Have you ever wondered what wealthy people do to avoid prying eyes?
Now a former passenger aboard the world's most exclusive private residential ship has now spilled the beans about what's really going on among some of the wealthy elite who choose to escape to the high seas.
Peter Antonucci, who worked as a business litigation attorney in New York City, lived aboard the strictly invitation-only ship for five years.
The 64-year-old compared the ship, where condos start at around $2 million, to a frat house, claiming that the exclusive community is characterized by heated arguments and sordid affairs.
Peter Antonucci, who worked as a business litigation attorney in New York City, lived aboard the strictly invitation-only ship for five years
There are 165 luxury residences on board The World, traveling to over 100 destinations per year as part of an itinerary planned two to three years in advance
Living spaces ranged from stylish studios to expansive three-bedroom apartments
The residential ship, named The World, was launched in 2002 to offer a “lifestyle of residential luxury adventure previously unimaginable.”
Peter initially booked a trial trip on the ship with his wife Tami and was soon impressed by almost every aspect – from the hospitable crew to the structured itinerary.
The couple then bought their first cruise ship condo in 2014 for about $1.6 million and spent up to eight months of the year on board.
They moved at various times over the course of their tenure — having owned four separate condos at different times — with the price rising to about $4 million.
The Millionaires' Playground, which stretches over 644 feet and features 12 desks, is usually shrouded in mystery, but Peter has since opened up about what really goes on behind closed doors.
He told that after being elected to The World's board, he had better insight than most.
“Any extreme behavioral breaches will be brought to the attention of the board, so that depends,” Peter said.
“I knew where all the skeletons were – I knew who slept with who, who attacked who, who stole… And on top of that, I obviously have two eyes and two ears.” “You see things and you suspect Things.”
Peter initially booked a trial trip on the ship with his wife Tami and was soon impressed by almost every aspect – from the hospitable crew to the structured itinerary
Peter further elaborated on the dynamics of the residents, explaining that there were parties “every day.”
The Millionaires' Playground, which stretches over 644 feet and features 12 desks, is usually shrouded in mystery, but Peter has since opened up about what really goes on behind closed doors
He explained: “The dramas, stories and subplots didn't all happen overnight – some took months or even years.”
“As residents, we generously sat and watched them brew. Many people on the ship were fascinated by the gossip.
“The ship was powered more by rumor than diesel fuel.”
Peter further elaborated on the dynamics of the residents, explaining that there were parties “every day.”
“Here you have a small group of very successful, entitled people floating around in a steel tank in the middle of the ocean,” he said.
“When you're at sea for six or seven days, people just move from bar to bar, and what could possibly go wrong?”
“Have you seen people get smashed? Naturally. Were there people jumping into the pool fully clothed? Yes. Did they stay fully dressed? Not always.
“Were there people who took drugs? Of course you did. “Anytime you have a group of people, you’re going to have this stuff.”
Peter added: “A lot of what I've seen on The World is kind of like a frat house.”
Not only did he draw parallels to the antics of college students, but he also drew comparisons to the dark HBO comedy “The White Lotus.”
The satirical drama follows a star-studded cast – including Jennifer Coolidge – as its wealthy characters embark on a sun-drenched vacation filled with affairs, hedonism and dark secrets.
“To be clear, the people on the ship didn't murder each other…it wasn't that bad.”
“But there were entitled owners who yelled at staff when they didn't get their way, and there were guests who were inappropriate, barely clothed and grinding on each other on the pool deck.”
Peter shared, “A lot of what I've seen on The World is kind of like a frat house.”
Residents are reportedly allowed to make renovations and decorations according to their personal taste
He said there had also been incidents of heated arguments, blows and affairs that lasted “months or years” – even between residents and crew.
When asked how rule violations were handled, Peter explained: “You can't immediately scare people away if they're paying $5 million to buy and paying $500,000 a year in maintenance fees.”
“But there were protocols in place for dealing with them.”
Peter, who kept a diary during his time on board, has since written three novels about a fictional ship – with titles including Billionaire's Paradise, Scandal at Sea: Billionaire's In The Deep and Tides of Betrayal.
He claims his books are merely inspired by true events – but said he was initially shunned by other residents after they found out about his projects.
The author, who described himself as a provocateur, said: “People know that I'm not afraid to say things.”
“When I was writing the books everyone was very worried and said, 'I can't believe you're going to write this', they ignored me, they didn't want to talk to me and I was isolated.
“Then the book came out and it was all fiction and everyone came up to me and said, “Why am I not in your book?”
A spokesman for The World told : “We have previously been in contact with Mr Antonucci, who has assured us in writing that his works have no connection to The World or its inhabitants and that his publications are fictional works of art. “a fictional ship.
“We wish him all the best in his creative novels, which we know have no connection to the world or any of its inhabitants.”
Peter left the ship in 2019, adding: “I left the ship for two reasons.” Firstly, I had been at it for so long that I had seen the world a few times. Secondly, I personally was tired of the gossip, rumors and spite.
HBO's dark comedy The White Lotus (pictured) follows a star-studded cast – including Jennifer Coolidge – as its wealthy characters embark on a sun-soaked vacation filled with affairs, hedonism and dark secrets
There are 165 luxury residences on board The World, which travel to over 100 destinations per year as part of an itinerary planned two to three years in advance and range from stylish studios to three-bedroom apartments.
Costs range from $2 million to $15 million, not including annual ownership fees, but only a handful are resold each year, according to Business Insider.
Residents are reportedly allowed to make renovations and decorations according to their personal taste.
Most passengers on board are said to have an individual net worth of at least $10 million.
Peter told that the demographic was “very international”, adding: “It tends to be almost entirely retired – more than 80 per cent.”
“One of the impressive things about the ship is that most of the residents are self-built.”
“They’re not trust fund babies, but that’s a good thing and a bad thing.”
He continued: “It’s a good thing because they understand what it’s like to build a business and develop something.”
“But it can be a bad thing because they've never been told no, and when they have an idea, they just go with it.”
Peter left the ship in 2019, adding: “I left the ship for two reasons.”
“Firstly, I had been around for so many years that I had seen the world a few times. Secondly, I was personally fed up with the gossip, rumors and vitriol.'
He now commutes between Connecticut and Palm Beach, Florida.