the lady michelle yacht

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Lady Michelle

Motor Yacht

Lady Michelle is a custom motor yacht launched in 2003 by Benetti and most recently refitted in 2015.

Over one century of history, more than 350 boats built including three giga yachts of 100mt and longer, over 300,000 sq m (3.229.173 sq.ft) of production facilities. These facts and figures unambiguously demonstrate the momentum of Benetti’s growth and Clients’ unrestrained confidence in the brand.

Lady Michelle measures 55.00 metres in length, with a max draft of 3.10 metres and a beam of 10.40 metres. She has a gross tonnage of 909 tonnes. She has a deck material of teak.

Lady Michelle has a steel hull with an aluminium superstructure.

Lady Michelle also features naval architecture by Benetti.

Performance and Capabilities

Lady Michelle has a top speed of 16.00 knots and a cruising speed of 14.00 knots. She is powered by a twin screw propulsion system.

Lady Michelle has a fuel capacity of 132,000 litres, and a water capacity of 22,500 litres.

She also has a range of 5,000 nautical miles.

Accommodation

Lady Michelle accommodates up to 12 guests in 6 cabins. She also houses room for up to 14 crew members.

Other Specifications

Lady Michelle is MCA compliant, her hull NB is FB 228.

Lady Michelle is a LR class yacht. She flies the flag of the Cayman Islands.

She is also fitted with a jacuzzi (on deck).

  • Yacht Builder Benetti View profile
  • Naval Architect Benetti View profile
  • Exterior Designer Stefano Natucci No profile available
  • Interior Designer Stefano Natucci No profile available

Yacht Specs

Other benetti yachts, related news.

LADY MICHELLE

Luxury charter motor yacht Lady Michelles interior configuration has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests overnight in 6 cabins, comprising a master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, 2 double cabins and 2 twin cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 15 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience. She was launched by yacht builder BENETTI and her elegant interior design is done by Stefano Natucci from Italy.

  • Interior designed by Stefano Natucci (Italy)
  • Extensive collection of tenders, toys
  • Relaxing deck Jacuzzi
  • Fully equipped and air-conditioned gym on the top deck
  • Her stabilizers enhanced comfort on board
  • Executive Chef Culinary delights
  • Plex media server with over 1500 movies

All charter rates are subject to the availability and are plus all other expenses. Taxes are not included. Please contact us for further details.

Construction & Design

Accommodation, bed configuration, amenities on board, tender & toys.

  • 7m Novurania
  • Inflatable RHIB AB tender with 60hp engine 
  • 2 x Yamaha VX waverunners
  • Yamaha SuperJet stand up jet ski 
  • 2 x sea kayaks
  • 2 x SeaBobs
  • 2 x stand up paddle boards
  • Wakeboards & tows
  • Snorkeling gear
  • Fishing gear
  • Approved RYA training center for personal watercraft

(2) Caterpillar 3512 Diesel Engines 1850hp (2) 185 kW 

Northern Lights generators (1) 75 kW Alaska Diesel emergency generator

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Lady Michelle Yacht: Behind The Scenes

Ian Fortey

The Lady Michelle yacht became famous on the show Below Deck: Mediterranean season 6 where it was featured prominently. It’s worth noting that the Lady Michelle has since been renamed and is actually called the Next Chapter now. However, most people still know her as the Lady Michelle because of her time on the TV show. 

The yacht features naval architecture and was built by Italian yacht maker Benetti with design work done by Stefano Natucci and delivered back in 2003. She features a steel hull over an aluminum superstructure. It was refitted in 2022 and that was when the name was changed as well. 

Who Owns The Lady Michelle Yacht?

the lady michelle yacht

 In 2003 the Lady Michelle was purchased by entrepreneur Mike Fernandez.  He maintained ownership of the yacht even during its time on the show Below Deck. However, in 2022 the yacht was sold to a company called 1 Ocean Yachts. They are a yacht brokerage firm that also does yacht charter management and the Lady Michelle was renamed to the Next Chapter and added to their charter fleet.

How Big is the Lady Michelle/Next Chapter Yacht?

the lady michelle yacht

The Lady Michelle is by no means the biggest yacht in the world but it’s still a good sized vessel at 180.5 feet in length. According to the yacht specifications she features a 34 foot beam and her gross tonnage is 909 GT.

How Much Did the Lady Michelle Yacht Cost?

It’s believed that when the Lady Michelle sold in 2022 and was renamed the Next Chapter she sold for $18,950,000. That was the last published asking price for the yacht . Some sources claim that her initial price in 2003 was about $25 million. The annual cost to keep the yacht running is around $2 million. 

Can You Charter the Lady Michelle Yacht?

The Next Chapter/Lady Michelle is available for charter. The current price for a Lady Michelle yacht charter is about $325,000 per week. This number can change based on time of year and demand, however. Because the yacht is one of the more well known in the world thanks to its appearance on the show, it does tend to be popular.

How Fast is the Lady Michelle Yacht and What Engines Does She Have?

the lady michelle yacht

The Next Chapter uses a set of Caterpillar 3512 Diesel engines. Her cruising speed is about 14 knots with a top speed of 16 knots. She has a range of about 3,000 nautical miles at cruising speed.

What’s the Interior of the Motor Yacht Lady Michelle Like?

While the yacht was featured on Below Deck as we said and there was plenty of time for people to get a look at the interior and exterior, not all of that is applicable anymore. The refit of 2022 and subsequent sale to make it a charter yacht included a lot of changes to the overall look of the yacht. So if you think you know the Lady Michelle you may not, and the fact it’s called the Next Chapter now is symbolic of that. But, fortunately, the fact it is a charter now means the company wants you to know all of the features and amenities it has to offer, so we have a pretty good idea of the interior and how everything looks. 

As we said before, the interior and exterior were managed by Italian designer Stefano Natucci. As a charter vessel she has six cabins that can offer room for up to 12 guests. This includes 1 Master suite, 1 VIP cabin, 2 Double cabins, and 2 Twin cabins. There are also 14 crew on board to help make everyone’s time more enjoyable. 

the lady michelle yacht

The owner’s suite is also a split level to offer more space and views of the ocean. It features his and hers ensuite washroom facilities and offers a panoramic view of the ocean from the observation lounge. There’s also a private study 

When it comes to sleeping, guests enjoy a range of accommodations from the most luxurious with a king sized bed in the Master suite, to 3 queen sized in the VIP and doubles and then 4 singles and 1 pullman for those who are more inclined to rough it a little on a luxury yacht.

The interior was given traditional styling. This includes a lot of glossy wood finishes for a clean, shiny appearance. The color scheme is old school nautical blue and white for all the soft finishes like upholstery and pillows and so on. This, of course, matches the exterior paint on the hull.

Being a charter, the company in charge has packed the Next Chapter to the brim with all kinds of great features. Let’s take a look at some of the standouts.

Features and Amenities

the lady michelle yacht

Like any good luxury yacht, the Next Chapter has a wide range of activities, comforts and indulgences available for those who charter her. She also features a range of water toys that is a little more extensive than you may find on similar yachts. These include:

  • A full gym with the latest equipment that is enclosed on the sundeck
  • Deck Jacuzzi
  • An open air cinema on deck for movie nights
  • A saloon for socializing and enjoying drinks
  • An elevator to move between the yacht’s four decks
  • Two SeaDoo Spark Trixx WaveRunners
  • The deck has an al fresco dining area
  • Two seabobs
  • Two Kayaks, 
  • Fishing equipment
  • Snorkeling gear
  • Waterslides
  • Two stand-up paddle boards
  • Three tenders including a 45 foot Yamaha Seahunter Tournament Tender
  • There’s an exterior bar on deck as well as a BBQ for drinks and entertaining under the sun or stars
  • A swim platform

What Happened with the Lady Michelle Yacht Drug Bust? 

the lady michelle yacht

Being on the show Below Deck was not the Lady Michelle’s only brush with fame. Back in 2017 a boat of the same name also made international headlines after it was involved in a sizable drug deal. The boat, flagged as a fishing vessel , was discovered off the coast of South America with a remarkable 4.2 tonnes of cocaine on board. The street value at the time was pegged at about $125 million. 

While this boat was seized by both the US and the National Crime Agency, it was an unfortunate mix up with names that got the Lady Michelle yacht involved. This may also be part of the reason the newest owners changed the name, so as to distance themselves from what was, at the time, the largest drug seizure since 1999. You can imagine people who own the boat not wanting anyone to Google a potential charter and discover it was used as a boat to smuggle drugs, even though it was just a case of mistaken identity because they had the same name.

The Lady Michelle that had possession of the drugs was a 70 foot fishing vessel based out of St. Vincent and Grenadines. 

