Inside ‘ruthless’ Stacey Solomon’s plans to protect £7m fortune in marriage crisis & strict rule she has for Joe Swash

WITH everything she touches turning to gold, business is booming for Stacey Solomon.

But as she admits her marriage is plagued by constant rows, we reveal the “ruthless” star’s strict rule for husband Joe Swash to protect her £7million fortune.

Stacey Solomon has made millions from her beauty and fashion businessesCredit: George Home/Asda

Stacey Solomon admitted marriage troubles with constant rowsCredit: BBC

The couple have spoken honestly about the ups and downs in their relationshipCredit: staceysolomon/Instagram

Stacey, known as the girl next door, built her success from humble beginnings as a pregnant teen from a council estate.

Despite her power couple status, it’s Stacey’s financially shrewd mindset and determined independence that have been the driving force behind the fame and fortune she has today.

Friends say, however, that it’s come at a price to her high-profile relationship with former EastEnders star Joe Swash.

An insider said: “From the outside Stacey and Joe are like two peas in a pod – but behind the scenes, they couldn’t be more different.

“While Stacey has always thrived on being independent, Joe often acts like a lost puppy – looking to others to help him get to where he’s going.

“His care-free, laid-back personality doesn’t always mean he’s making the right choices, and so Stacey knows it’s down to her to manage their money.”

The couple met backstage in 2010 – the year Stacey won I’m A Celebrity while Joe presented the spin-off show.

Joe later revealed that “it wasn’t the right time” for them to be together romantically, and it took another six years for them to start dating.

By that time, Joe had been declared bankrupt twice over unpaid tax bills – once in 2009 and the second in 2013.

His first financial mess came just a year after he’d won I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, soon after being axed from EastEnders.

It was during his time on the soap that he began to spiral with money troubles.

“I wondered how I managed to get myself into the situation. But it can happen to anybody,” Joe admitted previously.

“I got into EastEnders and was irresponsible with money. I was chucking it away on stuff I didn’t need. I thought I was going to be on EastEnders for years and years.”

Joe was axed from EastEnders after writers ‘ran out of storylines’ for his character MickeyCredit: BBC

After finding fame on The X Factor, Stacey launched a multi-million business empireCredit: George Home

Marrying Stacey, who has three children with Joe – Rex, six, Rose, three, and Belle, two, and is also mum to Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12 – is claimed to have “saved” Joe from further money troubles.

Our source added: “Stacey is shrewd when it comes to cash, and she makes sure she’s in control of their finances.

“She earns a hell of a lot more than him, but still insists everything is 50/50. It’s a way of protecting herself if the worst was to happen but also a way of making sure Joe is contributing.

“His friends and family think it can come across pretty bossy and even ruthless at times, but they also know that without her he would be broke.”

Tension in their marriage emerged on-screen during their BBC fly-on-the-wall series, which revealed the stars are having relationship counselling.

Stacey was left in tears outside the therapy centre and had to be comforted by a TV crew member after Joe stomped off following one intense session.

Rows take toll on marriage

Joe Swash ordered Stacey to ‘take a breath’ as they rowed at their anniversary dinnerCredit: BBC

Joe got emotional during a heartbreaking chat with Stacey on their reality showCredit: BBC

Joe told the counsellor: “All I’m hearing is that I’m this huge problem in Stacey’s perfect life.

“I don’t hear no positive stuff about me.”

Stacey shared that all is still not well in their marriage in an interview this week, saying: “How can you not fall out with your husband?

“That’s a pipe dream!

“Joe and I argue all the time over the stuff that’s got to be done. I feel like we’re in that era: five kids, three of whom are young, so everything’s a kerfuffle.”

“[Joe and I] got together because we like each other”, she continued.

“We have the same morals and values, so even if we do have a couple of months of, ‘f***king hell, I can’t even look at you right now,’ we’ll eventually remember why we got together in the first place.”

Stacey’s business-minded

Their BBC show, Stacey & Joe, finished airing a second series last month.

As well as documenting the family’s hectic home life, it follows Stacey’s business ventures, having invested her money in fashion and beauty, reality TV and social media advertisement.

Since finding fame on The X Factor, Stacey has capitalised on her popularity and in 2021 purchased their five-bed family home, Pickle Cottage.

But the sprawling £1.3million pad, which is set in 2.5 acres and boasts an outdoor swimming pool, is solely in her name instead of jointly shared with husband Joe.

His bankruptcy past is said to have played a part, but it also helped to give Stacey long-term financial security.

The couple ended up in therapy during their BBC reality showCredit: BBC

However, despite her vast business portfolio bringing in millions of pounds to secure her family’s financial future, mum of five Stacey has decided she won’t be passing it down to her kids.

Instead, she hopes they’ll appreciate the value of money from hard graft – and learn better financial skills than their dad and step-dad Joe.

Stacey said previously: “We don’t have some sort of inherited wealth that we can pass down for generations, so it’s really important for them to know that this is our career and we will support our family in whichever way we can, but eventually they are their own person.

“I was excited to earn my own money and be financially independent. I want my children to be excited for that too.

“It’s a wider picture of their self-worth and their happiness in general. I want them to feel accomplished and have things.

“It’s very difficult to go through life without needing anything or wanting anything.

“I don’t want to leave them in that position.”

Stacey and Joe with their kids at Pickle CottageCredit: Instagram

The power couple have achieved huge fame and fortuneCredit: Getty