The reality TV star - who died of cancer in March - was thought to have accumulated a £6million nest egg for beloved sons Bobbie, six, and Freddie, four.
But despite a string of lucrative media deals in the weeks before her death, it is now estimated she has only around £800,000.
And at least £300,000 of that will go to the Inland Revenue because Jade had not filed any tax returns for the last three years of her life.
That leaves £500,000 which on its own will not even cover the estimated £600,000 cost of the boys' private education. But it is reckoned royalties still coming in to her estate from her autobiography Catch A Falling Star will make up any shortfall to ensure their schooling will be fully provided for.
An insider told us: "In her dying days she sold her story, the TV rights to her wedding and also made money from her diary account of her illness.
"She did it all for her precious boys but when all the bills are totted up there is not as much as she had hoped.
"But the most important thing for Jade was that the boys got a top-class education. Thanks to her they will." Jade earned millions after hitting the big time through Big Brother in 2002, lavishing her fortune on exotic holidays and supercars such as Porsches.
But her income shuddered to a halt after the Celebrity Big Brother race row with Shilpa Shetty in 2007 and she began living off her savings.
These had run dry by the time she entered the Indian Big Brother compound in summer last year, where she was told she had cancer. An insider said: "Jade was notoriously bad with money. She was broke when she went in to the Big Brother house in India. She had spent her savings.
"The properties she owned were mortgaged to the hilt.
"Although she spent the last weeks of her life working to provide for her children, sadly, it looks like the money will only just cover their school fees to the age of 16."
After her initial Big Brother success, Jade raked in millions from her book, personal appearances, her perfume "Shh", her fitness DVDs and glossy magazine deals.
Her former agent John Noel estimated that from 2002 until 2007 she made around £2.5million.
But she was also spending around £500,000 a year maintaining a lavish showbiz lifestyle.
The high-earner confessed she had "expensive tastes" and was "not very good with money".
Jade had four properties when she died but little equity in any of them.
Even her main home in Upshire, Essex, bought for £715,000, is thought to have dropped in price.
Generous Jade also donated £100,000 to charity in her will and made sure her mother Jackiey receives a monthly allowance.
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This article has 20 comments
Of course those children should have a private education, if possible. You cannot deny statistics and statistics show that privately educated children receive better grades throughout their education. Jade, sadly, has passed and so the money is no good to her but putting it in trust towards the boys education ENSURES that they have a better than average start in life, what they choose to do with it is obviously quite a another matter and thats where Jeff comes in, to nurture them and show them the way. It's ridiculous that people want to berate Jade's choices, even after she is dead- Her money, her boys; HER CHOICE.
By Mister Anon.. Posted September 14 2009 at 11:24 PM.
sometimes i wonder has she died
By arrymak.. Posted September 12 2009 at 10:49 AM.
well if she did blow her fortune good on her ,she had a ball doing, it she loved them lads and i cant imagine having to say goodbye to your little ones and the heartache she went through ,u were true to yourself jade and millions loved ya for it xxxxxx
By rachel.. Posted September 7 2009 at 8:40 AM.
Although Jade has not left as much as she had intended to leave, surely the boys have two parents here so that leaves their father to contribute his fair share in their upbringing. He earns a good wage so the boys will not go short. In fact, they will still have more privileges than any of us will!
By Jan.. Posted September 6 2009 at 11:44 PM.
I don't actually understand why Jacki needs an allowance from Jade here boys allways should come first.
By Susan Farley.. Posted September 6 2009 at 11:26 PM.
Well, when Jade was enjoying her money - and why shouldn't she? She gave the boys a good time on it too - she had no idea that she would, within two or three years, be dying of cancer. She would have imagined she had years ahead to go on earning money, as I am sure she would have done, having more shrewdness and talent than she was given credit for. Desperately, she clawed back some hundreds of thousands for her sons at a time when she was terribly ill; how many of us would have the guts, the strength to do that? Good on you, Jade. R.I.P.
By Susannah.. Posted September 6 2009 at 11:17 PM.
Any parent who know they haven't got long left to live wants to ensure they do all they can to make certain that their children's future is as secure as it can be.
