Riva Yachts Are the Epitome of Cool. Take It from the Celebrities Who Love Them.

Riva boats have always been cool. Elizabeth Taylor had one. Brigitte Bardot did too, and a couple of years back former President George W. Bush was spotted cruising the Hamptons in a 1959 Riva speedboat once owned by the French actress. No offense to W, but Bardot and other Riva fans like Anita Ekberg and Sophia Loren probably looked more at ease on their stunning Italian speed boats.

Pietro Riva launched the brand in 1842, when he began building boats in Sarnico, a small town on the shores of Lago d'Iseo in northern Italy. Its heyday arrived in the 1950s and 60s, when Pietro's great-grandson Carlo, who died in Italy yesterday at 95, turned Riva boats into luxury icons through his focus on craftsmanship and the most minute of details. The world's most glamorous took notice, as the yachts were snatched up by Hollywood royalty. King Hussein of Jordan reportedly moored his Super Aquarama in Santa Margherita Ligure. Ekberg had a Tritone (the first two-engine yacht). Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton used a Junior as a tender for their yacht. Sean Connery bought a Rudy three years after filming the last of his 007 films. And George Clooney reportedly keeps his Riva on Lake Como. Below, take a look at Rivas and the celebrities who adore them.