joe lewis yacht tennis court

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

Here are 9 mind-blowing facts about Jeff Bezos’ $500 million megayacht – 5 years under construction ‘Koru’ is the tallest and one of the most luxurious ships in the world. The centibillionaire will be paying around $137,000 every day just for the upkeep of the vessel.

Even the escapades of Bond villains seem ‘boring’ compared to a billionaire on a superyacht. A megayacht captain provides behind-the-scenes insights, revealing how the ultra-rich not only explore exotic places in ultimate comfort but also use these vessels to ‘save the world’.

New Sovereign 100 meter superyacht launched by Gray Design

Inspired by a spaceship and designed for a billionaire who loves video games, this 223-foot-long superyacht has a dedicated video game room. The sleek vessel has a steam room, hydrotherapy space and three swimming pools.

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.

Qatar’s 41-year old monarch owns this mammoth $500 million megayacht. Longer than a football field the Al Lusail has multiple indoor swimming pools, a wellness and beauty center and two limousine tenders costing millions.

The party continues on the Koru megayacht – After Bill Gates and Oprah, Jeff Bezos, and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez invite Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Usher to their floating palace to enjoy the sun-kissed Mediterranean.

For more than a year, Russia’s richest man cleverly dodged the Western authorities from seizing his $500 million megayacht. Now Alexey Mordashov is taking his prized possession back home to Vladivostok after spending the winters in sunkissed Maldives and Seychelles.

Microsoft billionaire’s $60 million superyacht is a warship on vacation. Known as the father of MS Word and Excel, Charles Simonyi once worked as a night watchman in a computer lab. His yacht has a helipad and when cruising the massive ship is quieter than a Rolls Royce Phantom.

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• Boat Pro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

Aviva: Inside the 98.4m Abeking & Rasmussen flagship yacht

The owner of Aviva challenged his design team to build a yacht around a padel tennis court — and 98m, 4,966GT and a mere three years later, she was launched.

She’s big — let’s get that out of the way. At 98.4 metres,  Aviva  became the 46th longest yacht in the world when she was delivered by  Abeking & Rasmussen  in 2017, and there are very few boats of her length that can match her for volume.

Her 17.24 metre beam is so generous that the designers pulled in the bridge deck superstructure to add side decks — improving crew circulation and refining the profile — because “we just didn’t need that much beam”.

They were right: spaces on board are magnificently expansive, from guest suites the size of the master suite on a 50 metre to an owner’s wardrobe that is, designer Andrew Langton notes quite seriously, “bigger than my house in France”. The fact that scale sits fairly low down on the list of Aviva ’s extraordinary features speaks to the imagination and belief-beggaring ambition of this project.

Aviva is the third yacht of her name delivered to owner Joe Lewis, British businessman and major shareholder in Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. The first, a 62 metre Winch design, was built at Feadship in the Netherlands; the second, a 68 metre Reymond Langton design , at Abeking & Rasmussen on the banks of the Weser river in Lemwerder, near Bremen.

For his grandest project yet Lewis returned to Abeking. “They were, surprisingly, much less conservative than other people. Maybe it’s because of the military stuff they do,” says Toby Silverton, head of design on the project, working with Reymond Langton, and who was also involved in Lewis’s two previous projects.

The yard’s biggest project had been 82.48 metre Secret and to take on Aviva it extended its build shed to accommodate yachts of up to 125 metres — a bold move into a larger size category. And its courage didn’t end there.

“Build a big yacht around a padel tennis court was the main brief, I guess,” says the yard’s project manager Andreas Hering, with admirable understatement. “In three years.”

• How 74.5m Abeking & Rasmussen Elandess sprang from a blank sheet of paper

A project of this size might easily take five years, even if the yard already had a shed big enough for the purpose. And this was a highly unusual project. Design was accelerated too: the complex interior was penned in six months, when they would have liked a year; and the exterior in just one month, when it might more comfortably have taken six.

Knowing that makes Aviva ’s elegant profile even more impressive. “There was a lot of work to [visually] break up the mass, using facets,” says Langton. “We also tried to keep the lines long, so the sheer line is very long and jumps up forward with a clean line.”

They also minimised the details that act as size references, to disguise the scale. Rub rails are eliminated, stanchions replaced with glass, crew quarters windows are grouped to create long lines of glazing and even the anchor pocket has been elongated and disguised, lest a little square of gleaming stainless gives the game away.

Some upright elements of the silver superstructure were also picked out in a darker shade. “They disappear a bit, which makes the slope of the boat more raked,” says Langton.

The long bow adds to the effect, but the aesthetic is the beneficiary of a practical decision: this boat will roam far and the long covered bow makes it likely to survive the kind of rogue waves that have battered a few cruise ships over the years.

“I talked to the captain of the QE2 who went through a wave, and what happens is all the wheelhouse windows smash, they had four foot of water, you then lose all your instruments and they had no ability to control the boat, communicate or navigate,” says Silverton.

To strengthen Aviva he added extra watertight doors and armoured the two forward VIP cabins and superyacht wheelhouse so that they could be sealed off to save the boat. “You can lose everything on the bridge and you can still navigate and control the boat from the engine room,” he says.

Apart from safety, the main aim of the naval architecture was stability. Before the build of Lewis’s second Aviva , Silverton had been frustrated by a lack of data on how rolling motion affects passengers, so he put 36 people in a motion simulator for three days.

“There’s two things: one is the period of roll and the second is the way it rolls,” he says. “The typical roll period of the 62 metre would be around 7.5-7.8 seconds, one of two roll periods people were particularly upset by. And we found that if it was a soft stop and then a soft movement away again, people were much more tolerant of it.”

The design of the second boat addressed those concerns and the new Aviva ’s hull — patent pending — is an evolution of that. It has a nipped in “waist” which bulges back out below the waterline. This both slows and softens the roll. Her near-vertical bow and narrow sailing boat-like stern (which helps reduce pitching) also aid efficiency.

