aviva yacht joe lewis

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Aston Martin
• Costa Palmas
• L’Atelier
• Les Marquables de Martell
• Reynolds Lake Oconee
• Scott Dunn Travel
• Wilson Audio
• 672 Wine Club
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

This 321-Foot Superyacht Was Allegedly Used as a Secret Venue for Insider Trading, According to a Lawsuit

The securities and exchange commission claims billionaire joe lewis shared insider information while aboard the outlandish vessel., tori latham, tori latham's most recent stories.

• Ivy League Universities Do Offer a Better Return on Your Investment: Report
• Ancient Paintings Depicting Trojan War Figures Were Just Unearthed in Pompei
• Dominique Crenn’s Petit Crenn Is Reopening—but Only for 5 Months
• Share This Article

British billionaire Joe Lewis—the owner of the Tottenham Hotspurs—has become embroiled in an insider trading case. But there’s a surprising side character in the saga: Lewis’s superyacht , Aviva .

Related Stories

• Car of the Week: This Restored 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Could Be Yours for $2.6 Million
• We Went to America’s Biggest Aviation Expo. Here’s What We Saw.
• Tesla Plans to Lay Off Over 10% of Its Workforce

Brought by the U.S. government, the suit alleges that Lewis used his connections to gain access to sensitive intel. He then shared that info with his employees, friends, and lovers so they could benefit financially. At a hearing on Wednesday, Lewis pleaded not guilty; his lawyers didn’t respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment on Thursday.

In one example of such alleged activities, Lewis learned that the oncology company Mirati Therapeutics—in which he owned a stake—had received positive results for a cancer drug. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission complaint, that info was shared over Aviva ’s dining table. Lewis then told several associates to buy stock in the company, and when those shares rose following the public reveal of the cancer-drug results, Lewis’s friends and employees sold their shares for a handsome profit.

With a current net worth of $6.9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Lewis was able to snap up Aviva in 2017. At the time, it was one of the 25 most valuable superyachts in the world , and the 51 st largest yacht. Since Lewis was charged this week, the vessel has left the Bahamas, and early Thursday it was heading away from the U.S. toward Bermuda, according to vessel data cited by Bloomberg.

For his part, Lewis can no longer board the superyacht: He used the ship and his private jet as collateral for a $300 million bail package on Wednesday. So it’s bon voyage to Aviva for now.

Tori Latham is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. She was previously a copy editor at The Atlantic, and has written for publications including The Cut and The Hollywood Reporter. When not…

Read More On:

More marine.

Forget F1. A-Lister’s Are Getting Into the SailGP Racing Game.

This Luxe 157-Foot Catamaran Lets You Explore the Galápagos With a Personal Butler

This New 79-Foot Sailing Catamaran Is Like a Pied-à-Terre for the High Seas

You Can Now Play Padel Ball on the Deck of Your Superyacht

Culinary Masters 2024

MAY 17 - 19 Join us for extraordinary meals from the nation’s brightest culinary minds.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

Meet ‘Sarastar,’ the 197-Foot Superyacht With the Wildest Interior on the High Seas

Hermes Catamaran in Photos

More from our brands, sunspel and katie scott’s soft-floral collaboration references the nature of california and england, nba attendance sets records, 10 teams post season sellouts, mccartney and lennon sons, james and sean ono, team up for new song ‘primrose hill’, etel adnan, late writer and painter of luminous landscapes, is honored with google doodle, the best running water bottles according to marathoners.

Take a look at Joe Lewis’s stunning $250 million superyacht, Aviva, which the Tottenham owner used to bail himself out of trouble. The billionaire loved padel tennis so much that he actually built this 279 feet long vessel around a padel tennis court.

You may also like

Designed for a diva, this 230-foot-long superyacht concept is solely focused on spa and wellness. ‘Rise’ has two swimming pools, a massage room, spa bath, gym and an aesthetics salon.

The mayor of Rotterdam denies any plan to dismantle a historic bridge for Jeff Bezos’ mega yacht. However, if the Amazon centibillionaire asks his city may consider it.

Meet Elon Musk’s closest virtual friend – Over the years, the Tesla CEO has exchanged hundreds of tweets and DM’s with this 23-year-old techie who lives 9,000 miles away. Elon messages him twice a day and even took him around the Gigafactory in Texas.

Russian billionaire’s ice-breaking superyacht includes everything from Turkish baths, submarines, helicopters, and a private hospital!

Gold toilet seats to Titanium toothbrushes – The 7 most expensive bathroom accessories

To avoid billionaires at St. Barths, Jeff Bezos has sailed his $500 million Koru megayacht to Antigua. Just so that the Amazon founder and his fiancée have a relaxing time, the tourism minister of the Caribbean nation has urged the public to stay away from the couple and their vessel.

Bids flowed in at the last hour for the Russian oligarch’s seized Axioma superyacht. The 236-feet long luxury vessel may fetch $41 million, leaving the Gibraltor authorities with a surprise surplus of $12 million after clearing the loan dues with JP Morgan bank.

A billionairess happily sharing her wealth – As soon as her company reached a $1.2b valuation, Spanx founder Sara Blakely gifted all her 500+ staff $10,000 and two first-class tickets to anywhere in the world.

Walmart heiress and billionaire businesswoman Nancy Walton Laurie’s $300 million megayacht is as silent as a stealth warship. Purchased from the Qatar royal family, the 361 feet long mammoth vessel is so grand that it has the most marble and stone ever installed on a yacht

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

Superyacht Aviva: The award-winning flagship from Abeking & Rasmussen

• Inspiration

Related News

Popular news this week, popular news this month, latest news.

• Yacht Charter & Superyacht News >

Written by Maria Korotaeva

The innovations in the superyacht industry are sometimes profound, oftentimes subtle and mega yacht AVIVA has examples of both: Winner of the  Boat International Superyacht Design and Innovation Awards  2018 for  Best Lifestyle Feature Design , she is the first superyacht to ever have an indoor padel tennis court, and the logistics behind this new feature have set the groundwork for future designs.

