During the most hectic years of his extraordinary career, he burned through money at a staggering rate – later estimated at somewhere between £1.5 million and £2 million a month – while indulging a dual addiction to alcohol and cocaine, as well as a love of flowers, which left him with a florist bill of almost £300,000 in less than two years.
But that was in Sir Elton John's time as a single man. Now 76, and happily married to Canadian filmmaker David Furnish for almost a decade, he's growing his fortune in a way that he – and his accountants – would once have kept completely out of his reach.
In fact, I can reveal that he and Furnish, 61, pumped more than £57 million into one company in the last financial year of which they are the only two 'major' shareholders, but of which Furnish is the sole director.
Fans of Sir Elton can reasonably assume that the company, which now reports assets worth a total of £115 million, is dealing with the huge revenues generated by his four-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which ended last summer climaxed at Glastonbury in what one critic called 'the biggest retirement party in pop history'. By then it had become the most profitable tour in history, taking in over £580 million.
But that is not the case. The company, Tekcor Ltd, opaquely defines its activities as 'proprietary securities trading'. A financial analyst puts it more understandably. “It's an asset manager,” she tells me. “It buys and sells investments.”
During the most hectic years of his extraordinary career, Sir Elton burned through his money at a dizzying pace – later estimated at somewhere between £1.5 million and £2 million a month.
Sir Elton's four-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour climaxed at Glastonbury last summer in what one critic called “the biggest retirement party in pop history.”
Sir Elton can reflect on his newfound happiness in a series of palatial properties, including a 1920s villa in the south of France (pictured)
Twenty-five years ago, accountants discovered that £20 million was missing from Sir Elton's accounts, leading to the breakdown of his relationship with his manager and former lover, John Reid, who paid Sir Elton ££ in an out-of-court settlement. 3.4 million.
Now in much safer hands, Sir Elton can reflect on his newfound happiness in a series of palatial properties, including a mansion in London's Holland Park, an estate in Windsor, a pair of neighboring houses in Beverley Hills, an apartment in a palazzo in Venice. and a 1920s villa in the south of France.
Generous as ever to some extent, he lent the last of these ever to Prince Harry and Meghan in recognition of their 'hard work and dedication to charity'.
Kaleb Cooper, the young farmer whose confrontations with his boss Jeremy Clarkson amused viewers of Amazon's reality show Clarkson's Farm, enjoys spreading mud near Soho Farmhouse.
The expensive Cotswolds private members club is close to their Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Kaleb Cooper's clashes with his boss Jeremy Clarkson amused viewers of Amazon's reality show Clarkson's Farm
“I make it really stinky for those people who come from London,” Kaleb says, adding sarcastically, “They love that.”
MBE Davina is a wannabe royal pen pal
Davina McCall, who is due to collect her MBE next month, has revealed she regularly sends letters to the royal family.
“It's a little weird,” says The Masked Singer panelist. 'I have been writing to the royal family since I was eight. I started with a letter to the Queen. I got a letter with the wax on the back. I then wrote one to Princess Margaret: [and] to Princess Diana after the Panorama interview.
Davina McCall, who is due to collect her MBE next month, has revealed she regularly sends letters to the royal family
'I wrote to Prince Charles during his 'Climategate' when everyone was making fun of him. I wrote to William and Kate.' She adds: 'When I got my MBE I got a letter from Prince William saying: 'I just wanted to congratulate you. We are so happy for you'. It meant a lot to me.'
Pinkham's sizzling game of ping pong in the frying pan
Most of us wait until the New Year before making New Year's resolutions to keep fit, but Natalie Pinkham, who captivated Prince Harry during his carefree bachelor days, is determined to stay fit over the festive period.
The Sky Sports presenter, 46, is so keen to keep fit that she used a frying pan to play table tennis while in South Africa with her husband
Natalie Pinkham, who charmed Prince Harry during his carefree bachelor days, is determined to stay fit over the festive period
The Sky Sports presenter, 46, is so keen to keep fit that she used a frying pan to play table tennis while in South Africa with her husband, businessman Owain Walbyoff, and their children, Willow and Wilf.
She explains, “Wilfy only brought one bat.” At home in London, Pinkham trains in her backyard. “We have a small gym in the garden and we involve the children,” she told me. 'Gyms are so boring and I find it difficult to train alone.'
King Charles has kept alive a festive tradition started by his late grandmother for children at mainland Scotland's most northerly school.
King Charles has kept alive a festive tradition started by his late grandmother for children at mainland Scotland's most northerly school
Pupils used to receive a Christmas cake from the Queen Mother after she bought the nearby Mey Castle in 1952.
Since her death in 2002, the tradition has been kept alive by the King, who arranges for the lavishly decorated treat to be delivered to Crossroads Primary School in Caithness.
The Heseltine girl stands in the pulpit
Tory grandee Lord Heseltine has played many roles in his career, but never the role his daughter Alexandra Williams played on Christmas Day.
I hear the 57-year-old art dealer stepped in to officiate at her local church after the priest caught Covid before the service.
The 57-year-old art dealer stepped in to officiate at her local church after the priest caught Covid ahead of the service
“There are a lot of families in the village who like this service, so I said, 'I'm sure we can do it,'” she says, adding, “I haven't done it before.” Her husband, Nick Williams, is a churchwarden at St Mary the Virgin in Thenford, Northamptonshire.
About a third of the village's 90 residents attended the service, including Lord and Lady Heseltine.
“Alexandra only had a few hours' notice,” says a parish spokesperson. “She led the service, prayers, readings and hymns. She didn't take communion.'
Two Lady Dalmenys are better than one!
Most people dread spending the holidays with their ex, but top auctioneer Lord Dalmeny's vivacious ex-wife, Caroline, loved celebrating Christmas Day with him, his new wife Harriet and all their close relatives in Midlothian.
In the caption of this photo of the two Lady Dalmenys embracing, Caroline (far left) refers to her 'stepwife'
In the caption of this photo of the two Lady Dalmenys embracing, Caroline refers to her 'stepwife', telling friends online: 'Spending Christmas Day at Rosebery House with all our near and dear ones, beautifully hosted by my dear Harriet.'
Sotheby's chairman Harry, 56, who is set to inherit the beautiful Dalmeny House near Edinburgh, has five children with Caroline.
He and Harriet, an old masters consultant 21 years his junior, married in 2022.
Her mother, Mari Kirkwood, was crowned Miss Scotland in 1975.