So much so that they were able to go down two engine sizes from the original spec (she has two MTU 16V4000 M73Ls, which put out 2,880kW each) and still hit 20.3 knots in sea trials. Silverton notes that she runs most comfortably at a zippy 16.5 knots, despite an official cruising speed of 14 knots.

Supplementary electric motors offer smooth manoeuvring and silent 11 knot running at night, while extra solidity comes from MAGLift stabilisers aft and one pair of fin stabilisers forward.

But it is the padel tennis court that lies literally and metaphorically at the heart of this project. This high intensity squash-tennis hybrid is a daily routine for Lewis and his explorations with his previous yachts had been limited to destinations with courts.

“The original idea I had was to put it on the aft end main deck and have folding panels and sliding walls,” says Langton. “It never even entered my head to put it inside, because it’s so big.”

Not only would putting the court at the back have made for a profile that Langton likens to a pick-up truck, but Silverton notes that the court would not have been playable at main-deck level. “You’re way above the roll centre, so it’s moving sideways – humans can’t cope with sideways movement of the ground,” says Silverton. “So we looked at putting it as low down as possible.”

Achieving such a large area in that position was an engineering feat but the results are spectacular. Its dimensions short-circuit spatial understanding — it seems impossible that this towering 6.65 metre tall space could be accommodated in Aviva ’s profile.

But it is, and it functions beautifully. “We’re running along at 19 knots, white horses everywhere, and they’re downstairs playing padel having no idea that there’s any sea at all,” says Silverton.

This sort of intelligent ambition has transformed every space on board into something special. “The owner has been in many businesses – hospitality, hotels – so he really understands how spaces work,” says Silverton.

Apart from strategically placed pantries and concealed crew entrances, there are three massive dumb waiters, a lower deck entrance for loading supplies, a dedicated crew galley and much more. The final GA was version 57.

On the more glamorous side of this equation, the upper saloon is a highly functional family room that’s comfortable, bright and airy. The sofas are extra squashy, and there’s a games table as well as a sculptural Bogányi piano.

The head height is 2.6 metres and nine metres of openable full-height windows run along each side of the room – with balconies. Rather than the usual glass, doors to the aft deck are leather clad, making the room feel more private. In fine weather, with those doors open, glass panels slide out to surround the aft deck dining area, creating one long, protected inside/outside space.

Designing such a huge area without pillars for support was a challenge and the corners are, says Hering, packed with extra structure. “Also, in the ceiling, all the girders are very thick because the unsupported length is just enormous.”

In contrast to this space, the main saloon below is a glamorous introduction to Aviva , up the sweeping superyacht staircase from the swim platform and inside to take in starry pieces from the owner’s art collection from a round of sunken seating. Adding a dash of intrigue there’s a secret cinema forward of the space, behind a hidden door.

The master suite is in the nose of the main deck rather than higher up, for extra stability. It stretches from a full-beam cabin to a massive bathroom centred with a monolithic Corian bathtub (there’s a spa just aft of the cabin for even more serious pampering), to a wardrobe-cum-dressing room of spectacular scale and glamour, inspired by Chanel boutiques.

But while some spaces are grand in scale, others are decidedly intimate. Rather than a dining saloon, there are two art-filled “bistros” on board for cosy meals, and many other small dining areas elsewhere. The owner’s bridge deck office is also modestly proportioned, with a conference room next door for larger meetings.

In terms of interior style, the owner’s brief was for something revolutionary. “He didn’t want anything to be symmetrical, it had to be curvy or organic,” says Langton. “He wanted it to be very different. No wood, nothing traditional.”

From the furniture and fittings to walls and overheads, there is barely a straight line on this boat. That was no mean feat for Abeking & Rasmussen’s outfitter Rodiek, which, as well as building most of the yacht’s bespoke furniture in organic forms, produced undulating wall panels from high density CNC-milled foam. “Five or ten years ago this was only used to do models or moulds for the car industry. It is very expensive,” says Langton.

It is, however, perfect for creating curves. “For this boat we decided to use a lot of new materials, even for the base materials, because of the big curved ceiling spaces,” says Hilmar Westermeyer, COO of Rodiek, who had to buy a new CNC milling machine for the project. Rodiek works only for Abeking & Rasmussen (and vice versa) in a symbiotic relationship.

In terms of the interior styling, the ethos was love it or lose it — at least visually. “This door disappears when it is closed and becomes part of the wall,” says Langton in one of the forward VIPs, swinging it to the latch, where its undulations perfectly meet those on the wall. “You either make a door a feature, make it beautiful, or you make it disappear.” The same goes for handles: those on wardrobes are invisible, but ones used on cabin doors are gnarled and textural, incorporated into a cracked bronze plate “like desert clay”.

“Because we’ve not used any wood, basically the whole interior is a mixture of leather and lacquer, it’s really almost tailored.” Take the artfully stitched cream leather of window frames, or the iridescent shot silk that runs down the broad main deck corridor, printed with a bespoke cartographical motif.

A neutral palette is enriched with precious materials: sunset-toned onyx, vanilla marble, shagreen, shimmering leathers. There are glossy panels dripping with resin and acrylic by Alex Turco in the lobby, and panels of velvet mottled with gold, by Sabina Fay Braxton, above guest beds. Staircases are works of art; one with floating treads like turbine blades, another a leather and glass form that spirals up from the floor.

This interior — where, as Langton puts it, almost every surface has “richness and form” – melts into the deck spaces via visual tricks: organic patterns in the Esthec decking that continue in the interior carpets; or the bar that is half in the main saloon and half on the aft deck, a mirror image joining the two spaces.

The superyacht sundeck is the exterior equivalent of the upper saloon — a comfortable family lounge. This massive space, with sunshine yellow upholstery, runs from a shaded central area for dining, with a projector for movie nights, to an aft sunbathing area with sunpads (with a wedge shape to sit as well as lie) and another forward around a spa pool, set low against a glass windbreak for spectacular views.

