There are plenty of monstrous boats in Marina del Rey. But when a 290-foot, $150 million superyacht arrives with its name covered, people tend to notice.
That’s what happened this week when Samsara, the luxury yacht reportedly owned by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, pulled into the Los Angeles harbor. The vessel’s identifying name was concealed, but the disguise didn’t last long. Locals and boat-watchers quickly identified the Oceanco-built yacht, with one marina resident reportedly calling it “the worst-kept secret on the marina
Take a look below.
Built in the Netherlands and delivered in 2015, the 290-foot yacht was originally named Infinity and commissioned for Harbor Freight founder Eric Smidt. After a subsequent stint with Australian billionaire Brett Blundy, it reportedly changed hands again in 2023, when Rowling acquired it and renamed it Samsara—a Sanskrit term associated with the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
And this is no ordinary floating condo. Samsara reportedly accommodates 14 guests and roughly 26 crew, with seven guest cabins, a five-meter circular swimming pool, cinema, gym, Jacuzzi, massage room, elevator and a “tranquil beach club.” There’s also a 69-meter support vessel carrying additional equipment and toys, plus a helicopter hangar, diving center, workshop and medical facilities.
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The yacht’s Marina del Rey appearance has also reignited attention around Rowling’s long-running controversy over transgender rights and gender identity. Rowling has repeatedly defended her views on sex-based rights and single-sex spaces, while LGBTQ+ advocates and critics have accused her of promoting anti-trans views. Rowling says she supports the safety and rights of transgender people while opposing policies she believes compromise women’s sex-based rights.
Commenters on social media sounded off on the boat’s sighting and the author’s outspoken comments on the LGBTQ+ community. Others simply commented on her wealth. Her estimated net worth is somewhere in the $1.2 billion ballpark.
“All for writing some kooky children’s book series,” wrote one commenter. “Capitalism pays.”
According to reports, Samsara’s name was covered because the yacht “often attracts protesters.” Rowling has not publicly confirmed that explanation, and she has not commented on the Marina del Rey visit.
For now, the yacht remains an enormous—and unusually conspicuous—presence on the waterfront. Even without a name on the stern, it’s pretty hard to miss.
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