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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.

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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.

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Your Insider’s Guide to the Aviva Yacht

The Aviva Yacht was built in 2017 by German shipyard  Abeking & Rasmussen. The yacht’s interior design was styled by British design house Reymond Langton Design. Outside, the exterior design was handled by Reymond Langton Design. The yacht features a steel hull, aluminum superstructure, and composite decks.

One of the most unique features of the Aviva Yacht is the enormous gymnasium space that is part of its design. While many yachts have a workout gym area, Aviva has a full court that can be converted to play several sports or activities. Even at full speed, the court has been designed and stabilized so guests can play a game without the yacht’s motion causing any disturbance.

Who is the Aviva Yacht Owner? 

British businessman Joe Lewis owns Aviva. He is the majority owner of the Premier League Tottenham Hotspur football club and is known for currency trading. His net worth is above $4 billion, and his art collection alone is worth $1 billion.

This version of the Aviva is the fourth yacht called Aviva that Lewis has owned. His previous third yacht was 223 feet long and built for him in 2007. It’s been said that Lewis uses this yacht as a floating office and spends most of his time here.

How Much Did the Yacht Aviva Cost?

Lewis is believed to have paid $250 million for the Aviva in 2017. The annual cost of running the yacht is believed to be between $15 million and $25 million. This would cover things like salary for the 35 crew members, fuel, taxes, and other expenses. This means that while the Aviva is not one of the most expensive yachts in the world, it’s still quite impressive.

Can You Charter the Aviva Yacht?

Unlike some similar yachts, it does not appear that Aviva is available for charter. 

How Big is the Aviva Yacht?

Aviva qualifies as a superyacht at a respectable 98.4 m or 322’10”. That’s not in the running for one of the largest yachts in the world, but when she debuted in 2017, she was the 47th largest yacht at the time. In addition to the notable length, she features a nearly 57-foot beam and a gross tonnage of 4,999

How Fast Does the Aviva Go and What Engines Does It Use?

Aviva features twin diesel-electric MTU (16V 4000 M73L) 16-cylinder 3,862hp engines. The cruising speed is 14 knots, but she can reach a maximum speed of 20 knots. A 364,705-liter fuel tank gives her a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles at 13 knots.

The yacht runs a hybrid drive system, which means it can get up to 11 knots of electric power before switching to the main engines.

What’s the Interior of the Motor Yacht Aviva Like?

As you saw from the large beam and length, there’s a lot of space to work with on the Aviva. The vessel has room for 16 guests in 8 suites, including a huge master suite. Lewis is said to live full-time on this yacht, so it needs to have all the amenities of a home that the billionaire would require. That said, because it is the man’s home, there are only limited details about the yacht’s features and what it looks like inside. 

The Master suite is said to be larger than most houses and is located at the nose of the main deck. The large bathroom features a monolithic Corian bathtub, and there’s a spa just aft of the cabin where additional relaxation treatments can be enjoyed. The owner’s suite even features a wardrobe/dressing room inspired by Chanel boutiques and is more significant than most cabins on other yachts. 

The interior aesthetic is meant to be organic with soft, curving lines. The design has no symmetry, and this was done on purpose. Lewis didn’t want his yacht to have a traditional look and feel. As a result, you won’t even find wood accents throughout the yacht, as he thought those were too standard in the yachting world, and he wanted a different feel. 

Straight lines are tough to come by on the yacht, even in the furniture. Nothing is designed to be square and stationary, which likely challenged the design team.

The result of this flowing, organic design is that many materials on board are unique in the yachting world. Walls were designed with high-density CNC-milled foam, the same stuff the auto industry uses to create molds for new car designs. 

Features and Amenities

• Huge lounge area highlighted with yellow and turquoise accents
• Jacuzzi tub on the deck
• Spa facilities
• Aviva features a full size 20 meters x 10 meters x 6.65 meters paddle tennis court
• The padel tennis net can be removed, and the large court is suitable for playing soccer or setting up gym equipment. The Aviva is the first yacht in the world to have such a court on board.
• A full-size piano in one of the internal lounge areas
• Guests can navigate the vessel thanks to an elevator that passes between decks
• A fully equipped gym, in addition to the paddle tennis court, ensures guests can get in a solid workout
• The aft deck dining area features leather-clad doors that add privacy and reduce noise. These can be opened to let glass panels slide out instead in sunny weather
• A large beach club is available for relaxing
• The yacht is said to have a “hidden” cinema
• The main salon features full-height windows and balconies
• The guest rooms are as big as a typical master suite would be
• Instead of large dining areas, there are a series of smaller ones. The two main dining spaces are called bistros and feature samplings of the owner’s art while allowing for smaller, more intimate dinners than one might have in a large dining hall. 

