A poker billionaire who made his fortune helping to build one of the biggest online poker businesses in history is reportedly looking for a buyer for his spectacular 230-foot megayacht.
Synthesis has been placed on the market for €132 million, approximately $152 million, after spending just five years on the water.
Built by Dutch shipyard Amels and delivered in 2021, the enormous yacht comes with everything you might expect from a vessel carrying a nine-figure asking price. But one feature in particular makes Synthesis difficult to mistake for anything else.
A Glowing Red Infinity Pool at Sea
Perhaps the most recognizable feature aboard Synthesis is its rectangular infinity pool.
Finished with red tiles, the pool produces a distinctive red glow when illuminated at night and sits within an expansive outdoor entertainment area.
The yacht stretches approximately 70 meters and can accommodate 14 guests across six cabins, supported by a crew of 19.
Its owner has an entire deck at his disposal, including a master suite, private office, lounge, two en-suite bathrooms and a jacuzzi.
Elsewhere, guests have access to a wellness area containing a sauna, hammam, massage room and plunge spa.
Synthesis has also undergone two refits since its 2021 delivery and has previously been offered for charter, reportedly commanding rates of around $900,000 per week.
So, who accumulated enough money from poker to own something like this?
The Poker Billionaire Behind Synthesis
The owner publicly linked to Synthesis is Mark Scheinberg, the billionaire who co-founded PokerStars alongside his father, Isai Scheinberg.
The father-and-son team launched PokerStars in 2001, turning the online poker room into a global giant during the industry’s extraordinary growth in the 2000s.
Mark Scheinberg subsequently became one of the wealthiest people ever associated with poker.
The family’s biggest payday arrived in 2014 when PokerStars parent company Rational Group, which also owned Full Tilt Poker, was sold to Amaya Gaming for approximately $4.9 billion.
Scheinberg has since invested extensively outside poker, including through his Mohari Hospitality investment company.
From PokerStars to a $152 Million Megayacht
Synthesis provides a striking example of just how much wealth was created during online poker’s first great boom.
The poker billionaire was still in his twenties when PokerStars launched. Over the following decade, the site became synonymous with online poker and hosted some of the largest tournaments available on the internet.
The company’s rise coincided with the poker boom sparked by Chris Moneymaker’s famous 2003 WSOP Main Event victory, while PokerStars later became home to major tournament brands including the Sunday Million and World Championship of Online Poker.
By the time the company was sold in 2014, Scheinberg had become a billionaire.
Seven years later, Synthesis was delivered.
Synthesis Is Looking for Its Next Billionaire Owner
The yacht was constructed as part of Amels’ Limited Editions 242 series and was originally intended for private use before later entering the charter market.
Now another extremely wealthy buyer has the opportunity to take ownership. Could a wealthy poker player like Tony G fancy a new play thing?
At €132 million ($152 million), however, the potential player pool is considerably smaller than anything Scheinberg encountered during his PokerStars days.
For most poker players, a big tournament score might pay for a car, a house or an unforgettable trip to Las Vegas.
Building one of the companies that transformed online poker apparently opens up a few more options.