This forward end is a cosy space like so many on board. It’s that understanding of usable, enjoyable spaces, of human scale, human comfort and passions that makes Aviva a truly grand design. Those 98 metres just help pack it all on board.

First published in the April 2018 edition of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

More about this yacht

Similar yachts for sale, more stories, most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings.

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.

• Premier League

Inside Tottenham owner Joe Lewis' £113m superyacht: Luxurious private haven features a full-sized tennis court, a floating office, PRICELESS art work and can carry 35 crew members... as billionaire is indicted in the US

• Tottenham owner Joe Lewis has been indicted in the US for insider trading 
• The billionaire spends most of the year on board his luxurious superyacht, Aviva 
• His vessel, worth £113million, holds a large tennis court and numerous amenities 

By Daniel Davis For Mailonline

Published: 11:15 EDT, 26 July 2023 | Updated: 13:57 EDT, 26 July 2023

View comments

Tottenham owner Joe Lewis is seldom seen at Spurs matches, instead preferring to enjoy a life of luxury floating through the Caribbean on his luxury yacht.

Lewis, a self-made billionaire from the East End of London, is a reclusive businessman who resides primarily in the Bahamas aboard his £113m boat, Aviva.

According to the Forbes Rich List, he holds an estimated fortune of £4.3bn, allowing him to make full use of his riches and invest in a number of flashy amenities. 

One of these, his superyacht, is believed to be his home for most of the year and has been referred to as his private office. 

When he is not working, Lewis is able to use a full-sized tennis court below decks, as well as a pool, gym and a spacious sundeck.

Yesterday, however, the reclusive 86-year-old was thrust into the spotlight in the US after being indicted for 'brazen' insider trading . Federal prosecutors have alleged that he had passed on inside information 'to compensate employees'.

Joe Lewis' incredible £113million superyacht is one of his most treasured possessions 

The incredible yacht features ultra-modern design and sleek interiors throughout

The rear view of the boat displays its enormity spread over five above-water floors

There are workout facilities on board and also a tennis court on the inside 

Tottenham's British billionaire owner Lewis has been indicted in the United States

Lewis, founder of investment firm The Tavistock Group, faces more than a dozen charges, though his lawyers have said they plan to defend him 'vigorously' and he has handed himself in to the authorities in Manhatten.

The next steps of the unfolding legal bombshell are uncertain, but at least for now, Lewis or his associates are expected to continue making use of his seaworthy haven.

Aviva, crafted by Abeking and Rasmussen and designed by Reymond Langton, was built in 2007 and is 323ft in size. It can host up to 16 people and 35 crew members, and in sea trials reached an impressive 20 knots (23mph). 

The standout feature is the state-of-the-art tennis court, located in the lower deck. The room is 20 metres long and the yacht was effectively designed around it. 

Elsewhere, the owner's suite on the upper deck features an office, private lounge and a large en-suite bathroom.  The remaining guest cabins, made up of two VIP suites and five more double cabins, are also completed with en suite facilities.

Lewis' yacht also contains a beach club, a gym, a swimming pool and a spa, with an elevator making for easy access to each of the decks. 

Furthermore, there is thought to be a 'secret' cinema on board and tucked out of sight, as well as a piano and large salon with sprawling windows and balconies. 

The behemoth serves effectively as a floating office for the 86-year-old Lewis

The panoramic view from the control room offers the captain a full range of vision

Lewis is seen here in his younger years while moored at Fife in Scotland 

There is intense security on board and with good reason, with plenty of art to protect

The boat carries part of Lewis' sizeable art collection, made of genuine originals, too.

It  is understood to have a priceless work by British painter Francis Bacon on a wall on its lower deck. And his collection also includes works by Degas, Lucian Freud, Klimt, Modigliani, Matisse and Picasso. 

Aviva is made from steel and an aluminium superstructure, with the yacht powered by twin diesel-electric engines with an output of 3,862 horsepower. 

Once spotted moored on the Thames, Aviva has been refitted twice since launch.

In May 2013, Spurs' players embarked on a trip to the Bahamas and were welcomed on board the sleek vessel, leaving Michael Dawson, their former captain, stunned.

'I had never met him before, so it was nice to go over there and a great experience,' Dawson said, reflecting on his experience on Aviva.

'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.'

On Lewis' indictment, a statement from Tottenham read: 'This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment.'

In a dramatic statement delivered by video, US Attorney Damian Williams said: 'My office, the Southern District of New York has indicted Joe Lewis, the British billionaire, for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme.

Aviva was crafted by Abeking and Rasmussen and designed by Reymond Langton

Tottenham players have been on board previously when Lewis decides to entertain

Aviva was effectively built around the state of the art tennis court on board

There are myriad options for anyone on board to relax, including by the rear of the yacht

There is a beach club, swimming pool and spa on board the Aviva, worth more than £113m

The yacht is vast and can reach speeds of up to 23mph in full flight if required

'We allege that for years Joe Lewis abused his access to corporate boardrooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilots and his friends.

'Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars on the stock market because - thanks to Lewis - those bets were a sure thing.'

Williams then added: 'Now, none of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man. But as we allege he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or shower gifts on his friends and lovers. It is classic corporate corruption. 

'It's cheating and it's against the law. That's why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York.'

