The Secret Millionaire: John Elliot
Next Week’s Secret Millionaire is 62-year-old John Elliott from Bishop Auckland - a life-long supporter of the Conservative Party and one of the richest people in England. He employs more than three hundred people at his factory making water coolers. John’s now one of the largest suppliers in the world, but life did not begin this way. He grew up in poverty two miles from where he lives now. His father died when he was a small child and his mother raised three children single-handedly.
This upbringing has left John with a real sense of what it is like to have nothing and he never takes his wealth for granted. “I did at one point”, says John, “think it may be good to get rid of it and start all over again, then there would be the real pressure of doing it again. A bit like getting to the end of the fish and chip queue and then going to the end and starting again. That would take some strength wouldn’t it?”
John is incredibly charitable, giving away thousands each year to different causes. But now he wants a more hands on approach to giving and feels he wants to get as close as possible to the people who really need it. “It’s very easy to write cheques out for organisations… but it is important to get out there and identify people with real needs”. This is why he has agreed to live undercover for ten days - leaving his lifestyle and even his identity behind to live in a small rented flat on the equivalent of state benefits in Kensington, Liverpool, one of the poorest parts of Britain. According to a Government report, the social and economic deprivation there is severe and deep rooted. Its residents have a 50% greater chance of dying earlier than the average person in England.
But John does not believe in spending or giving away money for the sake of it. He is very careful not to be wasteful or casual with his giving. So how easy will he find it to identify individuals who he feels are really deserving of his assistance? And, when faced with the realisation that he may have to widen his net to find deserving beneficiaries and look in places he would never normally consider worthy of his help, such as the local asylum centre, how will John react?
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December 6th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
Eeh, that were canny. I missed last weeks programme but John Elliott’s episode was well worth tuning in for.
Best wishes to everyone involved.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
I just caught this show and loved it. John seemed really down to earth and the fact that he was a living rag to riches story added to his appeal.
Great show, I can’t wait for next weeks installment.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
This programme is totally reality television and yet it absolutely is not the ‘Reality TV’ we have become glued to.
Tonight our millionaire was not subtly built up to be just a little bit Conservative (definitely with a capital ‘C’) He underwent a steep learning curve at the Asylum Centre and I think most of Britain did too. The Family who invited him in for lunch appeared, as the ex-boxer’s family last week, completely immune to the cameras - how refreshing.
This is not Reality TV, there are no contestants. This is Reality - with very down to earth fairy godmothers.
Fantastic programme.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
I lived and worked in Bishop Auckland where John Elliott is from and that make me stop to watch this programme.
Mr Elliott is a real gentleman and generous soul. God bless him and long may he live to help others.
He is true to his roots and its hard to beat the folk from up the north east, they are on the whole downright decent and kind people.
December 7th, 2006 at 8:45 am
After watching that show last night I couldn’t believe how stupid John Elliot is.
I am not a millionare but I have came accross so many Teenagers who have no parents and no hope. I am trying to help one boy at the moment. Im sure there were plenty of these in Liverpool. You wouldn’t believe how much help these kids need. The kids I know say there embarressed that they have no carreer or can’t drive.Its not there fault these are the people John should of looked out for.
December 7th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
I tuned into this programme this week and felt so strongly I had to write in. I found it patronising and insulting to people who have endured many years on benifits and know the realities. How long would our millionaire freind have survived living this way for an extensive period, no heating in the flat washing cloths in the sink mmm this is 2006 and in this day and age do we really expect that people should be expected to live like this. People die of hypothermia every year because they cannot afford heating. The money he spent on food each day has to cover everything. This programme swept away any real issues about the long term effects of anyone living in situations like this. I was totally appaulled that he found these situations acceptable it was like an hours party political broadcst for the conservative party. I find attitudes such as this a very dangerous thing. I really dispair about where we are heading as human beings. If this is the future of t.v. and indeed how we see life we are in serious trouble.