The Bottom Line

The Lady Michelle was built in the year 2003 for entrepreneur and philanthropist Mike Fernandez. It was featured on the sixth season of the show Below Deck: Mediterranean which gave the vessel some international attention. However, after it was sold in 2022 for about $18, 950,000 the vessel was retrofitted and also renamed the Next Chapter.

The Next Chapter is just about 180 feet in length and has a top speed of 16 knots. It’s available for charter at a cost of around $325,000 per week and has accommodations for a total of 12 guests. It features a number of luxury amenities and a lot of toys for those on board.

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LADY MICHELLE Trinity

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  • LADY MICHELLE

If you have any questions about the LADY MICHELLE information page below please contact us .

A General Description of Motor Yacht LADY MICHELLE

From the Trinity Yachts ship building company in the United States the LADY MICHELLE is 49 metre 162 (ft) in length. Launched to celebration in 2007 the recent interior design exhibits the progressive thinking which are originating from Dee Robinson and the owner who commissioned the yacht. Superyacht LADY MICHELLE can accommodate up to 10 passengers with 9 crew members. The yacht is a recent tri deck yacht. She will reach a top speed of 19 knots.

Build & Designing of Luxury Yacht LADY MICHELLE

Trinity Yachts was the naval architecture company involved in the formal superyacht design work for LADY MICHELLE. Also the company Trinity Yachts successfully worked on this undertaking. Interior designer Dee Robinson was charged with the creative internal styling. the United States is the country that Trinity Yachts built their new build motor yacht in. After formal launch in 2007 in Gulfport Ms she was released to the happy owner after sea trials. The core hull was constructed with aluminium. The motor yacht main superstructure is fabricated extensively from aluminium. With a width of 8.5 m / 28 ft LADY MICHELLE has fairly large size. She has a fairly shallow draught of 2.43m (8ft). She had refit improvement and alteration work completed in 2007.

Main Engines And The Speed/Range That M/Y LADY MICHELLE :

The 3512B engine installed in the motor yacht is built by CATERPILLAR. For propulsion LADY MICHELLE has twin screw propellers. The main engine of the yacht gives 2250 horse power (or 1678 kilowatts). She is fitted with 2 engines. The total thrust for the yacht is accordingly 4500 HP / 3356 KW. As for stabalisers she utilises Quantum Zero Speed.

On board Superyacht LADY MICHELLE She Caters For Guest Accommodation Potential:

Providing cabins for a limit of 10 yacht guests overnighting, the LADY MICHELLE accommodates them in luxury. She also has room for around 9 expert qualified crew to run.

A List of the Specifications of the LADY MICHELLE:

Superyacht Name:Motor Yacht LADY MICHELLE
Built By:Trinity Yachts Inc.
Built in:Gulfport Ms, United States
Launched in:2007
Refitted in:2007
Length Overall:49.2 metres / 162 feet.
Naval Architecture:Trinity Yachts, Trinity Yachts Design Team
Interior Designers:Dee Robinson
Gross Tonnes:456
Nett Tonnes:132
Displacement:280
Hull / Superstructure Construction Material:aluminium / aluminium
Owner of LADY MICHELLE:Unknown
LADY MICHELLE available for luxury yacht charters:-
Is the yacht for sale:-
Helicopter Landing Pad:No
Material Used For Deck:aluminium-teak
The Country the Yacht is Flagged in:Cayman Islands
Official registry port is: George Town
Home port:George Town, Cayman Islands
Class society used:ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)
Completed survey under Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Large Yacht Code:Yes
Max yacht charter guests:10
Number of Crew Members:9
Main Engine(s) is two 2250 Horse Power or 1678 kW Caterpillar. The Model type is 3512B diesel.
Giving the combined power of 4500 HP /3356 KW.
Approximate Cruise Speed is 15 knots.
Top Speed: 19 knots.
Range: 2500 at a speed of 10 knots.
Bunkering capacity: 62460 L.
Fresh water: 10000.00.
Gensets: Northern Lights 2 times 120 kilowatts.
Stabaliser Stabality devices: Quantum Zero Speed.
A/C: Marine Air.
Yacht Beam: 8.5m/28ft.
Draught at deepest: 2.43m/8ft.
Draught minimum: 2.2m/7.2ft.
Yacht Type: tri deck yacht.

Miscellaneous Yacht Details

Marine Air is the the company which manufactured the air con utilised to climatise the interior. She has a aluminium-teak deck.

LADY MICHELLE Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht LADY MICHELLE displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

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"Peerless in design, craftsmanship, and performance, Trinity Yachts has gained recognition as one of the world's elite builders of custom super yachts in the United States. While most super yachts are constructed on a semi-custom basis, Trinity provides customers the ability to build a truly custom yacht to any design in any size up to 400 feet that rightfully fulfills their unique yachting desires."

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TV & Movies

The New Below Deck Mediterranean Yacht Is One Of The Most Expensive Yet

It sleeps 13 guests in six cabins and contains a beach club, sun deck, gym, and jacuzzi.

The Lady Michelle Below Deck Mediterranean yacht via a screenshot

Below Deck Mediterranean is heading back to familiar waters. After sailing off the coast of Croatia in Season 2, the show is returning to the country for Season 6. Croatia was also recently featured in the second season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht , which is why viewers might recognize the yacht now being used in Mediterranean Season 6, the Lady Michelle.

At the end of Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ s most recent season, the crew had to make a last-minute change to their charter when their original guests tested positive for COVID-19. Since the Lady Michelle was already in the area, its crew became the Sailing Yacht ’s new charter guests. There was a lot of panic from the Sailing Yacht crew about what it was going to be like to work for fellow yachties, though the Lady Michelle crew at the time isn’t the same one on Below Deck Med Season 6.

Nevertheless, the new crew will be taking its guests out on one of the show’s most expensive yachts ever. According to the Burgess Yachts chartering site, chartering the Lady Michelle costs $275,000 per week during the summer and up to $310,000 per week during the peak winter season.

By comparison, the ships used in the first two Mediterranean seasons (including the Sirocco that sailed Croatia last time) cost around $167,000 and $213,000 per week, respectively, while last season’s impressive Wellington ship reportedly cost around $243,000 per week .

There’s a reason the Lady Michelle is so pricey, though. According to The International Yacht Company, the massive ship can sleep 13 guests in six cabins and contains a beach club, sun deck, gym, and jacuzzi. It also comes with variety of water toys like wave runners, waterskis, and a waterslide, per Burgess. If someone wanted to buy the whole ship and sail it all year round, IYC has it listed for $19.5 million. And you might need to buy the ship to get it back to Croatia, because that’s not its usual charter route.

On Below Deck , the ship sailed up to scenic Šibenik in Croatia , but the Lady Michelle typically isn’t a Mediterranean vessel. According to Burgess Yachts, it sails the Caribbean and Bahamas in the summer and just the Bahamas in the winter. So don’t get too attached to the Croatian setting if you’re planning to charter Lady Michelle with all of your spare hundreds of thousands of dollars.

the lady michelle yacht

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Below Deck Mediterranean season 6 in Croatia onboard luxury yacht LADY MICHELLE

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By Nina Done   28 May 2021

Set to premiere on 28 June, the successful Bravo franchise is back and bigger than ever promising compelling viewing as we follow the latest antics of charter guests and crew onboard the 180-foot Benetti  motor yacht LADY MICHELLE ; from a major storm, heated hot tub blow-up and a fire in the galley to a wedding, several drunken hookups and some serious twerking; sit back and enjoy the fireworks.  

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6 marks the return of Captain Sandy and newly single Bosun Malia to the stunning location of Croatia, along with a brand new crew, including chief stewardess Katie Flood and Chef Mathew Shea.  

crew on below deck lady michelle

Bravo recently granted viewers with their first teaser trailer of the new series, which showcases high drama and wild crew shenanigans, including a novel use for the crew mess’s Lazy Susan, as well as plenty of tears and tantrums. 

Bravo has also promised “a shocking franchise first” before the opening charter, plus a return of guest Roy Orbison Jr, all taking place onboard the elegant charter yacht LADY MICHELLE. This Benetti motor yacht can accommodate 12 guests in her 6 luxuriously appointed suites, and is capable of carrying up to 12 crew members, making her the ideal size vessel for all the usual Below Deck antics on a yacht charter !

Jacuzzi onboard MY Lady Michelle

Binge-watch every Below Deck episode on the Bravo app, or catch up on  Below Deck Mediterranean seasons 1-5 streaming now on Peacock.

Yacht charters around Croatia

With long stretches of glorious coastline and endless idyllic islands, Croatia is fast becoming one of the most popular yacht charter destinations for summer. Steeped in a rich cultural history, Croatia boasts an abundance of archeological treasures and ancient architecture, with some relics dating back to 3,000BC. 

the lady michelle yacht

Enjoying a warm Mediterranean climate, beautiful clear waters, secluded golden beaches and tucked away coves there is so much to enjoy on a luxury yacht charter around this enchanting East Mediterranean destination.

