The Apprentice Winners Struggle Financially After Show

Karishma Vijay was crowned the winner of The Apprentice on Thursday, beating Pascha Myhill to be awarded 's £250,000 investment in a tense finale. 

The 28-year-old influencer and beauty brand owner said she is 'eternally grateful' for the opportunity, she landed a spot on the show, crediting the show with turning her life around after 'hitting rock bottom'. 

Karishma is now the 21st winner of the long-running show, which has seen Lord Sugar invest in the likes of sweet and brownie brands to recruitment, plumbing companies and even a cosmetic clinic chain. 

However, winning the show is only the beginning of the story for many of the candidates and after the cameras stop rolling it isn't always smooth sailing. 

Over the years many of the winners have ultimately decided to part ways with Lord Sugar, due to both clashes and financial security. 

While for some not bagging the number one prize actually worked in their favour as they achieved more success as runner ups. 

So who cut ties with Lord Sugar after winning The Apprentice? 

Michelle Dewberry - Season 2

She's gone on to become one of the most well known stars of The Apprentice, landing a string of TV roles and even standing for parliament. 

Yet while Michelle made her name on Lord Sugar's show, there is no love lost between the pair. 

Michelle, who grew up on a council estate in Hull, Yorkshire, appeared on the show in 2006 when the prize was a job offer from the entrepreneur rather than an investment.

She was offered a £100,000 role working on the launch of Xenon Green, which specialised in computer equipment disposal.

However, Michelle left company before the end of her 12-month contract saying it 'wasn't what it said on the tin', noting: 'Within a few weeks it was quite clear there wasn't the opportunity that everybody had hoped for and thought. 

'I'd been self-employed and I'd earned a lot of money, a lot more than what he was paying me. I went through this massive, intense process, and then it was like, uh?'

The disenchantment was mutual with Lord Sugar later telling Digital Spy he regretted choosing Michelle instead of runner-up Ruth Badger. 

'[Picking Michelle over Ruth] is the only one where you could say that there is some regret,' he confessed. 

'And the regrets really were very much that she decided that what my company had to offer was not for her. The reason Ruth wasn't chosen is another private issue.'

Michelle also battled personal heartache during this time - while dating fellow contestant Syed Ahmed she suffered a miscarriage.

A spokesperson for the pair said at the time: 'Michelle and Syed are both extremely upset and are currently supporting each other through this difficult period.' They split soon afterwards.

Michelle is now a presenter on GB News. 

Yasmina Siadatan - Season 5

After becoming Lord Sugar's Apprentice in 2009 Yasmina said: 'I feel very lucky. Life is brilliant.' 

The steely brunette was tipped for greatness and immediately began working for Lord Sugar at his Amscreen Healthcare company, which supplies advertising and information screens to hospitals and GPs.

Yet the following year she announced she was pregnant following a whirlwind romance with colleague Andrew Hepburn.

Yasmina went on maternity leave at Christmas 2010 and her first child was born the following month. She was due to return in January 2012, but told bosses she was expecting another baby.

A spokesman for Lord Sugar later said: 'Both sides would have liked to work with each other for longer but Lord Sugar knows family must come first.

'Yasmina did a great job and the door is always open should she ever want to return.'

However, Yasmina - who said she was 'itching' to get back to work after spending two years starting her family - ultimately decided not to return to Lord Sugar's company. 

Instead she landed a job with Dragons' Den star James Caan, who had just been appointed Chairman of the UK Government's Start Up Loans Scheme, brought Yasmina in a Head of Operations role in a Private Equity firm.

'Once I had met various people in the organisation I was sold on the company as a whole, especially James himself, so it was just a case of them finding a role that would suit me,' said Yasmina.

'It wasn't an advertised role but something that James matched my skills to, which is how a lot of people are brought into the company.'

Stella English  - Season 6

Investment banker Stella became Lord Sugar's apprentice in 2010 back when the show was offering a job with the entrepreneur rather than an investment. 

As the sixth winner of the show, Stella was rewarded with a job at Lord Sugar's Viglen IT company.

But she quickly became disillusioned in her role and described herself as an 'overpaid lackey' on £100,000 a year doing 'menial' jobs.

She claimed she was forced to resign after 12 months and brought a constructive dismissal case against Lord Sugar.

However, the tribunal dismissed the case, with the panel deciding her case 'should never have been brought' and was 'ill-advised'.

Lord Sugar later said: 'I'm afraid she underestimated me and her reputation is now in tatters.'

Stella's ex-husband Ray blamed the show for their split, with Stella telling the Mirror: 'The day that Ray left me he said 'I wish you had never done that show.' I just didn't know what to say.'

She struggled to find a job afterwards and claimed she only had £90 in the bank to feed her two children.

Talking to Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones on Daybreak, she said: 'Despite [the high salary] I couldn't actually physically stay there, because it was unbearable. I had no future there, I knew that's why I resigned.

'I don't regret going on the show because I won The Apprentice and I'm very proud of that.

'But I do regret obviously what I've had to go through and what my family have had to go through, and I'm very sad the repercussions that it's had.'

She continued: 'However I will stand by it, I've spoken the truth and I've stood up for myself and I've had to pay for it dearly but I will never apologise for it.'

She then went on to work as a Management Consultant at computer giant HP, before she began hosting Crowdbox TV, a crowdfunding TV channel, in 2014.

She is also listed on The Motivational Speakers Agency and can be booked for talks and events. 

Tom Pellereau - Season 7 

Tom was the first contestant to become Lord Sugar's business partner when the show changed format in 2011 and offered a £250,000 investment rather than a £100,000 job. 

After joining forces, Tom and the business mogul went on to build tech-beauty venture, company StylPro.

