“He Gave Up a Fortune — For One Person”: Why Angry Ginge Walked Into the Jungle Knowing He’d Lose Hundreds of Thousands
Angry Ginge entered I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! as the unknown underdog — and walked out as one of the most beloved Kings of the Jungle the show has ever seen. But what fans are only now learning is that his decision to join the series came with a staggering personal cost.
The 24-year-old streamer, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, reportedly forfeited hundreds of thousands of pounds in sponsorship deals, December ad revenue, and peak-season livestream income. For most influencers, turning down that much money would be unthinkable.
But for Ginge, the motivation was never financial.
It was deeply personal.
It was emotional.
It was about the one person who shaped his life.
“I Didn’t Go In There for Fame — I Went for My Mum.”
Ginge grew up in Salford in a tight, low-income, single-parent home. His mum, Michelle, juggled three jobs at once while raising him and his sister Tasha on £12,500 a year.
That upbringing shaped everything about him — his resilience, his humor, his loyalty, and his relentless drive.
So when ITV called, Ginge didn’t hesitate.
“I just wanted my mum to be proud,” he told reporters.
“It’s something I dreamed about since I was eight. This was for her.”
When Michelle and Tasha walked into camp for the family reunion episode, viewers saw the truth of that statement. Ginge crumbled, overwhelmed, clinging to the two women who had carried him through every hardship.
It was one of the most emotional moments of the season — and it instantly rewrote his public image from wild-eyed streamer to national sweetheart.
The Financial Hit No One Expected
While many contestants join I’m A Celeb for exposure or a career reboot, Ginge was already thriving. His Twitch streams regularly pull millions of views, and December is famously the most profitable period for creators.
A show insider put it bluntly:
“He left an enormous amount of money on the table — easily six figures. Maybe more. But he never flinched.”
Instead, he spent nearly a month living on rice, beans, cold showers, and kangaroo bits — all to fulfill a childhood dream and give something back to the woman who raised him.
A Gen Z Icon Is Born
ITV reportedly cast Ginge to capture a younger audience — and the strategy paid off.
The series drew 2.5 million consolidated viewers, its strongest performance since the World Cup year.
Ginge didn’t just appear on the show.
He became the show.
Funny.
Chaotic.
Emotionally open.
Unexpectedly humble.
And ultimately — victorious.
Crowds cheered as he was crowned King of the Jungle in his now-iconic Lightning McQueen Crocs.
A Breakdown That Almost Sent Him Home
Despite his upbeat personality, Ginge revealed privately that he nearly quit early on.
“After about ten days, I really struggled,” he said.
“I was thinking: do I stay or do I just go home? But I pushed through.”
That vulnerability made viewers love him more — a young man learning his own limits in real time, under the harshest spotlight imaginable.
What Happens Next?
Sources close to Ginge say he’ll return to streaming immediately — but the door to mainstream television has been blown wide open.
He isn’t rushing, though.
“I don’t know what comes next,” he admitted.
“But I’m proud of myself. I did this honestly. I did it as me.”
For the first time in years, he says he’s slowing down, reconnecting with family, and grounding himself again.
“Life doesn’t always need to be a million miles an hour.”
But one thing is certain:
A star has been born — and he didn’t need wealth or fame to make it happen.
He just needed his mum.