Stirling son agony after he’s ‘left out of fortune’
DID actor Mark Strong earn half a million pounds for voicing ‘Hands, Face, Space’ Covid ads? I only ask because his £3.2million company has just reported its best ever performance with a £530,000 rise in shareholder funds. The last time Mark, who plays surgeon Daniel Milton in Sky drama Temple, earned anything close was in 2010. A Government spokesman said they negotiate ‘extremely competitive rates for delivering life-saving messages to the public.’ Mark’s agent would not elaborate…maybe he gave it all to charity?
FORMULA 1 legend Sir Stirling Moss left almost £21million following his death last year, so you might expect his only son Elliot to be living a life of luxury and fast cars, just like dad.
Not so. I can reveal that a strange twist in how Stirling’s will turned out means that barely a fraction of the fortune has gone to restaurateur Elliot, 41, and now I hear relations with his mum are breaking down.
Lady Susie Moss received the bulk of Stirling’s estate and perhaps she has her reasons, but a friend tells me: ‘She hasn’t helped Elliot financially even though she lives in a £10million house and got nearly all the fortune in the will.’
Elliot is working as a humble chef in his own 20-seat restaurant, Plu, with only a pot washer, part-time waitress and his pregnant wife Helen to help. With Covid cases rising, Plu is now struggling to stay afloat and he doesn’t know where to turn for help.
‘To keep the business going Elliot even had to sell his treasured 1952 DB2 that his dad arranged for Aston Martin to give to him when he was nine. He got very little in the will – it all went to his mum. If she intends to let him access any of his dad’s fortune, she is yet to make that clear.’
Elliot, who trained with Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche, set up the restaurant in Primrose Hill, North London, in 2019. It has been popular with locals, but Covid cancellations have cost Elliot dear.
The friend added: ‘He was left a relatively small sum of £132,000. He’s not a flash guy. If he had been left millions, he would have invested in the business and perhaps had a holiday as he hasn’t had one for years.
‘It’s very surprising that the bulk of the estate remains in the hands of his mother. She hasn’t so far helped with the business – Elliot relied on furlough at one stage.’
Elliot, who lives in a modest flat, has become the talk of London, with Michelin judges praising his ‘highly creative dishes’.
He declined to comment. Lady Susie could not be reached.