Creating the world's first curved nail file after watching his sister struggle to shape her nails, the lifelong inventor has gone on to create a host of beauty gadgets, including LED masks, a heated Gua Shua and red light hairbrushes.

However after 14 years working with Lord Sugar, it was announced the pair had decided to part ways as he bought the business mogul out his 50 per cent stake, taking it to a 100 per cent founder-owned company.

Praising the prosperous partnership, Lord Sugar said in a statement: 'Fourteen years after investing in Tom, I have agreed with Tom's decision to purchase back my shares and return sole ownership to him.

'When I first met Tom, he was a naïve inventor with ideas and drive, but he desperately needed my business help. 

'He has gone on to build one of the UK's fastest-selling electrical beauty-tech brands. It's now the right time to part ways and allow Tom and his team to take the company to new heights.'

Tom added: 'I will always be so grateful for the investment Lord Sugar made, and the potential he saw in me and my inventions,' he said. 'His time, knowledge and guidance have been invaluable.

'While now is the right time to regain full ownership of my business, I look back on the amazing journey we've taken together over the last 14 years with deep gratitude and happy memories.'

Joseph Valente - Season 11

Expelled from school at 14, Joseph has said plumbing saved him after the trade gave him discipline and purpose. 

After reading Lord Sugar's book when he was 22, he went on to take out a loan and began his plumbing business ImpraGas before going on to win The Apprentice in 2015 at just 25 years old. 

Yet Joseph has described the mentorship as 'not being what I expected' as 'I wanted to go national and he didn't'. 

Joseph was the first Apprentice winner to ever buy Lord Sugar out, but things didn't go to plan and the businessman was forced to sell half his business and close down the other half. 

Joseph said he was wounded by Brexit and he 'pulled a deal out of nowhere a few days before we were about to go under'.

After selling the business he said his reputation took a 'hit' and suffered 'major anxiety' afterwards.

He told Metro: 'The damage is done. I got abused, hardcore, online by all of the haters that were waiting for me to fail. I took a lot of grief from it.

'It hit me extremely hard. You know, it was the worst depression, I've probably ever experienced. I started to question my ability.

'I've taken a lot of stick, it wasn't the nicest thing that happened. You really do want to give up.'

However, Joseph bounced back and is now CEO of his company Trade Mastermind, which gives advice and training to businesses in the construction industry.

Alana Spencer - Season 12

Alana landed Lord Sugar's vast investment to support her baking business Ridiculously Rich.

She previously revealed that her turnover has gone from £100,000 to £450,000 in a year thanks to winning The Apprentice.

Three years after her win, Alana bought back Lord Sugar's shares and she became the sole owner and director of the business in 2019.

She wrote on social media: 'A little while ago I had the amazing opportunity to buy out Lord Sugar from Ridiculously Rich and take full control back of my business,' she explained on social media.

'It was an exciting, crazy, scary few months while the final details were being agreed and sorted, but something I am so grateful for.'

She added: 'Working with Lord Sugar has been an incredible experience and I have learned such a lot in such a short space of time. I am so grateful for his time in Ridiculously Rich by Alana.'

Wishing her luck, Lord Sugar said: 'I will follow Alana's progress with much affection.'

James White - Season 13

2017 was a stand out year for The Apprentice as it marked the first time that Lord Sugar appointed two winners - James White and Sarah Lynne. 

However, not both of their businesses proved to be a success.  

James used his money on his Right Time Recruitment company, which he originally set up in 2016.

However, it reportedly struggled with 'unfortunate setbacks' in the first few months and as of July 2025 Companies House shows the company went into liquidation in May last year. 

It was also reported that James had a fall out with Lord Sugar after he set up a different business with a friend, with the billionaire businessman allegedly calling him 'stupid, daft and naïve' for the misguided decision.

In contrast, Sarah used her cash prize to launch her confectionary company Sweets in the City, which is available in WHSmiths, Holland & Barrett and Waitrose.

Sian Gabbidon - Season 14

Sian, who founded a bespoke swimwear company, was hired as the business mogul's partner in 2018, but four years later he ceased to be a director in the venture.

The entrepreneur invested £250k into Sian Marie Fashion, but documents obtained from Companies House have revealed that he stepped down in 2022.

Lord Sugar chose Sian despite describing her company as ‘a cottage industry' given that she had sold only 400 ‘bespoke’ swimsuits during its two years trading.

Speaking about the separation, Sian explained that she was keen to gain some 'independence' back.

She said: 'It was all amicably done. We're on good terms, there was absolutely no drama. I think it was just the right time for us. Especially for me.

'We were ready to part ways probably more from my side, there were things I wanted to do.

'I wanted to go outside of just that business. I think I'm getting to that age as well, I wanted almost a bit of my independence back. I want to do some of my own things as well.'

Carina Lepore - Season 15

Lord Sugar hoped to make plenty of dough with bakery firm owner Carina after she was crowned winner in 2019.

But by 2023 he quit his role as director of her Dough Artisan Bakehouse business.

A spokesperson said at the time: 'As part of an ongoing review of his business portfolio, Lord Sugar has decided to part ways with Carina Lepore, The Apprentice winner 2019 and founder of Dough Artisan Bakehouse. 

'Both parties agreed it was the right decision for the business moving forward, and Carina will take back full control of her business with immediate effect.'

Carina had previously ruffled feathers by accusing her fellow candidates of only going on the show for fame. 

She told Daily Mal: 'I was there for business, I wasn't on there for a TV career. 

'My focus was always on winning the competition. I never pulled focus. I went in to win it and I don't regret anything. I stand by all my decisions.'

Harpreet Kaur - Season 16