SHE worked tirelessly in her final days to provide for her sons’ futures, but mystery is growing over what really became of Jade Goody’s £3million fortune.
Now, the reality star’s widower Jack Tweed reveals his torment over what became of the “missing” money, branding the situation “dodgy” and raising serious concerns about the mysterious trustees who benefited after her death.
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Big Brother star Jade died in March 2009, aged just 27, seven months after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
At the time, she had placed her earnings in a trust and made it clear she wanted to use the money to give her two children with TV presenter ex Jeff Brazier, Bobby and Freddy, a private education.
Following her death, Jade’s plans were dealt a cruel blow after her estate was hit with a devastating £1.8million tax bill, though her family assured fans there was still enough left in the coffers for the boys.
But this week, after it was revealed that her youngest child, Freddy, is set to become a first-time dad at 20, fresh questions have emerged about what, if any, financial support he could receive – and when.
Today, heartbroken ex Jack claims he has grown deeply concerned by the mystery surrounding Jade’s finances in the 16 years since she passed, and is convinced that her final wishes were denied.
Speaking to The Sun, the 38-year-old – who married Jade a month before she died – said: “I still think something dodgy is going on with it.
“There were trustees that it all got left to. For instance, like the jewellery, there was quite a lot of that. I haven’t got a clue where that went.”
He added: “She trusted a lot of people at that time, which I don’t know if she really should have. I don’t know where any of it went, which I didn’t at the time. Obviously, I didn’t really want to get involved. It wasn’t my money.
“It was the boys’ money. I just wanted them to have it. But, something’s definitely gone on because there was a lot more than that’s been handed out. So I’m not too sure what’s happened.”
Jade and Jack struck a £700,000 deal with OK! magazine for photos of their wedding, and the widower claims he passed on his share to the trustees for Bobby and Freddy’s education.
The pair wed in February 2009 in front of the cameras, in what became one of the most emotional celebrity weddings ever seen.
He explained: “At the time when Jade passed away, the last thing on my mind was where’s the money going, who’s getting sorted out?
“In my head at that time, I didn’t want to believe that it was going to happen, so I didn’t speak about anything like that.
“And obviously she worked her socks off for the last however long she had left, just to get enough money for the boys to see, so they could be in school until they were 18, and have a nice life.
“I don’t know where it’s gone, I wasn’t in control, I wasn’t a trustee, so I’m hoping it’s all gone to the boys.”
In her final weeks, Jack turned down any financial support from Jade, despite her persistent offers to look after him after her death.
Jade had even tried to buy him a flat from her hospital bed, but he refused.
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Jack told The Sun: “For the wedding we got, it was OK! magazine, I think it was just under a million, and she was like, ‘Obviously, this is half and half’, and I said, ‘No, not a chance in the world’. I didn’t want to.
“I wouldn’t have taken it because I wanted my half of it to pay for the boys’ school fees, so she knew that they’d be alright in school and everything.
“Even when she was in hospital, three weeks to live, she was still worrying about it.
“All Jade would do is worry about everyone else, she was like, ‘I want to buy this flat, where are you going to live?’.
“Because obviously the houses were getting sold and whatever. I was like, ‘I’m fine, don’t be stupid’, and she’s on the laptop, trying to buy me a flat, and I said no, because I’m not believing that she’s going to die.
“I’ve still got a bit of hope, I’m still thinking everything’s going to be alright, and I wouldn’t let her do that anyway.”
‘I know it’s all a mess’
Jade’s ex Jeff also revealed the OK! Magazine deal was a cornerstone part of her plan to leave their sons financially secure.
He said: “The first thing she did was work out how much it would cost to put the boys through private education until they were 16. The answer was £260,000.
“In her last months that was what drove her on, even when she was so weak and in terrible pain. It was all that mattered to her.”
“She so desperately wanted them to have the upbringing she had never had.”
Jeff admitted: “I know it’s all a mess.
“The trouble with Jade, as I know only too well, was that she wasn’t good at taking advice. If you tried to tell her something it would go in one ear and out the other.”
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Tax troubles
Reports at the time claimed Jade allegedly hadn’t paid any income tax for the last four years of her life.
Then in 2011, two years after her death, it was reported her £3million estate had suffered a huge blow due to a £1.8million tax bill.
In the end, Bobby attended private school Bishop’s Stortford College, while Freddy, who was diagnosed with ADHD, went to a state school better suited to his needs.
Jackiey Budden, Jade’s mum, later insisted in 2019 that her grandsons’ futures were still safeguarded.
“There is money for the boys in a trust. Bobby’s private education is still paid for by Jade’s money,” she said.
“Freddy goes to a state school and loves it – the money would be there if he was to go to private school. There was enough to provide for the boys. I think they’ll get it when they’re 18 or 21.”
When Jade passed away, Jack only inherited her car, valued at around £16,000.
Since Jade’s death, her sons have grown into young men.
Bobby, 22, has carved out a hugely successful career with an EastEnders role and a stint on Strictly Come Dancing, but Freddy has had a more turbulent time.
He admitted last month that he became hooked on cannabis at just 12 years old, but is now turning his life around as he prepares to become a dad.
It was revealed Freddy’s model ex-girlfriend is expecting their baby, with a source claiming Jeff is “supportive” of the news – a sign of a dramatic U-turn in their previously strained relationship.
Freddy had launched legal action in a bid to stop Jeff from preventing him seeing his grandmother Jackiey, but things appear to be softening.
Jeff even hinted at the changes ahead with a cryptic Instagram post on Sunday, asking followers for a “parenting guidebook” on “unconventional early adult years.”
Jeff’s duty
In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, the TV host opened up about how he and EastEnders actor Bobby and Freddy have been “coming together as a family” since their tragic loss.
He said: “To lose the mother of your children is a huge trauma that, of course, shapes your life.
“It comes down to the fact that we need her.
“It’s not just about missing her — we need her as a mother at the moment, and we always have done, in all honesty.
“I think sometimes it’s termed that she is missed and we’re doing our best to cope.
“Sometimes, you have no choice but to look at it and realise we need her at this point.”
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