Shahid Khan's 400-foot-long superyacht Kismet underway

BlueiProd

Shahid Khan owns one of the top 60 largest privately held companies in the United States— automotive part supplier Flex-N-Gate—that reported $9.3 Billion in revenue last year. He also owns an NFL team—the Jacksonville Jaguars—and a Premier League Football (soccer) Club—Fulham F.C.—in England.

But let’s face it, Kismet, the 400-foot-long-superyacht that was named Superyacht of the Year in 2025 and charters for over $3 million per week is probably one of this self-made billionaire’s most unique assets. He obviously likes to “go big,” in business and in life, but I also recently learned first hand that he’s wonderfully warm, approachable, and fun as well. And since I (and lots of other journalists) have already reported on how amazing Kismet is and he’s known for hosting big parties aboard Kismet during the NFL season in the states and when his Jaguars play in London, I started our conversation with a question most captains of industry don’t get asked too much.

“Do you like to throw parties?”

“Absolutely,” he says without skipping a beat. “Nobody's ever turned down a yacht party. One of the interesting things about owning Kismet is how special it is from a business point of view. Anyone can invite you to a great hotel or resort. But frankly, those kinds of invitations are never all that special. But when you invite someone on a yacht, especially something like Kismet, people change their plans to be there. It's such a special experience. People are excited.”

In fact, this is Khan’s third Kismet that was built by Lurssen in Germany and features an exterior designed by Nuvolari Lenard and interiors designed Reymond Langton Design under the creative direction of Shanna Khan, an established real estate developer, investor and interior designer.

Of course, Khan knows that a yacht like Kismet will always represent the absolute apex of the luxury pyramid. But it’s obvious he’s also quite strategic and pragmatic about superyacht ownership since his Kismets have always fetched multi-million-dollar weekly charter fees. And his yachts have attracted lots high profile charters like Beyonce and JayZ too.

“We’re always thinking about how the boat will be used. Like our latest Kismet. The main salon is inspired by Versailles. But it also must be able to accommodate several hundred people when we have a big party. We’re constantly learning what works and what doesn’t. And we’re always working to make the best experience and every area on the yacht to be both useful and unforgettable.”

“Kismet meets the needs for a certain group of charters,” he adds like the practical engineer he is. “We spend time watching who charters the biggest yachts and we study how they use them. Building a large yacht is a long process and we are always looking to feature new ideas and technologies that those people want as well. We never compromise on the aesthetics, but since we know we are going to host big parties too, we pick materials and finishes that will be able to be maintained as well.

“The other aspect is cabins. I learned from the original Kismet, that it’s good to have all the cabins same size so you're not forcing guests to pick one over another.”

“They're all VIP cabins,” I proudly say in true master-of-the-obvious fashion.

“Exactly,” he says kindly. “And the other thing I’ve learned from owning big yachts is that you don't want to feel like you're on just one massive vessel. Some big yachts I’ve seen are basically the same from one level to another.

“Some people might like it. But I like to start with the formal level. And as you go to the upper decks the design gets more informal. Each deck feels like you’re on a different boat. That impacts the design choices and it’s tough to execute, but when it’s done with good taste it has a huge wow factor.”

And since Kismet is available to charter via Cecil Wright, anyone who can afford can experience all that Kismet has to offer too.

Wow factor indeed.