Revolut CEO Says ChatGPT Helped Find $404M Yacht Owner
Revolut CEO and co-founder Nik Storonsky says ChatGPT helped him identify the previous owner of a €350 million superyacht that he later purchased, according to court documents filed in London.
The unusual detail has emerged as Storonsky fights a legal claim from luxury yacht broker Cecil Wright & Partners, which is seeking about €17.5 million in commission over the purchase of the 102-metre vessel.
The yacht, reportedly named Nixie, was originally commissioned by Canadian businessman and former professional hockey player Patrick Dovigi. During construction, ownership was transferred to a Brazilian buyer. The yacht later returned to Dovigi following the Brazilian owner’s arrest in connection with allegations of fraud.
According to Storonsky’s legal team, negotiations involving Cecil Wright broke down after the change in ownership. His lawyers argue that Storonsky subsequently used ChatGPT to establish that Dovigi had previously owned the yacht.
The information allegedly allowed Storonsky to identify the relevant representatives and pursue discussions independently.
Yacht Broker Claims It Deserves Millions
Cecil Wright & Partners argues that it played a central role in bringing the yacht to Storonsky’s attention and therefore deserves a five-percent commission.
Based on the reported €350 million purchase price, that commission would amount to approximately €17.5 million, or more than $20 million.
The brokerage alleges that Storonsky ultimately completed the purchase directly with Dovigi without involving the broker.
Cecil Wright says its work was the effective cause of the eventual sale and that it should therefore receive the agreed commission.
Storonsky Disputes the Commission Claim
Storonsky’s lawyers reject the allegation that he deliberately avoided paying a broker’s fee.
His legal team argues that the transaction handled by Cecil Wright fell apart and that the eventual purchase was a separate deal involving a different owner.
They also allege that the brokerage misled his family office and failed to properly disclose information concerning the yacht and its ownership. Those claims remain disputed and will be considered as part of the legal proceedings.
The brokerage has maintained its position and says it intends to present its evidence in court.
A $404 Million Yacht With Extraordinary Features
The vessel at the centre of the dispute is a 102-metre superyacht built by German shipbuilder Lürssen.
Reports describe the yacht as featuring a glass-bottomed infinity pool, a large beach club and a gym equipped with a cryotherapy chamber.
The yacht’s reported €350 million price tag places it firmly among the world’s most expensive privately owned vessels.
ChatGPT’s Growing Role in High-Stakes Searches
The case also offers an unusual example of how artificial intelligence tools are increasingly being used to find and connect publicly available information.
In this instance, Storonsky’s lawyers say ChatGPT helped him identify a historical connection between Dovigi and the yacht.
The AI tool did not reportedly negotiate the purchase or complete the transaction. Instead, according to the legal filing, it was used as part of the information-gathering process that helped identify the yacht’s previous owner.
The court will ultimately determine whether Cecil Wright is entitled to a commission from the completed purchase.
For now, the dispute has created an unusual intersection between artificial intelligence, billionaire wealth, luxury yachts and a multimillion-euro brokerage lawsuit.