AVIVA. Aft view. Photo credit Guillaume Plisson

Built in 2017 for UK billionaire Joe Lewis, 98m/322ft superyacht AVIVA is the largest yacht ever produced by Abeking & Rasmussen and was built in 2017 for UK billionaire Joe Lewis, who has a fondness for naming his superyachts ‘AVIVA’, the first built by Feadship in 1998 and measured 62m/203ft in length. This is also not the first AVIVA Abeking & Rasmussen have delivered to the British billionaire, the first being 68m/223ft in length in 2007.

Step aboard superyacht AVIVA – tennise court. Photo credit Guillaume Plisson

Reymond Langton Design created the exterior and interior styling for the current AVIVA, and although there are plenty of outdoor areas, it is clear that the focus has been placed upon the voluminous interior of 5,000 GT. The padel tennis court is her most outstanding feature and measures 20m/66ft in length, 10m/33ft wide and almost 7m/22ft in height. This technical achievement involved over 2 tons of sand to recreate the bounce, and soundproofing also came into consideration. Ceiling lighting is plentiful and there is a small, net protected lounge that can be converted into a gym.

tep aboard superyacht AVIVA – tennis court lounge area. Photo credit Guillaume Plisson

“It is not only a lifestyle change for the owner but also for the crew as this is also the largest gym of any yacht,” said the designers at Raymond Langton Design. “The crew is encouraged to play with the owner and guests and when the court is not in use for padel, the net can be removed and the crew plays football and use other exercise equipment in the space. It is after all a sports hall.

AVIVA – exterior space

“The owner is adamant that this is the best padel tennis court in the world, period!”

As superyacht AVIVA is designed as a live-aboard vessel, the colour scheme is modern and practical. Warm and natural tones are used in the fabrics and leather and vibrant accents pop out from the furnishings, while glass and steel are used extensively to manipulate the light. As Joe Lewis uses AVIVA to ‘work from home’, she has excellent internet access and satellite communications, ensuring that he can keep in touch with financial developments anywhere in the world.

Aviva. Photo credit Lewis Yach

Motor yacht Aviva. Photo credit @patrickfranciscarr

The exterior has a large swim platform and beach club in the stern form a large guest area beside the water, and a number of shaded and sun-exposed aft lounging areas run from the main deck up to the sundeck, which are connected by under-lit glass staircases that enhance the atmosphere on board at night. The sundeck is the centre of outdoor activity and here guests have a choice of circular sunpads or secluded sunbathing spots close to the helm station.

Top view. Photo credit Guillaume Plisson

Her technical performance is exemplary as well: A hybrid propulsion system allows AVIVA to travel at 11 knots using electric motors, allowing her access to more sensitive natural areas due to zero emissions. At full speed, she is capable of 20 knots and research into the hull design has resulted in 20% less drag.

Yacht AVIVA. Photo credit Guillaume Plisson

You can view other yachts built by Abeking & Rasmussen here .

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Superyacht Aviva: The award-winning flagship from Abeking & Rasmussen".

• Charity & Fund Raising
• CharterWorld News
• Classic Yachts
• Coronavirus
• Cruise Ship
• Ecological Yachts
• Expedition Yachts
• Expert Broker Advice
• Feature Superyachts
• Interior Design
• Legal & VAT Yacht Issues
• Luxury Catamarans
• Luxury Gulet
• Luxury Phinisi
• Luxury Trimarans
• Luxury Yacht Design
• Luxury Yachts
• Marinas & Harbours
• Marine Ecology
• Marine Electronics
• Marine Equipment
• Mega Yachts
• Modern Yachts
• Motor Yachts
• New Launch Yachts
• New To Charter
• Open Style Sports Yachts
• Private Jets
• Sailing Yachts
• Social Media
• Sports Yachts
• Superyacht Crew
• Superyacht Photographers
• Superyacht Products & Supplies
• Superyacht Refits
• Superyacht Reviews
• Superyachts
• Uncategorized
• Yacht Builders
• Yacht Charter
• Yacht Charter Destinations
• Yacht Charter Picks
• Yacht Charter Specials
• Yacht Delivered to Owner
• Yacht Designers
• Yacht Events & Boat Shows
• Yacht Fashion
• Yacht Industry News
• Yacht Photos
• Yacht Racing
• Yacht Racing & Regattas
• Yacht Safety Equipment
• Yacht Support Vessels
• Yacht Tenders
• Yacht Videos
• Yachting Associations
• Yachting Awards
• Yachting Business
• Yachts For Charter
• Yachts For Sale

Quick Enquiry

Superyacht news:.

Email Your Yachting News to: news @ charterworld.com

Summer Season Starts Now: 10 of the Best Superyacht Photos so far

Mighty 78m Abeking & Rasmussen Motor Yacht EMINENCE spotted at her home yard

98m Mega Yacht Aviva is in the UK to Meet Her Owner

Top Superyacht Designers of 2017

Ferretti Custom Line Navetta 30 series motor yacht GINDUNGO hits water in Italy

50m luxury motor yacht BEL1 launched in Pisa by Rossinavi

Luxury yacht UNIQUE S is brand new to the charter market in the Western Mediterranean

44m superyacht EXTRA TIME new to charter around the Western Mediterranean

Baglietto announces the launch of 41m luxury yacht ASTERA

Superyacht KISMET – the 122m Lurssen motor yacht the charter market has been waiting for

37m luxury yacht LEGEND offering unparalleled comfort on charters in the Western Mediterranean

Discover our Top 10 brand new yachts available for charter worldwide this year

Florida charter yacht REAL SUMMERTIME offering 10% discount

Discover summer in New England aboard a luxury charter yacht: Escape to this beautiful northeast corner of the USA