Interested in booking a luxury yacht charter?

To find out more about chartering in the region, check out our in-depth East Mediterranean yacht charter guide for more information.

If you'd like to learn more about chartering M/Y Lady Michelle , please get in touch with your chosen yacht charter broker . 

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lady m sailing yacht listed for auction

39m Fitzroy sailing yacht Lady M listed for auction with $5.5M minimum bid

The 38.9-metre Fitzroy sailing yacht Lady M is now available for bidding with G3 Auctions, an auction house based in Florida. A minimum bid of $5,500,000 has been set with a deadline for 24 August 2024.

Lady M 's last known owners were Scottish businessman Doug Barrowman and his wife Michelle Mone, a former Conservative peer at the House of Lords and the founder of lingerie company Ultimo.

The sailing yacht was delivered in 2006 to a design by the late Ed Dubois . Her original interiors were styled by British studio RWD , though H2 Yacht Design stepped in to redecorate during a major refit in 2022. Key numbers include a 8.3-metre beam, a volume of 170GT and a draft of four metres.

Accommodation is for a party of up to 10, comprising a king-sized owner's suite, a double cabin, a convertible twin with a Pullman berth and a twin cabin, also with a Pullman berth. There are further quarters for six crew. 

Leisure highlights include the upper saloon, which is filled with light through the wraparound windscreen and arranged with a bar and seating with a convertible table. Meanwhile, the lower saloon features twin sofa seating, a coffee table and a large television.

Stepping outdoors, the main cockpit is shaded by a Bimini and features two small tables that can be connected to form a larger dining area.

Another al fresco offering is the bow, scattered with beanbags and sheltered from the sun by a large awning. Deckchairs can also be laid out on the swim platform.

"Sellers engage my company because time is money. In a normal market, it can take years to sell a yacht, a jet, or a luxury home," G3 Auctions president Guy Masters told BOAT International . "This auction provides a level playing field where buyers submit bids based on what they think the yacht is worth."

G3 Auctions has valued Lady M at $11,2000,000. The yacht is lying in Montenegro, according to BOATPro 's fleet tracker. 

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Palm Beach Boat Show: Sleek Lady Michelle underwent refit in 2020

180-foot yacht, refit in 2020, can accommodate 13 guests.

The 180-foot Lady Michelle is priced at $19.5 million.

Editor ’s note: This yacht was scheduled to be exhibited at the 2021 Palm Beach International Boat Show, which will continue through March 28 on the South Flagler Drive waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach.

Priced at $19.5 million, the Lady Michelle features sleek Italian styling and interiors by Stefano Natucci for Benetti of warm cherry, rich mahogany, burr walnut and teak contrasted against cool pale marble, etched mirrors, and glass details and lighting by Lalique.

Built in 2003, the 180-foot Lady Michelle underwent a refit in 2020. The yacht can accommodate 13 guests in six staterooms.

The full-beam master stateroom is configured in a split-level design with an observation lounge, six steps up from the cabin, overlooking the bow for panoramic views. Fore on the main deck, from the foyer and stairwell and through the owner’s office, the bedroom is spacious, with two bathrooms fitted with jet tubs and glass showers.

The VIP stateroom on the bridge deck forms a suite with the sky lounge, bar and aft deck. Four cabins for guests are on the lower deck, as well as quarters for 15 crew. Aft is a swim platform and beach club with space for plenty of toys.

Lady Michelle’s three spacious decks are perfect for al fresco dining and lounging, and additional amenities of the sun deck include a spa pool, gym and open-air cinema.

New interior upgrades include reupholstered furnishings as well as new furniture, dining table and carpets.

Twin 1,850-horsepower Caterpillar engines give a cruising speed of 14 knots with a range of 7,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. Lady Michelle is fitted with zero speed stabilizers.

“It’s a large volume yacht, with excellent windows for natural light and great visibility,” says IYC listing agent Rob Newton. “It has an expansive sun deck and an oversized Jacuzzi, and the master suite is extremely large and very comfortable. Lady Michelle represents the best value for a yacht on the market in this size range in the United States.”  

Jointly listed by Newton at IYC with Jose Arana Jr at 1 Ocean Yachts; call Newton at 954-478-2136 for information or see the listing on the IYC website .

The Kanso

11 Surprising Facts About Michelle Obama’s Net Worth

Posted: July 17, 2024 | Last updated: July 17, 2024

<p>Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, is admired for her intelligence, grace, and dedication to public service and her impressive financial success. Here are 15 surprising facts about Michelle Obama’s <a href="https://caknowledge.com/michelle-obama-net-worth-forbes/#Michelle_Obama_Royalty_Income" rel="noopener">$110 mn+ net worth</a> that reveal just how multifaceted her achievements are.</p>

Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, is admired for her intelligence, grace, and dedication to public service and her impressive financial success. Here are 15 surprising facts about Michelle Obama’s $110 mn+ net worth that reveal just how multifaceted her achievements are.

<p>Michelle Obama is a name that resonates with grace, intelligence, and strength. But beyond her public persona, there are many fascinating aspects of her life that you might not know about. Here are some intriguing things about the former First Lady of the United States.</p>

High-Paying Career

Before becoming the First Lady, Michelle had a flourishing career in law. Michelle worked at Sidley Austin, one of the nation’s top law firms. There, she gained extensive experience in corporate law and built a reputation for her legal acumen.

Later, she had an impactful tenure at the University of Chicago as Vice President for Community and External Affairs, where she was instrumental in forging strong community relationships and advancing the university’s public engagement initiatives. Her estimated annual salary during this period was approximately $317,000 .

<p>Michelle Obama’s memoir, “<a href="https://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/tag/michelle-obama/" rel="noopener">Becoming</a>,” became an instant bestseller upon its release in 2018. The book provides an intimate look at her life, from her childhood to her time in the White House. It has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into several languages. The memoir offers a candid and personal reflection on her journey, struggles, and triumphs, making it a powerful narrative of resilience and hope.</p>

Best-Selling Author

Michelle Obama’s memoir, “Becoming,” was a groundbreaking success. Published in 2018, the book sold over 10 million copies within a few months. The deal for her memoir, along with Barack’s, was reportedly worth over $60 million , marking a significant boost to their wealth.

The publication of the book was handled by Crown Publishing and it was made available in 24 different languages. Additionally, one million copies of the book were donated to First Book , a nonprofit organisation in the United States dedicated to providing books to children.

The continued sales of her memoir contribute to over $40 mn royalties , which bolster her financial independence and allow her to fund further philanthropic and business ventures.

<p>First Lady Michelle Obama started a mentorship program for young women from Washington D.C. area high schools. This initiative, known as the “<a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2011/3/28/18610610/michelle-obama-books-stars-to-mentor-hilary-swank-geena-davis-anna-deavere-smith-michelle-kwan" rel="noopener">White House Leadership and Mentoring Initiative</a>,” provided young women with valuable opportunities to learn from influential women in various fields, gain insights into different career paths, and receive guidance and support as they navigated their own educational and professional journeys.</p>

Netflix Deal

The Obamas founded Higher Ground Productions and signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce films and documentaries. This venture represents a significant venture into the entertainment industry, estimated to be worth around 65 millions . It allows them to produce a variety of content, including documentaries and series that align with their social and educational interests.

Their first project, “ American Factory ,” won an Academy Award, exemplifying the success and potential financial profitability of their production company, Higher Ground Productions. This deal not only diversifies their income but also establishes their footprint in media production, enhancing their influence beyond traditional political and public service roles.

<p>Michelle Obama is a sought-after <a href="https://suzannahbaum.com/michelle-obamas-persuasive-power/" rel="noopener">public speaker</a> known for her powerful and inspiring messages. She has delivered keynote addresses at numerous events, including the Democratic National Convention and various educational institutions. Her speeches often focus on themes of empowerment, education, and community service. She continues to inspire and motivate people around the world with her eloquence and authenticity.</p>

Speaking Engagements

Michelle Obama’s transition from First Lady to a highly sought-after speaker has been both influential and lucrative. Commanding fees up to $750K per speech per event, she addresses wide-ranging audiences at global conferences, corporate events, and educational institutions.

Her ability to draw large crowds and influence public discourse translates into a substantial income source. These engagements also allow her to continue advocating for issues close to her heart, such as education, health, and social justice, thereby maintaining her visibility and relevance in global conversations.

<p>Thinking about downsizing your home? It is not just a big lifestyle change but can also be a smart financial move. Let us walk through the fifteen benefits downsizing your home might bring to your wallet and life, diving deeper into how each aspect can positively affect your finances.</p>

Real Estate Investments

The Obamas have made several strategic real estate investments. Their properties include an $8.1 million mansion in Washington, D.C., a $1.65 million home in Chicago, and a luxurious $11.75 million estate in Martha’s Vineyard .

