Shahid Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1950. His father sold surveying equipment, and his mother was a math professor. In 1966, he moved to the United States to study engineering at the University of Illinois. In 1978, he started a car-bumper manufacturing company called Bumper Works.Over the next 30 years, he expanded his business by opening 60 additional manufacturing plants across the US, reaching sales of about $8.9 billion. In 2010, he tried to buy Stan Kroenke’s St. Louis Rams but failed when the $26 billion sports empire owner exercised his right of first refusal.The next year, Khan bought the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars for $770 million. Thirteen years later, he bought a 400ft luxury superyacht for $360 million. He named it “Kismet,” meaning “destiny” or “fate” in Urdu. The luxury megayacht reflects his journey from a Pakistani immigrant to a naturalized US citizen and self-made billionaire.
A previously owned Kismet was sold to former Google CEO in 2024 who renamed it to Whisper
After Khan purchased the Jaguars, he bought a 95.2-meter motor yacht. Built in Germany by Lürssen and delivered in 2014, it features an interior designed by Reymond Langton Design and an exterior by Nuvolari Lenard. It features MTU engines with a total power of 8585.It has a steel hull, aluminum superstructure, and teal deck. The yacht can accommodate 16 guests, 18 crew members, and eight staterooms. It features a champagne-and-caviar exterior, a golden hull, and a jet-black mast. Khan sold it to former Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt in September 2023 for a reported $160 million. Schmidt renamed it “Whisper.”In 2024, Khan bought a megayacht from the same makers and designers and named it “Kismet.” It has advanced features, and the vision behind its creation was Shanna Khan, Shahid Khan’s daughter.According to BOAT International, Shanna was a pivotal member of the design team for Kismet. And her inspiration came from her first time stepping on board a ferry boat in Disney World as a child. “I remember being transported from air, land, and sea,” Shanna said. “It made me feel like anything is possible while being seamlessly connected from one enchanting place to the next. That feeling of being magically swept away never left my memory.”Shanna sees superyachts as platforms for creativity, connection, and meaningful retreat. Now, let’s check out its features.
Kismet superyacht features
According to Yacht Charter Fleet,Length: 122 meters / 400 feet and 4 inchesBuilder: LürssenType: SuperyachtExterior Designer: Nuvolari LenardInterior Designer: Reymond Langton DesignBuilt: 2024, steel hull, aluminium superstructureEngine: Twin MTU enginesModel: CustomBeam: 17.8 meters / 58 feet and 5 inchesGross tonnage: 4,918 GTDraft: 4.8 meters / 15 feet and 7 inchesCruising speed: 12 knotsTop speed: 18 knotsCapacity: 12 guests in 8 luxury staterooms, 36 crew onboardSpecialties: 13-foot silver jaguar sculpture on the bow, outdoor cinema, exterior bar, tender garage, stabilizers underway, underwater lights, owner study, sun deck, bow thruster, hammam spa, massage room, helipad, outdoor shower, Wi-Fi, firepit, swimming platform, swimming pool, deck jacuzzi, spa, sauna, gym, beauty room, beach club, elevator, steam room, juice bar, DJ station, Turkish bath, waterfall shower, chromotherapy bathtub, cryotherapy chamber, underwater seating area, yoga studio, dance floor, elevator, air conditioning, BBQ, satellite TV, at-anchor stabilizers, Balinese-inspired spa, and a glass bubble-shaped underwater observatory known as the Nemo lounge.
Several awards won by Kismet superyacht
Robb Report 2024World Yachts Trophies 2024Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2025The World Superyacht Awards 2025International Superyacht Society Awards 2025.