Russian billionaire sued a paint company for $100 million because his $300 million superyacht was not shiny enough, then spent $30 million repainting it

When Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko commissioned Motor Yacht A, he wanted a vessel that would redefine luxury yachting. Designed by Philippe Starck and built by German shipyard Blohm+Voss, the futuristic superyacht quickly became one of the most recognisable private vessels in the world. But instead of making headlines solely for its radical design, it became the centre of one of the most unusual legal battles in maritime history. Dissatisfied with the yacht's glossy finish, Melnichenko sued Dutch paint manufacturer AkzoNobel for more than $100 million, claiming the vessel failed to achieve the mirror-like shine he had been promised. Even as the lawsuit made its way through the courts, the billionaire reportedly authorised another complete repaint that cost around $30 million, turning an already extraordinary dispute into one of the most talked-about cases in the world of luxury yachts.Why Andrey Melnichenko sued over the paint on Motor Yacht ALuxury yacht disputes are usually triggered by mechanical failures, construction delays or structural defects. Melnichenko's complaint was entirely different. It centred on the appearance of the yacht's exterior, with the billionaire ...