TOWIE Stars Face Financial Struggles Despite Glamour

The cast of TOWIE always seems to be living a glamorous life on our TV screen.

Since landing on the box in 2010, the hit reality show follows the lives of a group of friends living in Essex, where they are not short of VIP parties, cosmetic touch-ups and fast cars.

But strip back the spray tans, drama and glam, and a different story begins to emerge.

For some of TOWIE's biggest names, the reality after the cameras stop rolling has been far less polished.

Careers have stalled, income streams have dried up, and the pressure to keep up appearances hasn't always matched what's in their bank accounts. 

Here, the Daily Mail looks at the stars who have faced money struggles.

Joey Essex

In 2025, Joey Essex was reportedly being probed after his personal firm went bust owing £1.2million.

The former star's company Joey Essex Management Ltd was forced into liquidation in September as he couldn't pay its huge debts, mostly due to the taxman.

This is despite Joey earning substantial amounts from appearing on some of our biggest reality shows like , , Celebrity Masterchef and SAS: Who Dares Wins.

The Mirror reported that accountants were going to be investigating the company director, according to new documents sent to Companies House.

According to the publication, the papers read: 'Now that the Company has converted to an insolvent liquidation, the Liquidators will have a duty to enquire into the affairs of the Company to determine its property and liabilities and to identify any actions which could lead to the recovery of funds in the Liquidation.

'In addition, we are also required to consider the conduct of the Company's director and to make an appropriate confidential submission to the Insolvency Service in accordance with the Company Directors Disqualification Act.'

Joey is the company's only director and shareholder.

In September, it was reported that the debts racked up by his business include £30,449 in , £9,552 in PAYE, a massive £402,302 in corporation tax, £15,000 to trade and expense creditors, and a £39,942 Covid bounce back loan.

In total, the debt to creditors stood at £497,246. 

But Joey's director's loan account was also overdrawn by the tune of £780,000, with liquidators uncertain whether any of this will be recovered.

This brought the total debt to £1,277,246. 

The new report added that £350,000 of the cash has now been repaid.

Yet Joey could be in trouble with Companies House for apparently providing inaccurate information.

In August last year, he tried to fold the company voluntarily and declared in a 'statement of affairs' that it was solvent and he could pay back the debts.

In a signed declaration, he promised to pay the debt back plus any interest within 12 months. It's a criminal offence to falsely claim a company is solvent, which is punishable by a hefty fine and, in serious cases, imprisonment.

The Daily Mail contacted a representative for Joey for comment.

Chloe Brockett

While many reality TV fans may think that the stars get paid a fortune, Towie's Chloe Brockett revealed at one point she was only paid minimum wage.

Despite fans thinking that the cast are rich, she admitted that the salaries are often low.

Speaking to The Sun last year, she said: 'They film for 22 weeks a year, that's £22,000 a year, I was getting minimum wage to be abused.

'I had bills to pay, rent to sort, I'd got a Porsche to fit in with the Towie image.'

Like a lot of reality stars who find they are not making enough money and have bills piling up, Chloe turned to OnlyFans.

'Of course it wasn't my goal. Who sits in school and goes, "I know, I want to do OnlyFans". I looked down on it,' she told the publication. 

Jack Fincham

Earlier this month, Jack Fincham revealed he was left after falling out with his family following his recent stint in rehab.

The reality star, 34, appeared on back in 2021 as a guest to confront his ex-girlfriend following their breakup. 

Jack went to rehab for the second time earlier this year after he had a 'selfish' relapse into drinking and drugs that nearly killed him.

The star, who received £32,000 of treatment at Rainford Hall, Merseyside, opened up on Instagram about struggling with life post rehab and backlash from family, which has left him living in a hotel with his dog.

He said: 'I tried living in Liverpool, unfortunately the person I lived with it just didn't work out. I thought I'd be getting more support from people close to me that haven't shown that support.

'Listen I'm a 34-year-old man, you can't rely on your family all the time.

'One thing they told me in rehab and it's true, you're not gonna walk out of rehab to a red carpet rolled out for you because it's stuff you should have been doing anyway.'