Last minute yacht charter deals in the Bahamas

Westport announce the first hull of their 36m W117 range is nearing completion

49m sailing yacht ANIMA MARIS is offering discounted rates for the remaining summer weeks in Croatia

Superyacht LAUNCHPAD previously Feadship 1010 delivered

Take advantage of the exceptional 15% discount by 44m charter yacht BLISS in Greece

MORE SECTIONS

• Dear Deidre
• Visual Stories

MORE FROM THE SUN

• Newsletters
• Deliver my newspaper
• Sun Vouchers
• The Sun Digital Newspaper

• Premier League

Tottenham billionaire owner Joe Lewis has an amazing £113m superyacht, which features a full sized tennis court

• Published : 12:22, 16 Sep 2022
• Updated : 15:29, 16 Sep 2022
• Published : Invalid Date,

WHEN you have an estimated wealth of around £4.3billion, you aren't going to skimp on boys' toys.

And billionaire Spurs owner Joe Lewis is testament to that fact - owning an astonishing £113million superyacht which measures 321-feet long.

The East End-born businessman is believed to live on board the Aviva, once spotted docked on the Thames , which has been referred to as his mobile office.

Better still, it has everything an 85-year-old would need in terms of amenities, including the very first full-size indoor tennis court ever installed on a yacht.

Join SunSport for a tour.

NEW BALLS, PLEASE

Lewis does not need to  be on dry land to get his tennis fix.

After all, he has an incredible tennis court built into the Aviva - the first of its kind - that he and his guests can play on.

At 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, the court area goes up to 6.65 metres high.

And it's not just for tennis, as the yacht's designer Reymond Langton explained.

"It is not only a lifestyle change for the owner but also for the crew as this is also the largest gym of any yacht," the British design studio told Yacht Harbour .

Most read in football

Garnacho 'dealt with' by Ten Hag after Utd star liked brutal tweets about boss

Roma star Ndicka collapses on pitch as Serie A clash is abandoned

Mini bus crash leaves 17 football fans in hospital after multi-vehicle smash

David Beckham wins £240m battle against online counterfeiters flogging fakes

"The crew is encouraged to play with the owner and guests and when the court is not in use for padel (tennis), the net can be removed and the crew plays football and use other exercise equipment in the space.

"It is after all a sports hall."

A MOBILE OFFICE

Lewis, who made his millions in currency trading after running several restaurants and nightclubs from the 1960s, spends most of the year on his boat.

For the Spurs boss, it's not just a place where he can enjoy a luxurious life, the Aviva is perfect for working remotely.

"Communication and information are critical to me." Lewis said in an interview with regards to his requirements for his floating office.

"To be effective, I need reliable phones and internet, these have improved much over the past few years, but, it is too expensive, too slow and not consistently reliable.

"Aviva is more than an office; it is also my home for much of the year. So for me, it is relaxing working from home, wherever Aviva may be in the world."

It can also be used to entertain, just as it was when he invited the Spurs team on board in 2013 during their tour of the Bahamas.

Then-skipper Michael Dawson said: "I had never met him before, so it was nice to go over there and a great experience.

“What a really nice guy. And that yacht is unreal! But he’s just a normal guy. You could chat to him about anything. He tunes into all the games, he loves it. We just sat there chatting. He made us feel so welcome over there. It was relaxed. A lot of team-bonding together."

BAHAMAS-READY

It's mostly in the Bahamas where Lewis - among the richest men in the UK - spends his days as a tax exile.

And the Aviva, which can house up to 16 guests, is fully equipped for the Caribbean lifestyle.

The exterior relaxation area features a circular set of lounging pads on the sun deck, as well as smaller lounging pads towards the yacht's bridge.

A cool swimming platform can also open up into the sea, that means you can have your own beach area with Aviva's tenders coming out of side doors.

Talking about boys' toys, the superyacht even has a speedboat and jet skis on board.

PERFORMANCE

The German-built Aviva, the 46th longest yacht in the world, took three years to complete.

And it's certainly not lacking in spec, either.

Powered by an eco-friendly drive system, it can reach a top speed of 20 knots.

The unique hull design that comes together with an electric propulsions system means that less fuel is used.

Unbelievably, the Aviva can cruise at 11 knots purely on electric power only.

Now, where can we get one?

• Football features
• Sport Features
• Tottenham Hotspur

Photos: A look inside the super yacht, Aviva

• Cars Database
• Moto Database
• Game reviews
• Compare Cars
• BAC Calculator  
• Testdrives archive
• Photo of the Day
• Glossary of automotive terms

Aviva: The $250 Million Megayacht That Became Bail Bond for a Reclusive Billionaire

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories

The first yacht to house a  full-sized 

Padel tennis court.

98M SUPERYACHT- 'AVIVA' 

Joe Lewis, the British billionaire, Chairman of Tavistock Group and the 5th richest man in the UK, commissioned this stunning superyacht which was launched in January 2017. She is believed to be valued at US$250 million! That’s £204,225,000.00 GBP!  

When Joe’s not at his home in the Bahamas, where Tavistock Group is based, he will be enjoying the luxury on board this 98-metre (322 ft) vessel. He says it’s his ‘home away from home’ and spends much of the year on board, using it as a floating office, wherever in the world it might be. 

At the time, Aviva was the largest creation designed by Reymond Langton. It was built by Abeking & Rasmussen who had to create a special system and pontoon in order to launch the super structure, 33 months after signing the contract. 

Her hybrid drive system is a special feature whereby using just electric power, and not the main engines, she can cruise at 11 knots. With an eco-friendly system that requires less engine output and reduced fuel consumption, she can reach a max speed of 20 knots. 

She sleeps 16 guests in 8 cabins and accommodates a crew of 25 over 12 cabins. 

