They were the 90s pop group who sold over 10 million albums worldwide and taught us to “Reach” for the stars.
But two decades on, the property portfolios of S Club 7 paint a wildly varied picture, proving that stardom doesn’t always guarantee a millionaire’s lifestyle.
From savvy investments to struggles with homelessness, here’s a look at the real estate moves of the band.
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S Club 7’s Hannah, Jo, Jon (top) and Rachel, Paul, Bradley and Tina (bottom). Picture: Getty
Paul Cattermole
S Club heart-throb Paul Cattermole had a rollercoaster time after leaving S Club.
The late singer reportedly owed more than £20,000 ($A40,000) in debt and bills at the time of his shocking death in 2023.
The 46-year-old star was found dead in his home in Dorset, southwest England, just weeks after he and his bandmates announced plans for a 25th anniversary reunion tour.
According to The Sun, Cattermole had a total holdings of £35,773 ($A71,715), but after deductions left £15,489 ($A31,050) to his loved ones.
A source told the outlet: “Paul was not in a good way before he died and was not doing well financially.
“Although it is shocking a member of the group would not be well-off, people who knew Paul might not be surprised by how little he left.”
Paul Cattermole reportedly owed more than £20,000 in debt and bills at the time of his shocking death in 2023.
S Club 7 member and Cattermole’s ex, Hannah Spearritt previously claimed that the group made £150,000 ($A300,000) a year despite selling more than 10 million albums and landing four UK number one singles and two BRIT Awards.
Cattermole was one of the original members of S Club 7 when it formed in 1998, before leaving the band in 2002 to set up new group Skua.
But it was no easy ride for the singer, who told UK talk show Loose Women in 2018 that he’d run out of money and had to borrow a shirt for the show.
The musician even put his Brit Award on eBay saying: “There are bills to pay.”
Cattermole, who was declared bankrupt in 2014, said he contacted Strictly Come Dancing producers and asked for a spot on the show.
He did pop up on First Dates Hotel in 2019 and, while his date wasn’t keen for anything romantic, S Club fans were thrilled.
After 10 years of soul-searching and meditation, the star launched a new career as a spiritual coach and psychic, and had his own YouTube channel offering tarot card readings.
The singer told UK talk show Loose Women in 2018 that he’d run out of money and had to borrow a shirt for the show. Picture: YouTube/Loose Women
Hannah Spearritt
Like other 90s stars, Hannah Spearritt faced years of financial difficulties following the group’s fall from fame.
The star found herself homeless over Christmas and living in a friend’s office after being forced out by her landlord with just two days’ notice back in 2022.
She also had to live in temporary accommodation along with her partner and two small children for six months.
“Our landlord needed the money and the property sold so fast … we didn’t have time to find another place,” Spearritt told The Sun.
“We had somewhere over Christmas but ran out of time before we could move in.
Hannah Spearritt faced years of financial difficulties following the group’s fall from fame.
“We were allowed to stay in our friend’s office. We just used it as our living room. It was stressful but you deal with it, don’t you?
“People think we must all be millionaires but sadly it’s just not true,” she said, adding that the band’s pay was tiny “compared to the money being made.”
In May 2023, her woes continued when she dropped out of the S Club reunion tour following the tragic death of bandmate and ex-boyfriend Paul Cattermole.
She has since made headlines for swapping life in the UK to live in the jungles of Costa Rica at the start of this year to live as a “prepper”.
Spearritt has since made headlines for swapping life in the UK to live in the jungles of Costa Rica at the start of this year to live as a “prepper”. Picture: Instagram
Rachel Stevens
Rachel Stevens bagged herself a mega-money album deal once the S Club days were over, making an instant impact with her number two debut single Sweet Dreams My LA Ex.
She went on to achieve seven top 40 singles and boasts two solo albums.
The pop star has also made some savvy property moves over the years.
In October, the musician snapped up the £1.1 million ($A2.2 million) three-storey home in north London.
The four-bedroom house boasts an open plan kitchen, living room and dining room, reception room, downstairs shower and “substantial” private garden.
Rachel Stevens enjoyed musical success both in S Club 7 and as a solo star
Rachel Stevens gave fans a glimpse inside her new home. Picture: instagram/@msrachelstevens
The musician snapped up the £1.1 million three-storey home in north London.
In 2023, Stevens and her ex-husband Alex Bourne sold their family home in north London.
The former couple reportedly earned £300,000 ($A600,000) profit after selling it for £1.6 million ($A3.2 million).
Stevens and her ex-husband moved into the home three years earlier, paying £1.3 million ($A2.6 million).
The property came with an en suite, master bedroom, large lawned garden and three reception rooms.
Stevens announced her split from her childhood sweetheart in July 2023 after 12 years of marriage. The pair share two daughters, Minnie and Amelie.
Before S Club 7 kicked off, the then 22-year-old singer bought her first home in Hampstead, North London for £500,000 ($A1 million). She sold the flat four years later, making a £100,000 ($A200,000) profit.
An advocate for property, Stevens told The Times she has bought and sold four investment properties and made money on all of them.
The entertainer now has her own fashion collection with Oasis.
She shared a north London home with her ex-husband Alex and their two daughters
Jo O’Meara
Always regarded as the vocal powerhouse, Jo O’Meara launched a solo career after the band split.
