I’m a multimillionaire grandad & gifted my 2-day-old grandkid a £1m house – she’s got a £5m trust fund & £500 pram
MOST babies receive some babygrows or a cuddly toy when they are born.
But multimillionaire Barrie Drewitt-Barlow has revealed he has gifted his two-day-old granddaughter Marina a swanky £1million house and a £5million trust fund.
The Manchester-born businessman, 51, who is worth a staggering £200m, took to Instagram to announce that his daughter Saffron, 23, gave birth naturally at 36 weeks on Saturday June 24.
Speaking to Fabulous, dad-of-eight Barrie said: “I’m so proud of both Saffron and her husband Conor.
“They are very well matched.
“Now I have another princess to spoil and I cannot wait.
“I just bought her a new house this weekend worth £1m and I’ve instructed a team of interior designers to go in and totally renovate it for her.
“Aspen [Saffron’s brother] just bought them a £5,000 Dior pram and pushchair.”
This follows Barrie, who spends £4million for his family’s Christmas each year, buying his own son Romeo a very unconventional gift when he was born last year; a £2.5 million yacht.
Barrie and ex-husband Tony made their money from various business ventures including a trans-Atlantic surrogacy business and a global medical research company.
Barrie revealed that Tony has ensured Marina will never have to worry about money during her life.
He added: “And as this is Tony’s first grandchild, he has set up a £5m trust fund for her, so she is already a multi millionaire.”
Barrie shared the news on Instagram with his followers on Saturday, saying: “My girl had a girl of her very own today.
“I would like to introduce you all to Marina Drewitt-Barlow-Tucker born 36 weeks and 3 days … 24•06•2023, 6lbs 9oz, 3:58am.
“Tony Drewitt-Barlow and I could not be prouder of Saffron Drewitt-Barlow and Conor Tucker for producing this little Princess for our family.
“Our first granddaughter and a new princess to spoil.”
Barrie revealed the inspiration behind Saffron and Conor choosing Marina’s name, and said it has a very poignant meaning.
He explained: “When they found out that she was having a girl, Saffron and Conor decided to call her Marina, after Conor’s mum who had passed away several years ago.
“A fitting tribute to a lovely lady and a way to remember her every day.
“It made me cry when they told me.
“Born in the USA, Marina is American by birth and will have a dual nationality to the uk because of her dad.
“Saffron has been incredible, she has totally shocked me. Made me so proud.
“Her husband Conor has been there 100 per cent for her, holding her hand all the way through it.”
Barrie is used to £20,000 meals out and living in seven lavish mansions around the world, including in Florida and Essex.
Giving up his millions, he was recently forced to live on a council estate with a £57 budget for a week on Channel 5’s Rich House Poor House, as he swapped lives with a struggling mum.
Meanwhile Barrie, who made history with ex-partner Tony for being Britain’s first gay dads to twins Saffron and Aspen in 1999, handed over his £6million Essex mansion and chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce to single mum Ocean for the TV experience.
Upon arrival, the council flat was a far cry from the houses he lives in, which have a minimum of six bedrooms and full 24/7 staff including a driver and personal barman.
At the end of the experience, he prompted Ocean to break down in tears, investing £250,000 in her baby food business.
Speaking of the experience, he said: “I know half the country is struggling right now and I feel for them, I wanted to maybe help at least one family have a better future and taking part in this show, it has helped me to do that.”
The millionaire has forever ruled out shopping at bargain retailers Lidl and Primark in the future though, and added: “Hell no! It is just disposable clothing and horse meat, no thanks.”
A few years ago, Barrie confirmed he had fallen for daughter Saffron’s ex Scott, and they are now engaged, and share Valentina, two, and baby Romeo, who arrived last August via surrogate.