Share or comment on this article: Inside Tottenham owner Joe Lewis' £113m superyacht: Luxurious private haven features a full-sized tennis court, a floating office, PRICELESS art work and can carry 35 crew members... as billionaire is indicted in the US

Share what you think

• Worst rated

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

SPORTS Digest

MORE SPORTS STARS

• Follow DailyMail
• Subscribe Daily Mail
• Follow @dailymail
• Follow MailOnline
• Follow Daily Mail

Get the Football RSS feed

• Today's headlines

• MORE HEADLINES
• Ex-Patriots coach Bill Belichick, 72, is caught on Ring camera sneaking out of 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson's home - by Tom Brady
• Golf legend blasts American 'clowns' over Rory McIlroy chant after Bryson DeChambeau's US Open win
• Fans speculate that Jayson Tatum's rumored girlfriend Ella Mai is pregnant after R&B star was spotted celebrating Boston Celtics' NBA Finals win
• NFL legend Michael Irvin reveals his wife of 34 years Sandy, 58, has early on-set Alzheimer's
• WNBA star Sophie Cunningham goes viral after wowing fans with 'before and during' photos
• PGA Tour golfer left GUTTED after Rory McIlroy's late withdrawal from Travelers Championship leaves him playing by himself - while the rest of the star-studded field have partners
• Travis Kelce insists he 'doesn't give a s***' about Chiefs' embarrassing $40,000 Super Bowl ring typo: 'It makes it more exclusive'
• Michael Jordan's 'new 82-foot $15million yacht fails to place in $7.5m deep-sea fishing tournament' off North Carolina coast
• Aaron Judge says X-ray is NEGATIVE but he is 'P***ED' at pitcher who hit him on the left hand with 94mph fastball, forcing him out of Yankees vs Orioles
• Willie Mays dead at 93: San Francisco Giants announce death of one of baseball's all-time greats
• Travis Kelce talks about WEDDING PLANNING on New Heights podcast as Taylor Swift romance goes from strength to strength
• Angel Reese is 'arguably the most overrated athlete in all of sports,' says Jason Whitlock, as commentator explains why she 'hates Caitlin Clark'
• Ruud Gullit reacts after Dutch fans were slammed for doing 'blackface' in an attempt to dress up as him for Euro 2024 win over Poland... with one supporter pledging to 'retire' their outfit after severe backlash
• Travis Kelce seen at Morgan Wallen's controversial Nashville bar - as he continues to skip girlfriend Taylor Swift's European Eras Tour shows
• Anger, a photo-deleting spree and 'no excuses': The full, inside story of the fallout from young footy player Joshua Taylor-Myles' vile thigh tattoos - as the foul slurs on his legs spark uproar
• Conor McGregor is NOT in rehab and is spending time with family - after bombshell claim about why his UFC comeback was called off
• Chiefs star Isaiah Buggs accused of 'dragging the mother of his child down stairs and injuring her' after domestic violence arrest
• Fans lose their minds at Amadou Onana's 'unreal' switch into English accent... as he complains 'Andre is not even my name, mate' in awkward interview moment after being confused with Man United goalkeeper
• Caitlin Clark makes an Olympic appearance after all... as basketball star watches Team USA swim trials after being snubbed from hoops roster
• Portugal 2-1 Czechia: Age has taken the edge off Cristiano Ronaldo's genius but he fought until the end, writes OLIVER HOLT
• MOST READ IN DETAIL
• Back to top

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

• 672 Wine Club
• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Gateway Bronco
• On Location – Olympic Games Paris 2024
• One&Only
• The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
• Saratoga Spring Water
• Wynn Las Vegas
• 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.

• This Flawless Pink Diamond Just Sold for $13.3 Million at Auction
• Ralph Lauren Unveils Team USA’s Uniforms for the Olympic Ceremonies in Paris
• Wealthy Millennials and Zoomers Are More Interested in Collectibles Than Any Other Generation: Report
• 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

• The New Audi E-Tron Is the Marque’s Most Powerful Production Car Ever

Lürssen’s Newest Superyacht Is a 269-Foot Tri-Deck Behemoth

• Koenigsegg Tells Jesko Owners to Stop Driving the Supercar Because One Caught Fire

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.

This 170-Foot Sportfishing Superyacht Is One of the World’s First—Here’s a Look Inside

This Sleek New 112-Foot Aluminum Superyacht Has an All-Glass Sky Roof

The World’s Largest Sportfishing Yacht Just Embarked on Its Maiden Voyage

The Grand UK Debut

JULY 17 - 19, 2024 Head to the British countryside to test and evaluate the top luxury and performance vehicles of 2024.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

‘Haven’ Superyacht in Photos

Bluephire 34 in Photos

More from our brands, exclusive: in his first interview as bloomingdale’s ceo, olivier bron shares his vision for change, nets parent bse global valued at $6 billion as kochs land 15% stake, ‘hacking hate’ review: a voyeuristic documentary infiltrates online white supremacy, carrie mae weems returns to ‘kitchen table series,’ this time with a$ap rocky, for bottega veneta, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

MORE SECTIONS

• Social Casino

MORE FROM THE SUN

• Newsletters

• Premier League

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

• Published : 7:22 ET, Sep 16 2022
• Updated : 10:31 ET, Sep 16 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

Moment model flashes boobs in crowd at UFC before she's kicked out

Read all about Willie Mays' son Michael

MLB star's tragic statement on missing game in his honor hours before death

A look at the life and death of Willie Mays' wife, Mae Louise Allen

"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

• Yachts for sale
• Yachts for charter
• Brokerage News

• $150 million 98-metre British billionaire's megayacht with the indoor tennis court spotted
• Yacht Harbour

Latest News

The Best Yacht Concepts From Around The World

The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht

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

CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral

• 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.

BATON ROUGE Yacht – Seaworthy $75 M Superyacht

GALAXY OF HAPPINESS Yacht – Incredible $33 Million Superyacht

SPACE Yacht – The Stunning $25M Superyacht

ZEUS Yacht – Harmonious $50M Superyacht

$220 Million Superyacht With Onboard Tennis Court Spotted In Holland

Image Credit: Superyacht Times

The Aviva, Joseph C.Lewis’ superyacht, has been spotted in Vlissingen (a municipality in The Netherlands), reportedly on its way to Hamburg. The incredible feat of engineering is built around a tennis court, a cinema, a spectacular main salon and huge guest rooms.

