The BBC Dragons' Den star who 'died penniless' despite earning £80m fortune

Hilary Devey CBE, despite amassing an estimated fortune of £80 million, reportedly left no cash in her will. The former BBC Dragons' Den star died aged 65 in June 2022 whilst on holiday in Marrakesh, Morocco. The Bolton-born businesswoman had been suffering from a lengthy illness, and her death sparked an outpouring of tributes from former colleagues and fans.

A year following her passing, certain aspects of her will came to light. Despite her considerable wealth, Hilary left only physical items, including jewellery, to her loved ones. According to the Daily Mail, Hilary's 2021 will specified that her signature diamond cross should go to her friend Audrey Mulligan, whilst her personal belongings were bequeathed to her son Mevlit Brewster-Ahmet and her publicist and lawyer, who served as trustees. This left the whereabouts of her estimated £80 million fortune unclear.

Hilary's early years in the North West were vastly different from her later wealth. As a youngster, she watched bailiffs remove items from her family home after her father Arthur Brewster's central heating business went bankrupt.

Yet this hardship only strengthened Hilary's determination, prompting her to set up her own pallet business, financed by selling her house and car. Reflecting on her determination to succeed, Devey once 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 tireless work eventually paid off. Throughout her life, she was heavily committed to charitable causes, donating a penny from every pallet distributed by her firm, Pall-Ex, through the 'Penny a Pallet' scheme.

In recognition of her substantial contributions to the transport industry and her charitable work, she was honoured in the 2013 Birthday Honours list, receiving a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).