David and Victoria Beckham axe 14 staff in bid to save money

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The couple — worth about £115 million — are said to have called in a financial expert to identify ways of saving.

They were told hundreds of thousands of pounds was being spent needlessly on employees at their homes in Hertfordshire, Los Angeles, Dubai and France. Their worldwide staff of 49 has now been cut by 14.

A friend of the Beckhams told The Sun: "This very no-nonsense accountant gave it to Vic straight... Vic pushed the button. There has been a large downsize. David and Victoria are multimillionaires but that doesn't mean they have to waste money — and they were haemorrhaging it." At their home in Sawbridgeworth, Herts, nicknamed "Beckingham Palace", a cleaner was sacked and the head gardener must now double as a chauffeur. Six out of seven of the gardeners at their huge estate in Bargemon, in the south of France, have also gone.

The LA house still has three security guards, two chefs, four cleaners, a personal assistant, two dress assistants and two nannies. Beckingham Palace still houses two agents, a PA, eight PR assistants, a head of security, an animal carer and the head gardener.

The French home has a property manager, two cleaners, a chef and a groundsman, while two property agents look after the family villa on Palm Islands in Dubai.

As news of their belt-tightening emerged, the Beckhams and their three sons enjoyed a day out in LA at Universal CityWalk with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, wife Tana and their children. But back in Britain, Beckham's sister Lynne, 38, sobbed as her partner was jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Kevin Briggs, 37, was sentenced to five months for making aggressive phone calls to his ex-girlfriend, Lisa Gilbey.