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

Earlier this week, Joe Lewis, business magnate and the owner of the Tottenham Hotspurs FC, was accused of insider trading and securities fraud. Lewis, who is worth an estimated $6.4 billion, didn't go through all this trouble for personal gain but used his connections to tip off lovers, employees, and associates, even lending them money to buy stock in companies whose shares he knew for a fact were about to rise in value.

According to the indictment, Lewis ran the elaborate scheme between 2013 and 2021, and many conversations that count as insider trading took place onboard his $250 million megayacht Aviva. That last part should come as no surprise since Lewis has called Aviva his half-time home since delivery in 2017 – and least of all if you know anything of the kind of thought and effort that went into building it, including on Lewis' part.

Aviva has been detained, as Lewis used it and his private jet to secure his $300 million bail bond. He is no longer allowed to board the megayacht and is barred from using the plane for anything other than business meetings and court appearances.

Lewis has pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his attorney saying that they plan on fighting the "egregious" accusations that most likely stemmed from some kind of misunderstanding.

To superyacht-watchers, the case has brought back into the spotlight the gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Aviva, a vessel with such an unusual construction and spectacular amenities that it stands in a class of its own, even if it breaks no records in terms of length, volume, or price tag. That's not to say that it's not impressive on these counts, too: Aviva is 322 feet (98 meters) long, offers an interior volume of 4,966 GT, accommodation for 16 guests and 25 crew, and comes with a reported price tag of $250 million.

More than anything, Aviva is an example that a dream vessel can – and will – be built if you believe in it. And if you have the money to back it, of course. Actually the third Lewis-owned superyacht of this name, Aviva features exterior design by Reymond Langton and interiors by Rodiek. Abeking & Rasmussen handled the construction, with Lewis hand-picking the shipyard on considerations of its extensive experience with military vessels.

The brief asked for two things: innovation and a padel tennis court. And the shortest delivery timeline possible, so make that three things. Aviva checked all these boxes and did so in a most spectacular way, but that's not to say that the process was an easy one.

Lewis is a passionate tennis player, and prior to this Aviva, his yachting experiences were always built around locations with tennis courts. Since one couldn't be built on the vessel's main deck without giving it the shape of a pick-truck and without considerable discomfort to guests in rougher seas, Langton made the surprising decision to bring it inside – and virtually build the entire vessel around it.

Aviva is a notable vessel for more things than just the fact that it's built around a hybrid squash-tennis court or the fact that it took three short years to bring it from paper to reality. Due to its patented hull, it is incredibly stable and very efficient, both desirable qualities in a vessel designed as a long-term residence at sea and a luxurious vacation destination.

Efficiency was so improved by the design of the hull that the team downgraded the engines from the original spec by two sizes. With twin MTU engines of 2,880kW each, Aviva hit 20.3 knots (23.3 mph/37.5 kph) in sea trials and cruises comfortably at 16.5 knots (19 mph/30.5 kph). Electric motors kick in at night, offering noiseless, smooth operation at 11 knots (12.6 mph/20.3 kph).

As for the styling, the governing motto was "love it or lose it," according to the team speaking with the media in a rare interview. This applies to everything from furniture handles to doors and entire rooms and means that things that couldn't be made to stand out were made invisible instead. For example, doors are either objects of art or become part of the wall; handles are either intricate, gorgeous pieces crafted by hand, or they lack altogether.

Aviva has no wood and no sharp corners inside, and that's yet another highlight of this custom vessel, made possible at Lewis' request. All the finishes are glass, metal, leather, fine silk, and stone, but before you think the place must be very pretentious and overwhelming, it's not. Aviva was meant from the start as a half-permanent family residence, so it combines large, opulent socializing areas with surprisingly small, very intimate spaces.

Amenities are of the usual kind, but still astounding: a pool, a jacuzzi, a helipad, a hidden cinema and an outdoor screening area, bars, several dining areas, an expandable beach club, packed garages, and spacious crew areas that are cleverly hidden from view. The main salon has no support pillars and can open completely to the exterior, and is in itself a stunning achievement.

The same could be said about the master suite, which boasts a bathroom larger than an average family home and walk-in wardrobes styled in the manner of a Channel boutique. This kind of opulence is set off by Lewis' very small and masculine private office or any of the aforementioned dining nooks scattered throughout.

Lewis took delivery of Aviva in 2017 and has been using it extensively ever since, or did until his indictment. He lives in the Bahamas, which has earned him the reputation of one of the world's most reclusive billionaires, and he would often spend months on end onboard the vessel.

In 2018, Aviva won the Motor Yacht of the Year award at the World Superyacht Awards. It's not just Abeking & Rasmussen or trade publications that praise the qualities of this gorgeous vessel: it has the awards to show for. Not that they're of much help right now… but a $250 million award-winning, spectacular custom megayacht must be a nice problem to have.