JEFF Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are leading a glittering gathering of the world’s rich and powerful as St Barts becomes the global hotspot for a New Year’s Eve yacht extravaganza.
The US tech billionaire and his wife have already been spotted on the luxury Caribbean island as the annual migration of the ultra-wealthy begins.
Billionaires, celebrities and tycoons are expected to be arriving by private jet, helicopter and superyacht to ring in the New Year.
The countdown begins to the moment when hundreds of mega-yachts gather offshore to welcome the New Year.
When the clock strikes midnight, vessels anchored around the island are expected to blast their foghorns in unison – creating what insiders describe as a deafening “choir of jubilation” across the water.
The celebrations culminate in a dramatic fireworks display launched above Fort Oscar, overlooking Gustavia Harbor, lighting up the night sky as the New Year arrives.
Bezos and Sanchez were already photographed kicking off festivities at celebrity hotspot Nikki Beach, dancing among sparkler-waving, bikini-clad women – including one riding a motorbike – inside the beachside restaurant.
Nearby, the couple’s 417ft, $500 million superyacht Koru has been spotted gliding through warm turquoise waters, along with his support vessel Abeona.
The vessel is known for its striking wooden sculpture carved in Sanchez’s likeness on the prow, and is capable of accommodating up to 18 guests.
On land, the 9.7-square-mile volcanic island transforms into an elite party zone at this time of year, with A-listers presented with a packed social calendar of exclusive events.
The scale of this year’s St Barts takeover was laid bare thanks to Italian-based travel writer Jim Dobson, who sparked a frenzy online after sharing a now-viral image on December 29.
Described as the “ultimate networking event,” the image – taken from Marine Traffic – showed a dense cluster of vessels docked in and around St Barths, the glamorous 11-mile-long island in the Lesser Antilles, southeast of St Martin and Anguilla.
The post was accompanied by a caption that read: “Pretty much every billionaire in the Caribbean has anchored their mega-yachts in St. Barths for New Year’s Eve—Jeff Bezos, Michael Jordan, David Geffen.”
According to St Barts insiders, some of the most sought-after parties for the end of 2025 include Gyp Sea, where DJ Calvin Harris will headline, Hotel Le Toiny, featuring Blond:ish, and Nikki Beach, where DJ Diplo is set to perform.
German-born supermodel Heidi Klum, 56, was photographed swimming and drying off on a sandy beach alongside her husband Tom Kaulitz, 36.
The couple travelled to the Caribbean for their annual winter escape weeks after the America’s Got Talent judge appeared as a presenter at the World Cup 2026 Draw in Washington, D.C.
They were joined by Klum’s close friend, fashion photographer Antoine Verglas, who was also spotted with the couple.
Kris Jenner was also seen arriving on the island – boarding a luxury motor yacht and wearing an all-white ensemble.
Elsewhere on the island, Chloe Green, daughter of tycoon Philip Green was also spotted.
The 34-year-old was seen wearing a pink-and-white Versace co-ord while on a date with her husband Manuele Thiella.
The couple, married since September 2022, were accompanied by Green’s brother Brandon, 31, and his partner, Avengers actress Tessa Thompson, 42
Returning heavyweights include Lürssen’s 122-metre Kismet, Freire’s 112-metre Renaissance, and Oceanco’s 110-metre Kaos, while the 138-metre Lürssen Rising Sun has made a commanding return after also appearing in 2022.
They are joined by newly delivered yachts of 2025, led by Feadship’s 101-metre Moonrise, alongside recent arrivals from Amels, Benetti, Baglietto and Royal Huisman.
Many of the A-listers spent the days leading up to New Year’s Eve cruising around Gustavia, St Maarten, Antigua and surrounding islands, soaking up the sun before converging on St Barts to close out the holiday season.
Despite many celebrities being seasoned veterans of the island’s party circuit, luxury travel advisors remain on hand to guide wealthy visitors through the complex social scene.
“For nightlife, knowing where to sit matters as much as where you go,” Henley Vazquez, Co-Founder of Fora Travel, told Forbes.
“At Bagatelle, inside/outside seating makes all the difference, and you want to be inside.
“Le Café next door is equally fun, and Sella (in the former Maya’s space) starts as a great dinner and quietly turns into a party later in the evening. Book a late res!”
Once again, the French island is packed with some of the world’s largest and most recognisable yachts, making it one of the most closely watched destinations on the global yacht-spotting calendar in the final days of December.
Gustavia Harbour, on the island of St Barts, is currently hosting 327 vessels, according to Marine Traffic.
Of those, 158 boats entered the area within the last 24 hours, while 70 vessels departed during the same period – underlining the scale of movement as New Year’s Eve approaches.