Jack explained that he hasn't got 'much left' and is currently homeless and trying to figure out 'what to do' next as life 'can't get any worse'.

The reality TV star added: 'In case anyone is wondering where I am, I'm staying a hotel with the dog. I'm just gonna reset and work out what to do and where I wanna live.

'Got my beautiful dog Elvis, without him I probably wouldn't even be here to be honest.'

Jack said he has found leaving rehab 'scary', but thanked the staff for showing him a 'level of kindness I wasn't used to for a while, I found it quite alien'.

Determined to get back on track, the TV personality said he is 'starting from zero' but looking to get back into acting.

Jack said: 'There's been a few struggles along the way and look I'm starting again from zero. I'm a very optimistic person and I just think it can't get any worse than this.

'I'm gonna do my acting and get back into TV work. I'm gonna do all the things I said I was gonna do.'

Lauren Goodger

Back in 2024, Lauren Goodger spoke candidly about her financial difficulties after previously commanding £25,000 for a magazine shoot in her TOWIE heyday.

The TOWIE star, 39, said she is living a 'basic' life in an ordinary semi-detached home with her daughter Larose, three, who she shares with her ex, Charles Drury.

Lauren, who gave birth to a stillborn daughter in 2022, said she did not care about work after her death. She said: 'I didn't want to do anything else but being the mum.' 

The reality star admitted at the time to making a living posting pictures of herself in lingerie on OnlyFans for a $50 (£38) monthly membership with the adult photo sharing site.

However, she confessed during a new interview with the Guardian that she would rather not have to use the X-rated website.

Speaking about her profession, she admitted: 'I don't want to have to do OnlyFans', but she has to rely on it because money in the industry 'isn't what it was'.

Discussing the height of her stardom she said: 'I probably earned the most, but lost a hell of a lot. And that has humbled me, 100%.'

Lauren referred to the fake-tan brand, Lauren's Way, which she started when she was 23 and was stocked in big name stores like Superdrug and Debenhams. However, she has now fallen out with her business partner.

Just before Towie first aired, the producers sat Lauren down, saying: 'You are famous, you've got to leave your jobs.' 

The early years of reality TV fame were fun. 'Going out and getting papped,' she says, 'getting a column with the Sun.' It sounds like the dream, I say. 'Yeah,' she cackles. 'It was. At first.'

When I ask Lauren if she enjoys being famous, she answers immediately. 'No,' she says, shaking her head, 'no.' Does she wish she'd never gone on the show? 'I don't want to sound ungrateful, because I'm grateful that I got the chance… but it hasn't been easy, and that's plain for everyone to see.' She wishes she could have 'come back and done things a bit differently'.

Lauren is also involved in an ongoing legal case with the Financial Conduct Authority over unauthorised communications of financial promotions. Lauren cannot comment on the case, for legal reasons.

A group of social media influencers including Lauren have denied promoting a 'high-risk' foreign exchange scheme to millions of followers.

Lauren, along with others, were allegedly paid to promote the scheme to 4.5 million Instagram followers.

Also charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are former Love Islanders Rebecca Gormley, 26, Biggs Chris, 32, and Eva Zapico, 25, and TOWIE member Yazmin Oukhellou, 30.

The social media influencers and reality TV 'entrepreneurs' allegedly promoted @holly-fxtrends, but all denied issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions.

But whatever the outcome, nothing will be decided until 2027 – when trial dates have been set.

Tommy Mallet

Tommy Mallet, who joined TOWIE in 2014 and was a main cast member for seven years, revealed he lost a whopping £30million and was £3million in debt.

The reality star, 33, and his former business partner Evren Ozka, set up Mallet London in 2015.

The pair had been co-owners of the trainer firm, with the reality star even making it to Forbes's 30 under 30 rich list.

But in 2024, Tommy suffered a major financial hit after cutting ties with – and being sued by – his business partner.

The dad of two saw his bank balance plummet following his legal issues.

Speaking about the ordeal on the Graft Kings Podcast earlier this year, he said :'This will change your mind on things: I've had net worths of £10million, £20million, £30million and zero.

