Umut Unver/ dia images via Getty Images; Rebecca Zisser/Insider
- The rich are buying superyachts in record numbers.
- A source who's worked on the vessels for years offered Insider an exclusive insight into their appeal.
- They allow the wealthy to impress and enjoy a life unconstrained by scrutiny and national borders.
The superyacht is the ultimate symbol of wealth, and business is booming.
Driven by a search for escape from 2020's COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, sales reached record levels in 2021, and though there was a slight dip last year, they still vastly exceeded any other year, according to data from Yachtharbor.com.