These investments not only represent their taste and lifestyle but also a savvy investment strategy. These properties are likely to appreciate over time, providing them with financial security and a tangible asset base that complements their more liquid income streams.

<p>Michelle Obama’s foray into podcasting with “<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ihev57yAYpjLYhCgzicjy?si=8a6968aa99db45a7" rel="noopener">The Michelle Obama Podcast</a>” adds a significant dimension to her diverse professional undertakings. Engaging in deep and meaningful conversations on various topics, she utilises this platform to connect with a global audience, thereby reinforcing her influence.</p> <p>Through a three-year deal with Spotify worth <a href="https://caknowledge.com/michelle-obama-net-worth-forbes/#Michelle_Obama_Royalty_Income" rel="noopener">$15 million</a>, this partnership not only expands her reach but also represents a lucrative aspect of her post-White House career. Earning up to $5 million annually, Michelle Obama likely benefits financially from sponsorship deals and platform partnerships.</p>

Podcast Ventures

Michelle Obama’s foray into podcasting with “ The Michelle Obama Podcast ” adds a significant dimension to her diverse professional undertakings. Engaging in deep and meaningful conversations on various topics, she utilises this platform to connect with a global audience, thereby reinforcing her influence.

Through a three-year deal with Spotify worth $15 million , this partnership not only expands her reach but also represents a lucrative aspect of her post-White House career. Earning up to $5 million annually, Michelle Obama likely benefits financially from sponsorship deals and platform partnerships.

<p><span>Your cover letter is about your passions, preferences, and commitment to the job. Therefore, using an AI to write it may backfire and turn off the hiring manager. Also, sometimes they recognize that the cover letter is written by AI due to the usage of similar sentences and redundant phrases.</span></p> <p><span>It’s best to write the cover letter yourself, customizing it specifically for the company and job description. </span></p>

Stocks and Mutual Fund Investments

Michelle Obama has diversified her investment strategy beyond real estate and memoirs to include significant holdings in the stock market and mutual funds. Her financial portfolio includes investments in major technology and service companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook.

Additionally, she has invested in well-known mutual funds , specifically the Vanguard 500 Index Fund and the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund.

As per CAknowledge , her assets also feature a robust investment portfolio comprising 15 stocks valued at $20 million, including shares in Tesla, Qualcomm, Netflix, AT&T, FedEx, and Intel.

<p>Michelle Obama is well-known for her “<a href="https://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/about" rel="noopener">Let’s Move!</a>” initiative to combat childhood obesity. Her personal dedication to healthy eating stems from her own experiences as a mother concerned about the diet and health of her daughters. She transformed the White House lawn into a vegetable garden, the first of its kind since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden during World War II. This garden produced over 2,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables annually, which were used in White House meals and donated to local food banks.</p>

Cash Reserves

Alongside these investments, Michelle Obama maintains substantial cash reserves, reportedly over $22 million. This blend of stocks, mutual funds, and cash reserves highlights her comprehensive approach to financial management.

<p>Land Rover stands out with its luxury and capability in tough terrains, yet it’s notorious for its reliability issues. Problems typically revolve around the air suspension, electrical systems, and drivetrain components, particularly in models like the Range Rover and Discovery.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/international-automotive-scene/262498-jd-power-study-lexus-most-dependable-brand-land-rover-languishes-bottom.html#:~:text=The%20study%20found%20that%206,252%20PP100)%20faring%20slightly%20better." rel="noopener">J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study</a>, these issues are prevalent enough to often place Land Rover among the least reliable brands. If you’re eyeing a Land Rover, it might be wise to also look at extended warranty options or be prepared for potentially higher maintenance costs.</p>

According to CAknowledge , Michelle Obama’s collection of luxury vehicles significantly enhances her net worth. Her fleet includes the Land Rover Defender, a robust and stylish SUV valued between $50,000 to $100,000, known for its off-road prowess and comfort. The Porsche Panamera, blending the performance of a sports car with the luxury of a sedan, ranges from $87,000 to $190,000.

The Jaguar I-Pace, an electric SUV, introduces eco-friendliness without sacrificing luxury, priced between $80,000 and $100,000. She also owns a Mercedes G-Class, a high-end vehicle renowned for its design and durability, valued at about $130,000 to $200,000. Completing the collection is the Audi Q8, a sleek SUV that combines modern technology with performance, with prices ranging from $70,000 to $90,000. These vehicles not only reflect a high standard of living but also represent a substantial asset accumulation in her overall financial portfolio.

<p>Michelle Obama often vacationed on a <a href="https://www.caclubindia.com/assets/michelle-obama-net-worth/#Luxury_Yacht" rel="noopener">60-foot luxury yacht</a>, valued at approximately $10 million on the market. According to reports, this yacht was originally owned by another family who then sold it to Michelle for $310,000. This purchase adds a notable asset to her diverse and substantial portfolio.</p>

Michelle Obama often vacationed on a 60-foot luxury yacht , valued at approximately $10 million on the market. According to reports, this yacht was originally owned by another family who then sold it to Michelle for $310,000. This purchase adds a notable asset to her diverse and substantial portfolio.

<p>Despite her busy schedule, Michelle has always prioritized her family. She is a dedicated mother to her two daughters, Malia and Sasha, and has spoken openly about the challenges and joys of motherhood. Her strong bond with her husband, Barack Obama, has also been a cornerstone of her public life. The Obamas have often been seen supporting each other at various events, highlighting their deep commitment to family values.</p>

Michelle Obama resides in a luxurious 10,200 square-foot home situated in Chicago, Illinois which was reportedly bought by her at $12 million. The expansive residence boasts nine bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, providing ample space and comfort

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Why Michelle Obama's Italy Trip With Tom Hanks Had The Internet Up In Arms

Michelle Obama speaking

Michelle Obama hanging out with celebrities should not be shocking news, but she caused quite a stir when she rubbed elbows with Hollywood A-listers while on a European vacation. In September 2023, the paparazzi snapped photos of the former first lady on a yacht off the coast in Italy with Tom Hanks. The "Forrest Gump" star was also joined by his wife Rita Wilson along with Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw. What made the excursion notable was that Barack Obama was not aboard the ship, or even in the country. At one point on the yacht, Hanks ditched his top and went shirtless, while Michelle sported a white one-piece. Michelle seemed to be enjoying the getaway, as she was also photographed snorkeling. Some were convinced however that the Italian vacation was a red flag in Michelle and Barack Obama's marriage .

As photos of the former FLOTUS in Italy with Hanks made the rounds (above), several people could not get over the fact that her husband stayed stateside. "More importantly, why is Michelle Obama vacationing in Europe with Tom Hanks and a bunch of celebrities for months without Barack?" one X , formerly Twitter, user wrote. Days after the yacht pics were published, the Obamas celebrated their wedding anniversary, but some worried there may have been trouble in paradise. "Barack and Michelle haven't been seen together in quite some time," an X user wrote while quote-tweeting Barack's anniversary tweet.

It appeared those causing a stir did not know the truth about Tom Hanks' friendship with Barack Obama .

Tom Hanks had vacationed with the Obamas in the past

There may have been some sordid speculation about Michelle Obama spending time in Italy with Tom Hanks, but the truth of the matter was the "Captain Phillips" star is friends with both her and Barack Obama. A few months before the yacht excursion, Michelle and Barack had dinner with Hanks and Rita Wilson in Greece, per the Daily Mail . The former POTUS and first lady also brought their two daughters.

In fact, the Obamas have a history of hanging out on yachts with "The Green Mile" actor. They were photographed spending time on a 450-foot yacht together in Tahiti in April 2017. Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Springsteen were also along for the ride. Afterwards, the talk show magnate was tight-lipped about their vacation. "What happens on the boat, stays on the boat," Winfrey jokingly told People at the time.

The same month that photos of the star-studded yacht voyage leaked, Hanks offered up some details about his time with Michelle and Barack. "Look, imagine what it could've been like it, triple it. It was off the scale, fantastic," Hanks playfully said while speaking about the Polynesian getaway on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in April 2017. Similar to Winfrey, the actor joked that his time with the presidential couple was a private matter. "I'd like to share a ton of stories from it, but they're classified," Hanks said. Besides vacationing together, Hanks and the Obamas had a long history of meeting up at professional and personal events.

Tom Hanks gave and received awards with the Obamas

When Barack Obama held his 50th birthday in August 2011, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were invited. The guestlist was around 200 people, and the party was held at the Rose Garden in the White House. A decade later, the "Philadelphia" actor had stayed in touch with the Obamas as Hanks was also present for Barack's 60th birthday party, which sparked some outrage . It was a more intimate gathering as the former president and Michelle Obama had "scaled back" the invite list since it took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, per the New York Post .