TENNIS COURT

  Although you won’t see Aviva in the first half of the ‘top 100 largest yachts in the world’, she is the first yacht to house a full-sized padel tennis court. The indoor court stretches across a 10 metre width, 20 metre length, and 6.65 metre height. It’s hard to imagine a space like this inside any type of yacht, but with her 5000 gross tonnage of interior volume, the size of the court didn’t have to be compromised. 

 Joe plays the sport with his guests or his crew members, who are also encouraged to use the ‘sports hall’ for football and other exercise activities when the net is removed. Not only that, but there is a small lounging area for spectators, hidden behind a protective net. 

Aviva’s tenders are launched through her side doors, and she also boasts a ‘beach club’ area created by a swimming platform that opens up onto the ocean.  

This year Forbes valued Joe Lewis at £4.358 Billion

  The 82-year-old owner has an impressive portfolio after starting his career at the age of 15, joining his father’s catering company in London. He made his initial wealth from the sale of that company in 1979, then switched his residency to the Bahamas and moved into currency trading. He now has investments in over 200 businesses and is a Tottenham Hotspur FC major shareholder.  

FOURTH YACHT

  Prior to his 98-meter flagship, Joe owned 3 other yachts. His first was a 62-meter Feadship in 1998, called Lady Aviva. However, this caught fire later, in the Red Sea, and was eventually salvaged by Dennis Washington, who transformed the yacht, renaming her Attessa III. Joe’s second yacht was the 60-meter Oceanco, named Alfa Four, which was built in 2004. She is now known as Sea Pearl. In 2007, Joe took delivery of a 68-meter Aviva, also built by Abeking & Rasmussen. 

Joe must like his toys as we are also aware that he owns a private jet worth US$30 million (£24,504,600.00 GBP). The Embraer Legacy 600, which seats 12 passengers, has a registration that refers to Tottenham Hotspurs FC and reads; ‘G-THFC’. 

 Aviva was recently moored at Keppel Bay in Singapore, where we managed to get a few shots of her in all her glory! 

The blue innovative steel hull design really stands out in the crowd.  

  For more Motor Yacht News, click the link below.

Services Directory

Social media, © 2024 super yachting limited.

The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht

Gliding Across Tokyo’s Sumida River: The Mesmerizing Zipper Boat

CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral

PHI Yacht – Royal Huisman’s $45 Million Superyacht

• Zuretti Interior Design
• Zuretti Interior
• Zuccon International Project
• Ziyad al Manaseer
• Zaniz Interiors. Kutayba Alghanim
• Yuriy Kosiuk
• Yuri Milner
• Yersin Yacht

• Superyachts

AVIVA Yacht – Unique $250 M Superyacht

Delivered in 2017, the AVIVA superyacht is a striking sight with its length of 98.4 meters (322.83 ft), ranking it high on the list of largest yachts worldwide .

Built by the renowned German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen, AVIVA has been a standout in the world of luxury yachts since its inception, winning the Motor Yacht of the Year award at the World Superyacht Awards in 2018.

AVIVA Yacht

Mr. Lewis started his early entrepreneurial life by currency trading, enabling him to have a more thorough insight into the business world.

Making him one of the wealthiest people on the earth with an accumulated net worth of over 4.5 billion pounds; enabled him to buy many luxury cars and Aviva yacht, the 250-million-dollar beast.

AVIVA was built by the boat building company Abeking & Rasmussen , situated in Lower Saxony. Abeking & Rasmussen is a company aimed at engineering yachts, naval vessels, and cruise ships.

They were also responsible for building AVIVA’s sisters Elandess , Cloudbreak, and Excellence.

Reymond Langton Design was responsible for designing this gorgeous yacht. They are an award-winning company that prides itself on its creativity and passion with well over a decade of experience in the superyacht designing industry.

They were also responsible for creating the Serene superyacht and Nobiskrug yacht  Mogambo.

AVIVA Yacht Exterior

AVIVA’s exterior displays a sleek and modern all-blue design, distinctive among today’s superyachts. Notable outdoor facilities include a Jacuzzi, a large swimming pool, a helipad, and a spacious sundeck for relaxation and entertainment.

The yacht also boasts a collection of water toys, including jet skis, sea bobs, and inflatable slides for guests to enjoy.

AVIVA Yacht Interior

Designed by Reymond Langton Design in collaboration with Toby Silverton, AVIVA’s interior offers a contemporary and luxurious aesthetic. The yacht can accommodate up to 16 guests in eight state-of-the-art suites, complemented by a crew of 35.

The owner’s suite, located on the upper deck, features an office, private lounge, and a large en suite bathroom. The remaining guest cabins, consisting of two VIP suites and five double cabins, can be found on the main deck, each outfitted with en suite facilities.

AVIVA’s standout feature is a full-size padel tennis court, located in the lower deck. The yacht also features a beach club, a spa, a gym, a swimming pool, and an elevator connecting all the decks.

Similar to her sister yachts, she is also made of steel and has a solid superstructure made out of aluminum.

Powering this 98-meter-long superyacht are twin diesel-electric MTU engines capable of outputting 3,862 horsepower.

Along with her 364,705-litre fuel tanks, she can run comfortably at a speed of 14 knots and reach a max speed of 20 knots.

AVIVA can now comfortably accommodate 16 guests and carry up to 35 crew members after being refitted twice since its launch.

AVIVA Yacht Price

The estimated cost of AVIVA was around US $150 million. The annual running costs are estimated to be between US $12 to 15 million, based on usage.

AVIVA is not currently for sale or available for charter.

AVIVA yacht in Gibraltar

Do you have anything to add to this listing?

• Abeking & Rasmussen
• Reymond Langton

Love Yachts? Join us.

Related posts.

GALVAS Yacht – Stellar $45M Superyacht

AZZURRA II Yacht – Sensational $10 M Superyacht

SERENE Yacht – Dreamlike $400M Superyacht

PHOENIX 2 Yacht – Immersive $160 M Superyacht

latest in US News

Former top US general calls Iran's attack on Israel 'show of...

