Struggling mother-of-two is left in tears after millionaire gives her £20,000 to clear her debts… and offers her a sales job at his company on Rich House, Poor House
A struggling single mother of two burst into tears when a millionaire offered her £20,000 and a job at his company in an episode of Rich House, Poor House.
Steph, from Widnes, Cheshire, is doing all she can to support her daughters Amelia, 12, and Darcie, seven, but has to make do with just £97 a week after bills.
His ‘small but mighty family’ currently rent a three-bedroom house that has ‘seen better days’; the downstairs is ‘falling apart’ and the bedrooms are moldy.
Meanwhile, 30 miles away in the affluent town of Wilmslow, businessman Joe Sealey, who runs established brand Mr Whippy’s donut range, owns shares in around 22 businesses and earns millions a year.
He lives in a magnificent six-bedroom mansion with seven bathrooms, two luxurious kitchens, a cinema and a pool.
Both households were asked to turn their lives around for a week for the Channel 5 show, which aired on Sunday, leaving Steph with £2,000 to spend over seven days.
But in addition to gifting her daughters a new iPhone and Apple Watch and arranging a hair appointment for her mother Gail, Steph has also stepped into Joe’s corporate world.
Using his holiday sales experience, which he did remotely six days a week and earned close to minimum wage, he attended a business meeting and pitched Mr. Whippy’s donuts to a local business.
A struggling single mother of two burst into tears when a millionaire offered her £20,000 and a job at his company in an episode of Rich House, Poor House. Photo of Steph and her two daughters in front of Joe’s mansion
When they finally met at the end of the episode, Joe said: ‘You went to a meeting on behalf of our company this week.
‘Then I spoke to the CEO, who I’ve never met or spoken to, and they were so impressed with your delivery, your product knowledge, everything about aspects of the business, and it looks like they’re going to buy that product.
‘We have decided to give you the first £20,000 of the profits when the order is completed.’
Shocked, Steph burst into tears when Joe emphasized that he wanted her to pay off her debts and ‘put some money in the bank’.
‘You make the deal, you get your money,’ he continued. ‘No matter what they order, the first £20,000 of the profits will go to you.
‘From now on, we will make a spin deal with you where you will continue to make money from this forever.’
Joe then shared that he was looking to expand his sales team (salaries would start at £60,000) and would need people who ‘work like Steph works’.
An emotional Steph couldn’t believe the kind offer and said she was ‘giddy’ and said she was incredibly grateful as she hugged Joe.
Meanwhile, 30 miles away in the affluent town of Wilmslow, businessman Joe Sealey, who runs established brand Mr Whippy’s donut range, owns shares in around 22 businesses and earns millions a year. Joe and family friend Tracy outside Steph’s house
They were even more touched when they returned home and realized that Joe had bought them new beds and mattresses.
Elsewhere, he had planned a spa getaway to the Lake District for Steph and a Mediterranean holiday for the whole family.
Joe and his wife Nicole have two children who have already left home. With Nicole away for the week, Joe was joined by close family friend Tracy, who is the mother of his dear old pal West Ham footballer Dylan Tombides.
He was Joe’s manager in the 2010s before he tragically passed away from testicular cancer when he was just 20 years old.
Joe helped establish DT38, a charity in Dylan’s honour, and is on the board of trustees.
The businessman, the son of Manchester United’s Les Sealey, was also a football player, but when he was 18, his shoulder dislocated and he was told he could no longer play. His father also passed away the same week.
In an emotional moment, the millionaire also explained that he was dealing with losses while preparing meals on a much smaller budget than he was used to.
‘When my father died, my mother did everything for me,’ he explained. ‘And then about a year and a half after my mother had cancer, she got sick and was too sick to cook for me.
‘I used to watch the cooking channel and that’s how I learned to cook, I got to cook for myself and my brother.
‘The biggest thing for me is that my dad will never meet my family, but life isn’t perfect even for me. ‘I’m serious, I’d give everything I have to spend one more day with my dad.’
Rich House, Poor House is published channel 5, Sunday, April 26, 21:00
