Exclusive | Mysterious superyacht’s secret A-list owner unmasked after days of dominating LA harbor

A massive ship docked in Marina del Rey all week has sparked much speculation, with its A-list owner now confirmed.

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The ship arrived Sunday, shrouded in mystery, since the ship’s name was covered upon entry, a tactic many locals considered quite unusual.

Sources confirmed to the California Post that the boat’s owner is none other than “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling.

Despite the writer’s attempt to disguise her ship by covering the name, Rowling’s presence was well-known by locals, with one even calling it, “the worst-kept secret on the Marina.”

Still, while Rowling has been confirmed as the boat’s owner, she has not been seen publicly since the ship docked earlier this week.

The author hasn’t posted anything publicly about her journey to Los Angeles on her verified X account yet, where she boasts 13.7 million followers.

The boat was spotted by the Instagram account twogirls.oneboat, with several locals stating in the comments that this was in fact the 61-year-old author’s yacht, which spans a whopping 290 feet.

“Confirmed by local boat captains to be JK Rowling’s Samsara. Name is covered after docking as it often attracts protesters,” said Instagram user jetset_amelia.

Another IG user — Norman Viano — added this was, “absolutely JK Rowling’s boat,” adding, “it here last May too and as soon as it arrived the crew quickly covered up the name and then it disappeared off AIS, I suspect bc of her outspoken activism.”

He also said that covering the boat’s name was, “hilarious bc not even Russian oligarch or Mexican cartel superyacht owners do that.”

Data available from Marine Traffic shows the vessel currently docked in the Marina.

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The superyacht was built in 2015 by Oceanco, dubbed Infinity by its first owner, Harbor Freight Tools CEO Eric Smidt.

He sold the yacht to Australian billionaire Brett Blundy in 2022, who then sold it to Rowling in 2023, who then dubbed the boat Samsara.

The boat can accommodate upwards of 12 guests along with 26 crew members, with amenities such as a circular swimming pool, a movie theater and a “tranquil beach club,” according to SuperYachtFan.com.

While it’s unclear what Rowling purchased the yacht for, its value has been estimated to be $150 million.

Rowling sparked controversy from her vessel back in 2025, when she shared a selfie of her smoking a cigar on the boat after the US Supreme Court voted that the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex.

Later that year, Samsara was spotted refueling in Port Angeles, Washington, which led to a Reddit post filled with vitriolic comments such as, “I hope it sinks,” and others referring to the environmental impact of such a large vessel.

Rowling’s “Harry Potter” books comprise the highest-selling novel series of all time, with estimated worldwide sales totalling 600 million, with Rowling’s personal net worth estimated at $1.2 billion by Forbes.

All seven of her “Harry Potter” books were turned into hit films in a sprawling franchise, along with the “Fantastic Beasts” spinoffs and the upcoming HBO “Harry Potter” TV series, which debuts Christmas Day.

The California Post has reached out to Rowling for comment.

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