UK’s first gay father, who first made headlines in 1990 after welcoming twins Aspen and Saffron via surrogate with his partner Tony has now won the hearts of many with his generous gesture.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow is being praised for investing in a single mum’s baby food business, who survived on £59 a week.
“Tony and Barrie had as combined net-worth of £40million before their 2019 divorce, from their ventures, including a trans-Atlantic surrogacy business and a global medical research company. Four years on, Barrie is now worth £ 12 million himself,” per Daily Mail.
After his separation from Tony, Barrie started dating his daughter’s ex-boyfriend Scot Hutchinson, and they now live together in his luxurious 15000 square feet Essex mansion worth £6 million in Florida and spend £5,000 a week on their super lavish lifestyle.
When the ‘Britain’s most lavish dad’ traveled back to his property in Essex to film Rich House, Poor House, Barrie spent almost five days in a struggling mother named Ocean’s property after they traded lives for the Channel 5 reality show.
At the end of the week, the multi-millionaire decided to give her a staggering £250K to fund her budding baby food business.
Ocean, a struggling single mom, lived in a 2-bedroom flat with her daughter Arizona and survived on £59 a week.
In Sunday’s episode of the reality show, Barrie and Ocean met up after spending five days in each other’s properties and the father-of-eight announced that he will give Ocean a quarter of a million pounds to fund her small business.
“When I spoke to your friend Leah, she mentioned about the baby food and how you helped her with her children, freezing it you’d always be there and make more batches for her,” said Barrie. “To me that really struck as there is definitely a market for baby food.”
“I’m thinking that maybe there’s an opportunity for us both,” he added before announcing the deal which left Ocean and the viewers stunned.
“I will back you, and I’ll back you with an initial £250,000,” he said.
Listening to his announcement, Ocean became overwhelmed with emotions and said, “I was not thinking this experience would change my life in the long run.”
“I’m so shocked that they want to invest their time and money in me. I’m lost for words,” she added. “I’m so excited for the future. I’m over the moon.”
In an interview with Fabulous, Barrie said he really likes the mum-daughter duo and wants to do something for them so they can have a bright future.
“I absolutely love Ocean and her daughter. I want to see them get out of the poverty trap and make something of themselves, and I believe that she can do it,” he said. “£250,000 is a lot of money but the truth of the matter is a business needs a good injection of cash right from the start to give it a boost. This initial amount should be the boost she needs to get her food business off the ground.”
“At the end of the day I don’t want to waste any of my money, I want to make more money and I think with Ocean, I can do that.”
After watching the episode, viewers were left in tears and praised Barrie for his kindness and generosity.
“Prob late to the party cos I’m sure it’s prob a rerun but Barry and Scott on #RichHousePoorHouse are two of the nicest people, their kindness makes me wanna cry!” one wrote on Twitter.
“Scott and Barrie you are so genuinely, brilliantly helping Ocean who is clearly a very strong woman. I really hope Oceans business takes off she deserves the world for her and her daughter. Barrie and Scott I was very touched by your empathy and understanding x,” someone wrote on Instagram.
“This episode was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Two LOVELY families. Just goes to show you may have it all however it’s down to you to be the most beautiful human you can. I wish you all the luck in your new adventure lovely Xxxxx,” added another.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Sources: Daily Mail – Channel 5 – Fabulous
