Karren Brady net worth: who is The Apprentice judge’s daughter, husband - and how West Ham CEO made her money

The Apprentice is set to reach a conclusion on BBC One tonight (23 March), with billionaire entrepreneur Alan Sugar having cut a field of 18 candidates down to two.

Hair salon owner Rochelle Anthony and gym owner Marnie Swindells will battle it out to win a £250,000 investment and the support of Lord Sugar. Helping him choose the winner will be Karren Brady.

The 53-year-old Baroness has been a judge on the hit reality TV show since 2009. But she also has a prominent business career of her own - most notably as CEO and vice-chair of football club West Ham United. As well as her entrepeurial streak, Brady is also a Conservative Party politician. Known officially as Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge, she is a member of the House of Lords having been appointed by former Prime Minister David Cameron.

It all comes after she recently mourned the death of one of her business partners, David Gold. The entrepeneur had worked with Gold and David Sullivan for decades, mostly at Birmingham City and West Ham.

But how did Karren Brady make her fortune - and what is her net worth? Here’s everything you need to know.

Who is Karren Brady?

Karren Brady, whose official title is Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge, is a business person and reality TV star.

She was born on 4 April 1969 in Edmonton, North London to irish-born father Terry Brady - a millionaire publisher and property developer who used to run Swindon Town FC - and Italian-born mother Rita.

The Baroness moved into advertising straight after leaving school, joining influential marketing and communications agency Saatchi & Saatchi before moving over to LBC as an account executive.

During her time at the broadcaster, she developed a business relationship with her father’s friend David Sullivan, a former pornographer who owned the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers. Sullivan was said to be so impressed with the young Brady that he made her one of his directors at the age of just 20-years-old.

As well as working for West Ham United, Karren Brady has been the chairperson of music brand Kerrang!, a non-executive director of Channel 4, and a consultant for Syco Entertainment - a joint-venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. She also worked as a non-executive chair for the parent company of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group for 10 years between 2010 and 2020.

On top of her business career, Karren Brady has been a member of the House of Lords since 2014. She was appointed by then-Prime Minister David Cameron and is a supporter of the Conservative Party.

How did Karren Brady get into football?

After several years working for David Sullivan’s business empire, Baroness Brady convinced him to buy Birmingham City football club. The team was in administration at the time.

Sullivan appointed Brady as the club’s managing director after buying it with long-term business partner David Gold in March 1993. When they floated the football club on the London Stock Exchange in 1997, Brady became the youngest managing director of a British PLC.

In another first, she became the first ever female managing director of a Premier League club when Birmingham was promoted in 2002. Sullivan and Gold sold the club in 2009 just months after Sullivan and Brady were arrested as part of a wider investigation into corruption in football - although both were cleared of any wrongdoing.

In 2010, Sullivan and Gold bought West Ham United and became co-chairs of the football club, with Brady becoming vice-chair. While their ownership of the London club has not been popular at times, with poor performances on the pitch and a controversial move to the London Olympic Stadium irking fans, they have kept it on a financially stable footing.

As well as her West Ham role, Baroness Brady previously worked on England’s 2018 World Cup bid and has been on the board of Sport England. Despite being rumoured to be an Arsenal FC supporter, Brady has insisted her footballing loyalties lie with the two clubs she has represented.

What is Karren Brady’s net worth?

Karren Brady is estimated by wealth management title Spear’s Magazine to be a multi-millionaire.

The publication estimates her net worth to be £85 million. She owns homes in Knightsbridge, Knowle and a holiday home in Canada.

Is Karren Brady married?

Karren Brady is married to former Canadian professional footballer Paul Peschisolido. The pair got together after meeting when Peschisolido played at Birmingham City.

After marrying in 1995, the couple have had two children - a daughter named Sophia, who is now a model, and a son named Paolo, who is a former rugby player and tax consultant.