While there are photos that sometimes show off what appears to be a tender garage on the side of the yacht along with a swimming platform, the complete list of toys that may be present on board is not known. While it’s safe to say at least one tender is available, anything else would be speculation. 

The Bottom Line

British businessman Joe Lewis owns the yacht Aviva, and he’s had several other vessels of the same name. It’s believed Lewis paid about $250 million for the 322′ superyacht though some sources will cite a different amount (potentially due to confusion with his previous Aviva yacht, which was smaller).

The standout feature of the Aviva is the full-sized paddle tennis indoor court on board which was designed to allow people to play even when the boat is underway. Lewis spends much of his time on the yacht, and, as such, he’s pretty secretive about many other details. 

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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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.

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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.

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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 .

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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…

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The billionaire that stores a Dh127m painting on his luxury yacht

In our latest round-up on the super-rich, uk tycoon joe lewis festoons his $257m boat with a francis bacon piece and we find out more about the man taking elon musk's rocket to the moon.

British businessman Joe Lewi s Photo: Reuters

How do you decorate a superyacht’s interior? If you’re anything like London-born billionaire Joe Lewis, you might start with the works of one of your country’s most famous painters.

Mr Lewis’s 98-metre yacht, Aviva, has captivated the public in the UK after anchoring earlier this month in the tourist-teeming docklands beside London’s Tower Bridge. While some passersby have asked who owns the vessel and ogled its gleaming exterior, those more familiar with Britain’s 20th century artists may have noticed what appears to be Francis Bacon’s “Triptych 1974 - 1977” hanging on its lower deck in golden frames.

“People put their art on yachts all the time, but usually it’s not their most valuable pieces,” Katja Zigerlig, vice president of art, wine and collectibles at insurance company Berkley One. ”From a conservation standpoint, it’s not ideal,” and is akin to “taking your newborn on a safari trip to Africa".

Mr Lewis, 81, bought the work - Bacon’s last triptych focused on the loss of his lover George Dyer, who committed suicide in 1971 - a decade ago for £26.3 million (Dh127.03m). The piece is now worth about $70m, according to a person with knowledge of the asset. The vessel it graces is estimated at $257m, according to VesselsValue.

The panels, each almost 2.1m tall and 1.52m wide, more recently formed part of an exhibition celebrating UK painters of the human form at London art gallery Tate Britain. An online guide for the exhibition, which closed last month, identifies “The Lewis Collection” as the owner of the three paintings.

Bacon, an untrained painter and master of the macabre, died in 1992 at the age 82. In the central panel of “Triptych 1974 -1977,” Dyer’s disfigured body kneels on a blue-skied beach beside a black void. For the setting, Tate Britain said Bacon was “indebted” to Edgar Degas’s 1876 “Beach Scene.”

The piece is “a kind of landmark” for Bacon because of its beach backdrop, the artist’s biographer, Michael Peppiatt, told Christie’s in 2008. Bacon usually “has everything happening within four walls, and then for some mysterious reason, and I won’t pretend to know why, this takes place outside,” he said.

Mr Lewis owns Tavistock Group, a Bahamas holding company that has stakes in more than 200 businesses worldwide. His investments include real estate, resorts and restaurants. The billionaire, who made his first fortune through currency trades during the 1990s, also owns North London soccer team Tottenham Hotspur. He’s the world’s 297th-richest person with an estimated $5.6bn, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

He now spends most of his time in the Bahamas. On top of works from Bacon, his art collection includes pieces by Picasso, Freud, Klimt and Degas. Tavistock Group’s website describes his trove as “one of the largest private art collections in the world.”

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the richest person on the planet, is creating a philanthropic fund to help homeless families and launch preschools in low-income communities, committing an initial $2 billion.

Mr Bezos made the announcement on Twitter earlier this month, a year after asking for ideas on how he could use his personal fortune - now estimated at more than $160bn - for charitable efforts.