Not only was Hanks close enough with the Obamas to earn birthday party invite, and go on European vacations together, he also participated in formal affairs with the presidential couple. In October 2019, Michelle was given an award created by the "Saving Private Ryan" star — the Hanks Caregiver Champion award, which is presented to people who offered extraordinary service to military caregivers. The former FLOTUS gave a moving speech. "You all changed me forever," Michelle said, per People . "You have changed the way I see service, you've changed the way I see war, you've changed the way I see this entire country."

Five years earlier, it was Hanks who was on the receiving end of an award presented by Barack. The then-president presented Hanks with the Kennedy Center honors. "Because no matter what party you belong to, everybody wants a selfie with Tom Hanks," host Stephen Colbert joked during the event, per the BBC .

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

  • What Is Cinema?

Where Do the Obamas Stand on Joe Biden? “If President Obama Was All In, He’d Be All In.”

the lady michelle yacht

In the days after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance , former president Barack Obama set aside time to do what Biden used to do for him as vice president: play devil’s advocate. Over the phone, Obama took on the tough-love advisory role, presenting different scenarios to Biden. Something in the conversation reportedly unsettled the current president, who has resisted calls to exit the race.

The attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump only heightened the incredibly tense political environment, and that question. Obama sought to be a sounding board for Biden, not a pundit. At a private White House lunch last summer, he met with Biden to air his views, dropping his signature calm; even then, Obama believed in the very real possibility that Trump could win. But it is becoming more apparent that the values Obama cares most about—not to mention his own legacy—hang in the balance. He sees the presidency as a relay race, which begs the question of whether he privately thinks it’s time for Biden to pass the baton. The progress that he wants for the country can be accomplished only with a Democrat in office. That Democrat does not have to be Joe Biden.

And then came the debate. As this story was in the throes of closing, old Democratic hands who had been reluctant to speak emailed and called me to register their angst. “The blame lies with Joe and Jill Biden. They set up this administration to be insular,” said one insider. “The nightmare of yesterday was not that Joe Biden gave a bad performance,” this person added, “but the problem is that he made it clear that voters were right to care about his age.” “A dumpster fire,” declares a Democratic strategist with experience in a number of presidential campaigns, who had already confessed “ my bed is wet ” before the debacle. Obama posted a statement of support on X, “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know,” referring his own 2012 debate with GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Then, after Biden’s ABC News interview meant to be damage control, David Axelrod, among Obama’s most trusted advisers in the White House, called Biden “dangerously out-of-touch.” Within days, George Clooney , who headlined a Biden fundraiser in June, along with Obama and Julia Roberts, turned to the New York Times opinion pages to say, “The Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe “big F-ing deal” Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.”

Obama, where art thou?

“The silence is deafening,” says Representative Mike Quigley , who knows the former president and who has called on Biden to bow out of the race. “If President Obama was all in, he would be all in.” The relationship between Obama and Biden is “very protected,” Quigley notes. “They keep their private life and their private conversations private. I think most people who would guess about this are speculating.” Donors are expressing worry, and, Quigley says, Democratic House members are reluctant to publicly call for Biden to exit out of respect. Plus, “People think wild thoughts: ‘If the next president’s a Democrat, will they not trust me?’ ” Obama, Quigley says, is likely “greatly concerned.” The Democratic congressman believes there are more Obama people “trying to encourage a change. But I’m not going to name names.”

There have been whispers about tension between 44 and his veep. Even prior to the debate, the Obama camp redirected on the topic of Biden’s advanced age and mental acuity in Vanity Fair ’s questions. “Of course there are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic right now, but [Obama] remains hopeful as young people step up and lead. No matter the phase of his public life, his animating principle has not changed—his goal has always been to inspire others to get involved,” says Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to Obama.

Obama’s aides were not interested in providing insight into their boss’s thinking—they couldn’t get off the phone fast enough. Dan Pfeiffer, a top adviser to Obama in the White House and cohost of Pod Save America , does not touch the subject when I ask him whether his former boss wants Biden to step aside. But when I mention George Clooney’s New York Times piece and ask whether Obama had a hand in it, as some people have theorized, Pfeiffer says, “I know Obama pretty well, and I would be shocked if that was the case.” Whether Biden exits or stays, he says, at this point, “There are no risk-free options.”

The Obamas, with their tremendous cultural and political influence, could be the closers of this race. “If President Obama is saying something, people listen,” says one Biden aide, adding, “They have a healthy respect for each other’s talents.” A USA Today /Suffolk University national poll conducted in early May found 18 percent of voters cared “a lot” about Obama’s opinion on the election, and 14 percent said they felt the same about former first lady Michelle Obama. No other celebrity comes close. Not Taylor. Not Oprah. The party and the Democratic public who had been pinning their hopes on the Obamas’ combined megawatt star power to get an anemic Biden over the finish line are now looking to them for—what?—reassurance? Or maybe the hope of an eleventh hour endorsement of a new candidate? “The Obamas can expedite a reset,” says one Democratic consultant, “but they can’t win this for Biden.”

Obama is a powerhouse for Democrats—in many ways still the most important man in the party, especially as the current president’s stock crashes. This story was meant to be about how the Obamas have reimagined (and are enjoying) the post-presidency, and I reported over many months, but there is now a before and an after, a bright line requiring a whole new lens. By the time you read this in the print magazine, Biden may well have stepped down. Will the Obamas have hastened that to the country’s satisfaction or hindered it, leaving November to chance, and maybe to Trump?

For starters, Obama is the campaign’s most successful fundraiser outside of Biden, the first lady, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. In late March, Obama and former president Bill Clinton appeared with Biden at a reelection fundraiser in New York that raised at least $26 million. One can assume he would be as powerful if someone else steps up to bat.

For whoever the November ticket may be, whether Biden or Harris or anyone else, the more Obamas, the better—if not necessarily to the Obamas themselves, who have largely steered clear of constant Trump denunciations. The barnstorming will come in the early fall, when they believe that voters are really engaged in the election. “It’s like the cadence of a speech,” says the former president’s communications director Hannah Hankins. “You’re quiet at certain points and you’re loud when it matters most.” Obama’s major advocacy where politics are concerned has been getting younger generations involved and mentoring young politicians and community activists. “President Obama’s chief focus has been to build out the work of his foundation, whose mission it is to support the next generation of civic leaders,” Schultz says.

“Their legacy is going to be so much broader, not larger, because nothing is larger than serving in the White House for eight years, but broader than what they did in those eight years, because they have so much runway in front of them,” says Washington-based journalist Michele Norris, a close friend of the Obamas.

“Someone had told President Obama that the best job in the world is being a former president of the United States,” Valerie Jarrett, a close friend of the Obamas who was a senior adviser in the White House and is now chief executive of the Barack Obama Foundation, tells me. “I think he’s beginning to see that’s the case.”

One of Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s favorite lines of attack against Obama was deriding him as nothing more than a celebrity. McCain’s campaign ran a television ad that featured images of Obama, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton overlaid with audio of crowds chanting “Obama!” and an ominous voice-over: “He’s the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead?” Sixteen years later, Obama’s advisers still recoil at the mention of the combined star power of the former president and first lady. They think it cheapens what the Obamas have accomplished. But the couple’s global fame is undeniable, and nearly eight years after leaving the White House, in a political landscape characterized by both polarization and whiplash, they are still figuring out the most effective way to use it.

The Obamas consider Washington their home base. Roughly two dozen people work in their private office and are part of what aides often refer to as Obama-world. One aide describes it as “one office with two principals,” with staff divided nearly evenly between them. They have been leasing space at the World Wildlife Fund headquarters on 24th Street, about a mile from the $8.1 million 8,200-square-foot Kalorama house they moved into in 2017. (Their decision to remain in the capital after the end of his term made Obama the first president since Woodrow Wilson to do so.)

They don’t seem to care about pleasing politicos. Washington insider Susanna Quinn says that unlike the Obamas’ famously gregarious Democratic predecessors the Clintons, the Obamas were not concerned with socializing when they were in the White House, and they certainly do not care about it now, even though they’ve put roots down in the capital. “They never really connected to Washington socially,” Quinn says. “They stayed in their own world with original friends. It’s practical to stay here because you don’t have paparazzi like you do in New York and LA. Maybe it ends up in Politico if you go out to dinner, but that’s about it.”

When the first family was considering how they would approach their life after the White House, a source says, Michelle Obama sought advice from Laura Bush, who suggested that they get to work on whatever programs and initiatives they were planning before the completion of their presidential center, an ambitious public space slated to open in Chicago in 2026. It was advice they took to heart.