True, they don't need a private education, but every parent wants their children to have the things they didn't. Their father will ensure they get what they need, it's what parents do best.
The further Jade's 'husband' stays away from them the better. He's a vile individual and it would be better if the tabloids stopped covering his 'antics' He's pure scum.
By Been There.. Posted September 6 2009 at 6:10 PM.
A private education is NOT a necessity - it doesn't have to cost £600,000! Why do people seem think that if it costs more, it will be better? It's not always the case.
By James.. Posted September 6 2009 at 4:31 PM.
He needs to grow up and respect jade she may be not here with us but her boys are. And they dont need to here all the bad. They need nice memories of there mum to live on.
By Pat.b.. Posted September 6 2009 at 2:46 PM.
I wish people would leave jade to rest in peace, despite what you all think, she addored them boys with all her heart, an wanted the very best for them like any other mother! Whilst you are all slating her don,t forget there is two small boys with out a mother! Show some compasion! Rip jade x
By Sarah smith.. Posted September 6 2009 at 12:34 PM.
Jade chose to live and die in the public gaze at whatever cost, its what made her and ultimately what destroyed her. Its wrong to condemn her yet is it right to condone emotional blackmail in the forms of a terminal disease and her children being left motherless to win back public support.
I am sure these children will be loved and supported by their natural father, Jades death so young is a tragedy BUT Jades death has meant that younger women are not so complacent about their health, and that her children will be brought up by their father and away from the influence of a waster like Tweed.
By sue.. Posted September 6 2009 at 12:23 PM.
I dont meant htis to sound heartless but lots of people die young and leave children behind every day. They are not afforded the opportunity to make millions to leave their kids, the best the can leave is diaries and letters so that their kids will have some memory from them as they grow. These kids ge through without millions in the bank. Look at Bobby Robson who recently passed away from cancer. He spent years before his death tirelessly campaigning to raise money, not for his family to live in comfort after his death but for cancer charities, for research and care for cancer victims. Much more worthy I am afraid to use the money to try to save others from going through the same fate. I understand why she wated to do it, but it is not as honorable as a lot of people make out and don't think it should be portrayed that way. The real tragedy is 2 young boys losing their Mummy so early, not about if they get to go to private shool or not. They can go to a comp school like the other 98% of the countries kids, those with and without dead parents.
By lea.. Posted September 6 2009 at 11:16 AM.
Tth best thing Jade did for her boys,was to encourage them to know JESUS.with him in there lives they will want for nothing and will always find peace and direction.Everything else will fall into place as long as they don't forget what there mother did for them..Let her rest in peace..
By annette.. Posted September 6 2009 at 9:54 AM.
She was not the brightest person in the world and perhaps all these deals were all in her head. The good thing is her children are in safe hands with their Dad, Jeff.
By Thomas .. Posted September 6 2009 at 9:53 AM.
Hey Bob, There are so many Z listers as you call them in showbiz, poor back grounds and uneducated from council estates, now multi millionaires, Get a life, the poor girl is dead and you ar still knocking her.. Jade did brill,if she wasn´t as smart as she was, the boys wouldn´t have anything..
By farmeress.. Posted September 6 2009 at 8:45 AM.
Those kids don't need a private education! They have a father who loves them. They can also sell her houses etc.
Normal people can't leave much for their kids so this is a big hoo haa over nothing.
By clueless.. Posted September 6 2009 at 8:11 AM.
Thats what happens when an uneducated youngster from a poor background and is a z lister thinking they are an A lister trys to live the life of a star .
By bob.. Posted September 6 2009 at 7:26 AM.
Their father can make up the shortfall.
He works so the kids will be fine!!
By Linda.. Posted September 6 2009 at 7:25 AM.
The two little boys will be fine Jeff will see that they have all the education they want. Keep Jack Tweed out of their lives.
By Trudy.. Posted September 6 2009 at 3:24 AM.
Perhaps her mother should insist on dropping her monthly allowance to ensure her grandchildrens future!!!
By Andrew Macdonald.. Posted September 6 2009 at 1:40 AM.