Earlier this year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg set sail on a high-stakes luxury adventure—one that has sparked widespread criticism over wealth disparity, environmental impact, and privilege. Recent media coverage about his April journey have delved into the controversy.
Skirting the Rules?
Covering an estimated 5,280-mile journey across the Atlantic, the tech billionaire traveled to Norway’s breathtaking fjords aboard two massive superyachts with a heli-skiing itinerary that bypassed the country’s strict environmental rules.
At the center of the trip were Zuckerberg’s two vessels: Launchpad, a 387-foot superyacht reportedly valued at $300 million, and Wingman, a 220-foot support ship worth $30 million, according to Sustainability Times. Combined, the fleet is estimated at $330 million, with annual running costs of around $3 million for Wingman alone. Both ships are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including a helipad on Wingman.
In Norway, helicopter landings are tightly controlled due to environmental concerns. But by using Wingman’s onboard helipad, Zuckerberg legally conducted heli-skiing activities without touching down on land. The move, though within legal bounds, ignited conversations about how extreme wealth enables some to circumvent rules designed to protect natural environments.
Norway’s fjords are long, narrow sea inlets surrounded by steep cliffs, formed through glacial erosion followed by seawater flooding. With over 1,000 fjords, Norway is world-renowned for these stunning natural formations. Among the most famous are Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord, and Nærøyfjord. Some of Norway’s fjords are recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage sites and are protected.
Zuckerberg’s heli-skiing adventure allowed him to access untouched snow-covered peaks via helicopter.
Launchpad, reportedly the second-largest yacht ever built by Feadship, is powered by four MTU engines delivering a total of 23,384 horsepower, capable of reaching speeds of up to 24 knots. Wingman, originally built by Damen in 2014, supports 20 crew members and can reach 25 knots.
Environmentalists point to the emissions generated by transatlantic superyacht voyages and helicopter trips, arguing that they disrupt with global efforts to curb climate change.
Further scrutiny emerged when observers noted that both yachts had at times alledgedly disabled their AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders. This is legal but it can be used to prevent real-time public tracking.
Now some seem to be wondering if Zuckerberg, with a net worth in the hundreds of billions, used loopholes on his journey of the famed fjords
