American billionaire Anthony Hsieh has anchored off Skiathos with two superyachts worth 60 million euros, drawing widespread attention across the island.
The founder of mortgage lender loanDepot arrived in the Sporades archipelago aboard two distinct vessels that have become the primary topic of conversation among local residents and holidaymakers. According to reporting by Giannis Apostolidis, the floating fleet features a custom sailing yacht and a specialized support vessel operating in tandem in regional waters.
The pair of ships dominating the local bay includes the custom sailing yacht ALEA alongside the 53-metre support vessel Bad Company Support 175. Operating together, the ships rely on auxiliary tenders to maintain a continuous shuttling service, moving guests, crew members, and heavy equipment between the vessels and the shore.
In naval terminology, these smaller tenders are often referred to as maids, serving as support craft for larger superyachts and sailing vessels. Their constant movement has kept the two vessels closely connected while stationed off the coast of Skiathos, an island in the Aegean Sea known for attracting high-end maritime tourism.
Career in American mortgage lending
Hsieh is an American businessman, investor, and prominent figure in financial services and residential lending in the United States. Born in Taiwan, he moved to the US with his family as a child, where he subsequently developed an entrepreneurial focus.
Over several decades, Hsieh emerged as a key pioneer in the digital transformation of the American mortgage industry, reshaping how consumers access home loans online. Before establishing loanDepot in 2010, he created LoansDirect, which was acquired by financial services firm E*TRADE in 2001. He later founded HomeLoanCenter, which merged with consumer marketplace LendingTree in 2004.
His mortgage firm loanDepot eventually grew into one of the largest non-bank residential lenders in the United States, expanding beyond traditional banking models. The company reached a major milestone in February 2021 when it completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. The Wall Street listing propelled Hsieh's personal net worth to an estimated 2.6 billion dollars.
Superyacht fleet and marine conservation
Beyond his career in corporate finance, Hsieh is internationally recognized for his deep involvement in offshore sportfishing. He turned his personal passion into a global maritime operation by creating the Bad Company program, a fleet that includes approximately 12 specialized fishing and support vessels stationed in various ocean regions worldwide.
The Bad Company fleet travels across global waters to combine deep-sea fishing and ocean exploration with scientific data collection. The program works alongside research efforts to protect marine ecosystems, utilizing satellite tagging systems to monitor big-game fish.
As part of these conservation initiatives, Hsieh's team tags and releases large marlin to gather data on their migratory routes. The scientific information collected during these oceanic voyages helps researchers better understand marine habitats and species movement.
Design details of ALEA and Support 175
The two ships visiting the Sporades highlight contrasting styles of modern naval engineering. The 56-metre ALEA is a custom sailing yacht constructed by the Dutch shipyard Vitters, featuring naval architecture by the design firm Frers and interior styling by Milan studio M2 Atelier.
Built with an aluminum hull and a performance racing profile, ALEA blends luxury accommodations with high-speed sailing capability. The vessel is considered a modern achievement in custom yacht construction, combining lightweight hull engineering with sleek aesthetics.
In contrast, the 53-metre Bad Company Support 175 was built by Damen Yachting to serve as the central operational mothership for Hsieh's maritime fleet. Designed with heavy utility in mind, the support vessel features a specially configured deck for transporting sportfishing boats, a dedicated heavy crane, an onboard helicopter hangar, and an internal conference room used to coordinate expedition logistics.
Impact on Skiathos maritime tourism
The presence of both vessels in the Sporades has created a rare sight off the coast, pairing the sailing silhouette of ALEA with the imposing industrial appearance of the support ship. Frequent shuttle movements between the two hulls provide aboard guests with a distinct floating experience.
Local observers note that Hsieh's arrival reinforces Skiathos as a major destination for international business figures, luxury yachting enthusiasts, and high-profile ocean travelers in the Mediterranean.