Bodies of preacher's wife and pal ID'd as missing Kansas moms,...

Scientists have a 'conversation' with a humpback whale —which...

Shooter ID’d in killing of Syracuse police officer and Onondaga...

Indicted Bob Menendez takes bite out of Democrat Andy Kim's...

Nikki Haley reveals new job after dropping out of 2024 race

Anti-Israel protesters block highways near O'Hare airport,...

Trump supporters label RFK Jr. 'Radical F—ing Kennedy' in new...

Live updates, tottenham hotspur owner joe lewis posts $300m bond with help of superyacht, private plane in insider trading case.

• View Author Archive
• Follow on Twitter
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

That’s a boatload of money.

British Billionaire and Tottenham Hotspur soccer club owner Joe Lewis is putting up his superyacht and private plane to secure a $300 million bond so he can walk free after he was arrested on insider trading charges .

Lewis, 86, surrendered to federal authorities in New York on Wednesday morning on charges he gave inside information to a slew of people in his life — including romantic partners, friends, personal assistants and even private pilots — who made millions by using his tips on the stock market.

Lewis later appeared in Manhattan federal court wearing a grey suit, white shirt and black tie and told the judge he pleaded “not guilty.”

He was released on a $300 million bond that will be secured by his yacht, called “AVIVA,” and his personal plane.

AVIVA is a $250 million superyacht that was built in 2017 and is one of the largest yachts in the world at 322 feet in length, according to Yachtbible.com .

Lewis must keep the FBI abreast of the movements of his yacht, and he is only allowed to use his plane to travel to court appearances, according to the agreed-upon bail conditions.

The soccer club owner — who is worth $6.1 billion, according to Forbes — cannot go abroad and his US travel is limited to parts of New York and Florida.

Lewis, who founded the investment firm Tavistock Group, was hit with a 19-count indictment on charges of securities fraud and conspiracy.

The feds say that from 2019 through 2021 Lewis shared confidential intel about companies including Mirati Therapeutics, Solid Biosciences and Australian Agricultural Co.

He also allegedly conspired to defraud Mirati, the US Securities and Exchange Commission and investors from 2013 through 2018 by hiding his over 20% stake in Mirati — a cancer therapy company, according to the indictment.

The billionaire then lent his own money so that people could invest the cash based on his tips — including in October 2019 when Lewis wired $1 million to two pilots so they could buy shares of Mirati, prosecutors claim.

“Boss lent Marty and I $500,000 each for this,” the indictment alleges one of the pilots said in a text to a friend.

The aviator went on to say, “the Boss has inside info” because “otherwise why would he make us invest,” the court papers allege.

The two pilots paid the money back after the stock spiked by 16.7% when Mirati announced a successful clinical trial, prosecutors claim.

“The government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr. Lewis, an 86-year-old man of impeccable integrity and prodigious accomplishment,” defense attorney David Zornow said in a statement Wednesday.

“Mr. Lewis has come to the US voluntarily to answer these ill-conceived charges, and we will defend him vigorously in court.”

The pilots, Patrick O’Connor and Bryan Waugh, were also charged in the case. They pleaded not guilty at the Wednesday arraignment and were each released on a $250,000 bond.

Attorneys for Waugh didn’t return requests for comment Wednesday. O’Connor’s lawyers declined to comment.

Lewis is due back in court on Sept. 5.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Joe Lewis: British billionaire and Spurs owner spared jail time after pleading guilty in US to insider trading

B ritish billionaire Joe Lewis, whose family trust owns the Tottenham Hotspur football club, will not spend any time in prison after he pleaded guilty to insider trading and conspiracy charges in New York, a US federal judge said.

Judge G.L. Clarke cited his decision to promptly come to the United States to face charges and his failing health, along with a lifetime of good works, in ruling that he will face three years on probation and a five million US dollar fine rather than time behind bars.

Lewis, 87, was wearing an eye patch and one of his hands shook steadily throughout the one-hour proceeding in Manhattan federal court.

He has remained in the United States since last July.

Before he was sentenced, Lewis spoke briefly, saying he learned as he grew up in England during the Second World War how “precious life is” and decided to spend much of his life devoting himself to finding a cure for “horrendous diseases”.

“Your honour, I’m here today because I made a terrible mistake. I’m ashamed,” he said.

Lewis said he hoped “to make amends and to rebuild the trust that I have squandered” in the remainder of his life.

US sentencing guidelines had called for Lewis, a citizen of the United Kingdom and resident of the Bahamas, to serve 18 months to two years behind bars.

Even prosecutors, though, agreed time behind bars was not necessary.

At his January plea, Lewis admitted that he agreed in 2019 to share secrets about publicly traded companies with several individuals.

Prosecutors said afterward that his company, Broad Bay Limited, and Lewis would pay 50 million US dollars in financial penalties, the largest financial penalty for insider trading in a decade.

His lawyer said that the money was in escrow and ready to be paid and plans were for him to leave the United States for the Bahamas on Thursday night.

Prosecutors wrote in their presentence submission that Lewis deserved leniency because he is elderly and “battles significant health issues” that would cause a term of imprisonment to be more difficult for him than others.

They cited his acceptance of responsibility that he demonstrated by voluntarily surrendering rather than forcing a drawn-out extradition battle, and said that he had “otherwise lived a law abiding life”.

The government also noted that Lewis is recognised as one of the 500 richest people in the world with approximately 6.2 billion US dollars as of February, including homes in several countries, a 250 million US dollar yacht, private planes valued at 90 million US dollars and an art collection worth 100 million US dollars.

Defence lawyers said in their presentence submission that Lewis “is nearing the end of life in declining health” and that the court’s probation office had recommended no prison time, a period of three years probation and a five million US dollar fine.

They said Lewis, if he received no prison time, will immediately leave the United States knowing that his conviction will mean he cannot return to see his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who live in the US.