December 7th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
I was very impressed with the idea of this but there’s no accounting for the ‘millionaires’ taking part, Years of low income doesnt just affect you financially, it can be soul destroying too,Riding round on a bus to me seemed a disgrace as a solution to keeping warm, HE ended up from his wealth I believe throwing out hard cash of the equivalent of less than £2 from say someone who only had £5000+, He gave a man a job, but that will bw covered from the ongoing profits of his business. Its obscene that people who have multiple millions and this man has over 60million are so patronising to those in need, I bet he walks past big issue sellers too. Lots of homeless and very poor people pop into Church when its open for warmth and to just to feel they belong a bit, few and I dare bet in reality NONE of them get invited back to a warm house and get a meal.The truth is he had ideas of what he wanted to do and qite frankly the people he helped and those he didnt would if they could ever get on one gain more from a quiz show like deal or no deal, I believe the poor are here as a test to the rich and most fail the test badly, but if Television is in any way serious about helping people who are poor then put a show on like a quiz type show for only them to gain something, they’d likely be fed and be warm for the duration of the show too.This guy gave to a couple who were struggling with credit debts,nothing for that but £10,000 for a deposit on a house so soon they will have a massive mortgage round their necks and that house lost if the jobs dont hold up. Personal glorification, people who really do the most and best help are those who give to those who need whatever and who dont use TV cameras to shout about it.ROD,Newcastle
December 7th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
A very good and educative programme, weldone to John Elliot. Good richly bless you. I hope other millionaire will fellow your the great thing you have done. Weldone.
December 7th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
A very good and educative programme, weldone to John Elliot. God richly bless you. I hope other millionaire will fellow the great thing you have done. Weldone.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
John, bless you.
You are such a lovely, down to earth man and your heart is in the right place. You made such an impact on me when I watch the show. Although you earned every penny you have today - you are kind enough to take time out and go where people of your calibre never go once they ‘move up the ladder’.
Thank you for putting my faith back in humanity. I wish you lots of love and happiness in your life.
December 8th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
I went on a business course some time ago, and we were all asked by the course leader why we were there. Some said they’d like a high income, some said a fast car, others said they’d like a big house and foreign holidays.
It seemed to me they’d all missed the point. All these things are just trappings of success, they’re just triva, and not goals in themselves.
We are all here on this earth to make a difference in other people’s lives, and we can all do that, from millionaires to single mums on low incomes. If everyone cared for the one next to him or her, there would be no poverty, no hunger, no lonliness. We would all have equal chances.
Sharing is an old fashioned sentiment, and sadly lacking today.
Thank God for people like Mr Elliott. You are an example, Sir.
December 12th, 2006 at 11:44 am
i would like the address of the illegal imagrant offices in kensington as i have 6bags of clothing i would like to give to them . thanks
December 14th, 2006 at 11:08 am
Hello
Just wanted to make a brief comment to those cynics and doubters of the show and for those who feel more money should be given out.
Come on guys does it really matter?? sure the Rich businessman is getting great PR and they could afford to give more but at the end of the day they are making people happy and giving some people a break they would’nt normally get.There’s always going to be calls for more deserving people it just seems you’re dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. Why can’t people just see it purely as heartwarming TV.
December 18th, 2006 at 11:35 am
A little money spent in the right way will go a long way - well done John. A great example of a tycoon who hasn’t lost his roots. I disagree with some of the comments that level criticsm at him; everyone has a chance in life. Some people don’t help themselves, let alone others. Look at the guy who was in the pub and happy with this life - no job but plenty of benefits. No sympathy there. And John’s mission wasn’t to rid the world of the poor - to change just one life would be great. And he has done that. We need more like him.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:48 am
My heart goes out to John Elliott and other millionares who like to share what they have accumulated by working so hard all their lives but can easily give out to the needy. God bless you with more riches John. The t.v show ’secret millionare has motivated me to fend more for others than for myself.
I come from a very poor village in Malawi, Africa where more than 50% of the population are orphaned children who’s parents died of hiv/aids. Charitable Organisation e.g the British Red Cross and World Vission Internationalare have and are trying to help by donating clothing, food and funding to change the lives of these vulnerable kids but unfortunatly very few are likely to receive anything because everything is grabbed by some selfish bosses as soon as the stuff arrives at our head office and is distributed to other smaller offices in various ditricts, clothes are sold, some are distributed amongst the bosses and their junior staff for them and their own families and money goes in their pockets. what a shame! the poor kids are left starving and they dont give a shit.
