A superyacht worth an estimated $150 million docked in Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, on Sunday with its name hidden, but locals quickly identified it as belonging to "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling. Sources described it as "the worst-kept secret on the Marina," and the vessel was recognised on the Instagram account twogirls.oneboat despite its name being covered soon after arrival. A superyacht broker said concealing a ship's name is rare, though owners sometimes disable location-tracking systems to protect their privacy while docked or at anchor, noting that discretion is a major appeal of yacht ownership for high-profile figures.

The 290-foot vessel, named Samsara, was built by Oceanco and delivered in 2015 under the name Infinity, before passing through owners including businessman Eric Smidt and Australian billionaire Brett Blundy. Rowling bought the yacht in 2023, renaming it using a Sanskrit word meaning "wandering." It can host 12 guests with a crew of 26, and includes a circular pool, cinema and beach club, with running costs estimated at up to $15 million a year. Rowling, once a single mother on government assistance, now has a net worth of around $1.2 billion, according to Forbes; she declined to comment and has not been seen publicly since the yacht's arrival.