{"id":501881,"date":"2026-03-29T14:10:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T14:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/501881\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T14:10:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T14:10:16","slug":"the-house-huel-built-ex-labourer-set-to-pocket-400m-fortune-from-protein-shake-takeover-is-selling-sprawling-mansion-for-3m-after-huge-amalfi-coast-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/501881\/","title":{"rendered":"The house Huel built: Ex labourer set to pocket \u00a3400m fortune from protein shake takeover is selling sprawling mansion for \u00a33m after huge Amalfi Coast wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"

A former labourer who is set to pocket \u00a3400million from the blockbuster sale of Huel has his eyes set on his next grand design – after selling his luxury contemporary mansion.<\/p>\n

Julian Hearn, 54, is in line for the eye-watering windfall after striking an \u00a3800 million deal to hand his nutritional drinks brand to French giant Danone.<\/p>\n

The serial entrepreneur, who left school aged 16 with just two E grades in English and whose first job involved digging roads, is cashing out his entire stake in the meal replacement firm.<\/p>\n

And his new-found riches appear to have paved the way for a future home worthy of a multi-millionaire.<\/p>\n

For the entrepreneur – whose tip for success is to ‘work your a*** off’ – has sold his current home in his native Buckinghamshire.<\/p>\n

Mr Hearn paid \u00a31.39 million for a detached home overlooking Berkhamsted castle in 2020 before knocking the house and replacing it with a striking modern mansion.<\/p>\n

The eye-catching home boasts seven bedrooms, a gym, a media room and a vaulted lobby, as well as a summer house and entertainment zone.<\/p>\n

The vast 4,200 sq ft abode is where Mr Hearn resided with his second wife Jade, whom he married at a no-expense-spared ceremony on Italy’s Amalfi coast in 2024.<\/p>\n

\"Julian <\/p>\n

Julian Hearn paid \u00a31.39 million for a detached home overlooking Berkhamsted castle in 2020 before knocking the house and replacing it with a striking modern mansion<\/p>\n

\"This <\/p>\n

This standout property features seven bedrooms, a private gym, and a media room, complemented by a vaulted lobby, an entertainment zone, and an outdoor summer house<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The entrepreneur is poised for another significant windfall as the property, marketed by agents as a ‘contemporary family home’ of ‘exacting standards’ heads toward a sale<\/p>\n

\"Among <\/p>\n

Among the attendees was TV presenter Jake Humphrey, who shared a photo with the groom on Instagram, describing the wedding of his ‘friend and inspiration’ Julian Hearn as ‘gorgeous’<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The serial entrepreneur, left school aged 16 with just two E grades in English and his first job involved digging roads<\/p>\n

The wedding was held at the Michelin-starred Villa Cimbrone, described as ‘one of the most exclusive locations in the world’.<\/p>\n

Guests included the TV presenter Jake Humphrey who posted on Instagram a photo with the groom, writing: ‘This week I attended the gorgeous wedding of my friend, and inspiration Julian Hearn.<\/p>\n

‘Not only is he an incredible guy, his story is also incredible.’<\/p>\n

The home – described by agents as an ‘outstanding contemporary family home’ finished to an ‘exacting standard throughout’ – is set to give the entrepreneur another big payday.<\/p>\n

The architect-designed property is marked sold, subject to contract, after being marketed for \u00a32.75million.<\/p>\n

The listing on Rightmove states: ‘Designed by Flint Architects, the home has an imposing exterior which includes grey bricks and silvered timber alongside a wide range of striking design features.<\/p>\n

‘This is an opportunity to acquire an outstanding and unique home in the heart of Berkhamsted.’<\/p>\n

The sale comes as Danone agreed a deal reported to value Huel at \u00a3860million, handing Hearn a staggering payday.<\/p>\n

It marks a remarkable rise for the businessman, who has spoken openly about leaving school at 16 with virtually no qualifications, before working in a shop and then as a labourer digging holes in the road for two years.<\/p>\n

According to Hearn, it was his then-girlfriend who told him he was ‘too bright’ to be doing that job, prompting him to return to education.<\/p>\n

He went on to graduate with a 2:1 from Bournemouth University, before climbing the ladder through blue-chip names including Starbucks, Tesco, Waitrose and MFI.<\/p>\n

In 2008, he launched his first business, Mash Up Media, with a \u00a31,500 personal investment. Within three years, he said, it was making more than \u00a32.5million profit a year, and he sold it in 2011.<\/p>\n

After that came Bodyhack, a failed fitness venture which inspired Huel – short for Human Fuel.<\/p>\n

\"Perched <\/p>\n

Perched on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, Villa Cimbrone is a 12th-century estate often cited as the most ‘aristocratic’ hotel in Italy<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The ceremony took place at the Michelin-starred Villa Cimbrone, a venue widely regarded as one of the world’s most exclusive locations<\/p>\n

