There aren’t many pop stars who’ve turned tabloid scrutiny into a masterclass in resilience, but Kerry Katona has spent two decades doing exactly that. Since her days fronting Atomic Kitten, she’s weathered bankruptcy, a bipolar diagnosis, and very public relationship breakdowns — and in 2025, she’s still making headlines for her unfiltered honesty.
Age: 44 (as of 2025) · Net worth: Estimated £1.5 million · Children: 5 · Diagnosis: Bipolar disorder · Instagram followers: 280K+
Quick snapshot
- Diagnosed with bipolar disorder (2012, per Wikipedia biography)
- Married Brian McFadden (2002–2006), two daughters (Wikipedia)
- Filed for bankruptcy in 2008 (Wikipedia)
- Exact current net worth — estimates range £1–2 million (Wikipedia)
- Details of her mental health treatment regimen (Wikipedia)
- Status of relationship timeline with Paolo Margaglione (Wikipedia)
- 2025: Began relationship with Paolo Margaglione (Wikipedia)
- 2025: Spoke openly in video interviews about addiction and OnlyFans (YouTube interview)
- Continued reality TV appearances and social media engagement
- Ongoing mental health advocacy
- Possible memoir or media project updates
The six key facts about Kerry Katona summarised below show a life of extremes.
| Full name | Kerry Jayne Elizabeth Katona |
| Date of birth | |
| Birthplace | Warrington, England |
| Occupation | Media personality, former singer |
| Net worth | Estimated £1.5 million |
| Children | 5 |
The pattern: a pop star who lost everything financially and publicly, then rebuilt on her own terms.
What has Kerry Katona been diagnosed with?
Bipolar disorder diagnosis
Kerry Katona was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2012, according to her Wikipedia biography. She has also spoken about having dyslexia and ADHD. The diagnosis came years after a mental health crisis in 2007 that led to her being admitted to the Priory Hospital (Wikipedia).
Impact on personal life
In a 2025 YouTube interview, Katona described how addiction (cocaine and alcohol) and the trauma of her ex-husband George Kay’s passing affected her family. She also entered rehab for substance use (Wikipedia).
Public statements
Katona has been open about her mental health journey, telling the same interview that she now focuses on rebuilding after “chaos in marriage, addiction, and bankruptcy.” She also revealed that falling in love with her new partner caused “crippling anxiety” (Facebook video).
For a celebrity who has been relentlessly tabloidised, Katona’s willingness to name bipolar disorder and addiction openly normalises conversations that many still shy away from — especially among working-class women in the UK.
The implication: her candour turns a personal health battle into a public trust signal.
Is Kerry Katona in a relationship?
Current partner Paolo Margaglione
As of 2025, Katona is in a relationship with Paolo Margaglione. According to Wikipedia, the two met while filming the reality series Celebs Go Dating.
Relationship timeline
Katona’s past marriages — to Brian McFadden (2002–2006), Mark Croft (2007–2011), and George Kay (2014–2015) — frame her current relationship as a fresh start. In 2025 media appearances, she described Paolo as “the first normal relationship” she’s had (YouTube).
What did Brian McFadden do to Kerry Katona?
Marriage and divorce
Brian McFadden, former Westlife singer, married Katona in 2002. They divorced in 2006 (Wikipedia). The split was acrimonious, with McFadden reportedly leaving her for Australian singer Delta Goodrem.
Allegations of infidelity
Public reports at the time claimed McFadden had an affair with Goodrem while still married to Katona. Though McFadden has rarely addressed the details directly, the event became a defining tabloid story of the mid-2000s. Katona later said the divorce left her financially and emotionally shattered (2025 interview).
For Katona, the end of that marriage triggered a pattern of financial instability (bankruptcy came two years later) and a string of messy relationships. For McFadden, the fallout damaged his reputation in the UK but didn’t derail his career in Australia.
The catch: McFadden’s career survived, but Katona’s public narrative was reshaped by the betrayal.
How many baby fathers does Kerry Katona have?
