By John Freeman
To quote Mel Brooks, it’s good to be king. It’s even better when you’re young and living like a king.
Southern California native Matt Sawyer, all of 23, enjoys that double luxury as one of the world’s youngest megayacht owners – maybe even the youngest.
"I’m lucky because get to live two different lives," says Sawyer, a multi-millionaire who owns Golden Boy II, a 115-ft., five-year-old Sovereign he bought last summer. The yacht’s name comes from a nickname Sawyer’s grandfather and mentor bestowed upon him as a child.
Since taking over his grandfather’s industrial real-estate business, Sawyer now owns and manages more than 100 large land parcels and commercial buildings, centralized in the San Gabriel Valley, just east of Los Angeles. At 20, after two years at California State University, Chico, he devoted full-time to the business.
"I’m just another real-estate guy when I go look at properties," he says, "but I guess I’m sort of a celebrity in yachting." All he had to do was be younger than nearly everyone else who owns a yacht of that size.
A boater since his childhood in Seal Beach and later Huntington Beach, Sawyer, who turns 24 in June, has owned five large yachts in recent years. A year ago, he sold the original Golden Boy, a 94-ft. Hargrave he owned for 18 months, before moving up to the 115-ft version in 2006. Golden Boy II completed an extensive refit at Knight & Carver YachtCenter in San Diego early this year.
The vessel, with an increased value of $9 million, provides five staterooms and hosts up to 10 guests, plus crew. Based in Newport, Rhode Island this summer, it charters at $65,000 per week, plus expenses.
Back when Sawyer was 15, he struck the kind of deal with his grandfather that reflects Sawyer’s outlook on achieving life’s goals, sometimes with sacrifice.
"He had this cool Boston Whaler and I used to wish it was mine," Sawyer recalled. "One day he said, ‘If you drink a glass of milk every day for a year, it’s yours.’ He knew I hated milk. But I did it and I got the boat."
Lesson learned? "I still hate milk, but you do what you gotta do. Now, in a short amount of time, I’ve got this monstrous yacht. It’s something I never would’ve dreamed would happen."
Sawyer lives in a relatively modest 1,495 square feet house in Huntington Harbor, a 10-minute walk to the beach. Until a few years ago, he lived with his parents just a few houses down the street, not far from where his grandfather, now 90, resides.
"It was a great deal (living with his parents, Steve and Wendy Sawyer)," he recalls. "They gave me free rent as long as I was making enough money to afford a house of my own," a process which obviously didn’t take long.
Sawyer’s personal indulgences start and stop with Golden Boy II.
"I try to live very regular, normal life," says Sawyer. "That’s the way I was raised. I don’t like fast cars or fancy furnishings. That’s not my style."
When talk turns to industrial real estate, Sawyer, who’s usually the youngest person in the room, listens more than he talks. Then he acts.
"Nothing else really interests me except boating and real estate," he says. "If I’m not working, I’m on my boat. I heard Donald Trump say once that he doesn’t stop working when he takes vacations. I take the same approach. When I’m on the boat, I’m still working, either doing deals or thinking about doing deals."
One lesson he’s learned: "I’ve never sold a piece of property, ever. There’s a limited supply of land out there. They’re not making any more dirt."
Though Golden Boy II is summering in Rhode Island, Sawyer feels devoted to his West Coast roots, which is why he chose to refit the yacht at a Southern California yard. His reason might surprise hardened Golden State yacht owners who seek to defer costs by going out-of-state for repairs.
"I like the fact we utilized California workers to do the job and that I was putting my money back into the state’s economy," said Sawyer. "I like to create opportunities. It’s the same when we develop a commercial project. You create jobs and create income – not just for yourself but for the other businesses and their employees."
Sawyer admits his grandfather, who’s his mother’s father, wasn’t all that pleased when Sawyer got into yachting.
"He thought it wasn’t a very smart financial move," Sawyer recalled. "He didn’t think it was appropriate because of my age. In fact, he thought I’d lost it. But I think he’s okay with it. As long as I generate enough income (from charters), he’s fine. And it’s great to be able to bring the whole family together on-board."
When Matt was growing up, his father spent long hours at his Long Beach-based legal practice, specializing in civil litigation and real-estate law.
"I made sure I was home for dinner every night, but in terms of time spent mentoring, his grandfather was the biggest influence on Matt," said the elder Sawyer. "And just like Art, Matt’s a problem-solver, very analytical, very shrewd. It’s amazing to watch him analyze a deal and then make it happen."
Yet Mr. Sawyer can’t help but shake his head in dismay when Matt’s in casual clothing.
"He wears his pants at the mid-butt level, real baggy. Drives me crazy," he said. "But when he’s working, he’s got the full tailored suit, French cuffs and Gucci shoes or whatever they are. And his mother and I love that he’s so humble and respectful. We couldn’t be prouder of him." |
