Lord Sugar’s hunt for his next business partner is nearly over (Picture: PA)
As Lord Alan Sugar completes the hunt for his next business partner, with two finalists left in the competition, the most successful The Apprentice winner ever has been revealed.
Marnie Swindells and Rochelle Raye Anthony will be going head to head in the final week, having passed through the dreaded interview round with an all female final five for the second year in a row.
They’ll be following in the footsteps of the likes of Tim Campbell, the first ever winner who bagged Lord Sugar’s investment in 2005 before going on to become his aide, replacing Claude Littner besides Baroness Karren Brady.
Last year’s series saw Harpreet Kaur take home the win, beating Kathryn Burn in the final, who recently explained to Metro.co.uk that despite coming runner-up, her business is booming like never before.
But, who has been the most successful winner ever?
Ricky Martin, series 8
Series 8 winner Ricky Martin is the most successful (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Series eight winner Ricky Martin has proved to be the most successful, according to research conducted by UK financial services provider CMC markets, which used ‘the latest financial reports from Endole to discover the latest report of net assets in each of The Apprentice winners’ businesses’.
Ricky won the show in 2012 and received a £250,000 investment in his recruitment company Hyper Recruitment Solutions from Lord Sugar.
His agency now has net assets of £2.26 million, making him the most successful winner.
Tom Pellereau, series 7
Tom brought us plenty of memorable moments (Picture: PinPep/Shutterstock)
Second place goes to series seven winner Tom Pellereau, with his beauty business Stylideas boasting net assets of £1.37 million.
Tom became the first ever winner to receive a £250,000 investment in his business by Lord Sugar, as the previous six winners all landed a job instead.
During his time on the show, Tom captured the nation and left us with plenty of memorable moments – from yelling ‘postcard’ in French during a hilarious taxi ride, to his withering looks.
Dr Leah Totton, series 10
Dr Leah won series nine (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images for Beefeater Grill)
Dr Leah Totton is series nine winner, and the third most successful with her chain of cosmetic procedure clinics exhibit net assets of £664,490.
The junior doctor-turned-businesswoman won the series with a plan to start a chain of stores that specialised in drop-in cosmetic surgeries, and she opened her first store with Lord Alan Sugar’s £250,000 loan which helped with equipment, stock, rent on a premises and staff costs.
After her time on The Apprentice, she told Metro.co.uk that it was like being in ‘Big Brother’, explaining the ‘surreal’ experience.
Alana Spencer, series 12
Alana went into business with Lord Sugar in 2016 (Picture: PA)
Alana Spencer’s business from series 12 ranks fourth.
Ridiculously Rich by Alana, which specialises in handmade cakes and chocolates, detailed £494,740 in net assets in the company’s latest report.
In 2019, it was reported Lord Sugar ended his business association with Alana, in an amicable way, with the mogul saying he would ‘follow Alana’s progress with much affection.’
Mark Wright, series 10
Mark stepped down as CEO of his business in 2022 (Picture: BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photogra)
The company with the fifth highest net assets is owned by series ten winner Mark Wright, who started Climb Online, a digital marketing agency.
Climb Online has £471,940 in net assets according to their latest report, but he stepped down as CEO in 2022, when he sold to agency xDNA.
Mark confirmed that he will be staying on as a shareholder and board member, and said he’s looking forward to ‘watching what xDNA and our great team do next.’
Carina Lepore, series 15
Carina’s chain of bakeries took home the win (Picture: Jonathan Hordle/REX)
Carina Lepore takes sixth place, after winning series 15 of The Apprentice in 2019, making her Lord Sugar’s business partner prior to Harpreet.
She runs a chain of bakeries called Dough Artisan Bakehouse in south-east London which most recently reported net assets of £260,300.
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A spokesperson for CMC Markets commented on the research: ‘As Lord Sugar is set to pick his latest winner, it is interesting to look back at past winners and their businesses to see how Lord Sugar’s investment made a difference.
‘Not only can the investment from Lord Sugar be transformative for many contestants’ business but the brand recognition from being featured on the show can also greatly increase the winner’s chances of successfully running their business, even many years after appearing on the series.’
The Apprentice Final airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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Lord Sugar’s hunt for his next business partner is nearly over.