Adam Rickitt Details Financial Shift from Millions to Modest Salary

Adam Rickitt, 48, has disclosed that his business paid him a salary of £12,000 last year, a significant decrease from his earlier career earnings when he could make thousands for brief appearances. Rickitt, who gained fame as Nick Tilsley on the ITV soap Coronation Street, has transitioned to running a craft beer and artisan gin bar called Dexter and Jones in Knutsford with his wife, Katy.

Speaking to The Times, Rickitt explained that the business is currently in a "period of reinvestment" and that they "sunk everything into it." Consequently, they took only the personal allowance of approximately £12,000 and dividends of £36,000 to remain within the basic tax band. This contrasts sharply with his peak earning years, where he reportedly made £3,500 per week for four episodes of Coronation Street and up to £5,000 for a 30-minute club appearance.

Rickitt also shared his experience of lending millions of pounds to his father, who managed finances poorly and died penniless two years ago. Rickitt stated he never expected repayment, attributing his own tendency to "hoard" money to witnessing his father's financial instability. He expressed contentment with his current life, stating, "I’m not angry because when I had money it didn’t make me happy. I’m happy now married to the love of my life, running this place and doing pop music again."

In 2023, Rickitt revealed he had been a victim of a sophisticated bank fraud scam, losing "tens of thousands of pounds." He described being duped by individuals posing as a fraud team from Barclays bank, who possessed extensive personal information. This experience left him feeling "stupid" and embarrassed, prompting him to warn others about similar scams.

In 2024, Rickitt and his wife fulfilled a long-held dream by purchasing a property in Sicily, referred to as their "home from home." His wife Katy has indicated that the couple hopes to integrate the Mediterranean island more into their lives, potentially exploring opportunities to expand their business there.

Rickitt's career began with his first acting audition at age 18 for Coronation Street. He starred on the soap from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2002 to 2004. He later appeared in the New Zealand soap Shortland Street (2007-2010) and as Kyle Kelly in Hollyoaks (2017-2020). During a break from his soap career, he released a music album, "Good Times," with his single "I Breathe Again" reaching number five in the UK charts. His music career was short-lived, however, as his album peaked at number 41, and he was dropped by his record label.