Billionaire football club owner Joe Lewis’ superyacht Aviva has been spotted in The Netherlands (after being seen three weeks ago in Malaga). Lewis reportedly spends most of his time onboard, living a quiet life in the Bahamas. Lewis is the majority owner of English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur, and is a British businessman and investor. According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2021, Lewis has a net worth of 4.33 billion pounds ( AU$7.36 billion).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bjorn Mierop (@bjorn_mierop)

He may keep his life quite low profile on land, but when it came to building his boat he went all out, constructing it around a tennis/squash court (some people even think it looks more like a padel court) as well as including such luxuries as a cinema, a truly eye watering (in a good way) main salon and massive rooms for friends and family.

WATCH: Inside The Superyacht Built Around A Tennis Court

Aviva is 98 meters long and cost $152 million USD (AU $220 million). It has a distinctive design. Its hull is turquoise, and the yacht has bright yellow accents. According to AutoEvolution , Aviva has a crew of 35-people and can reach a top speed of 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph) thanks to twin MTU engines of 3,916 HP each.

The news that it has been spotted in The Netherlands comes from AutoEvolution . If you are interested in seeing what it’s like inside, check out the above video in which TikTok users superyacht and anchorlife share footage of the magnificent Aviva.

• Jeff Bezos’ Superyacht Flees Rotterdam Shipyard Under The Cover Of Darkness
• The Two Year Process Of Building A $600 Million Superyacht
• Entertainment
• About DMARGE
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Affiliate Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• In The Media
• Corrections Policy
• Fact-Checking

Get the latest breaking news and original content across sport, entertainment, luxury and travel.

A British billionaire's giant yacht is anchored near Fort Lee

Jill Bobrow likes big boats. As an editor at large for Yachts International magazine, she has toured some of the largest yachts in the world, including the Jubilee, a 330-foot, $300-million mega-yacht complete with a big-screen cinema and on-board helicopter hangar.

“Cinemas are becoming de rigeur on yachts of this size,” said Bobrow, who has attended the Monaco Yacht Show each of the last 25 years.

Despite all her experience, sometimes a really big yacht still catches Bobrow by surprise. This happened last Friday, as Bobrow was riding a northbound train from Manhattan. Out the window she spotted a massive boat, a true leviathan, sitting in the oddest location: in the Hudson River, north of the George Washington Bridge, just a few dozen yards from the New Jersey shore.

“I said, ‘Oh my God, that was a really huge yacht,’” Bobrow said. “Seeing something that big in a place like that, it definitely caught my eye.”

Story continues below gallery.

It’s true, the borough of Fort Lee, New Jersey, is not a common destination for mega-yachts or the mega-rich who buy them. Yet for at least the last 10 days, the borough played the role of unwitting host to the Aviva, a 322-foot yacht built as a floating office building and gymnasium for Joe Lewis, a British investor with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, according to Forbes magazine. (By June 5, the Aviva had sailed to its next, unknown destination.)

Chief among the Aviva’s many superlatives: A secret cinema located behind a hidden door and a full-sized, indoor paddle tennis court.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of a paddle tennis court on a yacht,” said Bobrow, whose magazine this year rated the Aviva as the 50th largest yacht in the world. “It’s staggering.”

Retail: New Jersey to lose three Sears, one Kmart, in latest round of store closings

Bill Ervolino: Is Fox picking up 'Roseanne'? Well, the show might not be conservative enough

Christopher Maag: At the Bergen County Zoo, the animals are small. Keeping them healthy is a big job

Viewed from the shoreline in Palisades Interstate Park on Thursday, the Aviva seemed less than staggering. Maybe it was the rain, which spittled from the sky, or the location, so close to New York City, where the skyline itself functions as a jewel box of ostentatious wealth. Everyone who saw it was surprised to find this giant yacht sitting here, displacing 5,000 tons of gray Hudson River water.

None were impressed.

“When I saw it I was like, ‘Boy, who would dock a thing like that here?’” said Khristine Botezan, 46, who grew up in Teaneck and now lives in Orlando, Florida. “A paddle tennis court? A hidden cinema? That’s not something I’m interested in getting invited to.”

“My first thought is I wouldn’t want to be the one who has to clean it,” said Tim Platt, who was visiting the park from Brooklyn.

Thursday’s onlookers may be alone in their disdain. Everywhere else the Aviva docks, it seems to cause a sensation. The yacht’s arrival last May off the coast of Cornwall, in southwestern England, was documented in a story and photo gallery in the UK’s Daily Mail; earlier this  month, it moored at the city marina in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, attracting reporters from the city’s daily paper and alternative news weekly.   

“For people in New Jersey to see a boat like this off our coast, it’s an unusual thing,” said Kim Kavin, a contributing editor with Yachting magazine and Yachts International who lives in Long Valley, Morris County. “Go check it out. It’s awe-inspiring when you see them.”

A tennis court in the middle of the ocean

Seen from Ross Dock, along the shore in Palisades Interstate Park, the Aviva certainly is imposing. The typical yacht resembles a baroque layer cake with a pointy white nose. The Aviva’s superstructure was designed with streamlined balconies and tinted windows arranged in long, unbroken lines to disguise its massive girth, according to statements by Abeking & Rasmussen, the German boatyard that built it.

All those white balconies and decks are offset by the Aviva’s gray-blue bow, which drops in a straight line to the water, giving it the face of a bulldog.

“It looks very powerful,” Bobrow said.

The look is backed up by two diesel engines capable of generating a combined 7,724 horsepower. That’s enough power to push the Aviva to a top speed of 23 knots, or about 26 miles an hour.

And with its specially designed hull, which flares like a bulbous waist at the waterline, the Aviva is remarkably stable. To nail the shape, Toby Silverton, the Aviva’s lead designer, paid 36 people to spend three days in a motion simulator, recreating the rolling waves created by gales and tropical depressions.

The result is a boat stable enough for its billionaire owner to play a game of paddle tennis in the middle of the ocean.

“We’re running along at 19 knots,” Silverton told Boat magazine this year, “and they’re downstairs playing having no idea that there’s any sea at all.”

For his part, Lewis takes a broader view of his big toy’s capabilities. He built his father’s catering business into the Tavistock Group, which invests in a range of industries including real estate, oil and gas and the Tottenham Hotspur soccer team.

