Jade Goody’s finances took a huge hit after her tragic death in 2009, but sources have claimed it could be down to her disgraced former publicist, Max Clifford

Jade Goody’s finances took a huge hit after her tragic death(Image: PA)

A paedophile who handled Jade Goody’s work in the press could be behind her missing millions, a source has claimed. Big Brother legend Jade tragically died aged just 27 in 2009 – seven months after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. At the time, her two sons, Bobby and Freddy, were just five and four, but Jade had been determined to give them the life that she never had growing up.

Her mother, Jackiey, was a drug addict, while her father, Andrew, was also an addict and allegedly a pimp. She grew up on a council estate in Bermondsey, east London, but despite her troubled upbringing, Jade set out to secure her children’s future and ensure they would be financially protected, even after her death.

She made a name for herself on Big Brother and later appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, raking in huge brand deals, opening her own salon and releasing her own fragrance. And although her health had been rapidly declining, even in Jade’s final weeks and months, she continued working in order to provide for her two sons.

Jade Goody was determined to be able to provide for her children after her death(Image: PA)

Following her death on March 22, 2009, Jade left £3million behind for Bobby and Freddie in a trust fund and had intended for their dad, Jeff Brazier, to use some of the cash to have the boys privately educated. In 2009, before her death, she also sold the rights to her wedding with Jack Tweed to OK! Magazine, including a photoshoot and interview for an impressive £700,000.

But it’s claimed that this was all part of a mastermind plan by disgraced former publicist, Max Clifford. A source told the Daily Mail that while Clifford adored Jade, during her last weeks, he was focused on making a profit from her. A source told the outlet that he would often dangle the carrot to the media to gain centre stage.

Speaking to the outlet, a source said: “He loved every minute of pulling the strings when it came to Jade: he was the puppeteer. Of course, he had worked on lots of stories and events before, but this was huge. The nation was gripped when it came to Jade Goody.”

Jade sold the rights to her wedding just weeks before her death(Image: PA)

They went on to state that people believed Clifford shouldn’t have been “touting her around” due to Jade’s failing health and being in constant pain due to her cancer. “She knew she was going to die; it was pretty awful to watch,” the source added. Magazine and newspaper interview deals were signed, and Jade also documented her journey on a TV show, Jade: With Love, which brought both Jade and Clifford a “substantial amount of money.”

Clifford is also accused of asking a journalist for an £8,000 fee after briefing the reporter about another of his clients, without making this clear before the conversation got underway. Over the course of his career, he handled the PR for some of the biggest names in entertainment, as well as allegedly concealing the sexuality of some of his clients.

Just two years after Jade died, it was claimed that her estate had been hit with a £1.8million tax bill. Jade allegedly didn’t pay any income tax in the final four years before she died. Jeff later explained there had been more tax issues due to her own beauty salon, which was located in Essex.

Disgraced publicist Max Clifford has been accused of profiting from Jade(Image: PA)

He said: “I know it’s all a mess. The trouble with Jade, as I know only too well, was that she wasn’t good at taking advice. If you tried to tell her something, it would go in one ear and out the other.”

Clifford, who, on December 6, 2012, was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, which was set up following the Jimmy Savile scandal. On April 26, 2013, he was charged with an additional 11 indecent assault charges, between 1966 and 1985, on girls aged between 14 and 19. He denied the claims, saying they were “completely false.”

After pleading not guilty, Clifford was put on trial and on April 28, 2014, he was convicted of eight counts of indecent assault against four victims. He was acquitted of two indecent assault charges, and the jury failed to reach a verdict on another. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. Despite Clifford’s efforts and the efforts of his daughter, his conviction was upheld on April 2, 2019.

He died in December 2017 of a heart attack, three days after collapsing in his cell at HM Prison Littlehey.