'So this time last year I was worth zero, I was £3million in debt, probably more.

'Today if you ask me, and in the near future, I'm a billionaire.

'Don't ask me anything else, because I can see where I am going.

'I put it out there and I am going to get it'.

He then promised the podcast gang his success wouldn't be far away.

In 2024, he opened up about going through a 'really tough time' with his business.

Speaking in the Instagram post, he explained: 'I'm gonna come on and address something cos I'm trying to push the positivity.

'I've been going through a really tough time. Legally. With a business that I had a big part in building something I still own... been in court about it.

'So with me resigning as a director because I was in a toxic relationship, struggling with my mental wealth. That has now sparked something'.

Tommy, who is married to former co-star Georgia Kousoulu, shared his worries about trying to secure his children's future by getting the money out of the business.

He said: 'All my money is in the business, all my kids' money for the future, my wife's pregnant. I'm up against it. I've been fighting this for a long time now.

'It's not like I ain't going to get it back. I'll get this back faster than you've ever seen.

'But when your kid's growing up and you've got to start worrying about payment for things, you've got these greedy people trying to take things for free.

'So now people you're probably going to watch a terrible battle between two people's egos which don't need to happen... I can't give into this one.'

The Baby Steps star concluded his post by vowing that he would 'get his money' eventually and will use his voice and platform to keep talking about the situation.

He said: 'So update on my situation as a lot of people are asking, I'm fighting to get my money out of something.

'I'll get it, but one thing they can't take, with injunctions and legal letters, is my voice. I have a right to speak about my situation.'

Dan Osborne

In 2020, Dan Osborne confessed he was 'hit hard financially' by the pandemic and 'is not rich' like many of his followers and critics believe.

The former TOWIE star, took to Instagram to defend his various advertisements, including imitation AirPods and Apple Watches.

Speaking to his Instagram followers, the CBB star confessed just months after it was revealed that his debt-ridden business had less than £1000 in the bank, while his entertainment company had debts of £7,469.

Like many influencers, Dan is often seen promoting an array of products, including the headphones and watches in the style of Apple products. 

In the wake of plugging the tech gadgets, the star, who shot to fame on the ITVBe show in 2013, defended his choice to promote the products and divulged details of his struggles, including the closure of his tattoo parlour. 

Speaking to his critics, he said: 'I've had a lot of people saying about the advertising I've been doing with the iwatches, airpods and sunglasses. I know so many people are happy with them. I'm so glad you're happy with them.'

Dan admitted that many of his followers say: 'I love seeing your family, your lego, your fitness but the ads are a bit too much.'

Delving deeper into the issue, he went on: 'So I just wanted to explain a bit about it. I understand if you're not interested... if there's an advertisement and you're not interested in it, just swipe across, you don't have to watch it...

'It's a part of my job, I'll only advertise things I know are good and I know people are happy with. [I have to] feed my kids and pay my bills just like everyone else....

'And in this hard time it's hit me, it's hit everyone. My tattoo shop is shut and it's been shut for months now. All these things going on my life at the moment as well. People assume that because you've been on TV once, that you're rich...

'No! I have to make a living as well.'

The year prior, figures from Dan's debt-ridden business were shared on Companies House – with the numbers revealing that, at the end of August, the former reality star only had £978 left in the Storms Entertainment account.

And the balance sheet also showed that the entertainment company, of which Dan is the only director, had debts of £7,469.

Dan's previous business venture, Charlie Entertainments, was dissolved in 2017 after going bust with undisclosed debts, reported The Sun. 

Pete Wicks

Like many of his reality TV peers, TOWIE's Pete Wicks entered the world of business after his stints on national TV.

He set up PW Promotions just weeks after his final appearance on the long-running ITV show.

But after signing off paperwork in January 2023, it was revealed that his firm at the time was £100,000 in the red, owing £7,477 in VAT, £66,702 in corporation tax, and £26,500 in monies to Lloyds Bank.

The business was set up in 2015 to manage his income and marks one of three businesses he owns.

He launched Unkempt in 2021 and TCDOR in November the year before – both of which are dormant alongside Hermano Clothing and Pirate Pete's Tattoo, which opened and closed without trading at all.

