The phenomenally successful TV series The Apprentice has had us biting at our fingernails waiting to see who will triumph in the boardroom and hear the promised words: “You’re hired.” The show’s format has spread to countries across the globe, but the US and UK versions are those with the longest pedigree. But who have been the most successful candidates in their life after the boardroom, and have Alan Sugar and Donald Trump always picked the best?
10. Rebecca Jarvis
Runner-up in season four, Rebecca Jarvis was passed over by Donald Trump in the final boardroom. However, her appearance on the show clearly showed that she was comfortable with the camera and she moved into business journalism when The Apprentice finished. Since the show she has worked as a reporter for CNBC and CBS, where she anchors The Early Show Saturday Edition and is a correspondent for CBS News. She has also dabbled in print journalism.
9. Saira Khan
Saira Khan made it to the final boardroom of the UK show’s first season, but lost out to Tim Campbell, who was given the coveted role. Since her appearance on The Apprentice she has gone on to host numerous shows on UK television as well as presenting various documentaries for the BBC. She has also written a self-help book and founded a skincare company that makes mother-and-baby products — which are stocked by leading UK retailers.
8. Raj Dhonota
Raj Dhonota had a 2-0 win record as project manager in the first season of the UK’s Apprentice but was fired in the 9th week as he was deemed “too quiet.” After the show he founded an outsourcing business, which he then sold for a nice profit, netting a seven-figure sum for the company. He is currently working on a number of projects, including an e-commerce platform and a translation business. Dhonota has pledged that all of his businesses will donate at least 10% of any profits to good causes.
7. Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth was fired in the 9th week of the first season of The Apprentice. Her controversial behavior brought her the title of “reality TV’s No. 1 bad girl” from E!, but Omarosa maintains that clever editing portrayed her as a villain. She transformed her notoriety into a successful TV career and has now appeared on over twenty reality TV shows. She was also a guest on numerous major talk shows and in 2010 created a dating show with Donald Trump.
6. Michelle Dewberry
Already earning a salary of over £150,000 ($233,175) before the show, Michelle Dewberry, known in the press as the “Steel Pixie,” beat all the other candidates to become the winner of season two of the UK’s Apprentice. After almost a year of working with Lord Sugar she left his business to found her own consultancy. She also runs self-help workshops for businesses and individuals, has written a column for Business Matters magazine, and runs several web-based businesses focused on household budgeting and economy.
5. Karen Bremner
Karen Bremner was one of Dewberry’s main rivals in season two of the UK’s Apprentice, with Dewberry reportedly referring to her as a “cold-hearted bitch” (ouch!). Fired in episode three for the rather bizarre reason that Lord Sugar had enough lawyers on staff, Bremner went on to set up in business for herself. Her Scottish boutique, KarenB, won her a Young Entrepreneurial Company of the Year award. She spent just £14,000 ($21,765) on setting up the store and hit £250,000 ($388,625) in turnover in her first year.
4. Ruth Badger
Image Source
Runner-up to Michelle Dewberry, Ruth Badger was noted for her take-no-prisoners approach to the competition. After her appearance on The Apprentice she presented a Sky1 show, Badger or Bust, in which she used her business skills to try and save failing businesses. She now runs a business consultancy and makes public appearances as a motivational speaker. A speech from Badger will cost you between £5,000 ($7,771) and £10,000 ($15,545). Not a bad little earner.
3. Bradford Cohen
Bradford Cohen only lasted until the second week of the second series of America’s The Apprentice. Donald Trump fired him for showing poor judgment in the impulsive decision to waive the immunity he had gained as project manager of the previous week’s winning team. After appearing on the show the lawyer narrowly lost the election for Fort Lauderdale’s City Commissioner. He often acts as a legal commentator for Fox News, Court TV, CNN, NBC and Nancy Grace, and was recognized as one of the top attorneys in his field with the accolade of Florida Super Lawyer in 2009–2010.
2. William “Bill” Rancic
Bill Rancic was the first ever candidate on The Apprentice to hear the magical words, “You’re hired,” from Donald Trump. He stayed with Trump after his one-year contract was up and began to host television shows in 2007. In 2008, he and his wife set up their own TV production company, You and I Productions, which produces scripted and reality shows. He was the host of two seasons of the show America Now, and he and his wife now star in their own reality show, which follows their married life.
1. Kelly Crawford Perdew
Winner of the second season of The Apprentice, former military man Kelly Crawford Perdew was also the oldest candidate at 37 years of age. Since leaving his position with Trump he has worked as the CEO of a fantasy sports game company and written a book on military principles that can be applied to business leadership. He also set up a company that provides families with training on how to act if they are involved in a terrorist attack. In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed him to the Council on Service and Civic Participation.