First, in 2014, they created the Obama Foundation, which oversees the still-in-progress Barack Obama Presidential Center, the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, and the international Leaders program, a six-month development and community engagement program connecting young people with leadership tools as they take on issues like climate change, immigration, and racial equity. The former president likes interacting with young people more casually and relates to them as a fellow community organizer and mentor. One of Obama’s biggest interests is his My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. It’s a continuation of the initiative he created as president in 2014 after the killing of Trayvon Martin. Its goal is to create and expand educational and employment opportunities for boys and young men of color.

And the Obamas are using the media to shape the conversation. (Hillary and Chelsea Clinton formed HiddenLight Productions in 2020.) In 2018 their Higher Ground Productions—named after a favorite Stevie Wonder song—signed a deal with Netflix to produce content that would go on to include films and series—and in the following years, they struck deals with Spotify (since ended) and Audible, which is owned by Amazon. “They want to give a whole bunch of people a platform to tell their stories and make the world a little better, a little kinder, a little more empathetic, and a little smarter,” says Joe Paulsen, who was a personal aide to the former president in the White House and a frequent golf companion, and who now serves as head of business and strategy for Higher Ground. They tapped Nadia Hallgren to direct Becoming, which was her feature documentary directing debut. And they selected Dustlight, an audio production company led by a young female CEO named Misha Euceph, to produce The Michelle Obama Podcast and Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen’s Renegades: Born in the USA.

Alicia Keys hugs Michelle Obama at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Higher Ground’s work has championed progressive messages and uses a different venue to continue their White House work. Obama won a best narrator Emmy for Our Great National Parks, which highlights the need for conservation of natural resources; Waffles + Mochi is about healthy foods for children. The company’s first release, American Factory in 2019, won the Oscar for best documentary feature in 2020.

Obama recently narrated the four-part limited series Working: What We Do All Day, which profiles workers on different rungs of the economic ladder, and he makes the occasional cameo. “We may not think about it, but we’re all a part of something larger than any single one of us—and our work is one of the forces that connects us,” Obama intones. “And when we make sure that everyone feels their work is respected…we reinforce the trust between us that makes everything in our lives possible.”

Unlike most of his work, however, the show was met with mixed reviews. Time pointed to an unevenness in the storytelling and a lack of accountability in the episode about CEOs at the very top of the economic ladder. “The tone is reminiscent of Democratic Party stump speeches that note the suffering of the poor, working, and middle classes but rarely get around to holding anyone responsible for creating these conditions or effecting change.”

The Obamas’ insertion into our daily lives through media is complicated if they are trying to move away from the world of celebrity because, of course, it only furthers their place as global celebrities. “Meghan and Harry are copying what the Obamas have put together,” says Tracy Sefl, a veteran Democratic strategist who worked for Hillary Clinton. “The difference with what the Obamas have done so far is their understanding of their audience. Barack sitting down with the Boss [Bruce Springsteen], well, that felt interesting and creative. But, also, of course he did. ”

“Something about the Obamas continues to have a certain allure, sometimes even more so globally than in the US because they don’t have the baggage of our politics,” says Ben Rhodes, who was Obama’s deputy national security adviser in the White House.

Like most celebrities, the Obamas are never in one place for long. Washington may be home base, but they also have Martha’s Vineyard, Chicago, and Hawaii. They bought an $11.75 million 6,892-square-foot mansion on 29.3 acres in Edgartown, Massachusetts, and are reportedly involved in developing a property worth at least $8.7 million on the island of Oahu—though it remains unclear whether they own it. They have also held on to the red brick Georgian-style Chicago home they’ve had since 2005.

Shortly after they left the White House, the Obamas appeared in photos on some luxurious headline-grabbing trips, including a stop at billionaire Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, where Obama famously went kitesurfing; a trip aboard David Geffen’s yacht; and a stay on the late Marlon Brando’s small private atoll near Tahiti. The Obamas have spent time with Clooney and his wife, Amal, at their Lake Como villa, and hung out in Barcelona with Steven Spielberg before a Springsteen concert where Michelle Obama and Kate Capshaw sang backup as Springsteen and the E Street Band performed “Glory Days.” Some people thought the Obamas deserved a break after eight years of unmatched scrutiny and pressure; others were predictably less generous.

“I’m glad he’s having a nice time—America is on fire!” quipped HBO host John Oliver.

When Trump was president and the country was becoming more and more polarized, “everyone wanted him back in the fray,” says Schultz. “Democrats wanted a savior, Republicans wanted a foil, and members of the press wanted clicks.” But the Obamas were going to wait for key moments to speak up. Rhodes, who is currently a senior adviser to Obama, recognizes the frustration on the left. “I have friends that want Obama to speak out more on whatever crazy thing Trump is doing.… I actually think he has a greater megaphone when he does choose to speak out because he’s not popping off on Twitter about it and doing a bunch of interviews.”

He sees himself as a unifier, and he considered his main job to be bringing the party in line behind the nominee at the end of the 2020 primary. He was publicly neutral until that April, when he made a 12-minute video endorsing Biden.

In that election, behind the scenes, Obama helped nudge members of his party to support Biden and had a series of conversations with Biden’s progressive challenger, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Together the Obamas—the former first lady’s reputation as “the closer” makes her just as valuable a campaigner as he is—proved their restrained strategy was still effective.

It is, of course, easier to stay above the day-to-day political fight as a former president. Per an adviser, Obama does not read the intelligence briefings provided regularly to former presidents—except to Trump, whom Biden barred in 2021 because of his “erratic behavior.” (Although the adviser doubts their value in the first place. “Do you know any former president who actually reads them?”)

Melania Trump could not compete with Michelle Obama’s popularity even if she wanted to. Michelle Obama left the White House with a 72 percent favorability rating, according to the Pew Research Center. Compare that to her impenetrable successor, Melania, who left at a historically low 42 percent, per a CNN/SSRS poll. Unlike the Trumps and even the Bushes, Michelle Obama is central to what the Obama name is building. (And she’s dominating on Instagram, where she has 57 million followers and her husband has 36.3 million.)

“I think the Clintons are co-CEOs and the Obamas are costars. They’re all stratospheric celebrities. Hillary’s got business, she’s got work. Michelle is costar of all things Obama, Hillary’s co-CEO of all things Clinton,” says Sefl. “It’s equal billing in their post-presidencies.”

Obama’s style evolution, notably the $3,900 over-the-knee Balenciaga glitter boots she wore while promoting Becomin g in 2018, put a spotlight on the constraints she was under as first lady. (Remember her controversial decision to cut her bangs?) Like most first ladies, she wanted to make an impact that went beyond her fashion choices, so she self-edited. Can you imagine the reaction if she had worn those boots to a state dinner?

“Michelle Obama had to be the most perfect first lady that ever was,” says Jarrett. “She knew that the spotlight was on her every single minute of every single day,” she tells me. “The younger generation was watching, and she wanted to make sure she did right by them and right by our country. And that was eight years of a lot of pressure…. This is somebody who has been an A-plus performer her entire life. The political world was really challenging for her in that way because it’s not fair and it’s not based on merit.”

Out of the White House, she has been able to be herself.

Sefl saw Obama speak in front of a massive San Francisco crowd. “Few people can be so natural, so authentic, and so electric all at the same time,” she says. “You cannot look away from Michelle Obama.”

Last year Gayle King hinted at a question she already knew the answer to: Would Obama consider running for office? “I am authentic,” the former first lady replied. “If I were going to engage in politics, I would let people know.”

She has been clear that she never wants to run for president, but the right has used her to scare Republican and independent voters—many of whom hate the idea of a Black woman in the Oval Office (look at their reaction to the idea of a President Kamala Harris). Inside the White House the rumor was barely discussed. “Everybody knows how laughable it is,” an Obama adviser tells me. “That’s the last thing she would want. Oh, my God.” Amid the Biden crisis, Michelle Obama is polling 11 percentage points ahead of Trump—well beyond any officeholder whose name has been mentioned.

Around the Super Bowl, Donald Trump Jr. posted a photograph to his Instagram (with 7 million followers) of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Levon Kirkland with these words superimposed on it: “I found this rare Michelle Obama rookie card.” Nasty racist and sexist slurs have long bubbled up in conspiracy theories trumpeted by the right. Her aide tells me that “it happens so often, it’s almost heartbreaking.” While the former first lady’s office won’t issue statements about conspiracy theories because they believe it only gives them oxygen, it does affect Obama on a personal level. As an aide says, “She’s a human being.”

Deesha Dyer, whom the Obamas named as their social secretary in 2015, thinks that while her former boss will be more and more “real” as time goes on, Michelle Obama still feels the sting of her critics. “As somebody who worked for them and watched them be attacked, it doesn’t hurt any less for me to see it. I have nieces and nephews growing up in a world with people like that and it makes me angry. She’s probably not over it, it could hurt a little bit less, but it’s still there. We’re all human.”

