Rising Sun yacht: 138 m Lürssen, Jon Bannenberg's last design

In short

Rising Sun is a 138-metre motor yacht that Lürssen delivered in 2004, reportedly for Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison (Boat International, February 2025); she was the last yacht to come from Jon Bannenberg's drawing board, and he did not live to see her completed (Boat International, Boat International, Boat International). She was lengthened by 18 metres during her build so that she would be longer than the 126.2-metre Octopus, and her reported build cost is more than $290 million (Boat International). Her profile is defined by full-height structural glass set into exposed superstructure frames, and inside there are about 8,000 square metres of living space with a basketball court, a wine cellar and a double-height cinema (Boat International, Boat International). Boat International reports that Ellison sold half of the yacht to David Geffen in 2006 and that Geffen bought the rest in 2010; Forbes reported in March 2020 that she is owned by Geffen (Boat International, Forbes).

International Superyacht Society Awards 2019: finalist, Best Refit — YachtBuyer, Rising Sun

Videos

Five tours from YouTube, most viewed first.

**Megayacht Rising Sun [HD] America's CUP 2010**Javier Rullan Ruano · 23 May 2013 · 18,772 viewsWatch on YouTube

**Super-yacht "Rising Sun". Entering Papeete harbor. 14/04/2017.**Bruno Levionnois · 2 May 2017 · 16,213 viewsWatch on YouTube

**Superyacht RISING SUN in St. Barths / December 2019**Jim Dobson · 13 Dec 2019 · 5,818 viewsWatch on YouTube

**RISING SUN, 138m Gigayacht docking in Gibraltar (4K)**Gibraltar Yachting · 6 Nov 2021 · 5,164 viewsWatch on YouTube

**Lurssen - M/Y RISING SUN in Ortigia Island, Syracuse**Oi Yachting Sicily · 17 Jul 2021 · 4,164 viewsWatch on YouTube

Photos

At Nybrokajen, Stockholm, August 2005

A double-height cinema was embedded like the stone of an avocado, with the corridor arcing gently around it.

Dickie Bannenberg on the general arrangement: Boat International, Iconic yachts: Rising Sun (Dickie Bannenberg)

Specifications

Length overall: 138 m (453 ft) 138.4–138.6 m in some listings
Beam: 19 m
Draught: 4.85 m
Gross tonnage: 7,841
Decks: 5
Shipyard: Lürssen, Germany
Project name: LE120
Keel laid: Mid-2001
Launched: March 2004
Delivered: June 2004
Refit: Extended refit at Lürssen, finished a few months before May 2012 (Yachts International) 2011 in YachtBuyer
Naval architecture: Lürssen
Exterior design: Jon Bannenberg
Interior design: Laura Seccombe
Construction: Steel hull, aluminium superstructure, teak decks
Guests: 18 in 9 staterooms 16 in some reports
Crew: 45
Engines: 4 × MTU 20V 8000 M70 diesels, 11,149 hp each
Speed: 30 kn max, 26 kn cruising 28–30 kn in some reports
On board: Basketball court, wine cellar, double-height cinema, helipad, swimming pool, gym, spa with sauna, lift; a catamaran tender carries a 4x4 vehicle ashore
Owner: Reported to have been built for Larry Ellison (Boat International, February 2025); reported to be owned by David Geffen (Forbes, March 2020), who reportedly bought half in 2006 and the rest in 2010 (Boat International, February 2025)
Reported cost: More than $290 million (Boat International, 2025)
Reported value: $570 million (Forbes, 2020)
For sale: Not listed for sale

Where is she now

Live AIS position on:

MarineTraffic VesselFinder

IMO 8982307 · MMSI 319011000

Questions

How big is the Rising Sun yacht?

138 metres (453 ft) long, with a 19-metre beam, a maximum draught of 4.85 metres and a gross tonnage of 7,841 (Boat International). Some listings give 138.4 or 138.6 metres (Yachts International, YachtBuyer). She was lengthened by 18 metres while being built (Boat International).

Who built and designed Rising Sun?

Lürssen built her in Germany and did the naval architecture; Jon Bannenberg designed the exterior and Laura Seccombe the interior (Boat International). She was Bannenberg's last design, and he did not see her completed (Boat International). The keel was laid in mid-2001 under the project name LE120; she was launched in March 2004 and delivered in June 2004 (YachtBuyer).

Who owns Rising Sun?

She is reported to have been built for Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison; Boat International reports that he sold half of the yacht to David Geffen in 2006 and that Geffen bought the remaining half in 2010 (Boat International, February 2025). Forbes reported in March 2020 that she is owned by Geffen (Forbes).

How much did Rising Sun cost?

Boat International reports that she cost more than $290 million (Boat International, 2025). Forbes described her as a $570 million yacht in March 2020 (Forbes). Forbes does not say whether its figure is the build cost.

What is on board Rising Sun?

About 8,000 square metres of living space with a basketball court and a wine cellar; one of her tenders, a catamaran, carries a 4x4 vehicle ashore (Boat International). The design includes a double-height cinema and a top deck reserved for the owner (Boat International). YachtBuyer also lists a helipad, a swimming pool, a gym, a spa with sauna and a lift (YachtBuyer).

How fast is Rising Sun?

Her top speed is 30 knots and she cruises at 26 knots, powered by four MTU diesel engines (Boat International). YachtBuyer gives the engines as MTU 20V 8000 M70 units of 11,149 hp each (YachtBuyer).

Is Rising Sun for sale?

No. YachtBuyer lists her as not currently for sale (YachtBuyer).

Where is Rising Sun now?

Her live position is shown on public AIS trackers: MarineTraffic and VesselFinder. Search by IMO 8982307 or MMSI 319011000; she is registered in the Cayman Islands (vesseltracker).