Labourer Inherits £50m Estate After DNA Test Proves He Was Illegitimate Son of Owner

A former care worker has inherited a manor house after a DNA test proved he was the heir to a country estate.

Jordan Adlard Rogers, 31, only found out his father was Charles Rogers after his death in 2018, Cornwall Live reported. Mr Rogers’ family had lived in the 1,536-acre Penrose Estate between Helston and Porthleven for generations.

The family gifted the estate to the National Trust in 1974 in exchange for a 1,000-year lease to live there. Mr Adlard Rogers said he knew from the age of eight that Mr Rogers may be his father and made several unsuccessful attempts to get a DNA test done. He said after his father died he was finally able to get the test completed.

However, when Mr Rogers, 62, died of a drug overdose last August, a test was finally carried out and his son, who had long struggled for cash, suddenly found himself at the centre of an incredible rags to riches story.

Jordan has wasted little time in embracing his new found inheritance, installing an outside gym at the property and buying a Mercedes C63 to sit on the drive.

Posting a photograph of his new home on Facebook, he said it had been “a hard three months of fighting for what is truly mine” adding: “I’m sure there will be lots family barbecues in the future I also have a tennis court.”

The Rogers family have lived on the site between Helston and Porthleven in Cornwall for generations, gifting it to the National Trust in 1974 in exchange for a 1,000-year lease to continue living there.

The family Trust makes money from investments in stocks and shares and renting a number of parcels of land to local farmers, producing a substantial income for the life tenant and meaning Jordan, whose partner gave birth to their first child last month, will not need to work again.

But he insists he would give it all up to have had the chance to steer his father away from the drug abuse that claimed his life and is determined to find out more about his life. An inquest held in Truro last week heard that Mr Rogers had struggled with drug abuse for many years and died in his car outside his Grade-II listed farmhouse.

He was reportedly malnourished, neglected personal hygiene and rarely changed his clothes in the months leading up to his death. Instead of living in his lavish home, Mr Rogers was sleeping in his car.

His son said he had learned of a number of factors that may have prompted his life to spiral out of control.

He had asked for a DNA test several times but got no response. It was only after his death that the power of attorney arranged for a test to take place.

“I’m starting to get my feet under the table here,” Jordan added. “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. I don’t need to work anymore so want to set up a charity and help the Porthleven and Helston communities. 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.”

Photo Credit: Getty

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