A former superyacht stewardess has shared astonishing details about the enormous tips she received while serving billionaires at sea. Raissa Bellini, a 37-year-old Italian now based in Miami, spent five years working on luxury vessels, mingling with the ultra-wealthy as they traveled the globe.
Bellini told Daily Mail that she was generously rewarded for her services, with some tips exceeding what most people earn in several months. 'Some charter groups would leave between US$20,000 and US$50,000 in tips after just a few days onboard,' she said. 'What shocked me most was how casually huge amounts of money were handed over. One guest tipped more in a weekend than most people make in several months. And for them, it felt completely normal.'
According to Bellini, certain guests became legendary among yacht crews for their generosity. 'Crew would hear certain names and get excited straight away. Some guests were known for changing your entire season financially,' she explained. However, she noted a stark contrast between different types of wealthy guests. 'Some billionaires were incredibly generous and respectful. Others would spend hundreds of thousands on champagne and parties, then barely tip the crew.'
Bellini believes tipping reflects personality more than wealth. 'The genuinely classy guests usually treated staff the best. You could tell who respected the crew,' she said. 'The younger tech entrepreneurs and finance businessmen were often the biggest spenders and best tippers. They liked showing off, partying and making a big impression on their friends.'
Conversely, guests who tried too hard to appear wealthy were often the worst tippers. 'Ironically, some of the guests who tried hardest to look wealthy were the worst tippers. They'd demand perfection all trip and then leave surprisingly little,' she recalled.
Bellini observed differences based on nationality. 'Americans were very mixed. Some were unbelievably generous and treated the crew amazingly well. Others expected perfection every second of the day and still tipped poorly. There was never really a middle ground.' British guests were 'normally polite and respectful' but less likely 'to dramatically throw cash around.' Australian guests, however, knew how to party hard and tip well. 'We had Australians from Sydney and Melbourne working in industries like mining, finance and property. They were usually really fun, relaxed guests. They partied hard but generally tipped fairly well and treated the crew with respect.'
Some guests used money to show off in front of friends. 'Sometimes it became competitive. They wanted to look like the biggest spender in the group. You'd see people hand over cash dramatically just for attention,' Bellini said. While some tips were life-changing, others came after difficult charters. 'Sometimes the guests who caused the most chaos tipped the biggest. It almost felt like an apology,' she recalled.
After years around the ultra-rich, Bellini says the experience changed her perspective on money. 'You realise there's a level of wealth most people can't even imagine. When people are surrounded by luxury long enough, huge amounts of money stop feeling real to them.'
Bellini began working on a Ferretti in 2016, moving on to mega yachts and then superyachts in 2019, often working 18-hour days. Her notable trips included St Tropez, Monaco, Mykonos, Montenegro, Italy, France, and Spain, typically from April to October, living in tight quarters.