From the start, Lewis was no ordinary defendant.

After his arrest less than a year ago, he had been free on 300 million US dollars bail after putting up a yacht and private plane as collateral.

In court papers, prosecutors said Lewis learned secrets about public companies after making large investments.

They said that on at least four occasions, he tipped off his girlfriend, personal pilots, employees and friends, enabling them to profit from the secrets.

“This insider trading was not the result of aberrant, one-time conduct, but rather, a troubling pattern of misconduct over the course of several years,” they wrote.

Prosecutors said it was possible that the insider activity resulted from “hubris, ego, a desire to make a financial gift without parting with his own money, an irrational form of greed, or some other reason”.

But, regardless, “it is clear that Lewis believed he was above the law — that he had achieved a level of wealth and stature that relieved him from having to operate by the same rules that apply to everyday investors”, prosecutors said.

Press Association – Larry Neumeister, Associated Press

Former Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis pleads guilty to securities fraud

British billionaire Joe Lewis gets no prison time at sentencing for insider trading

British billionaire Joe Lewis will not go to prison after pleading guilty to insider trading charges

NEW YORK -- British billionaire Joe Lewis, whose family trust owns the Tottenham Hotspur soccer club, will not spend any time in prison after pleading guilty to insider trading and conspiracy charges in New York, a federal judge said Thursday.

Judge G.L. Clarke cited Lewis' decision to promptly come to the United States to face charges and his failing health, along with a lifetime of good works, in ruling that Lewis will face three years on probation and a $5 million fine rather than time behind bars.

Lewis, 87, was wearing an eye patch and one of his hands shook steadily throughout the one-hour proceeding in a federal court in Manhattan. He has remained in the United States since last July.

Before he was sentenced, Lewis spoke briefly, saying he learned growing up in England during World War II how “precious” life is and decided to devote much of his life to finding a cure for “horrendous diseases.”

“Your honor, I’m here today because I made a terrible mistake. I’m ashamed,” he said.

Lewis said he hoped “to make amends and to rebuild the trust that I have squandered” for the remainder of his life.

U.S. sentencing guidelines had called for Lewis, a citizen of the United Kingdom and resident of the Bahamas , to serve 18 months to two years behind bars. Even prosecutors, though, agreed time behind bars was not necessary.

At his January plea, Lewis admitted that he agreed in 2019 to share secrets about publicly traded companies with several individuals. Prosecutors said afterward that his company, Broad Bay Limited, and Lewis would pay $50 million in financial penalties, the largest such penalty for insider trading in a decade.

His lawyer said Thursday that the money was in escrow and ready to be paid and plans were for him to leave the United States for the Bahamas on Thursday night.

Prosecutors wrote in their presentence submission that Lewis deserved leniency because he is older and “battles significant health issues” that would cause a term of imprisonment to be more difficult for him than others.

They cited his acceptance of responsibility that he demonstrated by voluntarily surrendering rather than forcing a drawn-out extradition battle, and said that he'd “otherwise lived a law-abiding life.”

The government also noted that Lewis is recognized as one of the 500 richest people in the world with approximately $6.2 billion as of February, including homes in several countries; a $250 million yacht; private planes valued at $90 million and an art collection worth $100 million.

When she announced the sentence, the judge said: “It is clear to me that Mr. Lewis’s life would be at serious risk if he were to be incarcerated.”

Defense attorneys said in their presentence submission that Lewis “is nearing the end of life in declining health."

They said Lewis was aware that his conviction meant he can't return to the United States to see his children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, who all live in the U.S.

From the start, Lewis was no ordinary defendant. After his arrest less than a year ago, he had been free on $300 million bail after putting up a yacht and private plane as collateral.

In court papers, prosecutors said Lewis learned secrets about public companies after making large investments. They said that on at least four occasions, he tipped off his girlfriend, personal pilots, employees and friends, enabling them to profit from the secrets.

“This insider trading was not the result of aberrant, one-time conduct, but rather, a troubling pattern of misconduct over the course of several years,” they wrote.

Prosecutors said the insider activity might have resulted from “hubris, ego, a desire to make a financial gift without parting with his own money, an irrational form of greed, or some other reason.”

But, regardless, “it is clear that Lewis believed he was above the law — that he had achieved a level of wealth and stature that relieved him from having to operate by the same rules that apply to everyday investors,” prosecutors said.

As he left the courthouse, Lewis was surrounded by aides who blocked members of the media from seeing him as he walked a short distance to a waiting vehicle.

Top Stories

Trump hush money trial live updates: Prosecutors seek to have Trump fined for posts

• 31 minutes ago

US to Israel: If you strike back at Iran, you'll do it alone

2 dead bodies recovered amid investigation into missing Kansas moms: Police

• Apr 15, 9:15 AM

'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez to be sentenced for fatal on-set shooting

• Apr 15, 5:04 AM

Google reveals top destinations for summer vacation 2024

• Apr 9, 4:07 PM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

This article is free to read if you register or sign in.

Simply register at no cost.

Questions or problems? Email [email protected] or call 0711 046 000 .

Billionaire Joe Lewis fined $5m but avoids prison

Judge Jessica Clarke said his crimes were "serious" and "strike at the integrity of our markets" but said his circumstances did not warrant prison.

•At a hearing in Manhattan on Thursday, he was fined $5m (£4m) and sentenced to three years of probation, avoiding jail time. Lewis arrived in court wearing an eye patch.

•In court, Lewis referred to his childhood in London during the Blitz and said: "At an early age, I learned how precious life is. I made a terrible mistake. I broke the law. I am ashamed, sorry, and I hold myself accountable."

Billionaire Joe Lewis, whose family trust owns Tottenham Hotspur football club, was fined $5m (£4m) Thursday, but will avoid prison after pleading guilty to insider trading.

