Gabe Newell’s Yacht Review: Basketball, CS2, and a $500 Million Life at Sea

Every appearance of Gabe Newell, the founder of Valve and one of the most iconic figures in gaming, instantly grabs the attention of the community. This time, however, players were not discussing a new game announcement or another update for Counter-Strike 2.

On May 2, a full video tour of Newell’s superyacht Leviathan appeared online. According to various estimates, Gabe purchased the vessel in November last year for somewhere between $400 and $500 million. At 111 meters long, Leviathan is currently the third-longest yacht in the world.

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Luxury Life on Leviathan

Leviathan has everything you would expect from one of the most expensive yachts on the planet. The ship includes a full basketball court, a luxury spa area, massive lounge spaces, and high-end entertainment zones.

Gamers were especially interested in the onboard gaming room. Surprisingly, guests were seen playing Counter-Strike 2 instead of Dota 2, the game most closely associated with Gabe himself.

The yacht is also regularly used for private parties and social events. Based on the footage released online, Leviathan feels more like a floating luxury resort than a traditional private vessel.

The video also featured Gabe Newell personally. In several scenes, he prepares for scuba diving before returning to the deck looking completely relaxed and satisfied. Diving has clearly become one of his favorite hobbies.

Fans also noticed a pencil drawing with the phrase “Thank you, Gabe,” along with a funny insider claim suggesting that Newell once enjoyed Mongolian throat singing.

Gabe Has Been Living on Yachts for Years

During the pandemic, Gabe Newell stayed near New Zealand and eventually moved onto a yacht full-time. Since then, he has reportedly upgraded through several different vessels, each larger and more advanced than the last.

Gabe once described his typical daily routine like this:

“I wake up, I work, I go scuba diving, then I work some more. Then I either dive again or go to the gym. I work seven days a week right out of my bedroom.”

Despite his somewhat isolated lifestyle, Newell still occasionally appears in the gaming world. For example, several recent greetings for The International were recorded directly from his yachts.

At the same time, Gabe never fulfilled his promise to attend a major Counter-Strike 2 tournament in person.

Gabe Newell’s Ocean Business Ventures

Newell’s fascination with the ocean goes far beyond luxury travel. In November 2022, he acquired the marine research organization Inkfish, which focuses on scientific exploration projects.

The company is currently building its flagship research vessel, RV6000, a project estimated to cost around $300 million. The ship is expected to carry up to 70 scientists and crew members while supporting expeditions to remote and poorly explored regions of the world’s oceans. The launch is planned for the second quarter of 2028.

Later, in August 2025, Inkfish acquired the Dutch superyacht manufacturer Oceanco. Gabe became one of the company’s key shareholders. Interestingly, Oceanco was also the shipbuilder that sold Leviathan to Newell shortly before the acquisition.

What Gabe Newell Does Today

Today, Gabe Newell has largely stepped away from the public side of Valve. Instead, he spends most of his time investing in research projects, exploring the ocean, and pursuing personal interests.

Leviathan perfectly represents this stage of his life. It combines technology, luxury, science, and complete freedom of movement.

While fans still hope for surprise announcements related to Half-Life or future Valve projects, Gabe himself seems to have already found the perfect balance between work and life somewhere in the middle of the ocean.