Bredhe, construction was slated to begin at Norwegian shipyard Vard, with a scheduled mid-2024 launch.
Now that dream is stuck in legal limbo. While the numbers looked good on paper — $6.5 million in design fees, $500 million overall budget — reality bites when checks stop clearing. Somnio’s road to completion remains murky to say the least.
Skincare Mogul to Courtroom Chaos
Le Souef first rose to prominence by founding Dr. LeWinn’s Private Formula, a leading Australian skincare brand he later sold in 2009.
These days, he’s busy with Somnio Global — a sustainability-focused venture — and various private investments.
Whether Somnio ever leaves the dock is anyone’s guess. Right now, the once-hyped superyacht is looking more like a courtroom cautionary tale than the world’s most-lux floating palace.
