Joey Essex, the charismatic Love Island star and reality TV veteran, is facing a financial storm that threatens to overshadow his glittering career. Documents uncovered by The Mirror reveal that the 35-year-old’s performing arts company, Joey Essex Management Ltd., is drowning in a staggering £1.3 million debt, with the TV personality at the heart of the crisis. From unpaid loans to hefty tax bills and legal battles, Essex’s financial troubles paint a grim picture for the former TOWIE star.
At the center of Essex’s financial woes is a £780,000 director’s loan he took from Joey Essex Management Ltd., which he has so far failed to repay. Liquidators are now questioning whether the reality star will ever settle this massive debt, despite Essex signing a Declaration of Solvency in August 2024, boldly claiming the company would clear all debts within 12 months. The optimism of that statement now seems like a distant memory as the company’s financial health continues to deteriorate.
Adding to the turmoil, Essex owes a jaw-dropping £442,303 to HMRC for unpaid VAT, PAYE, corporation tax, and court costs. The tax authority dragged Joey Essex Management Ltd. to the High Court last year, slapping it with a winding-up petition over these unpaid dues. The company also owes £39,942 to celebrity-favored bank Coutts and £15,000 to Companies House, pushing the total debt far beyond earlier estimates of £300,000 in tax liabilities.
Essex, the sole director and shareholder of the company he founded in 2011—the same year he shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex—now faces mounting pressure as liquidators circle and creditors demand answers.
Despite his financial struggles, Joey Essex has been a fixture on British television for over a decade, amassing a fortune through appearances on hit shows like Celebs Go Dating, Dancing on Ice, and Love Island, as well as his own program, Educating Joey Essex. In 2023, Joey Essex Management Ltd. reported assets of £890,000, including £780,000 in cash. However, this once-healthy balance sheet has been eroded by the star’s failure to manage his financial obligations.
Essex’s other ventures tell a similar story of stagnation. His two other companies, JDE Property Limited (valued at just £100) and Fusey Productions Limited, are dormant, while another firm, The Top TT Limited, was shuttered in March 2025 without ever filing accounts. These ventures, intended to diversify his portfolio, have instead added to the narrative of financial mismanagement.
In a bid to turn his fortunes around, Essex recently stepped into the boxing ring, making his debut at the Misfits event in Manchester on August 30, 2025. The Love Island star reportedly pocketed a hefty £500,000 for his first fight, a points victory over Portuguese influencer Joao “Numeiro” Barbosa. The bout wasn’t without drama—Essex survived standing counts in the fourth and final rounds to clinch the win.
However, the victory has been thrown into question. Barbosa, 27, is now challenging the result, claiming the decision was unfair. “Every time I rewatch the fight, every time I speak to someone professional—coaches, referees, pro athletes—everyone I always get the same feedback,” Barbosa told IFL TV. “It was like, ‘That could have never happened.’” While a rematch has been floated, Barbosa is more focused on overturning the original result, preferably outside the UK for a “fair” fight. This controversy could jeopardize Essex’s boxing ambitions and the financial lifeline it represents.
With his company teetering on the edge and creditors closing in, Joey Essex’s once-glamorous world is under threat. The reality star, known for his charm and larger-than-life persona, has yet to comment on the mounting debts, with his agent remaining silent when approached by The Mirror. As Essex navigates this financial nightmare, his next moves—whether in the boxing ring or the boardroom—will be critical to salvaging his reputation and his fortune.