Representatives for Pete Wicks were contacted by the Daily Mail for comment.

Frankie Essex

In 2018, Frankie Essex was reported to have attempted to leave high end restaurant Nobu without paying the bill. 

It was said that the management at the venue refused to give the former Towie star her phone back, after charging it behind the bar, until she settled the bill.

An eyewitness told The Sun at the time: 'She went to the bathroom and when she came back a number of people she was with had left without contributing any money for drinks including plenty of beers and lychee martinis.

'Frankie then proceeded to try and leave without paying too – but she was immediately stopped by management who asked her to politely settle the bill.

'She was reluctant to pay with her own money so sent another friend to get cash from some of the group that left.' 

A representative for Frankie told the publication: 'At no point was there any kind of dispute about Frankie or her friends paying the money to Nobu and the bill was paid.' 

Dan Edgar

Dan Edgar first found fame on Towie after working as an electrician. 

After being linked to a number of women while he was on the programme, including castmates Jessica Wright and Lauren Pope, he decided to turn his hand to an investment business.

Not long after launching the firm in 2017, it was reported that his investment scheme had scammed customers out of £450,000.

Customers were being flogged fake diamonds which didn't always exist, which meant Edgar was forced to sign a disqualification undertaking which prevents him from promoting, managing, or being a director of a limited company until 2031.

Documents revealed that Reco Commodities 'inflated the price of the diamonds by hundreds of per cent, meaning that they were not suitable as an investment'.

It was also found to have made a number of false claims and failed to purchase diamonds that customers had already paid for.

Young sales reps were also reportedly using aggressive tactics to force investors to pay for its services.

An investigation carried out by the Insolvency Service found that only one of Reco Commodities' customers actually received the diamonds they purchased.

Reco Commodities claimed to manage over 2,000 clients, but in reality there were less than 30 on the books.

The Daily Mail contacted Dan's team for comment.

Lucy Mecklenburgh

Back in 2020, Lucy Mecklenburgh quit her clothing business following financial losses.

The former TOWIE star resigned as director of Lucy's Boutique on January 4, two months after it was said to have posted debts of almost £270,000.

According to The Sun, Lucy's Boutique struggled to make a profit in recent times, with only £673 in the company bank account in October.

 A source told the Daily Mail at the time: 'Lucy sold the business a couple of months ago but without any debt and with her remaining a consultant for the brand.

'She has a multi-million-pound fitness business which takes up so much of her time – she often works 13 hour days and is extremely passionate about it. 

'But with having a baby very imminently she's taken steps to reduce her workload by selling one of her companies.

'Lucy's Boutique has been trading successfully and continues to, she will continue to act as a consultant for the brand and her family members still work within it.'

Lucy set up the business in 2012 and had been promoting her clothing range on Instagram up until Christmas.

The reality star previously opened a Lucy's Boutique store in Brentwood, Essex, however it was shut down in 2018.

Since then, customers have been able to purchase Lucy's products only online.

According to records at Companies House, Lucy resigned from the company in January and was replaced by Robert Finnerty, who is the sole listed director.

The company sells a variety of clothing, including dressers, coats and a range of lingerie.

A blurb on the site read: Lucy's Boutique is now a very established brand in the Fashion industry. Lucy first started the business in 2011.

'We are very proud of what we have achieved over the years, only hoping to get stronger and better and mainly focusing online.'

The Daily Mail contacted representatives for Lucy for comment.

Olivia Attwood

Olivia Attwood has dabbled in a number of different ventures since shooting to fame on Love Island and going on to have appearances on TOWIE.

One particular venture was her failed luxury clothing brand We Are Foolish.

The line failed to make a mark on consumers, plagued by serious delivery problems and folding after just three months.

Attwood attempted to salvage the operation quickly, moving it to a new warehouse, however the label closed down just two weeks later, while having to refund its entire customer base.

Speaking at the time, Olivia told the Sun: 'I'm really proud of it,' adding: 'It's not fad fashion, it's about timeless, classic pieces. 

'I would never put my name to something unless it was fully right.'