\"In <\/p>\n

In 2025\/2026, the minimum spend for a weekend event at the Villa starts at approximately \u20ac50,000 (\u00a342,000) just for the location and catering, with total costs for high-net-worth weddings often exceeding \u00a3150,000<\/p>\n

\u00a0The businessman has said he invested around \u00a3220,000 of his own money into the venture after burning through about \u00a380,000 on Bodyhack.<\/p>\n

The unknown food start-up grew into a global business selling powders, snack bars, drinks and pasta pots in more than 100 countries, with more than 200 million meals sold.<\/p>\n

Mr Hearn’s first wife, Joanne Paling, with whom he shares a 14-year-old son, was registered as a secretary and shareholder in the company – though she resigned in 2019 when the couple’s marriage broke down.<\/p>\n

She now lives in a \u00a32.1m detached five-bedroomed house a short distance from her ex-husband’s mansion. It is not known whether she retains shares and could also be set for a payout from Danone.<\/p>\n

Celebrity investors in Huel include the likes of Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina, while other names linked to the business have included Jonathan Ross, Grace Beverley and Steven Bartlett.<\/p>\n

Bartlett, the Dragons’ Den star and Diary Of A CEO host, also held a small stake in the company, which targets health-conscious millennials, commuters and those too busy to cook meals.<\/p>\n

He resigned as a director last year, according to filings at Companies House.<\/p>\n

Mr Hearn previously claimed to be unconcerned about the taste of his products as their nutrition value was of paramount importance.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

A biography of Mr Hearn on the Huel website states: ‘I built my first company (Mash up Media) from scratch as the sole founder with \u00a31,500 investment’\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mottos on the company’s office walls include: ‘Nutrition first, taste a close second’.<\/p>\n

A biography of Mr Hearn on the Huel website states: ‘I built my first company (Mash up Media) from scratch as the sole founder with \u00a31,500 investment.<\/p>\n

‘Within three years Mash up Media was making over \u00a32.5 million profit per year, and I successfully sold it to Internetbrands in 2011.<\/p>\n

‘I’m now the founder of Huel which I bootstrapped to over \u00a340m in revenue, and a valuation of \u00a3220m within four years of launch.’<\/p>\n

The bio tells how in 1988 he ‘left school at 16 with virtually no qualifications (two Es at English, my forte)’ and ‘worked in a shop for a year’.<\/p>\n

The following year he ‘worked as a labourer – dug holes in the road for two years’ before in 1991 a ‘girlfriend said I was too bright to dig holes, so went back to college’.<\/p>\n

Mr Hearn added: ‘My first business was a cash generator, it solved my objective at the time to make my family financially secure, but it wasn’t a business I was proud of.<\/p>\n

‘Huel is completely different; money wasn’t the objective. Sure, the lifeblood of a business is money, but Huel is so much more than that. Even if it were a tenth of the size I would still be into it just as much.<\/p>\n

I wanted to create a business that did the right thing for the planet, for its staff, and most importantly for its customers. I wanted to create a brand that people would be proud to be associated with.<\/p>\n

The litmus tests were: would my friends use and wear the clothing unprompted<\/p>\n

‘Would my son be proud and tell his friends ‘my daddy runs Huel’. Both have been achieved.’<\/p>\n

Huel chief executive James McMaster will remain in charge of the company.<\/p>\n

He said: ‘Most people don’t get enough protein, fibre or the right nutrients. That’s the problem Huel exists to solve.’<\/p>\n

He added that the sale will give Huel the capability ‘to go further, into new markets and to more people, as demand for convenient, complete nutrition continues to grow’.<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The sale comes as Danone agreed a deal reported to value Huel at \u00a3860million, handing Hearn a staggering payday<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The listing on Rightmove states: ‘Designed by Flint Architects, the home has an imposing exterior which includes grey bricks and silvered timber alongside a wide range of striking design features’<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The listing on Rightmove states: ‘This is an opportunity to acquire an outstanding and unique home in the heart of Berkhamsted’<\/p>\n

The deal comes amid efforts by Danone to expand further in the ‘functional nutrition’ sector.<\/p>\n

Danone chief executive Antoine de Saint-Affrique said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Huel and the Huel team into the Danone family.<\/p>\n

‘What they have achieved in the fast-growing complete nutrition space fully resonates with Danone’s mission of delivering health through food.<\/p>\n

‘Combining their range and best-in-class digital capabilities with Danone’s global reach and deep nutritional expertise offers exciting opportunities into the new and fast-growing nutritionally complete space, in line with our renew Danone strategy.’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A former labourer who is set to pocket \u00a3400million from the blockbuster sale of Huel has his eyes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":501882,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[84,97,59,50,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-501881","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-dailymail","10":"tag-gb","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=501881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/501882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=501881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=501881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=501881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}