The "Bezos Day One Fund" created by Mr Bezos and his wife MacKenzie will focus on two areas: helping "existing nonprofits that help homeless families" and funding "a network of new, nonprofit, tier-one preschools in low-income communities," he wrote.

Later, Mr Bezos told a Washington gathering that the $2bn was only a start and that he would likely expand his philanthropic efforts.

"I've seen small things get big and it's part of this 'day one' mentality," Mr Bezos told an Economic Club of Washington dinner.

"The Day One foundation is going to be like that," he added, noting that the mission could evolve. "We'll wander a bit, too."

For the homeless, grants will be given to organisations "doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the needs of young families," Mr Bezos said on Twitter.

The fund will also seek to launch and operate "a network of high-quality, full-scholarship, Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities," he wrote.

Mr Bezos said early childhood education is a critical area and that "the money spent there is going to pay gigantic dividends for decades."

He said the schools would "use the same set of principles that have driven Amazon" and that "the child will be the customer."

The $2bn initiative, while significant, is far less than the philanthropic efforts of other billionaires including Microsoft's Bill Gates, who has donated tens of billions to his foundation, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, who has pledged to donate 99 per cent of his shares in the social media giant to an organisation focused on public good.

Thomas Peterffy

Thomas Peterffy helped launch the electronic-trading revolution that transformed the US stock market. And while the billionaire has not soured on automation, he’s taking a lead role fighting back against the speediest traders.

Interactive Brokers Group announced earlier this month that it will list its shares on an exchange run by IEX Group, which was made famous by Michael Lewis in “Flash Boys.” The 2014 book documented the market’s efforts to use a 350-microsecond speed bump to eliminate advantages IEX believed the fastest traders had in US stocks. When shares of Interactive Brokers move over from Nasdaq, it will be IEX’s first win in its delayed plan to list corporations.

“Our investors are likely to receive better executions when they trade our stock, or for that matter any other stock, on IEX,” Mr Peterffy, Interactive Brokers’ chairman, said last week.

Mr Peterffy, 73, was instrumental in getting computers to trade stocks. Three decades ago, to bypass a Nasdaq rule requiring all orders to be entered on a keyboard, his team built a robot to do it.

“On active trading days, the robot typed so fast it sounded like a machine gun,” National Public Radio reported in 2012.

Eventually, traders were allowed to plug directly into exchanges like Nasdaq’s, eliminating the need for such workarounds. The pace of trading accelerated dramatically, and some order times are now measured in nanoseconds.

Mr Peterffy, a native of Hungary also known for buying political ads supporting Republicans, is the world’s 49th-richest person with an $18.5bn fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

He still remains a fan of computers. “Automation is fantastic!!!!” he said in his email. “Front-running has always existed. Now at higher speeds it is less visible.”

Yusaku Maezawa

In a country known for conformity, Yusaku Maezawa has always sought to stand out.

He skipped college, moved to California to play in a rock band and started his own e-commerce company. After making it big, the 42-year-old started dropping hundreds of millions of dollars on artwork. Now the billionaire founder of Start Today is set to become the first paying passenger to the moon on a SpaceX rocket scheduled to blast off in 2023. It’s the latest headline-grabbing project by Maezawa, whose Twitter handle is @yousuck2020.

While Maezawa is relatively unknown outside the archipelago and the art world, he’s guaranteed to become more famous with his plan to fly to Earth’s biggest satellite with a cabal of artists. A self-professed art lover, the Japanese entrepreneur intends to take a combination of painters, musicians, dancers, photographers, film directors, fashion designers and architects on a week-long lunar loop, where he’ll get to watch as they get inspired and create art along the way.

“I thought long and hard about how valuable it would be to be the first passenger to the moon,” Mr Maezawa said at an announcement at Space Exploration Technologies’ headquarters in Hawthorne, California, sitting next to the rocket company’s chief executive, Elon Musk. “I choose to go to the moon with artists.”

The flight around the moon is a marriage of Mr Maezawa’s diverse interests: to be a visionary, to support art and to promote his company. Taking the enormous personal risk of orbiting the moon as the first private citizen would cement him in history books. Mr Maezawa said he hopes the art created during the trip will inspire more interest and support for artists. Mr Maezawa and Musk declined to say how much the lunar trip would cost.

“This is not us choosing him,” Mr Musk said. “He chose us. He is a very brave person to do this.”

