[3] The ship was built for Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for $330m.

[4][5] In the summer of 2014, Bill Gates leased the yacht for US$5 million per week.

[6] In 2014,[7] while vacationing in the south of France, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia bought the vessel from Yuri Shefler for approximately €500 million.

[8] In August 2017, Serene ran aground on a shallow rock reef in the Red Sea, 37 km (20 nautical miles) off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh.

[2][9] The Leonardo da Vinci painting Salvator Mundi was reported to be on board the yacht from some time in 2019 to late 2020.