Going into business with Lord Sugar isn’t for everyone - as many winners of The Apprentice quickly find out.
The initial winners of the show, who spent weeks battling it out in the world’s toughest job interview, were competing for a £100,000 a year job for one of his many companies.
But after a particularly awkward situation with one winner in 2010, which resulted in an unsuccessful attempt to sue Lord Sugar for wrongful dismissal, the goal posts were shifted.
The following year the prize changed to a whopping £250,000 investment in their business for a 50% stake in the company, as well as his own guidance and help from his team of experts.
A handful have gone on to build business empires that are bringing in the money, including Tom Pellereau, Ricky Martin, Leah Totton, Mark Wright, Sara Lynn, Sian Gabbidon and Carina Lepore.
While a few have decided they no longer needed support and parted ways with the business mogul.
Here is a look at the business partners who have split from Lord Sugar and why.
Joseph Valente - Series 11 (2015)
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Joseph Valente split from Lord Sugar just two years after he invested £250,000 into his plumbing business.
Joseph announced he would take full control of ImpraGas - but they parted on friendly terms.
At the time, Lord Sugar said: "I'll still be on hand to offer any help and advice required. I wish Joseph and ImpraGas all the very best for the future and will follow their progress with much affection."
The Apprentice boss divested himself of his interest in the company, with Joseph acquiring his shareholding and taking full control of the business.
Joseph added: "I am so grateful for everything Lord Sugar has done for me and I could not have asked for a better partner in the early stages of my business career.
"I owe him a great deal. I am confident that with the winning business model we created together, I can continue to grow the business successfully."
In the summer of 2020, he was forced to sell his boiler installation business amid reports it owed almost £2million to creditors.
ImpraGas was sold for an undisclosed sum, safeguarding jobs, but shell company VBH Assets, co-owned by Joseph, entered into voluntary liquidation, owing £1.9million to creditors.
Joseph opened up on his battle with depression and public shaming after the failure of his company, but said it made him even more determined.
"It hit me very hard, I was very depressed for a couple of months, and one day I woke up and thought, 'There is no way I am going to let this destroy me'", Joseph told MirrorOnline.
"I had my credibility and my reputation to rebuild."
He started from scratch and his course to support new and existing businesses on how to grow, Trade Mastermind and Power2Succeed, are going from strength to strength.
Alana Spencer - Series 12 (2016)
Alana put the £250,000 into her baking business Ridiculously Rich, and set up an ambassador plan with Lord Sugar.
She exclusively told Mirror TV her turnover has gone from £100,000 to an expected £450,000 in a year thanks to winning The Apprentice.
The queen of cake bought back Lord Sugar's shares and became the sole owner and director of the firm in 2019.
Alan said that the knowledge and advice he and his team have given her during the early stages had been “invaluable”.
"A little while ago I had the amazing opportunity to buy out Lord Sugar from Ridiculously Rich and take full control back of my business," she explained on social media.
"It was an exciting, crazy, scary few months while the final details were being agreed and sorted, but something I am so grateful for."
She added: "Working with Lord Sugar has been an incredible experience and I have learned such a lot in such a short space of time. I am so grateful for his time in Ridiculously Rich by Alana."
Wishing her luck, Lord Sugar said: “I will follow Alana’s progress with much affection.”
James White - Series 13 (2017)
Lord Sugar couldn’t decide a winner in 2017, so in an unprecedented move he picked both James White and Sarah Lynn.
Admitting he had always been a gambler in business, Lord Sugar said: "This particular year, I’m going to double my investment… I’m going to start a business with both of you."
He invested a combined £500,000 that year, with half going to James’ IT recruitment firm and the other half into Sarah’s confectionary company.
Sarah's personalised sweet company, Sweets in the City, has gone from strength to strength since Lord Sugar joined as a partner and is now stocked in Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.
But it was a rockier road for self-proclaimed ‘Del Boy’ James who was said to have suffered a series of 'unfortunate setbacks' and lost £30,000 in the first six months in his IT recruitment company, Right Time Recruitment.
In December 2020, it was revealed that James and Lord Sugar had parted ways but The Apprentice boss was reportedly letting him keep the money he invested.
“I wish James all the very best for the future and will follow his progress with interest,” said Lord Sugar in a statement.
James added: “I am very grateful for everything Lord Sugar has done for me. The knowledge and advice gained from Lord Sugar and his team has been invaluable.”
*The Apprentice airs tonight on BBC One at 9pm
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