In addition to an indoor tennis court, Lewis demanded that his yacht be comfortable, and remain in constant communication with his business empire

“Aviva is more than an office,” he told a blogger with Bond Technology Management a few years ago, before the latest Aviva — his third and biggest yacht with the same name — was delivered. “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.”

Lewis's company and the yacht's manufacturer did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

Riding north from Manhattan, Bobrow’s train was moving too quickly for her to get a good look at the Aviva, she said. Unlike the people of Fort Lee, who barely seemed to notice one of the world’s most technologically advanced yachts lollygagging at their doorstep, Bobrow hopes to see it up-close someday, maybe even get a tour.

“I go where there are yachts,” she said.

In the meantime, she seems quite content to have missed the Aviva for a train ride home.

“I live in beautiful Vermont,” Bobrow said, “where I have a kayak.”

Email: [email protected]

Inside Tottenham owner Joe Lewis’ £113m superyacht: Luxurious private haven features a full-sized tennis court, a floating office, PRICELESS art work and can carry 35 crew members… as billionaire is indicted in the US

• No comments

Top lineman Andrew Thomas agrees to mega-extension with Giants

• News Colony

Tottenham owner Joe Lewis is seldom seen at Spurs matches, instead preferring to enjoy a life of luxury floating through the Caribbean on his luxury yacht.

Lewis, a self-made billionaire from the East End of London, is a reclusive businessman who resides primarily in the Bahamas aboard his £113m boat, Aviva.

According to the Forbes Rich List, he holds an estimated fortune of £4.3bn, allowing him to make full use of his riches and invest in a number of flashy amenities. 

One of these, his superyacht, is believed to be his home for most of the year and has been referred to as his private office. 

When he is not working, Lewis is able to use a full-sized tennis court below decks, as well as a pool, gym and a spacious sundeck.

Yesterday, however, the reclusive 86-year-old was thrust into the spotlight in the US after being indicted for ‘brazen’ insider trading . Federal prosecutors have alleged that he had passed on inside information ‘to compensate employees’.

Joe Lewis’ incredible £113million superyacht is one of his most treasured possessions 

The incredible yacht features ultra-modern design and sleek interiors throughout

The rear view of the boat displays its enormity spread over five above-water floors

There are workout facilities on board and also a tennis court on the inside 

Tottenham’s British billionaire owner Lewis has been indicted in the United States

Lewis, founder of investment firm The Tavistock Group, faces more than a dozen charges, though his lawyers have said they plan to defend him ‘vigorously’ and he has handed himself in to the authorities in Manhatten.

The next steps of the unfolding legal bombshell are uncertain, but at least for now, Lewis or his associates are expected to continue making use of his seaworthy haven.

Aviva, crafted by Abeking and Rasmussen and designed by Reymond Langton, was built in 2007 and is 323ft in size. It can host up to 16 people and 35 crew members, and in sea trials reached an impressive 20 knots (23mph). 

The standout feature is the state-of-the-art tennis court, located in the lower deck. The room is 20 metres long and the yacht was effectively designed around it. 

Elsewhere, the owner’s suite on the upper deck features an office, private lounge and a large en-suite bathroom.  The remaining guest cabins, made up of two VIP suites and five more double cabins, are also completed with en suite facilities.

Lewis’ yacht also contains a beach club, a gym, a swimming pool and a spa, with an elevator making for easy access to each of the decks. 

Furthermore, there is thought to be a ‘secret’ cinema on board and tucked out of sight, as well as a piano and large salon with sprawling windows and balconies. 

The behemoth serves effectively as a floating office for the 86-year-old Lewis

The panoramic view from the control room offers the captain a full range of vision

Lewis is seen here in his younger years while moored at Fife in Scotland 

There is intense security on board and with good reason, with plenty of art to protect

The boat carries part of Lewis’ sizeable art collection, made of genuine originals, too.

It  is understood to have a priceless work by British painter Francis Bacon on a wall on its lower deck. And his collection also includes works by Degas, Lucian Freud, Klimt, Modigliani, Matisse and Picasso. 

Aviva is made from steel and an aluminium superstructure, with the yacht powered by twin diesel-electric engines with an output of 3,862 horsepower. 

Once spotted moored on the Thames, Aviva has been refitted twice since launch.

In May 2013, Spurs’ players embarked on a trip to the Bahamas and were welcomed on board the sleek vessel, leaving Michael Dawson, their former captain, stunned.

‘I had never met him before, so it was nice to go over there and a great experience,’ Dawson said, reflecting on his experience on Aviva.

‘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.’

On Lewis’ indictment, a statement from Tottenham read: ‘This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment.’

In a dramatic statement delivered by video, US Attorney Damian Williams said: ‘My office, the Southern District of New York has indicted Joe Lewis, the British billionaire, for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme.

Aviva was crafted by Abeking and Rasmussen and designed by Reymond Langton

Tottenham players have been on board previously when Lewis decides to entertain

Aviva was effectively built around the state of the art tennis court on board

There are myriad options for anyone on board to relax, including by the rear of the yacht

There is a beach club, swimming pool and spa on board the Aviva, worth more than £113m

The yacht is vast and can reach speeds of up to 23mph in full flight if required

‘We allege that for years Joe Lewis abused his access to corporate boardrooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilots and his friends.

‘Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars on the stock market because – thanks to Lewis – those bets were a sure thing.’

Williams then added: ‘Now, none of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man. But as we allege he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or shower gifts on his friends and lovers. It is classic corporate corruption. 

‘It’s cheating and it’s against the law. That’s why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York.’

Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News Mail Online

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You May Also Like

Jason juami networth, bio, early life, personal life, career, body measurements, social media.

• July 26, 2023

Ruined centuries-old town re-emerges as Philippines dam dries up during heatwave

Who has lucy hale dated boyfriends list, dating history, kristen sze.