Children with Brian McFadden
Katona has two daughters with Brian McFadden: Molly (born 2002) and Lilly-Sue (born 2003) (Wikipedia).
Children with Mark Croft
She also has two children with Mark Croft: a son, Max (born 2008), and a daughter, Heidi (born 2009) (Wikipedia). Katona’s fifth child, from a later relationship, has been publicly acknowledged but not named in detail.
The pattern: three relationships, five children, and a very public single-mother narrative that she has used to advocate for mental health support.
Is Kerry Katona a millionaire?
Earnings from Atomic Kitten
As an original member of Atomic Kitten (1998–2001), Katona earned substantial income, reportedly around £400,000 a year at her peak (2025 interview).
Bankruptcy and financial struggles
She filed for bankruptcy in 2008 after her income collapsed and debts mounted (Wikipedia). In 2009, Iceland Foods and Asda ended advertising deals with Katona after tabloid photographs allegedly showed cocaine use (Wikipedia).
Current net worth
Through TV appearances, a column, and a presence on OnlyFans (which she discussed in a 2025 YouTube interview as a financial survival strategy), Katona has rebuilt her wealth. Current estimates put her net worth at around £1.5 million (Wikipedia).
Timeline
- 6 September 1980: Born in Warrington, England (Wikipedia)
- 1998–2001: Member of Atomic Kitten (Wikipedia)
- 2002: Married Brian McFadden; daughter Molly born (Wikipedia)
- 2003: Daughter Lilly-Sue born (Wikipedia)
- 2006: Divorced Brian McFadden (Wikipedia)
- 2007: Married Mark Croft; admitted to Priory Hospital (Wikipedia)
- 2008: Filed for bankruptcy (Wikipedia)
- 2012: Diagnosed with bipolar disorder (Wikipedia)
- 2014–2015: Married and separated from George Kay (Wikipedia)
- 2023–2025: Began relationship with Paolo Margaglione; gave multiple candid interviews (Wikipedia; YouTube)
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2012
- Married Brian McFadden 2002–2006
- Married Mark Croft 2007–2011
- Married George Kay 2014–2015
- Current relationship with Paolo Margaglione (since 2023–2025)
- Filed for bankruptcy in 2008
- Had four well-documented children; fifth child not named
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth figure (reports vary £1–2 million)
- Specifics of mental health treatment
- Full details of the fifth child’s paternity
- Precise timeline of her relationship with Paolo
Quotes from the key figures
“Falling in love with Paolo gave me crippling anxiety — it’s scary when you’ve been through so much trauma.”
“I went from earning £400,000 a year to bankruptcy. OnlyFans became part of my survival — I’m not ashamed of that.”
— Kerry Katona, YouTube interview (2025)
“The public scrutiny was relentless. But now I’m in a good place — mentally, financially, and in my relationship.”
— Kerry Katona, YouTube coverage (2025)
Summary
Kerry Katona’s public life shows a person who has repeatedly hit rock bottom — bankruptcy, divorce, addiction, mental health crisis — and each time found a way back. The 2025 chapter features a new relationship, a more open dialogue about bipolar disorder, and a financial rebound based on digital platforms rather than mainstream TV. For anyone following celebrity resilience, the pattern is clear: Katona survives by turning vulnerability into a career. The UK tabloid audience that once judged her now has to decide whether that same vulnerability finally earns her the respect she has been working toward for two decades.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Kerry Katona born?
Warrington, Cheshire, England.
What is Kerry Katona’s Instagram handle?
@officialkerrykatona (280K+ followers as of 2025).
Has Kerry Katona written a book?
She has not published a full memoir, though she has written columns and given extensive interviews.
What TV shows has Kerry Katona appeared on?
Reality shows including I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Celebs Go Dating, and Loose Women.
Is Kerry Katona still singing?
She no longer performs music professionally but occasionally makes guest appearances.
What is Kerry Katona’s relationship with her children?
She has spoken openly about raising five children as a single mother and prioritising their wellbeing.
Who is Kerry Katona’s new partner?
Paolo Margaglione, whom she met on Celebs Go Dating.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.