This is the story of how his plan to enrich his lovers, friends, and employees unravelled.

The pilot had just touched down in Orlando when he texted a friend with a hot tip: "Boss is helping us out."

The "boss" he was referring to was British tycoon Joe Lewis, and the helping hand was a loan of half a million dollars. And it came with juicy stock advice: buy shares in a pharmaceutical company that was about to announce positive results for a new cancer drug.

Two weeks later, the pilot texted again, noting "the Boss has inside info" and "knows the outcome".

He was right - the company's stock price jumped more than 16%. The pilot cashed out and repaid the "Boss".

But there was one big hitch. The whole scheme was illegal.

One of Britain's richest men, the 87-year-old Lewis pleaded guilty to insider trading as part of an agreement with prosecutors in January.

At a hearing in Manhattan on Thursday, he was fined $5m (£4m) and sentenced to three years of probation, avoiding jail time. Lewis arrived in court wearing an eye patch.

Federal guidelines in the case called for a sentence of between 18 months and two years in prison, but both defence and prosecutors urged leniency, citing Lewis' guilty plea, co-operation with authorities and poor health.

In court, Lewis referred to his childhood in London during the Blitz and said: "At an early age, I learned how precious life is. I made a terrible mistake. I broke the law. I am ashamed, sorry, and I hold myself accountable."

As part of the plea deal, one of Lewis' companies, Broad Bay Ltd, also pleaded guilty to securities fraud and was fined $44m (£34.8m).

A substantial part of his fraudulent activity, according to an indictment, was not meant to pad his estimated worth of $6.2bn (£4.9bn).

Instead, the incident with his pilot Patrick O'Connor was just one of a number of times that he passed along insider information about his companies to his private pilots, friends, personal assistants and romantic partners, in order to enrich his close associates.

In part, the billionaire hatched the scheme because he felt bad for never setting up formal retirement plans for his pilots, according to a statement he made in court at the time of his guilty plea.

Lewis was born in London's East End and took over a restaurant business started by his father before selling it to focus on currency speculation and investments.

He was reportedly one of the investors who made money betting heavily against the pound prior to "Black Wednesday" - the UK's withdrawal from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in September 1992.

He founded the investment firm Tavistock Group, which has ownership stakes in a large array of property, sports, finance, energy and life sciences companies.

Lewis was ranked 39th in the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List and is best known for his ownership of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, which he bought a controlling stake in for £22m in 2001 - a sum then worth around $32m.

In 2022, control was handed over to a family trust, and financial documents the club filed with the UK's Companies House indicate that Lewis no longer has "significant control" over the club.

His current fortune includes homes in several countries, a huge art collection and $250m (£200m) yacht, which he used to secure a bail bond after his arrest in July 2023.

Getty Images Aviva, Joe Lewis's superyacht, seen in London in 2018

His position in the financial world gave him access to boardroom secrets, and for years, prosecutors said, he tipped off associates so that they could take advantage, in a fraud that netted millions of dollars.

In addition to pilots and workers on his yacht, romantic partners were also on the receiving end of his criminal largesse.

In July 2019, a company called Solid Biosciences that Tavistock had invested in was looking for fresh cash. While considering the deal, Lewis was given confidential information about a clinical trial.

He was staying with his girlfriend in South Korea at the time, and told her to pour money into the company. She invested around $700,000.

The following day the couple returned via private plane to the US. Along the way, Lewis shared his insider tip with his pilots.

As results of the clinical trial were released, the company's shares skyrocketed. Lewis' girlfriend more than doubled her money.

The fraud also went beyond insider trading, prosecutors said. Starting in 2013, Lewis concealed the true scale of his holdings in companies in order to obtain favourable terms for stock deals.

His pilot, O'Connor, pleaded guilty to insider trading charges and will be sentenced in May.

Another pilot, Bryan Waugh, pleaded not guilty and will go on trial later this year. His lawyers have argued in court filings that he did not know that the information he received from Lewis was confidential and not in the public domain.

Most Popular

Hellen obiri defends boston marathon title, ruto's unpopular policies are yielding results – ichung’wah, what you need to know about trump's hush-money trial, light moment as gachagua teaches uda guard how to salute, teargas galore as police disperse protesters in bobasi, latest videos, former nairobi mca jailed for 30 years for murdering wife, the news brief: tearful tales of suppliers as pending bills hit sh700 ..., sign up for the free star email newsletter and receive the latest kenya news daily..

MORE SECTIONS

• Dear Deidre

MORE FROM THE SUN

• Newsletters

Tottenham billionaire Joe Lewis lives on a £195m yacht, owns £1bn of fine art and is best mates with golfer Tiger Woods

• Published : 21:32, 4 Apr 2024
• Updated : 21:38, 4 Apr 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

JOE LEWIS was the Tottenham owner very rarely seen.

And he will surely keep an even lower profile after being sentenced for insider trading and conspiracy charges.

The East End-born self-made billionaire rarely visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during his tenure, officially passing over control to his family in 2022 .

Instead and somewhat unsurprisingly, he preferred life on a superyacht in the Caribbean to trips to North London.

Residing mostly in the Bahamas on his £195million boat called Aviva III , he also has a home next door to Sean Connery's former estate and is friends with Tiger Woods .

Over the years, he launched the careers of Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock founder Robert Earl and 70s pop sensations The Nolans.

And according to the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, he has an estimated fortune of a whopping £5.1billion.

But now the money-man is hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons following his New York court sentencing.

Lewis pleaded guilty in January after tipping off his girlfriend, private pilots and family and friends in his inner circle.

Those tips enabled Lewis' associates to reap millions of dollars in profit, prosecutors said.

However, he avoided jail time for his crimes as a federal judge agreed to sentence him to a $5m (£4m) fine and three years' probation.

Let SunSport take you through the world of the man nicknamed "The Boxer" because of his sporting namesake.

Who is Joe Lewis?

