Published: 08:54 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 11:26 BST, 1 September 2026
Luisa Zissman has revealed she paid her teenage daughter £2,750 as an incentive to pass her GCSEs.
The former Apprentice star, 39, admitted she feels 'like a mug' after promising her eldest daughter Dixie, 16, the cash – only to find out none of her private-school classmates were receiving money for their results.
Speaking on her podcast LuAnna, Luisa told co-host Anna Williamson that Dixie had to get sixes and sevens, the equivalent of As and Bs, to get a place in the sixth form of a new boarding school.
Explaining that after Dixie failed to achieve the grades in her mock exams, 'I thought financial incentive, right? Because I really want to teach them that in life, if you work hard, you get good financial rewards.
'Like, the harder you work, the more you earn normally… I know that that's not always the case.'
Promising the amount she offered 'wasn't too ridiculous', Luisa revealed she told Dixie she would give her £1,500 for each nine – the highest possible grade, sitting above an old A*.
Luisa Zissman has revealed she paid her 16-year-old daughter Dixie £2,750 as an incentive to pass her GCSEs
'She told me that all the kids were getting it at school. I'm such a mug!' Luisa added.
Luisa also promised £1,000 for an eight, £500 for a seven, £250 for a six and said she would deduct money if her daughter got below a four. In total she paid out £2,750.
It was only when she was driving Dixie and her friends to Reading Festival over the weekend that she realised she was the only parent to pay out.
'All the other kids were like, "Oh, Dixie, you just got loads of money." And I was like, "Did none of you get that then? Because Dixie told me that everyone was getting that at school." I just thought, well, private school they do that, don't they?'
'Turns out none of them did. Eight kids in the car. I've been well shafted. But I actually don't care.'
Luisa posted a video of Dixie reading her results last month, gushing: 'I’m so proud of my baby. She is amazing, hard work pays off and she worked so hard to achieve the results she wanted and exceeded everyone’s expectations!!'
'Dixie Lola you’re a rockstar never stop pushing, never stop working hard & achieving your dreams and goals, I could burst with pride.'
