01 February 2024 , 19:00
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Business mogul Lord Alan Sugar is reportedly in the top 140 richest people in the UK - but money hasn't always brought him happiness.
The 76-year-old businessman is best known for hosting BBC's The Apprentice and his genuine rags-to-riches story - born in an East London council flat to the son of a tailor - has inspired many. According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Alan became a billionaire in 2015 and his fortune was estimated £1.21billion in 2021.
But while his staggering bank account has helped him travel the world and live an extremely comfortable life, as the old saying goes, 'Money can't buy happiness'. Here, we take a look at the tycoon's struggles and stresses over the years.
Personal regrets
Alan (pictured with wife Ann) has regrets about his role as a father when his kids were young (PA)In Alan's autobiography, published in 2010, the businessman confesses that he actually feels he "fell a long way short" as a father and son. He shares three grown-up children with his wife, Ann Simons - Daniel, Simon and Louise - but has had 'regrets' about their upbringing. He admits to having been "too selfish" to spend enough time with his children or elderly mother.
But he said he "never experienced any warm feelings of closeness and caring from [his] parents". He wrote: "I never saw any signs of pride or heard any congratulations from them for my enterprises. All I remember is my mum laughing or tutting or shrugging her shoulders and my father shaking his head."
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He told the Daily Mail that he has "regrets" about his fatherhood and was "too busy, too selfish, too old-fashioned". Of his long working days, he said: "They were in bed by the time I got home. I saw them at the weekends or on holidays." But admits he did a "wonderful job" bringing up his children with their feet on the ground.
Family losses
He tragically lost his sister Shirley during 2020, two weeks after his brother Derek diedThe year 2020 was a difficult one for Lord Sugar who lost both his sister and brother. His older sister Shirley died at the age of 88 after battling Covid-19. Alan shared on Twitter: "My eldest sister Shirley passed away today at the age of 88 she had been sick for a while but I guess covid got her in the end to join our brother Derek who passed 2 weeks ago. RIP SHIRL."
The tragic news came just two weeks after Alan's brother Derek also died battling the deadly virus. At the time, Alan wrote: "Today I lost my long-suffering brother Derek, another victim of Covid which added to his underlying health issues. He was a lifetime, passionate Spurs supporter. I never forget my sister-in-law joking with me, thanking me for buying him the club. A sad day for us all in the family." Alan was a chairman and part-owner of Tottenham Hotspur football club for a decade.
- The Apprentice airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight at 9pm on February 1.