Microsoft Word and Excel architect Charles Simonyi spent nearly 20 years living and working aboard a $100 million, 233-foot military-style superyacht with its own helipad

Charles Simonyi, the software architect behind Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, found an amusing way to avoid paying property taxes. He decided to live on a $100 million superyacht that served as both his home and office for nearly two decades. He completely challenged the idea of relocating from high-tax states like California and New York to Florida and Texas.

Named Skat, the $100 million yacht gave him the freedom to travel freely, dock in some of the world's most exclusive waterfront locations, and ofcourse void the property taxes and regulations.

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Why Charles Simonyi chose a floating home over luxury mansions

According to Forbes, Simonyi has an estimated net worth of $7.2 billion and he could have owned homes in almost any city in the world.

He explored buying luxury apartments in destinations such as Montreal, Monte Carlo and Copenhagen. But maintaining multiple properties meant paying property taxes, following local building regulations and handling ongoing maintenance.

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Instead, Simonyi made an unconventional decision and chose a completely different path.

He commissioned Skat, a custom-built 233-foot superyacht, turning it into what he described as both a "grand travelling home" and a fully functional workplace. Rather than staying tied to one address, he spent around six months every year living aboard the vessel.

A lifestyle that came with prime waterfront views

Living on a yacht meant Simonyi could move whenever he wanted and dock in the heart of major cities. In Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm, Skat could anchor beside royal palaces, giving him access to some of the world's most desirable waterfront locations.

Speaking about the experience, Simonyi once joked that his floating home gave him: "the best real estate, the nicest bathroom, and a fantastic restaurant"—all while avoiding municipal property taxes.

Unlike traditional luxury homes, the yacht also removed the need to deal with regional planning restrictions or permanent ownership in multiple countries.

The $100 million yacht that looked like a warship

Built by German shipyard Lürssen, Skat was delivered in 2002 after years of development. The project stood out because Simonyi disliked the appearance of conventional luxury yachts.

To create something different, he hired renowned yacht designer Espen Øino, asking him to build a vessel that looked like a real steel ship rather than a floating resort.

Painted in military grey with sharp angular lines and hull number 9906, Skat resembled a naval vessel more than a billionaire's yacht. Its appearance was so convincing that one naval ship reportedly delayed entering a port after briefly mistaking Skat for an unidentified military vessel.

Inside the floating mansion

While the exterior looked industrial, the interior offered a completely different experience. Skat featured minimalist luxury inspired by an art gallery, displaying works by celebrated artists including Roy Lichtenstein and Victor Vasarely alongside iconic Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs.

The yacht measured:

• 233 feet (71 metres) long
• 1,998 gross tonnes
• Cruising speed of around 15 knots (27.8 km/h)
• Private helipad
• Fully equipped office
• Luxury owner suites
• Art-filled living spaces

The engineering that made Skat incredibly quiet

What is more interesting to learn is that Charles Simonyi gave orders to engineers to minimise onboard noise using military-inspired engineering.

The yacht's engines, generators, compressors and heavy machinery were all installed on a specially designed steel platform supported by shock mounts. This prevented vibrations from travelling through the hull.

As a result, the owner's suite measured just 34 decibels while cruising—quieter than many residential neighbourhoods.

Charles Simonyi: The Microsoft engineer who changed personal computing

Charles Simonyi is best known for transforming office software. As the head of Microsoft's applications group during the early 1980s, he helped lead the creation of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, two programs that became staples in homes and workplaces worldwide.

He is also widely recognised for advancing the What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editing system, making word processing far more intuitive for everyday users.

His passion for exploration later extended beyond the oceans.

From superyachts to space

In 2007 and 2009, Simonyi travelled to the International Space Station, becoming the first person to purchase two separate space tourism missions. The journeys reportedly cost around $60 million, adding another remarkable chapter to his career.

Simonyi eventually sold Skat in 2021, but he didn't return to life on land. Instead, he upgraded to Norn, a 295-foot Lürssen superyacht, once again designed by Espen Øino and reportedly valued at around $250 million.

(With TOI inputs)