American billionaire Larry Connor is preparing to explore the Titanic wreckage, aiming to demonstrate that deep-sea exploration is now safer, especially following the fear instilled by the recent Oceangate implosion.
The team and the vessel
Connor, based in Ohio, will undertake this mission with Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey and two others. The team will descend to a depth of 12,400 feet using a $20 million submersible named Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, developed by Lahey.
“I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way,” Connor told the Wall Street Journal.
Who is Larry Connor?
Larry Connor is a real estate investor from Dayton, Ohio, and the founder of the Connor Group, which invests in luxury apartment buildings across the U.S. According to Forbes, the Connor Group manages a $5 billion portfolio of 51 apartment buildings in 12 states, from Colorado to Florida.
Connor earned his bachelor’s degree in arts and science from Ohio University. During his college years, he painted houses and sold “damaged label” wines to fellow students.
Previous expeditions and contributions
In 2021, Connor participated in a research expedition to the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth. He also joined Axiom Space’s Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station. Additionally, Connor founded the Greater Dayton School in 2024, the state’s first private, non-religious elementary school for low-income students.
Through this expedition, Connor hopes to restore confidence in deep-sea exploration and highlight the advancements in safety within the sector.