In Becoming , her blockbuster 2018 memoir, Obama notes her unique place in the American story: “I carried a history with me, and it wasn’t that of presidents or First Ladies. I’d never related to the story of John Quincy Adams the way I did to that of Sojourner Truth.”

On the flight with the Obamas from Joint Base Andrews to California after Trump’s inauguration, Jarrett saw Michelle crying—tears shed from “sheer exhaustion and an enormous sense of relief.”

Like her husband, she is continuing to work on issues she cared about as first lady. Her Let Girls Learn initiative in the White House promoted girls’ education globally, and in 2018 she launched the Girls Opportunity Alliance, part of the Obama Foundation, designed to educate and empower adolescent girls around the world. Since its creation it has raised and distributed funds to more than 130 grassroots organizations in more than 36 countries to support girls, from scholarships to leadership development programs. In 2022 Obama joined forces with two other female powerhouses and girls advocates—Melinda French Gates, who recently separated her own work from that of the foundation she once co-chaired with her ex-husband, Bill, and Amal Clooney, cofounder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice—for an event in support of the Girls Opportunity Alliance’s Get Her There campaign. They also announced a coordinated effort between their organizations to advance gender equality and end child marriage.

Barack Obama and George Clooney on a boat in Lake Como

Her nonpartisan initiative When We All Vote was created in 2018 with the goal of getting more young people and people of color to vote. In 2020, 512,000 people either started or completed the voter registration process with When We All Vote. During the midterm elections in 2022, 90,000 people registered to vote or confirmed they were registered to vote with When We All Vote either online or at events. The former first lady recruited celebrity A-listers as co-chairs, including Steph Curry, Jennifer Lopez, and Tom Hanks.

But there is an everlasting hunger for gossip. In April 2023 Obama told Gayle King on CBS Mornings, “Marriage is hard, and a lot of young people quit on marriage over things that are just a part of the commitment. We’ve been married for 30 years.… If I fell out with him for 10, and we had a great 20 years, I’d take those odds anytime.” In a May interview on the same television show, the former president opened up too, saying, “It sure helps to be out of the White House, and to have a little more time with her.”

She was always a straight shooter about the imbalance in relationships. In 2004, when her husband was in the race for the US Senate, she told the Chicago Tribune: “What I notice about men, all men, is that their order is me, my family, God is in there somewhere, but me is first. And for women, me is fourth, and that’s not healthy.”

Michele Norris reminded me of a 2007 Maureen Dowd New York Times column, “ She’s Not Buttering Him Up ,” that criticized Michelle Obama for ways that she tried to humanize her husband during their first presidential campaign. Dowd found fault with what she said at a fundraiser in New York when she teased her husband for not “putting his socks actually in the dirty clothes.”

“This princess of South Chicago,” Dowd wrote, “a formidable Princeton and Harvard Law School grad, wants us to know that she’s not polishing the pedestal.” That kind of hypercriticism is why, according to Norris, she had to be “superhuman” when she was first lady. Now, as a former first lady, she bends over backward to say she’s just like you.

Her straight talk is not surprising to the people who know her well. She has a famously close and loyal circle of female friends who keep her grounded. They include Jarrett and Norris, whose husband, Broderick Johnson, was assistant to the president and secretary of the cabinet under President Obama. She is also close with Chicago turned DC friend Kelly Dibble, and to the poet Elizabeth Alexander.

Obama talked candidly about race before she became first lady. She told 60 Minutes in 2007, when her husband was a presidential candidate: “As a Black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station.”

She admires the way Laura Bush approached being first lady with quiet restraint. But that was never really who Bush was, either. “After nearly eight years of hypervigilance, of watching for the next danger or tragedy that might be coming, I could at last exhale; I could simply be,” the former first lady wrote in her memoir, Spoken From the Heart , about the relief she felt leaving the White House. Obama could relate.

During debt ceiling negotiations last summer, a source says, Obama and Biden commiserated about the Groundhog Day nature of the battle. (Obama faced a similar crisis in 2011.) The phone conversation may have also allowed Obama to check on the octogenarian president. That day Biden had taken an embarrassing fall when he tripped on a sandbag onstage at the Air Force Academy commencement. Biden was going to need Obama to attest to his fitness for the office. Now, more than ever, “you need to strike at the right time for key surrogates to be useful,” a Biden aide told me, before the debate. “You don’t want to waste them, and a year is a lifetime in politics times five.”

Eric Lesser started working on Obama’s 2008 campaign before he graduated from college and went on to work as a West Wing aide. But he couldn’t win the Democratic nomination to be lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 2022, even after scoring a photo op with the former president at the Obamas’ home in Martha’s Vineyard. Still, Lesser, who served four terms in the state Senate, says he believes that the Obamas’ combined star power is unmatched.

“[George W.] Bush left with his tail between his legs with a massive economic crisis and two disastrous wars,” he says. “By contrast there is an immense reservoir of goodwill for the Obamas. I was in barbershops and VFW halls and Fourth of July parades across the communities I campaigned in and visited, and over a long period of time—eight years—it was clear the admiration people have for him. And it’s transcended party identification. I had Republicans who admired how he raised his family and the character and the dignity that he brought to the office.”

So many presidential traditions—things that aren’t written in stone but have become quasi-sacred—were trashed the moment Trump stepped into the Oval Office. A fatal breach of the US Capitol, two impeachments, and countless “unprecedented” moments later—including Trump’s conviction on 34 felony charges—and the Obamas are holding firm to the idea that their brand of politics can thrive, even amid Trump’s brand of red-hot fury. “I’m still the hope guy,” Obama has said without a trace of cynicism.

On the rare occasion when Bill Clinton would stop by the Obama White House, Jeremy Bernard, who was the Obamas’ social secretary from 2011 to 2015, remembers Clinton giving him a hug and introducing himself to his staff, who were “amazed.”

Clinton once told Bernard that Obama wasn’t “good at the easy stuff, the mixing and mingling.” “Obama was more focused on the job and didn’t know who all was in the room. They haven’t changed, they have a close-knit group,” Bernard says. That includes pre-presidency friends from Chicago like Marty Nesbitt and his wife, Dr. Anita Blanchard, and DC pals like Dr. Sharon Malone, an ob-gyn who specializes in aging and menopause, and her husband, Eric Holder, who was attorney general in the Obama administration and the first African American person to hold the office.

Bernard was on the receiving end of complaints from high-dollar donors who wanted to know why they hadn’t received more invitations to the White House. “For me, President Obama is what I really want in a president, his policy and most of what he stands for are right in line with what I feel as a progressive Democrat.” But being his social secretary could be a “fucking nightmare.”

Bernard sees how the escalated number of threats made life even more difficult for Obama. “When I worked there the Secret Service was so much more cautious, even when walking to the Oval,” he says, then goes on to describe a private lunch at the Trump White House hosted by Rickie Niceta, Trump’s social secretary . “I was supposed to go in the west gate and I ran into some folks from the residence and I told them I couldn’t walk in with them. But the Secret Service said, ‘Come on in.’ That wouldn’t have happened during the Obama years. It was more heightened security. You go through the gate you’re assigned to go through.”

As we’ve seen over the past few years, political violence is a frightening reality in our country. Bernard recalls that once he was in the Rose Garden showing the first lady different options for table decor ahead of the state dinner for German chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011. “I was walking out with her and President Obama walked out of the Oval to come take a look, and I saw the Secret Service getting more and more concerned. The first lady said, half joking, ‘Barack, get back inside. Look how nervous they are.’ She knew they weren’t prepared for him to step outside and walk into the Rose Garden.”

For now, the Obamas are looking toward the big picture and their legacy. They remain unflinchingly optimistic about the future long-term. To many political observers, however, short-term optimism would require a hefty dose of magical thinking.

On the question of whether Trump will be invited to the opening of the Obama Presidential Center—living presidents, current and former, are front and center at these things—Obama insiders just laugh and say the guest list isn’t drawn up yet. But one Obama veteran recognizes the inevitability of the question. “People are good at pretending the decision doesn’t need to be made because there’s no issue,” this person says. “But everyone knows that there’s an elephant in the room.”

This story has been updated.

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Stephen and ayesha curry give an assist to michelle obama’s plezi nutrition.

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Stephen & Ayesha Curry as parents of four and co-founders of the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, join ... [+] PLEZi Nutrition as investors and brand partners. Furthering their mission to inspire and enable healthier habits in kids.

In an era where childhood obesity rates are climbing and the nutritional content of children's food and beverages often falls short, initiatives like PLEZi Nutrition are making a difference. Co-founded by Michelle Obama, the former First Lady renowned for her commitment to health and wellness, PLEZi Nutrition aims to elevate the standards for how children's food and beverages are produced and marketed in the U.S. This initiative focuses on nutrition, taste, and transparency - ensuring children have access to healthier, delicious options.

