Who is Jay Bloom? Why did he reject two seats he was offered on the Titanic sub? Picture Credits: CNN
Meet Jay Bloom, a prominent American investor and real estate developer who gained significant attention due to his involvement in OceanGate’s missing Titanic Sub Incident. Born in 1968, Bloom hails from Las Vegas and boasts a net worth exceeding a billion dollars.
Recently, he made headlines when he revealed that he and his son were offered two seats on the Titanic submersible but decided to decline the offer out of concern for their safety.
Bloom’s career has been marked by success in the business world. He founded Pegasus Group Holdings, a holding company that specializes in operating data center ecosystems powered by renewable energy. Additionally, Bloom serves as the director of First 100, an organization that acquires ‘delinquent liens’ on HOA (Homeowners Association) properties.
In a tale of missed opportunity and tragic consequences, Las Vegas-based investor Jay Bloom reflects on his decision to turn down an invitation for an extraordinary deep-sea expedition to the Titanic sub. For over a year, Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, had been enticing Bloom and his son with the prospect of exploring the iconic ship’s remains. However, Bloom’s concerns about the safety of the Titanic submersible ultimately led him to decline the offer.
The more he learned about the vessel’s construction and components, the more doubts arose about its reliability. Worried about the use of consumer-grade parts and the unique carbon-fiber hull, Bloom couldn’t ignore the potential risks involved. Consequently, he politely declined the last-minute chance to join the final expedition of the season.
Tragically, the two seats that Bloom rejected went to Pakistani-born magnate Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman, both of whom perished along with Rush and two others when the Titanic imploded in the depths of the Atlantic. This devastating loss hit close to home for Bloom, who had recently experienced the untimely death of his friend, actor Treat Williams, in a motorcycle accident.
Following the discovery of wreckage from the Titanic by the U.S. Coast Guard, Bloom took to social media to share past conversations with Rush. In their conversation, Bloom expressed his concerns and shared a revealing quote:
“I expressed safety concerns and Stockton told me: “While there’s obviously risk it’s way safer than flying in a helicopter or even scuba diving. There hasn’t been even an injury in 35 years in a non-military subs.”
However, Bloom’s lingering doubts about the submersible’s design and functionality persisted. His decision not to embark on the voyage now seemed like a crucial one. His experience serves as a powerful reminder that, despite the allure of extraordinary adventures, personal safety should always take precedence.