ALEX Mills' world came crashing down in 2013 when he was given his marching orders from The Apprentice by Alan Sugar.

But looking back now, having just bought a new car worth nearly double the investment prize on the reality show, he firmly believes it all worked out for the better.

Alex, now 31 and worth £16million, is arguably the most successful candidate in the show's history.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, he says: "It goes to show that sometimes you think that something is the best thing in the world, and you're heartbroken when it doesn't work out.

"I felt like I had lost everything when I was fired but the world makes a few turns, you pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Sometimes, things don't work out for the right reasons."

Alex started his own insurance company, Dynamo Cover, from his kitchen worktop, and is confident his impressive wealth will shoot up when his company is revalued.

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But the Cardiff-born entrepreneur – whose mum ran a children's nursery while his father was a manager at a local furniture company – insists he remains down-to-earth and still makes a beeline for the reduced aisle at the supermarket.

He also hopes to start a family soon with his wife Emma – though his idea of a family car is an eye-watering £390,000 Rolls Royce. He points out that, unlike his Ferrari, there's room in the boot for a pram.

Despite his success, Alex says he's never heard from billionaire Lord Sugar since he left the show – and he's now gunning for his job.

He explains: "I don't think he's spoken to anyone unless you're a winner.

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"Not to come across as big-headed, but I am the most successful candidate that's come out from this process if we're looking at business success levels and I didn't even win.

"If I was in his shoes and someone like that had achieved monumental success with their business, I would go out of my way to say, 'Hey, I saw you on the Sunday Times Rich List, you're doing good, keep on fighting'.

"But I've never had that. I don't even know if he knows that I exist but I've made enough of a splash. I'm sure he can't miss me."

Alex – whose over-plucked eyebrows made him a fan favourite on the show – is convinced he's the right person to take over the mantle.

He says: "I've been one of the candidates, I've had the 4am phone-calls, 20 minutes to get ready, standing in the streets of London selling pints of milk. 

I am the most successful candidate that's come out of The Apprentice if we're looking at business success levels – and I didn't even win

"I have a very unique perspective in the fact that I've actually gone through the process."

And if he's ever the one to inform Lord Sugar he's being replaced, Alex knows just how to do.

"I wouldn't say to him that he's fired – I think I'll tell him 'You're retired'," he quips.

On the subject of his eyebrows, he adds: "When I went on the programme, I didn't see anything wrong with it, but as soon as it went on TV, everyone thought, what's going on with his eyebrows?

"Now I still get them threaded but it's not such an aggressive shape. I think what helps now is that I have a massive beard."

Glam life

Although he's had a Rolls Royce before, Alex's new jet-black Cullinan is more special than any of his other supercars.

"It's always been a goal of mine to have a Rolls Royce designed and built exclusively for me. I dealt with Rolls Royce in Birmingham and designed it all by myself," he says.

"I bought it for £390,000; I could sell it for £450,000 if I wanted to, but I don't want to sell it."

Alex loves supercars – he owns a Ferrari 488 and a Ferrari Roma, which retails at £202,000 for the latest model, and owns a £58,000 Land Rover Defender.

"What I mostly spend my money on is petrol and motors," he admits.

"Growing up, a sign of success for me was to have a really nice car. When I was working at a luxury hotel, we'd always have clients pulling up in these nice Rolls Royces or Bentleys.

I'm always personable, and I'm always looking for yellow sticker deals every time I'm in supermarkets. I appreciate the value of money

"I said to myself one day when I make it, I want to get something like that. Luckily I'm now fortunate to be in a position where I can have those luxuries."

Alex has also splashed out on Rolex watches – his most expensive purchase was a Yacht-Master 2, which set him back £38,000.

Being in his circle of friends means you're also likely to experience life in the fast lane.

"Last night my friend Julian and I were at the pub and I decided, why don't we fly off to Canada to visit a friend who's moved there now?" Alex recalls.

"So I just got out the phone and paid for business class tickets and accommodation.

"Life's there to be enjoyed, and I've got some of the best friends and family in the world. If I'm able to share my success with them, that's great. I don't want to be a lonely rich guy. "

Family plans

Alex heaped praise on his wife, who he wed in 2021 after the pandemic ruined their initial plans.

His business was beginning to take off and he was looking for a new workspace when they met, as Emma's family run a business renting out offices.

He says: "My wife is my absolute world, she's beautiful inside and out – she has been with me through thick and thin – money can't buy her."

The couple now live in a mansion he calls 'Mills Manor' in Wenvoe, near the Vale of Glamorgan.

Alex says: "We are hoping to start a family. That's why I bought the new car, because you can't fit a pram in a Ferarri, so I got a big Rolls Royce to be able to put a pram in there instead."

Billionaire ambition

Alex – who once earned £4.20 an hour as a housekeeper at a hotel while studying graphic design at college and was made redundant from an insurance company before a Welsh businessman gave him £15,000 to start his own – dreams of becoming a billionaire.

He says: "My plan for the future is to continue with various fundraising rounds in order for us to sell more products and grow the business larger.

"My hope is that I will be valued over a billion and I would be Wales' youngest self-made billionaire.

"I am unapologetically ambitious and very persistent – I know what I want in life and I go to achieve it."

We are hoping to start a family. That's why I bought the new car, because you can't fit a pram in a Ferarri, so I got a big Rolls Royce to be able to put a pram in there instead

He insists people shouldn't confuse his ambition with arrogance, adding: "Although I may come across as this big character with the Rolls Royces and a big house, if people incorrectly assume I'm a t****r, then that's their fault, because I'm not.

"I'm always personable, and I'm always looking for yellow sticker deals every time I'm in supermarkets.

"I appreciate the value of money and I have never forgotten my roots as I know what it's like to have unpaid bills."

Metal music fan Alex is determined not to let the success go to his head – and wants his 30-odd employees to feel valued.

He says: "I'm just a real person and I don't believe in this wear a suit type of style.

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"Blink 182 is doing a world tour so I think I'm going to get all my staff and we will go to see them in Amsterdam.

"That's me, that's who I am, and I will never hide that."

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