Labour resists calls to close tax loophole used by Shein

Celine dion’s eldest son rene-charles is a man now see photos of her firstborn child over the years.

Video shows NYPD drag illegal immigrant rape suspect from hiding under car after citizen’s arrest

Stream Concerts: Live Performances at Your Fingertips

MORE SECTIONS

• Dear Deidre

MORE FROM THE SUN

• Newsletters
• Deliver my newspaper
• Sun Vouchers
• The Sun Digital Newspaper
• Racing Members Enclosure

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

Things that make Roy Keane angry, from ABBA to prawn sandwiches

How Dutch managers rate in Premier League from Ruud Gullit to Erik ten Hag

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

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

• Skip to Navigation
• Skip to Main Content
• Skip to Related Content
• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

• Yahoo Sports AM
• College Sports
• Fantasy Sports
• Horse Racing
• Scores/Schedules
• Power Rankings
• Fantasy Baseball
• Willie Mays dies at 93
• Sparks rookie Brink suffers knee injury
• Judge exits after HBP on hand
• Smith shatters 100M record
• Why Celtics could repeat

Moscow's Anderson going from a Bear to a Warrior

Jun. 19—Moscow pitcher Levi Anderson has been going to Lewis-Clark State baseball games since he was a kid. Soon, young Warrior fans will be watching him.

Anderson received a college offer to be a pitcher for the Warriors on June 10 after an American Legion doubleheader between the Lewis-Clark Twins and Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen. He had previously been committed to Yakima Valley College, but LCSC was the team that he grew up wanting to play for.

The decision to switch wasn't too difficult for him.

"I was very surprised by it," Anderson said. "They usually don't pull kids (right) out of high school. So I was very happy and very surprised by it."

Anderson grew up a fan of the Warriors. He had participated in LCSC baseball camps and had gone to games frequently growing up. He had been on the Warriors' radar for a while.

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound left-hander who throws in the upper-80 mph range is hard to miss, especially when he's just 30 minutes north. But Anderson just met those criteria this year.

Before he received the LCSC offer, he didn't see much interest from colleges prior to this year — at least not the kind of interest he was looking for.

A stint at a junior college wasn't a death knell for Anderson's Warrior dreams. It's common for LCSC to bring players into the program after stints at two-year institutions, and Anderson did like Yakima Valley's facilities and coaching staff.

During his sophomore year, the LCSC coaching staff told Anderson that they would keep an eye on him. But back then, he was a few inches shorter, a bit lighter and not nearly as strong as he is now.

"It's always nice to get Idaho kids, let alone ones close to the (Lewiston-Clarkston) Valley," LCSC coach Jake Taylor said. "It's been a couple years since that's happened. But we're excited to have him for sure. Left-handed pitching is really hard to find. It's tough — especially with his big, tall frame and loose-arm action. He projects really well. ... Being a left-handed pitcher is a game-changer."

Anderson improved drastically from 2023 to 2024. He pitched 9 1/3 more innings, had 23 more strikeouts (87), gave up 20 less runs (11) and walked 12 fewer batters (20). His ERA also dropped from 3.71 to 1.43. Once he hit a certain speed with his pitches, that's when the interest was piqued.

"(LCSC) told me about sophomore year, or they told my dad, that I should get bigger and that I needed games under my belt," Anderson said. "I hit 87 (mph) and that made them pull the trigger and give me an offer. ... I'm really happy with it, too. I've been wanting to go there since I was a little kid."

Anderson is the first L-C commit from Moscow since Zach Hull, also a pitcher, committed in 2009.

Anderson's improvement from 2023 to 2024 went beyond just physical attributes and a possible offer, according to Moscow coach Griffin Rod.

In a year where the team went into it a lot more skilled, a lot more motivated and a lot more confident, leaders were necessary. That's a role that Anderson stepped into.

"We feel like he's super, super deserving (of the offer)," Rod said. "Heading into the season, we knew his talent level. But we communicated about growing, maturing in some areas such as being the best teammate he could be and just doing what he can to be a great leader. And he accepted that challenge and excelled in that role this year."

The Moscow baseball program has been on the come-up for the last couple years with a state berth in 2023 and its subsequent Idaho Class 4A state championship this spring. Anderson signing with the Warriors is the next step in that come-up, and could possibly have some after effects that are good for the future of the team.

"Selfishly, it's going to be fun to go watch him play (at LCSC)," Rod said. "A side effect is yes, he gets to represent Moscow High School and hopefully create a little 'I want to be like him' from the younger guys coming up. It continues to build the program from this group that just won the championship. It just allows us to continue to raise the bar a little bit and create excitement and create the desire for the young players to want to come and be a Bear."

Anderson's commitment is also another notch in the belt of a solid baseball year for northern Idaho teams.

Three northern Idaho teams (Orofino, Moscow and Potlatch) won state baseball championships this year. Another one, Grangeville, played league foe Orofino in the Class 2A state championship game.

"There's always ebbs and flows in the high school game for sure based off the talent level," Taylor said. "There definitely seems to be a pretty good group of players from here all the way up to Coeur d'Alene and even north of that."

The quality of talent in northern Idaho teams is also present in summer baseball. Anderson's Lewis-Clark Twins have players from several towns across Idaho.

"I think it's good. I think it's good for northern (Idaho) baseball to be able to represent its area strong," Anderson said. "The North is always portrayed as not a very big sports area. The south schools usually run most of the leagues, they usually win state. I think it's good that the north schools are finally making runs at State. ... making sure that (they say) 'We're still here. And we're going to come down and beat you.' ... All the other communities have players that can compete at any level."

Once Anderson's season with the Twins is over, he will start his collegiate career donned in the red and navy of the Warriors. It's rare for players, especially pitchers, to carve out roles for themselves on LCSC in their true freshman year.

"We don't bring in bad players," Taylor said. "We're expecting him to come in and just continue to work and improve and mature and get acclimated with our climate and culture."

There are spots on the pitching staff available — both at reliever and starter — and Anderson isn't content with redshirting and sitting back a year. He's motivated to carve out a role for himself immediately.

