Billionaire Mike Lynch missing after superyacht sinks off Sicily during severe storm

British billionaire Mike Lynch, owner of the luxury Bayesian Yacht, is missing along with six others after their vessel sank off the coast of Sicily, Italy, during a severe storm early Monday. 

The yacht, a 184-foot British-flagged superyacht, was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo, when it was struck by a powerful waterspout, leading to its capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea.

Lynch, who was recently acquitted of fraud charges in the United States, was among those unaccounted for following the incident. The storm struck around 5 a.m. local time, battering the area with intense winds and waves. The Bayesian, known for its towering 246-foot mast and luxurious interiors, was a multi-award-winning vessel designed by Perini Navi, with interiors by Remi Tessier. The yacht, which could accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites, had a crew of 10 aboard when it sank.

Italian authorities reported that 15 people, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Among the survivors was Charlotte Emsley, who recounted how she managed to keep her 1-year-old daughter, Sofia, afloat until they were both rescued. Tragically, one body, believed to be the yacht’s cook, was recovered near the wreckage. The yacht's hull now rests at a depth of 163 feet, and police divers are working to access it, hoping to locate the missing passengers.

The Bayesian Yacht, which had been available for charter for up to $215,000 per week, was renowned for its exceptional design and luxurious features. It was handed over to Lynch in 2008 and quickly became a symbol of opulence within the yachting community.

Mike Lynch, a significant figure in the tech industry, co-founded Autonomy Corporation in 1996, growing it into one of the UK’s leading tech companies. In 2011, Autonomy was sold to Hewlett-Packard for over $11 billion, a sale that later led to legal disputes over the company's valuation. Lynch was extradited from Britain to the United States to face fraud charges but was acquitted in June 2023.

With a net worth of £1 billion, Lynch also founded the venture capital firm Invoke Capital. He was awarded an OBE and elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2008.

The search for Lynch and the other missing individuals continues as Italian rescue teams work against the clock to locate them in the challenging underwater conditions.