Mr Maezawa made a name and fortune for himself by defying the norms of Japanese society. A former drummer in a rock band, he built shopping website Zozotown, a popular destination for younger consumers, from a mail-order music album business.

With a net worth of $2.3bn, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Maezawa made a splash in the art world in 2017 when he spent $110.5m on a single Jean-Michel Basquiat painting at a Sotheby’s auction, setting a record for an American artist’s work at the time.

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Joe Lewis Biography: Yacht, Wife, Daughter, and Net Worth

Joe Lewis biography – This article will focus on Joseph C. Lewis’s biography and also answer some asked questions people do ask about Joe Lewis.

Joe Lewis is a British businessman and investor. The British businessman left school at 15 to help his father run their West End catering business before taking it over himself and selling it years later.

After selling his family business in the 1970s, Lewis made his wealth from currency trading over the next two decades before buying the majority stake in Spurs 20 years ago.

Lewis’ English National Investment Company (ENIC) group now owns 85.5% of the north London club.

Read Also:  Bobby Fite Biography, Birth, Age, Parents, Wife, and Career

Joe Lewis Early Life, Birth

Lewis was on born 5 February 1937 to a Jewish family above a public house in Roman Road, Bow, London. Lewis left school at 15 to help run his father’s West End catering business, Tavistock Banqueting.

When he took the reins, he quickly expanded it by selling luxury goods to American tourists, and also owned the West End club the Hanover Grand, where he gave Robert Earl his first job. He later sold the business in 1979 to make his initial wealth.

Joe Lewis Marital life and Family

Lewis has been married twice. His first marriage to Esther Browne ended in divorce. They had two children: Vivienne Lewis Silverton and Charles Lewis.

Vivienne Lewis Silverton is seen as his heir and serves on Tavistock’s board of directors. She is divorced from Toby Silverton, the former chairman of Bristol Cars, once fully owned by Tavistock.

She was engaged to the ex-Liverpool footballer Craig Johnston for 18 years from the 2000s to the 2010s. Charles Lewis lives in Argentina, and Lewis is now married to Jane Lewis.

Read Still:  Garrett Morgan Net Worth: An African-American Inventor

Joe Lewis wife

His first marriage to Esther Browne ended in divorce and later married Jane Lewis.

Lewis has had two marriages. His first marriage, to Esther Browne, was short-lived. Vivienne Lewis Silverton and Charles Lewis were their two children. Vivienne Lewis Silverton is his “heir” and is on the board of directors of Tavistock.

Toby Silverton, the former chairman of Bristol Cars, which was originally entirely controlled by Tavistock, is divorced from her.

In the 2000s and 2010s, she was engaged to ex-Liverpool footballer Craig Johnston for 18 years. Charles Lewis is now married to Jane Lewis and lives in Argentina.

Joe Lewis Daughter

Lewis had two children: Vivienne Lewis Silverton and Charles Lewis.

The daughter Vivienne married Toby Silverton, the former chairman of Bristol Cars, once fully owned by Tavistock. She was later divorced by Toby.

Joe Lewis Art collection

Lewis’s art collection is estimated to be worth $1 billion and includes works by Picasso, Matisse, Lucian Freud, and sculptor Henry Moore.

He bought Francis Bacon’s Triptych 1974–1977 in 2008 for £26.3 million, then a record for postwar artwork bought in Europe.

In November 2018 Joe Lewis sold his Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) by David Hockney in Christie’s salesroom for $90.3 million.

Lewis is the owner of several versions of Arturo Di Modica’s iconic Charging Bull, including the original, which the artist installed during the middle of the night on 15 December 1989 on Wall Street with no prior permission from the authorities.

Joe Lewis Currency trading

After selling the family business in the late 1970s, Lewis moved into currency trading in the 1980s and 1990s, resulting in his move to the Bahamas where he is now a tax exile.

In September 1992, Lewis teamed up with George Soros to bet on the pound’s crashing out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

The event, which was dubbed Black Wednesday, made Lewis very wealthy. It has been suggested by some that he made more money from the event than Soros. Lewis is still an active foreign exchange trader.

Read as well: David Rogerson Mellor: Designer, Manufacturer, and Craftsman

Joe Lewis Net Worth

According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2021, Lewis has a net worth of £4.33 billion, an increase of £338 million from 2020.

Lewis is the majority owner of the Premier League football team Tottenham Hotspur.

