Woman who worked on superyachts for five years reveals what billionaires REALLY get up to when they’re out at sea – and the shocking amount she was paid

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A former model who used to work on yachts for the super-rich has shared her insights into what wealthy people are really like when they’re at sea.

As someone who’s spent years exploring the world of luxury travel, let me tell you about Raissa Bellini. She’s an Italian expat living in Miami, and for five incredible years, she worked as a flight attendant on some of the most beautiful yachts cruising the Mediterranean. It was a truly unique experience!

The 37-year-old woman with brown hair visited popular vacation spots like Italy and Ibiza, where she met and mingled with very wealthy people who were relaxing and behaving in unexpected ways.

It’s not the luxury that’s surprising about working on superyachts, but what happens when very rich people believe they’re not being observed, she explains.

I recall a flight where a very wealthy passenger attempted to give a flight attendant $5,000 to let him into a crew rest area while his wife was sunbathing on the upper deck.

Once, a party became so wild that the captain had to discreetly turn the yacht around and cut the rental short. Guests had begun fighting and throwing furniture on the top deck around 3 a.m.

Raissa says that while passengers often acted rowdy and playfully inappropriate, she also witnessed some troubling incidents while working on the luxury ships.

She recalls an incident where a guest became very hostile towards a new crew member, requiring security to station themselves outside the cabin door all night to ensure the crew member’s safety.

Being out on the ocean means complete privacy, and with the crew costing a fortune each week, they need to handle any problems delicately to avoid bad publicity.

Most people only see the glamorous side of superyachts, but there’s a surprisingly demanding and often hectic world happening behind the scenes to make it all work.

Raissa started working on yachts in 2016, beginning with a Ferretti. By 2019, she was working on even larger vessels – first mega yachts, and then superyachts.

Oh my gosh, you wouldn’t BELIEVE where she’s been! I’ve been tracking her travels, and in 2016 she was living it up in St. Tropez and Monaco – seriously glamorous! Then in 2017, it was Mykonos and Montenegro, both absolutely stunning locations. And it doesn’t stop there! She’s been all over Italy and France too, just constantly jet-setting. I’m so jealous!

In 2018 and 2019, she completed a few final trips around Spain. She typically worked during the warmer months, from April to October, living on the yacht with the crew and high-profile passengers. Space was limited, and she was completely surrounded by water.

Raissa, who has worked on luxury yachts, says the reality TV show Below Deck doesn’t fully capture the experience of working on one. She describes the show as a simplified or less intense version of the real thing.

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People often wonder if the glamorous yachting lifestyle seen on shows like Below Deck is accurate. She explains that it is, in some respects – the long workdays, challenging clients, and cramped living quarters for the crew are all genuine aspects of the job.

Even though the show exists, it doesn’t fully capture the real drama that could occur when very rich people are stuck at sea alone.

I began my career working on a 42-meter Ferretti yacht, and then transitioned to significantly larger mega yachts built by Lürssen – they were a completely different level of project.

Sometimes guests would rent the yacht for a week and turn it into a party boat, like their own private nightclub on the water.

She remembers one rental where the guests had parties that lasted until sunrise for three consecutive nights, and some even jumped off the top deck into the ocean at 4 in the morning.

She also recounts an incident where a guest, after a night of celebrating, jumped into the Mediterranean Sea and didn’t realize until getting back on the boat that his Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 watch was missing.

The team searched for it, but couldn’t find it. I recall thinking that the watch itself was likely worth more than many cars.

Once, a well-known businessman demanded we sail overnight simply so he could have breakfast in a new country.

‘The entire crew had to reorganise the yacht while guests were still partying upstairs,’ she adds.

Raissa admits that while Below Deck exaggerates the drama of the job, the real pressure is actually higher. She explains that guests often spend hundreds of thousands of dollars per week and demand complete privacy.

She explained that the job involves working with strong personalities and large egos, with very little rest, all while being out at sea.

Viewers often see drama on Below Deck, but life on actual superyachts can be even more chaotic – we just don’t usually get to see it happen.

Raissa explains that pay varies depending on the size of the yacht, the owner’s preferences, and the job you have on board. She also mentioned earning a very good salary in the past.

She explains that this job is unique because you might earn very little from one client, but then make a substantial amount from the very next one.

I earned about €2,500 (approximately AU$4,087) per month working on a 42-meter yacht during a five-month season. The owner also gave us a bonus equal to one month’s salary at the end of the season.

It seems appealing in theory, but when you consider the demanding work and long hours, it’s not quite as exciting as it appears.

We only had two rental bookings that season because the owner primarily used the boat themselves, and guests who use the boat privately generally don’t leave tips.

‘Across the entire season, tips were around €7,000 (AU$11,444) total for the crew.’ 

Raissa explained that crew members depend on the captain to fairly share tips, as all tips are given to the captain who then divides them among the team.

She explains that you have to trust the system, but you can never be certain how much money was there to begin with.

I was thrilled when I started working on much larger yachts – the ones over 100 meters long. My pay jumped considerably, and I was suddenly earning about €7,000 each month.

Crew members on larger yachts, particularly those with a lot of rentals, can earn between €30,000 (approximately AU$49,000) and €50,000 (around AU$82,000) or even more in tips during a single season.

‘But again, it depends a lot on your position – the higher your role, the bigger your share.’

Raissa explains that pay for yacht crew can vary a lot. Some yachts don’t get any charter bookings, which means crew members don’t receive any tips.

She says other yacht owners are incredibly generous, often giving lavish gifts to their crew. She’s personally witnessed crew members receiving Cartier watches, and has heard stories of captains being gifted cars or even apartments.

‘But on the other side, there are also situations where crew struggle just to get fully paid.

You’ll generally receive free room and board, plus travel expenses. However, be prepared to be available around the clock throughout the season.

The job offers little privacy, with limited time off and close living and working conditions.

Pay can vary a lot, from a modest income to a very high salary, depending on the yacht, the owner, and your specific job.

After spending five years working on yachts for wealthy clients, Raissa has switched careers and is now focusing on building her own online business.

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2026-03-21 12:37