Mystery of Dragons’ Den star Hilary Devey’s missing fortune after she left NOTHING in her will despite £80M estate
MYSTERY surrounds Dragons’ Dens star Hilary Devey’s missing fortune after she reportedly left nothing in her will despite an £80million estate.
The successful businesswoman and TV star died aged 65 at her holiday home in Morocco in June last year.
Probate documents have now revealed Dragons’ Den regular Hilary did not leave a penny in her will despite the fortune she had built up, the Mail reports.
The haulage boss, born in Bolton in Greater Manchester, is said to have bequeathed a large diamond cross to her friend Aubrey Mulligan.
She also left her personal effects to her trustees – her son, publicist and lawyer – to be distributed as she had set out in a private letter.
Hilary’s death, following a long illness, prompted tributes from her fellow “Dragons”, from the BBC show in which entrepreneurs bid from investment from business experts.
Peter Jones called her an “inspiring woman” while Deborah Meaden said: “She was unique in every way and brought grit and warmth with her into the Den.”
Hilary was married and divorced three times and had son Mevlit by former partner Hussain Ahmett, who she later discovered was already married and had five other children.
Hilary’s own mother had similarly discovered her husband Arthur Brewster was also wed to someone else with whom he had four kids.
Bailiffs ransacked the family home when Hilary was four after her father’s firm collapsed and he later worked in pubs, involving frequent moves across the country.
The businesswoman has also revealed in interviews how she was sexually abused by a predator who kidnapped her one night when she was 12.
Devey made her first £1million aged 40 after setting up freight network firm Pall-Ex.
She later became a TV regular on not only Dragons’ Den but other business-themed shows such as The Secret Millionaire and The Intern.
She joined the Dragons’ Den panel in February 2011 following the departure of James Caan but announced she was leaving in June 2012, signing a two-year deal with Channel 4.
She was also a panellist on ITV daytime programme Loose Women.
In 2009 Hilary suffered a stroke which left her with no sensation in her left arm and took away some of her peripheral vision.
She became patron of the Stroke Association and was also vice-president of the Carers’ Trust.
She also donated more than £70,000 to the Back Door Music Project and the Syke Community Centre in Rochdale.
She received a CBE in 2013 for services to the transport industry and charity.