The Apprentice has returned to with another host of business-minded hopefuls aiming to win the competition as well as a £250,000 investment and mentorship from himself.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2023, Lord Sugar suggested that she show had only seen mainly success. He said: “Since we changed the prize to going into business with me for £250,000, it’s been very successful.
“Not 100% successful, but I can name at least five winners who are now millionaires.”
While the big prize has the contestants seeing pound-signs, it seems that it sounds better in theory than it is in reality. According to one finance-savvy fan, all but one winners since 2015 have actually lost money rather than made it.
Some of the winners have even had such huge losses that they have faced bankruptcy and closed businesses. The winner from 2015 was the “biggest failure of any business Lord Sugar has invested in through the show”.
The Apprentice has seen plenty of winners so far (Image: BBC)
Joe, who owned Impra Gas – a boiler installation company – was forced to sell his company after reportedly owing nearly £2 million.
After two years in partnership, Valente bought back his shares from Lord Sugar for £1 on 13 April 2017. A spokesman for Lord Sugar said that Valente was not receptive to advice from Lord Sugar and his team, which contributed to their parting of ways.
Alana Spencer won the 2016 show with her cake business, Ridiculously Rich. In July 2019 Lord Sugar and Alana had parted ways. Alana paid £125k to buy Lord Sugar out according to Companies House filings. She then closed her Welsh cafe in 2023.
The year of 2017 saw James crowned the champion of the series with his company Right Time Recruitment. But seven years on, in 2024, the company was reported to be owing £10,000 to among other creditors.
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Lord Alan Sugar invests in the winner’s business (Image: BBC)
Lord Sugar pulled out of the business in 2020, and it is believed that the firm owes Lloyds Bank more than £52,500 and a secretarial company more than £33,000.
After Sian won the show in 2018, her company Sian Marie had huge losses just one year later. In 2019, the business reportedly had a £47,000 loss.
Lord Sugar and Sian parted ways in March 2022 and then went into liquidation in 2023, with debts of £81k according to company filings.
Carina Lepore’s Dough Artisan Bakehouse business receieved a £250,000 investment after she won in 2019 – but by 2023 she and Lord Sugar had parted ways. Up until June 2022, reports showed that the business had lost £66,500 in the previous 12 months and had shareholder funds worth £193,754.