Danniella Westbrook Net Worth: Inside Her Financial Journey

Danniella Westbrook's net worth currently sits at £500,000. This figure tells just part of the story of her financial rollercoaster ride. The former EastEnders star's past reveals some shocking spending habits – she burned through £400 daily on cocaine before she turned 21.

Westbrook's story paints a picture of dramatic financial swings. Her life took a turn after ending her 13-year marriage to Kevin in 2014. Money troubles followed, but she stands firm against claims of bankruptcy. "I've never been bankrupt in my life," she insists.

The story gets more interesting as we look at her complete financial picture, from her early acting paychecks to recent issues – including a conviction for a 36-euro petrol scam in Spain.

Danniella Westbrook’s Net Worth Today

People remain curious about Danniella Westbrook's money situation. The actress has spent years in the spotlight and faced personal challenges, making many wonder about her current finances.

Danniella Westbrook's Net Worth Today

How much is Danniella Westbrook worth?

The former EastEnders star's finances have gone up and down throughout her career. Most reliable sources put Danniella Westbrook's net worth at around £500,000 in 2023. This amount shows what's left after years of big earnings and major money problems.

Westbrook, now 49, has built this wealth from more than just acting. Her money comes from different places compared to her early days playing Sam Mitchell on the popular BBC soap opera.

Conflicting reports: £500,000 vs £30 million

The stories about Westbrook's wealth don't match up at all. Most trusted financial experts say her net worth sits at about £500,000, but some overblown reports claim it's as high as £30 million. This huge gap raises red flags about how celebrity wealth gets reported.

That £30 million figure seems way off base and ignores Westbrook's known money troubles over the years. Financial experts who keep tabs on celebrity wealth stick to the lower figure, which makes more sense given her career path and public financial struggles.

What contributes to her current wealth?

Danniella's money comes from several places. She still gets some income from her TV work. Her occasional returns to EastEnders bring in extra cash, though she appears less often now.

Social media and brand deals make up much of her income today. Westbrook's large online following lets her earn from promotional work and sponsored posts. She's also jumped into other money-making ventures, including reality TV shows that help keep her finances steady.

Property investments likely add to her overall worth. While she keeps her property details private, celebrities often put money into real estate as part of their financial strategy.

The former soap star has bounced back from her money troubles impressively. Her current net worth might seem modest for a celebrity, but it shows how far she's come from her lowest financial points.

Early Career and First Big Paychecks

Danniella Westbrook earned her first paycheck at seven years old. This original start shaped her financial experience. Her path combined amazing early success that would later get pricey due to her spending habits.

Starting out in modeling and commercials

Westbrook's career began as a child model for Asda at age seven. This breakthrough led to many more opportunities. She became the face of Next's children's fashionware and Tammy Girl. Her portfolio included advertising campaigns for Weetabix, Opel cars, and Coca-Cola.

She expanded beyond print modeling quickly. The young star played a child thief in Melvyn Bragg's London Program and took the stage in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Queen featured her in their music video "The Invisible Man." She also landed a small role in the popular series Grange Hill.

Landing the role of Sam Mitchell in EastEnders

Her first EastEnders appearance came at age 11 as a roller-skating extra crossing Albert Square. The local newspaper ran her picture with a prophetic caption: "who knows, one day she may be the show's star!"

The prediction came true five years later. Westbrook landed the role of Sam Mitchell, younger sister to Phil and Grant Mitchell, at age 16. She made her official debut in July 1990. The opportunity arrived perfectly as she had just left school with uncertain prospects.

Audiences loved her character immediately. Westbrook remembered, "The public couldn't get enough of the simmering relationship between Ricky and Sam and the show was inundated with calls from the press".

How early fame influenced her spending habits

Success brought financial freedom but no guidance about money management. "I was working six days a week, earning more than I could actually spend, so I just didn't think about saving the way I should've," Westbrook admitted.

She started with good financial habits: "When I first joined EastEnders, I was good. I had an account, my agent would put my wages in, and I'd split it all up, tax, VAT, and then spending money".

Her spending increased with her fame: "If I had £500, I'd spend a million. I'd have spent it 12 times over before it even hit the bank". She now offers simple advice to others: "Oh my God, save your money. Seriously – save, save, save".

Financial Highs and Lows Over the Years

Danniella Westbrook's financial life has been a wild ride since she first stepped into the spotlight. She built up a fortune of about £2 million in the 90s through smart property deals, her EastEnders paycheck, and brand endorsements.

Earnings from TV shows and reality appearances

Reality TV became Westbrook's money maker after she left EastEnders. She got a big payday of £200,000-£250,000 for her Celebrity Big Brother stint in 2016.

Before that, she showed up on I'm a Celebrity (2003), Dancing on Ice (2010), and starred in several documentaries about her recovery. These shows didn't pay as well as EastEnders, but they helped her stay in the public eye and brought in steady cash.