How did Joe Lewis get rich?

Born above a pub in London’s East End, Lewis helped his family build a catering business. He sold it and became a currency trader. Lewis took delivery of a 321-foot yacht with an indoor paddle tennis court in 2017.

How much is Joe Lewis worth?

Joe’s worth is estimated to be 5.4 billion USD as of 2022.

What yachts does Joe Lewis own?

Aviva is a 68 meters (223 ft) length motor yacht. Drafted as Aviva III, it is the third superyacht named Aviva built for Bahamas-based British businessman Joe Lewis. Aviva (68m yacht)

How much is Joe Lewis yacht?

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. Its believed to be valued at US$250 million! That’s £204,225,000.00 GBP!

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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

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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.

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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 .

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"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?

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Who is Joe Lewis? Net worth, £112m superyacht, Tottenham role and USA insider trading charges

Tottenham news as Joe Lewis is indicted on insider trading charges by the Southern District of New York

• 12:25, 26 JUL 2023

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Joe Lewis has been indicted by US attorney Damian Williams of overseeing a 'brazen' insider trading scheme.

The bombshell claims emerged late on Tuesday night with Lewis , the British billionaire, being accused of 'repeatedly providing inside information' to romantic partners, friends and pilots. Lewis denies the charges, with his lawyer David Zornow calling the charges an 'egregious error in judgement'.

Lewis owns ENIC, the investment firm that owns Spurs, and is the main investor in the Tavistock Group, which owns over 200 companies in 15 different countries. The 86 year-old, who hails from Bow, left school at 15 to help run his father's business Tavistock Banqueting and ended up running it before selling the firm in 1979.

Lewis then became a currency trader and moved to the Bahamas, where he owns the stunning £112million 98 metre-long yacht Aviva, an upgrade on a previous vessel by the same name and the two that came before it. It was launched in 2017 and acts as Lewis' own mobile office with an extensive art collection and a full-sized indoor padel court.

"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 yacht's designer Reymond Langton said. "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."

He has a massive net worth of around £4.7billion, which has shot up by around £1bn in the last three years. As for Lewis' interest in football, he is not a regular attendee of Spurs matches but is known to watch games on Aviva.

READ MORE : Tottenham takeover news latest: QSI 'monitoring situation' amid Joe Lewis charges

He also invested in Rangers in the 1990s when he bought a 25% stake in the Ibrox side for around £40million.

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

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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.

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Who is Joe Lewis? The secretive billionaire Tottenham owner charged with insider trading

Friends with tiger woods, owner of a 98m super yacht and boasting one of the most expensive art collections in the world – now joe lewis is facing allegations of ‘corruption’ in new york, article bookmarked.

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Tottenham owner Joe Lewis, left, pictured with club chairman Daniel Levy

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Joe Lewis, the billionaire owner of Tottenham Hotspur , has been indicted in the US on charges of insider trading .

Lewis has been accused of “abusing his access to corporate boardrooms” to provide information to lovers, friends and even his private pilots.

Lewis has denied the charges. In a statement, his lawyers said they would “vigorously fight” to clear his name.

Who is Joe Lewis and how did he make his money?

Lewis made his fortune primarily in foreign exchange and investment. He is ranked 39th among the UK’s wealthiest people, according to the Sunday Times Rich List , with a net worth of £5bn.

Born in the East End of London in 1937, Lewis left school at 15 to work for his father’s catering company. He took over and rapidly expanded the business into a series of themed restaurants aimed at tourists, before selling in 1979, giving him more money to invest in his new venture, currency trading. Lewis gave Robert Earl, who later founded Hard Rock and Planet Hollywood, his first job.

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• Billionaire and Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis indicted in US for ‘brazen insider trading’

He was ferociously successful at working the currency markets during the 1980s and 1990s, notably betting that Britain would be forced to exit the European Monetary System, which it did in September 1992 amid the ‘Black Wednesday’ financial crisis.

He earned the nickname ‘The Boxer,’ a reference both to his power in the investment ring and his legendary almost namesake, Joe Louis. But he endured bruising defeats too, and lost $1bn – then a third of his fortune – in a single day when the American bank Bear Stearns collapsed at the start of the 2008 financial crisis. His $1.2bn stake was reduced to $22m in a matter of hours.