The mission of PLEZi Nutrition gained a substantial assist through a partnership with Stephen and Ayesha Curry. Known for their achievements in sports and entertainment, the Currys are equally celebrated for their dedication to children's wellness. Stephen Curry, an NBA superstar, and Ayesha Curry, a distinguished chef and author, bring their passion for healthy living and community involvement to this collaboration. Their participation amplifies PLEZi Nutrition’s impact, inspiring parents and children to make healthier food choices and adopt a lifestyle that promotes well-being and happiness. Together, they strive to create a healthier, brighter future for the next generation.

“We’re so excited to welcome Stephen and Ayesha Curry to the PLEZi Nutrition family,” said former First Lady Michelle Obama, Co-Founder and Strategic Partner of PLEZi Nutrition . “They are true role models. They’re extraordinary at what they do and how they go about their work—with creativity, integrity, and a whole lot of fun. Their commitment to bettering the lives of children and their dedication to promoting healthy lifestyles align perfectly with our vision for PLEZi Nutrition. We can’t wait to team up with them to inspire the next generation toward healthier choices.”

The partnership with Stephen and Ayesha Curry brings a powerful voice to this crucial cause. The Currys are not merely celebrities; they are dedicated advocates for children's health and education through their Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. Their foundation is committed to providing children with nutritious meals, support for becoming strong readers, and opportunities for physical activity. By addressing these key aspects of child development, they aim to lay a solid foundation for future success and well-being. This alignment with PLEZi Nutrition's mission creates a dynamic synergy focused on making a tangible difference in children's lives, emphasizing the importance of holistic health and education approaches.

I had the pleasure to interview the power couple to learn more about their decision to invest, how PLEZi stands out from other health-focused companies, and why it was a no-brainer to work with Michelle Obama again.

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Rnc day 4: trump describes assassination attempt in gop nomination speech (live updates), the 14 best sheets that make your bed feel extra dreamy, what initially inspired you both to invest in plezi nutrition.

Stephen Curry (SC) : As a father and professional athlete, I know how impactful good nutrition can be, on and off the court. PLEZi Nutrition’s commitment to making nutrition accessible and fun really resonates with me.

Ayesha Curry (AC) : We were floored by the stats. Kids are consuming way too much added sugar—on average, 53 pounds of added sugar per year. Sugary drinks are the leading source of added sugar, and nearly two-thirds of kids consume sugary drinks on a given day! Kids deserve better, and we wanted to be a part of that positive change. But ultimately getting kids excited about a healthier option is always going to come down to taste, and that’s what sealed it for us in supporting PLEZi. It really hits the sweet spot for our family, no pun intended - our kids really love it, so it was an easy choice.

How do you envision PLEZi Nutrition empowering kids to make healthier choices?

AC: We want kids to love the products because they taste great. The fact that it’s a healthier option is the added bonus. I started stocking our fridge at home with PLEZi juices without any background or context. My kids kept coming back to them because they loved the flavors, and that’s how we knew this was something special. If it’s something our kids love, we knew there were going to be a lot of other kids that love it, too! And if kids’ top choice is also the most nutritious choice, we’re going to make some headway supporting a healthier generation of kids.

What unique qualities of PLEZi Nutrition stood out to you compared to other health-focused companies?

SC: At its core, PLEZi understands that if nutrition isn't fun and tasty, it's not going to stick - definitely with kids, but with parents, too. Parents have enough on our plates - we want our kids to be healthy, absolutely, but we also want them to be happy. As Ayesha mentioned, our kids love the PLEZi drinks and that was a game changer for us.

AC: Something that really struck a chord with me is the fact that PLEZi is trying to fundamentally shift kids' sweetness cravings. Not just what they drink right now, but what they crave over their entire life. PLEZi (their juice drink) has 75% less sugar than the average leading fruit juices, 2g of fiber, and added nutrients like vitamin C. When you compare 5g sugar in 6.75oz for Plezi to 21g sugar per 6.75oz in average leading fruit juices, this means that replacing 2 full sugar juice drinks with PLEZi would remove 59 teaspoons of sugar from a kid's diet each week. Over the course of a year, that's over 25 lbs of sugar that isn't going into a kid's body. That's a huge shift with the potential for an awesome long-term effect.

How significant is it for you to support a company co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama?

SC: Wait…have people already forgotten how the three of us essentially broke the internet in 2016 with our lip-syncing Minions video??

AC: We don’t need to resurface it…HOWEVER, we actually worked with Mrs. Obama during her time as First Lady to support her Let’s Move! initiative, which worked across a variety of sectors to support healthier kids and families. For us, it’s an honor to continue our efforts with the former First Lady, having her involved keeps us focused on our north star of helping raise a healthier generation and amplifies our collective impact.

SC: Agreed, and it’s incredibly significant. Mrs. Obama’s passion for children’s health and wellness aligns perfectly with ours and our foundation, Eat. Learn. Play.

Could you share any personal experiences or challenges with children's nutrition that influenced your decision to support PLEZi Nutrition?

AC: It’s one thing I get asked the most as someone who works in the food space. I have a lot of frustrated (and exhausted) parents who need tips to help with their picky eaters. I have a few things that have worked for me that I often share, one of them is to include kids in the process. I find that kids are more likely to try something they have a hand in making. That can be in the cooking process or harvesting ingredients from a garden if that option is available.

In what ways do you believe PLEZi Nutrition can address current gaps in children's health and nutrition?

SC: PLEZi fills a gap by offering healthier beverages - from juice boxes to FiZZ, that kids crave. It’s about changing norms, and it encourages families to prioritize nutrition without sacrificing flavor.

AC: The company is also so much more than its products – as a Public Benefit Company, they are committed to educating families about what’s best for kids’ health and supporting non-profits, like FoodCorps, that are working to improve kids’ nutrition and access to nourishing food.

How do you plan to use your platform and influence to promote PLEZi Nutrition's mission?

SC: I don’t want to spoil anything, but…

AC: So he won’t!! What we’ll say is we’re fortunate to have platforms that allow us to advocate for PLEZi’s mission authentically. And personally and professionally, we are excited to roll up our sleeves and contribute to all the ways PLEZi is innovating this category, from overall creativity to product development.

What role do you see PLEZi Nutrition playing in the broader landscape of public health and wellness?

AC: Something shifts in you when you become a parent. You can’t stand the thought of any kid suffering or not getting the life they deserve. It’s what motivated us to start our Foundation and truly drives the decisions we make in terms of partners. We love PLEZi because first and foremost it’s a mission driven company, above all else. That’s extremely rare – and something worth supporting. If more companies prioritize kids’ health, we’ll see the positive change in public health that the next generation deserves.

How do you intend to stay involved with PLEZi Nutrition in the future?

SC: Like I said, without spoiling anything, this is just the beginning – we have some absurdly good plans for this year and next.

What message would you like to share with parents considering PLEZi Nutrition products for their children?

AC: It’s really nice to have a win; an easy yes for a change. It’s delicious and nutritious, it’s a choice you can feel good about. Listen, add a case of FiZZ or the juice boxes to your next Amazon order (Prime Day is coming up and they’re actually going to be on sale) – make it a fun experience for you and your kids, maybe a taste test party? Give PLEZi a try and you’ll understand why we’re all in.

Noel Burgess

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The LADY MICHELLE yacht was built by Benetti Yachts, and delivered in 2003. The length is 180 ft / 54.9 m, she measures 909 gross tons, and her interior layout accommodates guests in 6 staterooms. Many elements including performance, level of fit and finish, amenities and more, determine how much a yacht costs. If there is no LADY MICHELLE yacht price, you can rely on the experience and expertise of the yacht brokers and specialists at Merle Wood & Associates in evaluating the purchase of a luxury yacht. If you’d like to know the weekly rate of the LADY MICHELLE yacht for charter , and if she is available for a yacht charter vacation, view the LADY MICHELLE yacht charter price and summary.

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For general information, location, photos and specifications, view the options above. Here you will find more detailed information about the LADY MICHELLE yacht. For more information on the LADY MICHELLE yacht price, scroll down.

About The LADY MICHELLE Yacht Price

The LADY MICHELLE yacht price is not available because it is believed to be NOT for sale. The yacht brokers at Merle Wood & Associates have relationships with captains and clients of the most notable yachts worldwide. To enquire about a yacht for sale, or to request a showing along with a full market analysis, simply contact a qualified luxury yacht broker at Merle Wood & Associates. As an internationally recognized leader in the sales, marketing and chartering of the most discerning yachts world-wide, we are dedicated to providing a first class buying experience to all of our clients.

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