Claude Littner, known for his intimidating role on The Apprentice alongside Alan Sugar, has a life beyond the TV screens that’s filled with personal and professional challenges.
Before his television fame, Littner was deeply rooted in the business world, with a career spanning decades. Born in New York, his family migrated to the UK shortly after his birth, setting the stage for a remarkable journey.
Littner, aged 74, is currently based in Mill Hill, North London, where he resides with his wife Thelma, whom he has been married to since 1976. The couple has two grown sons, Anthony and Alex, and are now doting grandparents to five grandchildren.
In 1997, Littner faced a harrowing health battle when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at just 48 years old, receiving a devastating prognosis of only six months to live. This challenging period coincided with a divisive encounter with Alan Sugar, a twist of fate that would later lead to a profound recovery story.
Despite the grim prognosis, Littner underwent a miraculous recovery, enduring years of chemotherapy. Ultimately, his sister emerged as a stem cell match, enabling a life-saving transplant that turned the tide in his health battle.
In a shocking turn of events in 2021, Littner faced a perilous accident while riding an electric bike near his London home, nearly losing his leg. Enduring nine surgeries, he embarked on a challenging road to recovery, relearning how to walk. Thanks to the swift actions of medical professionals, his leg was saved against all odds.
With an impressive net worth estimated at £34 million in 2022, Littner’s business acumen has been a cornerstone of his success. Starting as a finance manager at Unilever plc, he ventured into entrepreneurship and emerged as a respected corporate turnaround specialist, with key roles in a variety of companies.
Notably, Littner has held chairmanship positions in several significant ventures, including Lord Sugar’s early companies like Amstrad International and Amstrad Spain, along with influential roles in companies such as Azzuri Communications, Blacks Leisure, and Powerleague.
In 2014, the University of West London acknowledged Littner’s expertise by appointing him as a visiting professor at the Claude Littner Business School, cementing his legacy in the world of business education.
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