Lewis owns the Tavistock Group, first set up in 1975 and now one of the most renowned and powerful private equity organisations in the world. He founded the business in the Bahamas to escape UK tax laws. Along with his Bahamian mansion, Lewis owns a ranch in Argentina (which has caused conflict with local residents), multiple homes in Florida and more property across the world.

The 86-year-old is married to his long-term secretary Jane, and has two children by his first wife, Esther Browne. His son Charles lives in Argentina and is largely disconnected from the family business, but his daughter Vivienne is heavily involved.

She serves on Tavistock’s board of directors and is president of the prestigious Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Florida, which Lewis owns. He has a waterfront mansion on the 600-acre Isleworth property, which is surrounded by heavy security. Lewis almost never makes public statements or conducts media interviews.

Lewis loves golf and counts Tiger Woods not only as a close friend and neighbour but also a business partner. Together they embarked on a 600-acre luxury resort called Albany on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, alongside fellow golfer Ernie Els and the singer Justin Timberlake. Albany features a mega-yacht marina, lavish villas and a championship golf course which hosts Tiger Woods’ invitational tournament, the Hero World Challenge.

Tiger Woods in action at the Hero World Challenge in Albany

What has Lewis spent his fortune on?

Lewis has a diverse portfolio of investments all over the world, including luxury resorts in the Americas, property in Bulgaria and even an Australian agriculture company. The development arm of Tavistock is building a 17 square-mile community at Lake Nona near Orlando, Florida, where Disney is to move its headquarters.

He owns a superyacht called Aviva, which is 98m long and took three years to build. Its most striking feature is an indoor paddle tennis court, Lewis’s daily activity, at the heart of the boat. His wardrobe is particularly decadent, described by designer Andrew Langton as “bigger than my house in France.”

Lewis owns one of the most expensive private art collections in the world, including original works by Picasso and Matisse, many of which are aboard Aviva.

Through Tavistock, via the ENIC Group, Lewis also owns Tottenham Hotspur. He bought 29.9% of Tottenham in 1991, and increased his stake to a majority holding in February 2001, buying out most of Lord Sugar’s shares.

Despite appearing to have little interest in football, rarely showing up at Tottenham’s training ground or matches, Lewis has invested in a number of clubs including Rangers – supposedly encouraged by his former neighbour in the Bahamas, Sean Connery – and Slavia Prague.

After 21 years in charge of Tottenham, Lewis is the Premier League’s longest-serving owner. The club have since moved into a world-leading stadium and reached the Champions League final in 2019, but they have won only one trophy during Lewis’s tenure and his man in charge – Spurs chairman Daniel Levy – is under increasing pressure to deliver results on the pitch.

In October 2022, Lewis gave majority control of ENIC, and thus majority control of Tottenham, to a family discretionary trust of which the listed benficiaries are members of his family. The trust is managed by two independent trustees. The benficiaries of a discretionary trust have no legal entitlement to the assets.

Lewis, left, has been indicted on allegations of insider trading (Nick Potts/PA)

What has he been charged with?

Lewis has been indicted in New York for “orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme”.

Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a video released by his office: “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 in the stock market, because thanks to Lewis those bets were a sure thing.”

Williams described Lewis’s behaviour as “classic corporate corruption.”

He said: “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 to shower gifts on his friends and lovers... It’s cheating, and it’s against the law. Laws that apply to everyone, no matter who you are. That’s why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York.”

A Tottenham club spokesperson said: “This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment.”

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Billionaire Joe Lewis, one of Britain’s richest men and former owner of Tottenham Hotspur, pleads guilty to insider trading charges

British billionaire Joe Lewis, whose family trust owns the  Tottenham Hotspur soccer club , pleaded guilty Wednesday to insider trading and conspiracy charges in New York.

The 86-year-old businessman entered the plea in Manhattan federal court six months  after he was charged  in the case. He had been free on $300 million bail, with a yacht and private plane serving as collateral.

Lewis did not speak as he left court, and he was shielded from photographers by his aides, a lawyer and an umbrella.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the plea deal includes the largest financial penalty for insider trading in a decade.

Broad Bay Limited, which Lewis owns, will pay more than $50 million in financial penalties, the prosecutor said in a release.

“Today’s guilty pleas once again confirm — as I said in announcing the charges against Joseph Lewis just six months ago — the law applies to everyone, no matter who you are or how much wealth you have,” Williams said.

