Of course they would. The coast guard saves thousands of people every year. Most of them aren't billionaires.

This literally happened in April with non-billionaires off the Mexican coast.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/20/1171063782/missing-american-s...

is it actually the same number of assets engaged in the search and total cost incurred before they gave up? This is pretty unprecedented

You buy insurance for this kind of trip, part of that insurance goes to paying rescue costs. Generally $100-200k is enough for private rescue. Otherwise, yes, the Navy and Coast Guard have units solely dedicated to at-sea rescue.

Startup idea - specialized EPIRBs that cost $10 million dollars so the rescuers know you're rich and can prioritize you over the huddled masses.

Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon for others that were also wondering.

Yes, I don't know if they transmit any kind of individualized information though, like a serial number. But as it stands, what sort of incentive do rescue workers have to actually find you? I'm willing to bet they get paid either way. The trick would be to place some money into escrow as a bounty to the one who finds you.

What's the point of being wealthy if you're treated like just anyone else?

They have a beacon id and you are supposed to register them [0].

[0]: https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/registrationRequire...

I think world navies and coast guard collaborate on high seas rescue and recovery [0].

0. https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Unsinkable-A-Young-Woma...

It's a big club and we ain't in it.

If you can get yourself lost in an equally attention-grabbing way, they probably will.

Without internet in the open sea to stream it, would be very difficult...