19 October 2023 , 06:23
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Hilary Devey CBE is said to have left not a single penny in her will, despite an estimated fortune of £80 million.
The former BBC Dragons' Den star died aged 65 in June 2022 while at her holiday home in Marrakesh, Morocco. Bolton-born Hilary had been battling a long illness and after her death many former co-stars and viewers shared emotional tributes.
One year after her death, some of the details of her will have been released. Despite her massive fortune, it appears that Hilary has only left material objects including jewellery to those closest to her.
The Daily Mail reports that in Hilary's will, which she made in 2021, she left her famous diamond cross to her pal Audrey Mulligan and her personal effects to her son Mevlit Brewster-Ahmet and her publicist and lawyer who acted as trustees. That means what happens to her estimated £80million fortune is a mystery.
Hilary's life in the North West growing up was far removed from her success later on. As a small child she came face to face with bailiffs who removed goods from her family home after her dad Arthur Brewster's central heating company filed for bankruptcy.
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But this only spurred Hilary on as she went on to launch her own business pallet company which she founded after using money from selling her home and car.
Speaking about her determination to succeed, Devey previously said: "I didn't want my son to go without so I pushed myself hard to build a life for us. Fortunately, I was always good with numbers and I loved the cut and thrust of business." Her hard work eventually paid off.
Over the course of her life, she was heavily involved in charities and donated one penny for every pallet which was distributed by her Pall-Ex company in her 'Penny a Pallet' scheme.
In the 2013 Birthday Honours list, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her continued services to the transport industry as well as charity work.