How Joey Essex went from humble Chigwell house to £2.2m mansion with Ibiza-style pool

Joey Essex is TOWIE’s most lovable star, famous for coining his own catchphrase ‘Reem’ and turning his lack of brain cells into his most valuable asset.

The 32-year-old former club promoter joined the ITVBe series in the second series and became an instant hit with the fans.

His unique take on fashion had viewers in stitches, wearing a watch on his leg and wearing shoes three sizes too small, to avoid wrinkles, are signature Joey looks.

He grew up in a semi-detached house with dad Don, a former boxer, mom Tina, and older sister Frankie, who also appeared on TOWIE.

The family moved into the property, on a small street near the center of Chigwell, when Joey was around six years old.

Tragically, four years later, Joey’s mother took her own life, and he and his sister were raised by their father.

Family friend and former neighbor Chris Johnson, 71, said: ‘I remember Joey. He was a lovely boy and was a friend of my son’s. They were in the same class at Chigwell Primary.

He came to play football in our garden. He was a very sweet boy, very humble, not at all conceited.

“We lost contact with him because he and my son ended up going to different high schools and they grew apart.

But fame and fortune haven’t changed Joey one bit. I still see him locally and he is always free to chat and ask about the family.’

Joey’s father, Don, still owns the property, although as a die-hard Millwall fan, he won’t be happy that his tenant has posted a West Ham gnome, sporting a blue and burgundy football shirt, outside the front door. .

The reality star’s family home is a stark contrast to her current property, a gated five-bedroom house, outfitted with a stunning eat-in kitchen that has bi-fold doors leading out to an Ibiza-style pool in the back garden.

The property, which is a five-minute walk from his childhood home, also has three dressing rooms and is now worth around £2.2m.

Joey, who is reportedly worth £8 million, is one of TOWIE’s most successful stars.

He appeared on the ITV2 series for two years, after being introduced through his cousin Chloe Sims, during which time he enjoyed a romance with co-star Sam Faiers.

Since he left the program, he has also been linked to the singer Rita Ora, formerly I’m A Celebrity… Get me out of here! star Amy Willerton and fellow reality star Stephanie Pratt, whom he met on the E4 series Celebs Go Dating.

Joey launched a fashion collection called DAFDEA in 2017, having previously opened his own store, Fusey, in Brentwood in 2013.

He has had advertising deals with Volvic and Batchelor’s Cup-a-Soup, as well as launching his own ranges of perfumes and aftershaves called My Girl and Fusey.

His autobiography, called Being Reem, was a Sunday Times bestseller.

More recently, he made money launching his own branded fitness jump ropes, which he credits with giving him his new muscular figure.

Joey has also appeared on numerous high-profile television shows, including the ITV1 series I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2013 -the same one that left TOWIE- Channel 4’s The Jump two years later, Celebrity Masterchef in 2019 and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2020.

Her most recent reality show appearance was ITV1’s Dancing On Ice, where she finished in second place earlier in the month.

Joey has also made two docuseries Educating Joey Essex, as well as a poignant one-off BBC special called Joey Essex: Grief and Me in 2021 about his mother’s suicide.