Chesney Hawkes, best known for his 1991 hit single The One and Only, has revealed he blew through a fortune of £8.2 million earned at the height of his fame.
Now 52 years old, Hawkes has made headlines not only for his past success but also for potentially joining the 2025 cast of Celebrity Big Brother.
As the public reflects on his rollercoaster career, his story serves as a cautionary tale and a tale of redemption.
A Meteoric Rise to Fame
Hawkes was thrust into stardom as a teenager when The One and Only became an international success.
The song gained further traction through its inclusion in Buddy’s Song, a film in which he starred alongside The Who’s Roger Daltrey, who played his father.
The fame came fast and heavy, with tours across the globe and a lifestyle of sudden luxury.
According to Hawkes, his early success was overwhelming. In a recent podcast appearance on My Dirty Laundry, he described being constantly on the move — from Sweden to New York — with no time to rest or process what was happening.
The demands of fame took a toll, and he recalled fainting mid-interview from exhaustion, a result of relentless travel and media obligations.
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Lavish Spending and Financial Collapse
Despite earning millions as a young artist, Hawkes admits he wasn’t financially prepared for the responsibilities that came with sudden wealth. He spent lavishly on a state-of-the-art recording studio, luxury items, and gifts for his family.
He describes himself during that period as caught in a whirlwind, lacking the guidance or foresight to manage his finances wisely.
This financial mismanagement led him to completely blow through his £8.2 million fortune.
His experience has made him sympathetic toward modern stars like Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles, whom he worries may face similar pressures.
A Career Reimagined
While the early 1990s marked his peak in the spotlight, Chesney wasn’t a true one-hit wonder. He followed up The One and Only with tracks like I’m a Man Not a Boy and Stay Away Baby Jane, which also charted in the UK. However, these didn’t reach the same level of global success.
In later years, he pivoted to songwriting, working behind the scenes and penning songs for other artists.
This career shift proved fruitful, reportedly helping him regain a net worth of around £8 million, according to Mail Online. Additionally, he sold the rights to his most famous song, further stabilizing his finances.
Potential Reality TV Comeback
Hawkes is now rumored to be joining the 2025 cast of Celebrity Big Brother, alongside names like Jojo Siwa, Mickey Rourke, and Jack P Shepherd.
When asked about the rumors during a BBC Breakfast appearance, he coyly deflected, joking that if he were to go on the show, he’d probably be sleeping.
Though he didn’t confirm his participation, his possible appearance is expected to give another boost to his earnings and bring him back into the public eye.
Personal Life and a Terrifying Mid-Air Ordeal
Chesney has enjoyed a stable personal life, having been married to model Krissy for 29 years.
The couple shares three adult children and lives largely out of the media spotlight. In 2023, however, they made headlines after experiencing a terrifying emergency descent on a flight from Greece to Barcelona.
The plane suddenly lost cabin pressure and plunged 20,000 feet in six minutes, triggering the release of oxygen masks.
Believing the worst, Chesney and Krissy recorded a tearful goodbye message to their children. Fortunately, the plane landed safely in Naples, and the couple later deleted the message before their kids could hear it.
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Chesney described the chaos on the flight, with passengers screaming, flight attendants panicking, and the aircraft rattling during the descent. He later shared a relieved photo with the pilot, calling him “Captain Fantastic.”
