Dragons’ Den Star Hilary Devey dies aged 65: Millionaire businesswoman who starred on hit BBC show passes away in Morocco after long battle with illness
Dragons’ Den star Hilary Devey has died aged 65 after battling a ‘long illness’, her publicist confirmed today.
The Bolton-born multi-millionaire entrepreneur passed away at her holiday home in Morroco on Saturday night.
An English businesswoman, Hilary Devey, left her millions of net worth when she passed away at 65.
Hilary Devey was a prominent entrepreneur who earned a name in the business world. She was also one of the most-liked public figures, known for her appearance in the Dragon’s Den.
Sadly, she departed from this world on 11 June 2022, after serving for more than six decades in her professional career. Although she is no more, people will always cherish her and her memories.
She was also known as one of the richest TV personalities who took over the business world. Let’s take a more look at her profile here.
She joined BBC Two programme Dragons’ Den in 2011 and left in 2012, going on to present Channel 4’s The Intern.
She became a popular figure after demonstrating her matter-of-fact approach and was usually seen donning shoulder-padded businesswear.
In 2013 she was made a CBE, honoured for a career in business and for her charitable work.
She founded the multimillion-pound freight distribution business Pall-Ex, after selling her home and car in the 1990s to finance it.
Her charity work included her position as vice president of the Carers Trust and she was also a patron of the Stroke Association, having herself suffered a stroke in 2009. She also appeared in The Business Inspector on Channel 5.
Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis this afternoon paid tribute to the businesswoman tweeting: ‘So sad to hear of the passing of the lovely Hilary Devey. She left us all with some fantastic memories, may she rest in peace. My thoughts are with her family. x’
Fellow Dragon Duncan Bannatyne wrote on Twitter: ‘So sad to hear of the passing of the lovely Hilary Devey.
‘She left us all with some fantastic memories, may she rest in peace. My thoughts are with her family. x’
Hilary Devey’s 2022 Net Worth Is More Than $80 Million.
As of 2022, Hilary Devey’s estimated net worth is more than $80 million. She was a businesswoman and a famous TV personality.
Devey was one of the keen women who combined her glamorous life with business, earning herself more success in life. Moreover, she was known for being the chairman and CEO of Pall-Ex Group.
Pall-Ex is one of the leading industries, with a European logistics brand that has taken over the market for over two decades. On 31 July 2021, the company had a turnover of £117.6 million from £87.2 million in 2020.
Devey being the company’s CEO, it is only thinkable that she had made a fortune out of it. Moreover, a renowned businesswoman must also have left stocks and shares having quite a value.
Of all the dragons who have appeared on #DragonsDen over the years, I loved #HilaryDevey especially. There was something gloriously Cruella de Vil about her business acumen, and yet her compassion and charitable work was immense. Thank you, Hilary. RIP🙏😢https://t.co/98AXAuwTdg
— Adrian Hilton (@Adrian_Hilton) June 12, 2022
How Rich Is Hilary Devey? Her Lifestyle
People have known Hilary Devey as a Rich woman entrepreneur and a TV personality who gained success after building her own company. In 2016, she opened up about how she built up her business, which is worth millions at the present day.
Devey sold off her house and the car to set up the business. By the time she was 40, she had gained her first million from the company, which eventually took over the market.
Her Rangermore Hall was worth £2.2 million when she put it up for sale. Adding to it, she owns a house property in London and villas in Boca Raton in Florida, Spain, and Morocco.
She had lived a lavished and comfortable life on her life, with a decent lifestyle.
Hilary Devey Career Earning And Family Worth
Hilary Devey might have over £80 million as her career earnings. She was previously estimated to have a worth of £100 million.
At the same time, she spoke out about being unhappy about getting around a £15,000 salary for 12 episodes, which could not cover her expenses. Her family worth might also be in the millions, which remains vague; at the moment.
Hilary Devey’s tragic family life and hidden sorrow
With her no-nonsense attitude and witty one liners, Hilary Devey appeared like a pillar of strength on Dragons’ Den.
The Bolton-born businesswoman was a self-made millionaire and worked hard for the life she had.
But Hilary was hiding a painful past, which saw a ‘secret family’ discovery sting her twice.
As the sad news breaks that the star has passed away, aged 65, we look back at Hilary’s tragic family life.
Childhood secrets
Hilary was born to Arthur and Wyn in 1957.
Her father ran a successful central heating business and the star recalled her parents were “as perfectly turned out as Don and Betty Draper”.
However when Arthur went bankrupt when Hilary was seven, things began to unravel.
Bailiffs were reportedly called to the family home before Hilary’s mum discovered, years into her relationship with her husband, that he already had a wife and four children.
Speaking on Desert Island Discs, Hilary said: “She left him initially and then he went and got her back – but my mother was the love of my father’s life.”
Sexual assault
Hilary revealed she was raped at the age of 12 but kept the attack secret for 43 years.
The multi-millionaire said she she was sexually abused as a youngster by a man near her parents’ pub in Accrington, Lancashire.
The star spoke of the ordeal for the first time in her autobiography, Bold as Brass.
In her book she wrote: “He kept me there with him all night – the b****** who thought that raping a child was his due at the end of the night.’
He kept her imprisoned all night and repeatedly abused her as she feared she would die during the ordeal.
The next day her father shouted at her for staying out all night and she did not tell her parents about the rape.
Hilary told The Sun: “I didn’t cry or sob, try to explain or beg to be forgiven. I knew that my world had changed for ever.”
( Image: BBC/Andy Farrington)