Tilman Fertitta, President Donald Trump’s appointed Ambassador to Italy, is charting an unconventional diplomatic course aboard his $450 million luxury mega-yacht, the Boardwalk. The 380-foot, six-deck vessel effectively serves as a floating “unofficial embassy” aimed at bolstering bilateral ties between the United States and Italy. In a distinctive touch amidst the extensive luxury, Fertitta insisted on outfitting the vessel with a standard, modest family kitchen designed as an intimate gathering space.
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The diplomatic maritime tour, which launched in June, has made port calls across Italy, including stops in Sicily, Venice, and Sardinia. On Thursday, the mega-yacht docked in the Port of Livorno following a brief delay caused by localized demonstrations. Aboard the ship, lavish receptions are hosted for U.S. military officers, Italian government officials, and business executives seeking American capital and investment partnerships.
Fertitta, a 69-year-old Texas billionaire who built his hospitality empire across restaurant chains, hotels, and casinos, views himself as an “unconventional” envoy capable of leveraging high-level networks and commercial deal-making expertise to get things done. He maintains that the voyage is not an exercise in ostentation, but rather a practical platform for fostering critical diplomatic and commercial connections.
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While the high-profile tour has drawn mixed reactions and protests at certain ports, Fertitta remains unfazed by external criticism. The ambassador is entirely self-funding the diplomatic voyage, with the Italian government providing close security details. A prominent Republican figure, Fertitta remains a staunch backer of Trump’s foreign policy agenda and immigration approach.