"I'm excited to try and make myself known amongst the team," Anderson said. "My determination is to come in and try to earn a spot immediately. And play against good hitters and play against some very good baseball players. I think that I can do it. I think that if I work hard enough I can earn a spot on that starting rotation. I do think I can do it."

Kowatsch can be contacted at 208-848-2268, [email protected] or on Twitter @Teren_Kowatsch.

Recommended Stories

Remembering baseball legend and hall of famer willie mays | baseball bar-b-cast.

Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the passing of Hall of Famer Willie Mays, his lasting impact on sports and society, the incredible stats he put up in his career and the Rickwood Field game that will mean even more now.

Tiger Woods given special PGA Tour exemption for 'exceptional lifetime achievement'

Woods has played only nine PGA Tour events over the last three seasons.

The case for Willie Mays as baseball's GOAT

Willie Mays was a legend. To some, he was also the GOAT.

Baseball world mourns death of Willie Mays

The Say Hey Kid's legacy was visible as his death was announced.

Giants legend Willie Mays dies at 93

One of the legends of baseball has died.

Stanley Cup Final: Connor McDavid leads Oilers in Game 5 thriller to send series back to Edmonton

There was no Stanley Cup celebration in South Florida Tuesday night.

Yankees star Aaron Judge pulled from win over Orioles early after being hit in hand by pitch

Aaron Judge avoided a fractured hand after he was hit by a fastball on Tuesday.

Men's College World Series Day 5: Florida State fends off Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina to reach semifinals

Florida State rolled to a 9-5 win on Tuesday to end the Tar Heels' run in Omaha.

Sparks star rookie Cameron Brink carried off court with knee injury vs. Sun

Brink grabbed her knee in pain after falling to the court and needed the help of trainers to carry her from the court.

NFL teams in the worst shape for 2024 | The Exempt List

On today's episode, Charles McDonald is joined by Frank Schwab to predict how the worst six teams in the NFL will fare in 2024.

Team USA's new uniforms revealed for 2024 Olympics, and they need more summer

Seeing blazers on Summer Olympics athletes makes you wonder if Ralph Lauren has ever been outside during summer.

Boston Celtics are champions, defeat Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in NBA Finals | No Cap Room

Jake Fischer and Dan Devine recap game 5 of the NBA Finals, which saw the Boston Celtics win their 18th NBA championship with Jaylen Brown winning Finals MVP.

Dodgers place Mookie & Yamamoto on IL, umpire suspended & 2024 MLB Draft Combine preview with Nate Tice

Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about the injures to Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, umpire Pat Hoberg being suspended for gambling and all the other action from baseball this weekend. They also preview the 2024 MLB Draft Combine with Nate Tice.

Men's College World Series Day 4: Florida eliminates NC State, big inning puts Texas A&M in semifinals

Day 4 of the 2024 Men's College World Series saw Florida eliminate NC State and Texas A&M move on to the semifinals.

Celtics — led by Jayson Tatum and series MVP Jaylen Brown — dominate Mavericks in Game 5 to secure franchise’s 18th NBA championship

The Celtics are NBA champions for the first time since 2008.

The NASCAR-ification of college sports is on the way, whether fans like it or not

College athletics has always been about the money. But with corporate logos on fields and jerseys, it's about to get a whole lot more obvious.

France's Kylian Mbappé suffers broken nose in Euro win over Austria, reportedly won't have surgery

Mbappé received a yellow card after attempting to return to the field from injury. His status moving forward at the European Championship is unclear.

College sports turning into NASCAR & championship winning rosters

On today's episode, Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger and SI's Pat Forde react to news of the Big 12 exploring selling their naming rights to a corporate sponsor, discuss a formula for championship winning teams, check in on the College World Series jello shot competition, and hear about producer Joe's insane fantasy football punishment.

Yahoo Sports AM: Bryson tames Pinehurst

In today's edition: Bryson wins at Pinehurst, Walsh sets world record, CWS recap, Game 5 in Boston, Baker's Dozen, and more.

Dodgers expect All-Star Mookie Betts to miss 6-8 weeks due to fractured hand

Betts was hit in the hand by a 98 mph fastball on Sunday.

Ghormley Park in Moscow, United States

Situated in Moscow, ID, Ghormley Park is a popular spot for pickleball enthusiasts. It offers four free outdoor hard courts dedicated to the game, complete with permanent lines and nets. The facility is also wheelchair accessible, ensuring everyone can enjoy the fun of playing pickleball.

View other pickleball courts in United States:

• Milford Indoor Tennis Club, Milford
• Thousand Trails RV Resort, Menifee
• Jurgens Park, Tualatin

Other courts in Moscow

World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyiv's peace push

• Medium Text
• Summit aims to pressure Russia to end Ukraine conflict
• Draft communique condemns Russia's 'war' in Ukraine
• Absence of China, Russia seen limiting potential impact
• Putin outlines conditions to end war on eve of gathering
• Potential next host Saudi Arabia: difficult compromise needed

CHINA AND RUSSIA

Sign up here.

Reporting by Dave Graham, John Revill, Thomas Escritt, Emma Farge, Alan Charlish, Steve Holland, Sabine Siebold, Pavel Polityuk, Felix Hoske, Tom Balmforth, David Milliken, Burcu Karakas Writing by Dave Graham and Matthias Williams Editing by Frances Kerry, Helen Popper, Mark Potter and Matthew Lewis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

Berlin correspondent who has investigated anti-vaxxers and COVID treatment practices, reported on refugee camps and covered warlords' trials in The Hague. Earlier, he covered Eastern Europe for the Financial Times. He speaks Hungarian, German, French and Dutch.

World Chevron

Head of Lebanon's Hezbollah threatens Israel, Cyprus in televised address

The head of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Wednesday that nowhere in Israel would be safe if a full-fledged war breaks out between the two foes, and he also threatened Cyprus and other parts of the Mediterannean.