He said Lewis abused inside information he gathered from corporate boardrooms to tip off his friends, employees and romantic interests.

Federal sentencing guidelines call for a prison sentence of between 18 and 24 months, though Lewis can seek less than that. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 28.

As part of the guilty plea, Lewis and Broad Bay Limited have agreed that Lewis and his companies will resign and surrender control over board seats and participation in board meetings for any corporation publicly traded in the United States. They also agreed to quit ownership of certain investments over the five-year period of probation and to cooperate with the U.S. government’s ongoing investigation and prosecution.

Lewis has a fortune that  Forbes estimates at $6.1 billion  and assets in real estate, biotechnology, energy, agriculture and more. He bought an interest in Tottenham Hotspur, one of England’s most storied soccer clubs, in 2001.

Under his ownership, the Premier League club built a  state-of-the-art stadium  at an estimated cost of more than $1 billion.

Today, a trust benefiting members of Lewis’ family is the majority owner of ENIC, the holding company that owns the team. Lewis himself is not a beneficiary of that trust and relinquished operational control of the club in October 2022, according to corporate filings.

Lewis’ Tavistock Group owns all or parts of over 200 companies worldwide, according to its website, and his art collection boasts works by Picasso, Matisse, Degas and more. His business connections include Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Justin Timberlake, with whom he built a Bahamian oceanside resort that opened in 2010.

According to the indictment against him, Lewis’ investments in various companies gave him control of board seats, where he placed associates who let him know what they learned behind the scenes. Prosecutors said Lewis improperly shared confidential information between 2019 and 2021 to his chosen recipients and urged them to profit from the tips.

Associated Press Writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.

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UK billionaire Joe Lewis pleads not guilty in a "brazen" insider trading scheme

The high-profile investor is widely known for his ownership of the tottenham hotspur football team.

British billionaire Joe Lewis pleaded not guilty in a New York district court on Wednesday (July 26) after federal authorities charged him with running an extensive insider trading scheme .

In a 29-page indictment, federal prosecutors accused the well-known businessman and investor of giving out nonpublic financial tips to close associates, including his personal assistants and romantic partners, between 2019 and 2021. In total, Lewis was charged with 16 counts of securities fraud and three counts of conspiracy .

The charges were first introduced by US attorney Damian Williams, who criticized the “brazen” scheme and said that Lewis used his insider knowledge to “shower gifts on friends and lovers.”

Lewis was released on a $300 million bail secured by his private yacht and aircraft.

David Zornow, the lawyer representing Lewis, sharply criticized the charges in an email to Quartz.

“The government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr. Lewis, an 86-year-old man of impeccable integrity and prodigious accomplishment,” Zornow said. “Mr. Lewis has come to the US voluntarily to answer these ill-conceived charges, and we will defend him vigorously in court.”

Additionally, federal prosecutors charged his two private pilots, New York residents Patrick O’Connor and Bryan Waugh, with securities fraud after they allegedly made successful trades on Lewis’ tips.

How much is Joe Lewis worth?

Lewis owns a sprawling network of businesses spread across 13 countries. He first founded his private investment firm, the Tavistock Group, in 1975, and made most of his wealth short-selling currency in the 1990s.

Now he is worth over $6 billion, according to Forbes, and notably sold a David Hockney painting for $90.3 million in 2018, the largest sum ever paid for a work from a living artist. His family trust also holds the main ownership stake in Tottenham Hotspur, a Premier League football club.

Quotable: Classic corporate corruption

“None of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man, but as we allege he used insider information to compensate his employees, or to shower gifts on his friends and lovers... That’s classic corporate corruption. It’s cheating and it’s against the law.” — Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, at a press conference July 26

What are the charges against Joe Lewis?

The indictment against Lewis paints him as a reckless businessman, doling out financial tips to a wide range of people in his life.

In one scenario, outlined by prosecutors, Lewis allegedly urged his girlfriend, his assistant, and the pilots of his private planes—O’Connor and Waugh— to invest in the pharmaceutical company Mirati Therapeutics, after he learned of favorable clinical trial data through his hedge fund. Lewis was accused of lending O’Connor and Waugh half a million dollars each to invest in the stock, a sum regulators accused Lewis of using as a substitute for their retirement plan.

Lewis is also accused of concealing the extent of his investment in Mirati through an elabo rate series of shell companie s, as well as an offshore trust to benefit his granddaughter.

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