Former Page 3 model and original WAG Suzi Walker, now 52, has revealed she is £500,000 in debt after years of lavish spending and mounting medical bills. Once married to Tottenham and England goalkeeper Ian Walker for 12 years, she was known for her extravagant lifestyle, including a personal shopper at Selfridges and spending money like 'toilet paper.'
From Diamonds to Debt
When Ian Walker was called up to the England squad in 1996, he bought Suzi a 'beautiful, pear-shaped diamond.' Now, she is forced to pawn her jewellery, clothes, and valuables to cover costs. Her financial troubles stem from a chronic illness—a rare variant of Lyme disease called Babesiosis—which went undiagnosed for years, leading to enormous medical bills. Additionally, her current husband, Mark Pitman, spent £600,000 in legal fees two years ago trying to recover £1 million owed by a company.
Lavish Lifestyle
During the height of her husband's career, particularly around Euro '96, Suzi socialised with fellow WAGs like Victoria Beckham, Coleen Rooney, and Alex Gerrard. She admits to spending 'thousands at Gucci and Prada' and drinking only 'the finest Cristal Champagne.' She also spent about £8,000 each time on cosmetic procedures for her bust and spontaneously upgraded to 'Cartier diamond-encrusted' watches.
Health Crisis
Suzi described her health ordeal: 'I knew I was dying, but I couldn’t get a diagnosis from my local hospital. I paid to get private tests.' The tests revealed Babesiosis, which led to meningitis, brain inflammation, and discharge from behind her eyes. 'The clinic has literally saved my life because I was put straight on to some very strong drugs to help reduce the inflammation in my brain and body, and I was on IV drips daily.'
Impact of Debt
Her illness caused her to neglect finances. 'I’ve been so ill that I’ve barely been able to look at the post. I was ignoring calls from the mortgage company, and the house is in my name.' She now owes around £20,000 and faced repossession threats. 'It’s amazing my electricity and other things haven’t been cut off,' she told The Sun. Reflecting on her situation, she said: 'Ending up around half a million in debt and not having the money I once had has changed me as a human being. I now know more than ever what’s important in life.'