Joe is true cockney who was born within the sound of the St. Mary-le-Bow church bells in 1937. He is thought to have been raised in a flat above the Roman Arms pub in East London.

He left school at 15 to work in his family's cafe as a waiter, earning £6 a week.

He later established more businesses in London's West End under the name Tavistock Banqueting.

Joe opened restaurants including the Northumberland Grand, which was the first fancy dress-themed eaterie in London aimed at tourists.

From there he developed the Beefeater, the Cockney, the Caledonian and the Hanover Grand.

He managed his first super club called The Talk of the Town in the 60s, where the likes of Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross and Tom Jones performed.

At the Hanover Grand, Joe granted The Nolans their first-ever live show and he gave Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock founder Robert Earl his first job.

Joe even delved into the world of tourist shops, selling souvenirs and laying on bus tours of London for foreigners and dropping them off at his restaurants.

He sold the business in 1979 for an incredible £30m and moved to the Bahamas as a tax exile.

How he turned his millions to billions... 

After moving to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, Joe entered the world of currency trading.

It's there he made tens of millions, gambling on stock, as he looked to continue accumulating his massive wealth.

And it was in September 1992 when he became a billionaire, thanks in part to one shrewd investment on a day called Black Wednesday.

Joe teamed up with investor George Soros believing the pound was overvalued and would collapse as Britain attempted to align it with other Euro countries.

He bet on the pound crashing out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism and as it did he became a billionaire overnight.

Joe repeated the trick many years later betting against the Mexican peso and landed himself even more dough.

He lives on one of the most luxurious boats in the world...

Well, for most months of the year... and it's not just any old boat.

The Aviva III, built in 2007, is Joe's mobile private office and it's 223ft in size with an estimated value of £195m.

It was crafted by German builders Abeking and Rasmussen and designed by Reymond Langton.

The large yacht can host up to 16 people and in sea trials reached up to 20 knots (23mph).

Joe is a keen sportsman, with the ship boasting a full-sized tennis court.

In May 2013, Spurs went on a trip to the Bahamas and were welcomed on board the vessel by host Joe.

Michael Dawson, who was the club captain at the time, said: "I had never met him before, so it was nice to go over there and a great experience.

“What a really nice guy. And that yacht is unreal! But he’s just a normal guy.

"You could chat to him about anything. He tunes into all the games, he loves it.

"We just sat there chatting. He made us feel so welcome over there. It was relaxed. A lot of team bonding together.

"It helps to be able to put a face to the person investing so much in this club he wants to be successful.

"He’s always watching. He knows what goes on. He would remember every game, every little thing."

Joe has friends in high places...

Of course, when you're as wealthy as Joe you're going to attract the creme de la creme of society.

His best mate is Tiger Woods, who has called Joe "my business mentor" in the past.

Each year, when he wasn't injured, Tiger took part in Joe's Tavistock Cup competition in Florida.

It was held on two of Joe's developments in Orlando called the Isleworth and Lake Nona.

Incidentally, when Tiger Woods had his infamous 2009 low-speed car accident it was at Joe's Isleworth complex, where the golfer has a home.

Joe, who also owns property in Argentina and Bulgaria, boasts Ernie Els as another pal, and the pair are said to regularly dine together.

Being mates with golfers gives you the hint that Joe is a keen golfer himself.

He is believed to play off a 14 handicap and has practised with Woods and Els in the past.

latest football features

Weirdest transfers in football history including Carroll, Alves and Bendtner

Man Utd investor Ratcliffe is one of Britain's richest men and nicknamed Dr No

Ronaldo and Messi have worldwide hotel empires, but whose is the best?

Inked-up Agger invested in tats and sewers when painkillers ended career

He has an epic art collection....

When you're a wealthy man, you need hobbies aside from golf and relaxing on yachts.

That's why Joe has an art collection that's the envy of every Premier League owner.

Said to be worth around £1bn, he owns works by post-expressionists Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, and Miros.

However, in 2008 Joe made headline news, at least in the art world, with one extravagant purchase.

The businessman splashed £26.3million on Francis Bacon's Triptych 1974-1977 painting.

And you'd never guess where he keeps all his art? Yeah, that's right.. the paintings adorn the walls of his mega yacht.

And now for something personal...

Joe has been married twice, his first wife was Esther Browne who he met at his greasy spoon.

She now lives in Ireland.

They had two children, Vivienne and Charlie, before they divorced.

Joe then married his former assistant Jane, however they don't have any kids.

But before you go thinking life has been all rosy for Joe, he has been touched by loss.

He lost his dad to cancer, so he wanted to give something back.

Joe set up a foundation to help fund research, and the charity is run by daughter Vivienne.

• Football features
• Sport Features
• Tottenham Hotspur

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts

Become an FT subscriber

Try unlimited access Only $1 for 4 weeks

Then $75 per month. Complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Cancel anytime during your trial.

• Global news & analysis
• Expert opinion
• Special features
• FirstFT newsletter
• Videos & Podcasts
• Android & iOS app
• FT Edit app
• 10 gift articles per month

Explore more offers.

Standard digital.

• FT Digital Edition

Premium Digital

Print + premium digital, digital standard + weekend, digital premium + weekend.

Today's FT newspaper for easy reading on any device. This does not include ft.com or FT App access.

• 10 additional gift articles per month
• Global news & analysis
• Exclusive FT analysis
• Videos & Podcasts
• FT App on Android & iOS
• Everything in Standard Digital
• Premium newsletters
• Weekday Print Edition
• FT Weekend newspaper delivered Saturday plus standard digital access
• FT Weekend Print edition
• FT Weekend Digital edition
• FT Weekend newspaper delivered Saturday plus complete digital access
• Everything in Preimum Digital

Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• Everything in Print
• Everything in Premium Digital

Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

Terms & Conditions apply

Explore our full range of subscriptions.

Why the ft.

See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times.

International Edition