In 1996 both my sister and her husband were dying of aids in one of our biggest hospitals where they befriended an American doctor called Dr Brody who was working there as a volunteer. When both died 1 week apart they left me in care of their 3 year old daughter. when Brody returned to america, he telephoned and told that three times he had sent money to me through world vission to help take care of my late sister’s little girl. I never received a penny untill after he started sending it directly to me.
British government and other donor countries are doing their best to help improve peoples lives in africa but the kindness is abused by our own corrupt leaders and greedy, selfish managers in the top government offices.
when i visited my village last year, I fostered into my mothers home six homeless children aged between 4 and 12, my mum is happy to look after them, 2 of them being my late brother’s biological kids. Although we earn no more £2,000 a month, every month i and my husband send atleast a quarter of our earnings to my mother to enable her to feed these kids and send them to school. A half loaf is better than nothing i believe.
charity,
manchester
I wish there were a thousand rich people like John Elliot who could part with a little of their riches and give to these starving kids in africa, and possibly spare their time and take their donations themselves just to make sure it goes into the right hands just like in this marvelous program “the secret millionare”
looking forward to watching you on your little errands on tele Jonh!
November 29th, 2007 at 4:59 am
My heart goes out to John Elliott and other millionares who like to share what they have accumulated by working so hard all their lives but can easily give out to the needy. God bless you with more riches John. The t.v show ’secret millionare has motivated me to fend more for others than for myself.
I come from a very poor village in Malawi, Africa where more than 50% of the population are orphaned children who’s parents died of hiv/aids. Charitable Organisation e.g the British Red Cross and World Vission Internationalare have and are trying to help by donating clothing, food and funding to change the lives of these vulnerable kids but unfortunatly very few are likely to receive anything because everything is grabbed by some selfish bosses as soon as the stuff arrives at our head office and is distributed to other smaller offices in various ditricts, clothes are sold, some are distributed amongst the bosses and their junior staff for them and their own families and money goes in their pockets. what a shame! the poor kids are left starving and they dont give a shit.
In 1996 both my sister and her husband were dying of aids in one of our biggest hospitals where they befriended an American doctor called Dr Brody who was working there as a volunteer. When both died 1 week apart they left me in care of their 3 year old daughter. when Brody returned to america, he telephoned and told that three times he had sent money to me through world vission to help take care of my late sister’s little girl. I never received a penny untill after he started sending it directly to me.
British government and other donor countries are doing their best to help improve peoples lives in africa but the kindness is abused by our own corrupt leaders and greedy, selfish managers in the top government offices.
when i visited my village last year, I fostered into my mothers home six homeless children aged between 4 and 12, my mum is happy to look after them, 2 of them being my late brother’s biological kids. Although we earn no more £2,000 a month, every month i and my husband send atleast a quarter of our earnings to my mother to enable her to feed these kids and send them to school. A half loaf is better than nothing i believe.
I wish there were a thousand rich people like John Elliot who could part with a little of their riches and give to these starving kids in africa, and possibly spare their time and take their donations themselves just to make sure it goes into the right hands just like in this marvelous program “the secret millionare”
looking forward to watching you on your little errands on tele Jonh!
March 10th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
HELLO JOHN,
HOW ARE YOU? MY ADDREESS BLOCK K FLAT 4 PEABODY TRUST ESTATE CAMBERWELL GREEN LONDON, SE5 7BS, AM DEAF WOMAN AND AM 32YRS OLD THAT 2 CHILDRENS BUT I AM VERY CRYING AND POOR MONEY AND NOT WORK I SAY YOU HELP ME, MOBILE ON 07958515046 ASK FOR DEBBIE,YOU NICE WITH FRIEND YOU
WITH FRIEND FATOUMATT SISSOHORE BANKLOE
August 12th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
i have been strugling so much to earn money and try to get help me but no one can help me so i start watching this program how milionairs help people out i wish some could help me. I have lost every thing please any milionair out there please help me THANK YOU
September 26th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Look at http://www.christophoward.com
read up on NLP (neuro Linguistic Programming) There are many books on this, but due to the nature of what it is about: Communication not just with everyone else but yourself, the audio books are better.
Read anything by Napoleon Hill.
and read the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
These are the keys to wealth - wealth in terms or Career - relationships and personal Health
with the tools you learn you will go on to a better life. I have.
BE inpspired. then act on that inspiration and make it happen.