Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Latest Issue
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Autumn Winter 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    1. Life
    2. Money and Work

    Secrets of the young millionaires

    What does it take to become a millionaire by the age of 30? Marie Claire finds out by speaking to three of the country's most successful self-made women

    By Hannah Thomas
    Published 22 March 2011 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Inspire and Mentor
    Inspire and Mentor
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    What does it take to become a millionaire by the age of 30? Marie Claire finds out by speaking to three of the country's most successful self-made women

    Want to join the ranks of the self-made millionaires? Three of the country's most successful female entrepreneurs share their secrets.

    Holly Tucker, 33, co-founded the retail website notonthehighstreet.com with her friend and former colleague Sophie Cornish.

    Enjoy your work ‘Sitting on my desk is a wooden sign that reads ‘Success is a journey, not a destination’ and it’s something I look at every single day. It reminds me to enjoy what I am doing – if I’m not having fun with my work then there's no point.'

    Be brave ‘When people ask me for tips, I say, ‘Ask yourself what you would do if you knew you couldn’t fail.’ Often people are held back by thoughts of what could go wrong. If you act as though nothing can go wrong, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.'

    You may like
    • Woman organizing documents in cluttered office workspace Why Are Successful Women Staying in Jobs That Make Us Miserable?
    • Eva Omaghomi After 17 years in the Royal Household, Eva Omaghomi Talks Bringing African Design Talent to Harrods
    • Emilia Clarke Emilia Clarke: “That's my goal for the next decade of my life: to take it lightly. But it requires strength.”

    Accept support 'Ensure that there’s a network of people behind you. I couldn’t do my job without my husband’s support.’

    Inspire and Mentor

    Kelly Hoppen, 50, was awarded an MBE in 2009 for her services to interior design. She is founder of organic clothing range Earth Couture.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Know no boundaries ‘I was 30 when my bank balance reached the £1million mark. I remember looking at my bank statement and instead of feeling that I’d made it, I felt I could do more. Nothing is too big, and nothing is big enough.'

    Network, network, network ‘Meet as many people as possible, and when you do, ask yourself: ‘What can we do together?’ It’s through meeting people that ideas develop and grow.'

    Use your imagination ‘Visualise where you want to be every day and imagine what your life will be like when you get to that point. Every week I say to myself, ‘This week I want this or that to happen’ and I visualise it in my mind as if it were reality.’

    What to read next
    • Route 66 - Wild horses galloping across dusty desert landscape with roc - TVS.jpg The 30-Something Existential Crisis: How Do You Plan for a Future You’re Afraid Of?
    • A woman body brushing, taking a supplement, and heading to a workout class in gym city I Asked Leading Women’s Health Experts About the Best Health Investment They’ve Ever Made. Their Answers Surprised Me
    • Some of the best female athletes in the world right now, plus the ones to watch, featuring Dina Asher Smith, Faith Kipyegon, Keely Hodgkinson, Serena Williams and Simone Biles 50 Influential Female Athletes To Know, Watch, and Follow—in 2026 and Beyond

    Inspire and Mentor

    Caroline Marsh, 34, is a member of property investment franchise, Platinum Property Partners. She moved from Zambia to the UK in 2002.

    Be positive ‘Use specific tools to increase your positivity. In my bedroom I have a vision board that features pictures and words about where I want to be in my life and I look at it every day. It reminds me of what I’m trying to achieve.’

    Believe in yourself ‘Learn to consider yourself unstoppable. I started out selling vegetables to help my mother support our family. Now I own a multi-million-pound property portfolio.’

    Don't fear failure ‘Ultimately I believe I am driven by thoughts of how my own success will help other people – sharing your skills could ultimately change someone else’s life.’

    Inspire and Mentor

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE INSPIRATIONAL ADVICE

    Hannah Thomas
    Social Links Navigation
    Read more
    Woman organizing documents in cluttered office workspace
    Money and Work Why Are Successful Women Staying in Jobs That Make Us Miserable?
    Eva Omaghomi
    Fashion After 17 years in the Royal Household, Eva Omaghomi Talks Bringing African Design Talent to Harrods
     
     
    Emilia Clarke
    Culture Emilia Clarke: “That's my goal for the next decade of my life: to take it lightly. But it requires strength.”
    Route 66 - Wild horses galloping across dusty desert landscape with roc - TVS.jpg
    Life The 30-Something Existential Crisis: How Do You Plan for a Future You’re Afraid Of?
     
     
    Latest in Money and Work
    Woman organizing documents in cluttered office workspace
    Money and Work Why Are Successful Women Staying in Jobs That Make Us Miserable?
    Analog Times - Wine and cards game night on luxurious burgundy fabric - TVS
    Money and Work The Gambling Industry's Newest Bet? Women
     
     
    Well-dressed businesswoman walking on the street of Manhattan, New York and talking on the phone while heading to work during one autumn day.
    Money and Work Is Gen Z Really Lazy at Work, or Just Done with Burnout Culture?
    Milan, Italy - 20 February 2020: Stylish persons are posing for photographers before Max Mara fashion show on Milan Woman's Fashion Week F/W2020-2021, street style - stock photo
    Money and Work Women Are Delaying This Financial Step, But It Could Be Easier Than You Think.
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Liberty London Beauty Advent Calendar 2026
    Beauty I Had My Pick Of 27 Advent Calendars This Year, Here’s Why Liberty’s Came Home With Me—And It’s Not Why You Think
    Are electric toothbrushes worth it?
    Beauty Is a £300 Electric Toothbrush Really Better Than a £30 One? We Asked Leading Dentists to Weigh In
     
     
    Actress Emilia Clarke
    Culture The Anti-Maxxing Issue: Featuring Emilia Clarke, Signature Scents, Practical Styling Tips and So Much More
    The best things to do this October
    Food and Drink The Agenda: Your October Just Got More Interesting
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.