Drug addiction and its financial toll

Her battle with addiction took a massive toll on her bank account. She ended up spending £400 every day on cocaine at the peak of her dependency. The total damage came to around £250,000 on drugs, plus another £20,000 to fix her damaged nose. She made plenty of bad money choices during her active addiction years.

Legal issues and fines

A minor fraud conviction hit Westbrook in Spain back in 2018. She didn't pay for petrol worth €37 (£32.90). The courts slapped her with a €300 fine, but she ended up avoiding payment because officials couldn't serve her the papers within a year.

Rumors of bankruptcy and her response

Westbrook stands firm on one point: "I've never been bankrupt in my life. By the grace of God, I've never been bankrupt". She admits her past money troubles openly: "I was terrible with money", but says she's learned to handle her finances better now.

Relationships, Family, and Financial Impact

Danniella Westbrook's relationships have significantly impacted her financial stability throughout her life.

Danniella Westbrook husband and divorces

Danniella's marriage to businessman Kevin Jenkins lasted 13 years before they split in 2014. The couple's divorce took six years to finalize, completing in July 2020. She had to publicly ask for it on his birthday in 2019. She spoke warmly about their marriage: "I married a great man… he showed me the world & I couldn't have chosen a more hardworking happy man".

Before Kevin, she had a relationship with Robert Fernandez who became her son Kai's father. After splitting from Kevin, she dated cage fighter Tom Richards, who was 24 at the time. They got engaged but lost their baby to miscarriage in June 2014.

Child support and family responsibilities

Danniella has two children. Her son Kai was born in 1996 during her time with Robert Fernandez. Her daughter Jody came along in 2001 while she was with Kevin Jenkins. The relationship with Jody became difficult, and by 2018 they hadn't spoken for three years.

She explained: "Jody is with her dad… it's probably a safer environment for her whilst I've got all this stuff going on". She found it tough to tell her children about the divorce: "The hardest part was breaking the news to my daughter".

How relationships affected her financial stability

Her marriage breakdown came with serious money problems. She recalled: "We had a fabulous lifestyle, a beautiful £2.5million house, my dream house. But things started to go wrong in 2010 when Kevin's business started to go under".

Life changed dramatically after that. "I know we will have to downsize… I'm looking for a two-bedroom flat… where I'll probably have to share a bedroom with Jody". The situation got worse and by 2015 she admitted: "I've lost my home… I'm living in sheltered housing waiting to be housed".

Conclusion

Danniella Westbrook's wealth shows a life of dramatic financial ups and downs. Her current fortune stands at £500,000, a figure that tells the story of incredible peaks and tough valleys. The often quoted £30 million figure isn't accurate – her real wealth shows more about survival than excess.

She started making money as a seven-year-old model before landing her big break as Sam Mitchell on EastEnders at 16. The 1990s proved golden years as she built up roughly £2 million through acting paychecks, property deals, and endorsements. All the same, success brought major hurdles, especially when her cocaine addiction ate away an estimated £250,000 of her money.

Reality TV became her financial safety net later on. Her spot on Celebrity Big Brother brought in between £200,000-£250,000 and helped steady her finances after EastEnders. Her money situation also took big hits from personal life changes, like the end of her 13-year marriage to Kevin Jenkins that completely changed their lifestyle.

Legal troubles and housing problems piled up, but Westbrook stands firm that she never went bankrupt. Her path from child model to soap star to reality TV figure shows incredible bounce-back spirit. She once admitted "If I had £500, I'd spend a million," but claims she handles money better now.

Westbrook's story powerfully shows how entertainment industry fortunes can flip quickly. Her current worth might look small next to her peak earnings, but it proves she knows how to rebuild despite huge personal and money obstacles blocking her path.

FAQs

Q1. What is Danniella Westbrook's current net worth?

Danniella Westbrook's net worth is estimated to be around £500,000 as of 2023. This figure reflects her financial journey, including both her earnings and setbacks over the years.

Q2. How did Danniella Westbrook begin her career in entertainment?

Westbrook started her career at a young age, working as a child model for Asda when she was just seven years old. She then appeared in commercials and West End productions before landing her breakthrough role as Sam Mitchell in EastEnders at age 16.

Q3. What major financial challenges has Danniella Westbrook faced?

Westbrook has faced significant financial challenges, primarily due to her battle with cocaine addiction. She reportedly spent around £250,000 on drugs over the years and made poor financial decisions during periods of active addiction.

Q4. Has Danniella Westbrook ever declared bankruptcy?

Despite rumors, Westbrook has firmly denied ever declaring bankruptcy. She has acknowledged past financial mismanagement but claims to have developed better money habits over time.

Q5. How have Danniella Westbrook's relationships affected her finances?

Westbrook's personal relationships have had a significant impact on her financial stability. The end of her 13-year marriage to Kevin Jenkins coincided with a severe financial decline, leading to dramatic lifestyle changes and periods of housing insecurity.