Who Is Jordan Adlard-Rogers? New Details On Man Who Got DNA From Estranged Father's Corpse To Prove He Was Heir To $60M Estate
He never knew his father.
cornwall live Many of us dream of making a fortune with our work, while others wish they could marry a millionaire and live a life of luxury. And while those futures of comfortable living seldom come true, for one man, a simple DNA test changed his life forever.
Who is Jordan Adlard-Rogers? After Charles Rogers, a British aristocrat from Cornwall, England, overdosed in his car in August 2018, many believed he left no heir to inherit his $60 million estate. But it turns out that Adlard-Rogers, a former care worker from Porthleven, England who had struggled financially for most of his life, was, in fact, heir to Rogers’ 1,536-acre Penrose Estate!
Photo: Facebook
For Adlard-Rogers, it’s a dream come true. However, it wasn’t about the money for him; he simply wanted to find his biological father. His free-spirited mother, Julie Adlard, raised him in an impoverished community, where he spent five years with travelers, no basic education, no proper sanitation, and a slew of violent men. For years, he believed Charles Rogers was his father, and when he was 10 years old, Julie finally revealed the truth.
But his attempts to get a DNA test went unfulfilled, until Rogers’ passed away in August. Philip Care, the Penrose estate manager, called Adlard-Rogers, informing him that they’d have to act fast to get a DNA test, as the deceased Rogers’ relatives demanded his cremation.
Says Adlard-Rogers, “He offered to do a DNA test when I was younger but it didn’t happen and then when I was 18 I knocked on his door and asked if I could have the test and he told me to do it through the solicitors. I was 18 so had other priorities at the time. I wrote more letters in my twenties but never got a reply, then three years ago I got in contact with power of attorney Philip Care. Philip said Charles didn’t want to do the test, so I wrote one final letter with a DNA test kit enclosed and that was when Philip rang and told me Charles was dead.”
Photo: Cornwall Live
Ultimately, things worked out, and Adlard-Rogers was named heir. And shortly after, he moved into the estate with his partner, Katie, and their newborn son, Joshua. According to Cornwall Live, he now receives a $1,300-a-week trust fund.
“I haven’t been here long and don’t know all the ins and outs but have been able to piece some of the puzzle together. Charles never actually lived in the estate. He lived in one of the estate’s farmhouses as his mum lived here so he never got the chance to inherit it. They died two weeks apart and his brother was also in line to live in the estate before him. It’d got to the point when he gave up on himself and was living in his car instead of his house as it was such a mess,” Adlard-Rogers revealed of his father and parentage.
The estate is currently run by the National Trust, a historical tragedy, and was gifted by the Rogers family in 1974, in exchange for a 1,000-year lease to live there. It’s also a tourist destination and includes holiday cottages, gardens, cafes, hiking, and horseback trails. There’s also a rumor that King Arthur died there.
For the new heir, his story is unique, but more than anything, he wishes for something different: “People say I’m lucky but I would trade anything to be able to go back and for Charles to know I was his son. Maybe then he might have taken a different path.”
Photo: Daily Mail
What does the future hold for Adlard-Rogers? He’s certainly adjusting to his new life with his partner and son, but he has other plans. He wants other people to benefit from his fortune.
“I don’t need to work anymore so want to set up a charity and help the Porthleven and Helston communities,” he said. “I’ve been at the point of worrying about the next bill and have had a tough start in life, but now I’m here, I want to help people. I’m not going to forget where I’ve come from.”
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.