Her then-manager, Spice Girls supremo Simon Fuller, described her as the “next Christina Aguilera” but the hype didn’t quite materialise.
In 2007, O’Meara appeared in Celebrity Big Brother, where she was accused of “bullying” on the Indian actress Shilpa Shetty with the late Jade Goody and Danielle Lloyd.
The incident made international headlines, was discussed in parliament and led to a police investigation.
Although she has since rebuilt her life, and always maintained how sorry she is for what happened, O’Meara lost everything – including her career and her home – and suffered a breakdown.
She was forced to shelve her music comeback, received death threats and had to be placed in a safe house.
“I think a lot of people wanted me to be punished for what happened, and I was,” she told The Sun in 2021.
“I lost my career. I lost my home. I lost everything and I’m still trying to rebuild today.
“That’s why I feel so blessed to be back doing what I love.
“I had a complete breakdown and it wasn’t a nice time for everybody involved.
“If I could go back in time and change what happened then I would, but I can’t. All I can do is hold my hands up and apologise.”
Jo recently opened up about her health battles
O’Meara said she took part in the show “for the wrong reasons” and wishes she had never taken part.
“I feel that I should have never gone in there in the first place,” she said.
“I did it for the wrong reasons, because I needed the money to save my home – but I didn’t end up doing that anyway.
“Everything that happened around that time … I am so, so sorry to everybody out there I ever offended, because I never meant to hurt anybody.
“All I can do is apologise and let people know that I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’m a very different person today.”
A year after Big Brother, O’Meara was struck by a bottle on stage while performing with S Club co-stars Bradley and Paul in Bradford and had to be rushed to hospital.
Her son Lenny with ex Bill Slater was born the same year.
The singer had been blighted by health issues, waking up in so much pain that she felt like she had been shot.
She spent eight days in hospital, where surgeons removed part of a disc in her back.
O’Meara has since re-emerged back into the spotlight, releasing her second solo album With Love in 2021 and rejoined S Club 7.
Her reputation was ruined after a controversial appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2007. Picture: Channel 4
Bradley McIntosh
Bradley McIntosh has remained one of the core members of the Reach For The Stars merchants – soldiering on in recent years as S Club 3.
He also formed boyband Upper Street with Dane Bowers, Jimmy Constable from 911, and a few other former stars.
In 2008, the 44-year-old launched a solo career under the name City Boy, releasing the single No Regret, and penned tracks for JLS.
The singer still performs as S Club Allstars alongside former bandmate Tina and S Club Juniors star Stacey Franks, and has a son called Kairo, who was born in 2017.
It is not known where McIntosh currently resides.
Bradley still tours as a member of S Club Allstars
Jon Lee
After S Club, Jon Lee went back to his musical theatre roots, playing Marius in Les Miserables among a tonne of other roles.
In 2010 he came out, telling Gay Times: “It’s never needed to be a huge change that I’ve had to tell everyone about.”
Like Cattermole, Lee attempted to find love on a reality show, popping up on Dinner Date in 2018 to the surprise of a line-up of shocked singles.
Jon returned to his musical theatre roots after S Club fame.
Lee hasn’t had an easy time over recent years. He admitted to being sectioned after battling a secret drug addiction.
The singer revealed to Daily Mail that he spent £250 ($A500) a week on crystal meth and smashed up his flat with a hammer.
This was when he was in his thirties – long after S Club had gone their separate ways.
“I didn’t even recognise myself at that time,” he told the outlet.
“Sometimes, in the midst of one of the psychotic episodes where I’d be smashing my flat up with a hammer, I’d catch sight of myself in the mirror and say: “What the f***?
“I’d have a moment of lucidity, thinking: “I was a successful young man, I had a brilliant career, incredible life. What am I doing?
“I’d be standing there, holes in the walls around me, cuts all over my knuckles, my eye swollen from where I’d been punching myself in the head.
“I’d shaved my hair too. I didn’t look anything like Jon-from-S Club – or what people would expect Jon-from-S Club to look like.”
However, Lee managed to pull himself back into a happy and healthy position. He lives a quiet life in the UK countryside of Cornwall with his dogs.
Jon opened up about the tough time he has faced over recent years, and coming out the other side of it. Picture: Channel 4
The singer revealed he spent £250 a week on crystal meth and smashed up his flat with a hammer. Picture: Getty
Tina Barrett
Tina Barrett has kept the S Club flame alive as a trio with ex-bandmates Bradley McIntosh and Jo O’Meara.
The singer toured in S Club Allstars with Bradley and Stacey Franks from S Club Juniors, alongside East 17 and Blazin’ Squad.
In 2021, the London-based star showed off her luxurious home to OK! Magazine. The plush pad features a huge Champagne cooler.
Tina stunned fans recently with her ageless beauty.
Barrett had a baby with her then-boyfriend Paul Cashmore in 2016, a son who they named Roman.
But when the tot was three-years-old, she and Hunted star Cashmore decided to go their separate ways after six years together.
The beauty also shocked viewers of The Hit List with her age-defying looks when she appeared alongside Bradley, with many commenting she “hadn’t aged a day” since S Club fame.
Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.
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