Yes, the yacht chef is responsible for cooking all meals for both the guests and the crew, providing high-quality, varied food to support the demanding work onboard, though smaller yachts might have a single chef for everyone, while larger ones might have a dedicated crew chef or galley team. Crew meals often differ from guest meals, focusing on heartier, carb-rich options to fuel physical labor, and chefs must manage provisioning, nutrition, and strict galley hygiene for the entire vessel.
Yacht chef salary
Generally, yacht chefs can earn a higher salary than land-based chefs due to the demands and responsibilities that come with working on a luxury yacht. The average salary for a yacht chef can range from $50,000 to $100,000 per year, with some experienced chefs earning up to $150,000 or more.
On Below Deck it's just one chef. In real life yachting most yachts over 175 feet or so are designed for 2 chefs. Yachts smaller than that just have one chef for crew and guests.
Chef Mila Kolomeitseva was fired by Captain Sandy on season four of Below Deck Mediterranean after failing to use her cooking skills to produce top-quality food for guests—including some not-so-nice nachos. "Of course it makes me feel awful," Mila said of her departure.
At the end of each charter, the tip handed to the crew comes from the guests themselves, not Bravo. The amount is usually based on standard superyacht etiquette: around 15–20% of the yacht's full charter rate, not the discounted filming rate.
“My least favorite? Captain Sandy,” Captain Lee said in the video. “And we all know why. I don't like her. Normally I don't have to like people to work with them, I can work with almost anyone.
Captain Sandy Yawn of Below Deck has a net worth of $400,000 according to The Sun. A seasoned veteran in sailing, she receives the same salary between $150,000 to $210,000 and the $5,000 to $6,000 a month appearance fee.
Below Deck Mediterranean's Captain Mark Howard Dead at 65 - IMDb.
As a full package, you won't find many more popular Below Deck cast members than chef Ben Robinson.
The pair has also become really good friends. This was repeatedly proven throughout 2025, as Malia documented her steady stream of world travels. The Below Deck Mediterranean alum has taken to Instagram to share photos and videos of her trips, most of which received “likes” from her former boss, Captain Sandy.
Captain Sandy Yawn was in jail multiple times due to severe alcoholism, primarily for drinking and driving offenses, which led to numerous arrests and a court-ordered detox at age 17 before she sought sobriety. Her struggles with alcohol, including using drugs, caused a destructive lifestyle that landed her in jail and institutions before she found recovery, celebrating years of sobriety in August 2022 and 1989 respectively, as she's recounted in interviews and on social media.
While exact figures vary, Ben Robinson (Chef) is often cited as the wealthiest cast member due to his multiple seasons and post-show ventures, with estimates around $2.5-$3 million, but Captains like Lee Rosbach & Glenn Shephard earn significantly more annually (hundreds of thousands) from salaries and large tips, though their net worths are harder to pin down, with Captain Glenn estimated at $1.5M.
The crew is usually relieved that real yacht life isn't as dramatic as it looks on Below Deck. Most professionals value teamwork, respect, and smooth operations over conflict, and prefer a calm, efficient work environment rather than the constant tension the show portrays.
My understanding is the Bosun would typically just be in charge of the deck crew/exterior where the First Officer is basically the stand in for the Captain in all things when the Captain is not available, and typically will be responsible for some of the admistrative duties that would otherwise fall to the Captain.
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Who pays for provisions on a yacht? The charter yacht food provisioning is paid for by the charterer as part of their Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA). To err on the safe side, we usually recommend budgeting around an additional 35% of the base price of the yacht charter fee to go toward your APA.
"I guess that also ties in super closely with appreciating everything too, not taking things for granted." She then went on to show that even living with ADHD is something she's excited about. "Today I just thought I'd share that I am in fact ADHD and it is truly the biggest gift I ever could have gotten!
On Below Deck, guests pay less ($15,000 to $40,000 for two to three days) to cover the costs of making the show. In fact, luxury charters work with “APA” (Advance Provisioning Allowance), which pays for things like fuel, food, and docking fees. Read our guide to yacht provisioning to learn more about APA.
She was asked to pick her favorite chef in the series. While Ben Robinson stood out, Sandy ultimately chose chef Dave White.
Addison gets a phone call from Derek. She takes the call while Violet snaps at the woman to stop crying, as Pete wanted a celebration. Addison has hung up the phone. Derek told her that they took Mark Sloan off life support.
Fraser Olender is revealing new details about his alleged role in Chef Anthony Iracane previously getting fired after their drama reached a boiling point on Below Deck Season 12, Episode 8.
Aesha Scott plans to stay with Below Deck Mediterranean for a few more years before pursuing a career as a TV presenter. Despite recent disappointments on Below Deck Med, Aesha is exploring backup plans like her alcohol coconut water brand Drop.
Captain Sandy Yawn was in jail multiple times due to severe alcoholism, primarily for drinking and driving offenses, which led to numerous arrests and a court-ordered detox at age 17 before she sought sobriety. Her struggles with alcohol, including using drugs, caused a destructive lifestyle that landed her in jail and institutions before she found recovery, celebrating years of sobriety in August 2022 and 1989 respectively, as she's recounted in interviews and on social media.
During an exclusive interview for Bravo Insider, Hannah revealed that Josh was a Scotland native who now works in commercial real estate in Sydney. She described her partner as a “very private” man who “hates social media,” which is why she rarely shares updates on their personal lives.
As we have now established that the show is an unscripted reality show following yacht crew, this doesn't mean that it's an accurate depiction of a yachtie's real life. The life of a yachtie as portrayed on the show is a bit different than what a yacht crew experiences in real life.