
Stories of the incredible generosity of George Michael have raised hopes he may have left huge sums to good causes following his shock death aged 53 from suspected heart failure yesterday.

The singer - who sold more than 100million records with band Wham! and during a hugely successful solo career - passed away in his bed at home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire on Christmas Day afternoon.

A series of claims about his secret donations have since emerged, including that he gave huge sums to people he saw on TV or met during nights out.

Charities have also praised him for the thousands he helped raise during his life through concerts and donations, raising the prospect that the huge royalties from his records may go to charity.

His father Kyriacos, older sisters Melanie and Yioda as well his ex-boyfriends may also be entitled to a share of his estimated £100million estate.

A number of examples of the star handing out money to people he thought were in trouble have emerged since his death, including a secret £15,000 donation he gave to a woman he saw on Deal Or No Deal who wanted IVF.

TV host Richard Osman tweeted: 'A woman on Deal Or No Deal told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment. George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15k.'

Childline founder and president Dame Esther Rantzen so revealed that Michael had given the royalties from his 1996 number one single Jesus To A Child to the charity.

A journalist meanwhile tweeted that the star handed a barmaid a £5,000 tip after learning she was a student nurse who had large debts.

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These are among the last pictures taken of George Michael dining with friends at an Oxfordshire restaurant in September

George Michael is seen at a restaurant this picture from September. He was found dead by a friend yesterday

George Michael, 53, has died at his home in Oxfordshire. The singer rose to fame as a member of Wham! (right) before becoming a global solo star (left) who sold more than 100million records

The singer was found dead by a friend at his home in Goring On Thames, where Christmas Tree lights still shine outside

The singer's fans came to his home Oxfordshire this morning, with many breaking down in tears as they laid flowers

A couple add their flowers to the growing tributes outside the star's home in Goring, Oxfordshire this afternoon

Candles were lit outside the star's home in north London, where fans from around the world flocked to remember him

TV presenter Richard Osman and journalist Sali Hughes told of his secret acts of generosity

The star donated royalties from some of his biggest selling singles and has made huge donations to Childline, the Terrence Higgins Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Michael's former manager Michael Lippman said this morning that the star had died in bed as a result of suspected heart failure and there was 'no foul play whatsoever'. Police are treating the death as 'unexplained but not suspicious'.

Final photos of the star from earlier this year show him looking overweight and tired and a neighbour said he looked 'haggard' and much older than his years when she last saw him in a restaurant.

He has not been photographed publicly since September and is understood to have lived a reclusive existence, with locals in his Oxfordshire village rarely seeing him leave his home.

Michael's Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and close friend Elton John have led the tributes to the star on social media. Mr Ridgeley tweeted: 'Heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend Yog. Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved. A xx'

Meanwhile Elton John posted a heartfelt message along with a picture of the pair together on his Instagram page.

He wrote: 'I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans. @GeorgeMichael #RIP.'

Michael - real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou - was set to release a documentary film in 2017 and his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1 had been set to be reissued accompanied

A 69-year-old neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said Michael was notably absent from the midnight mass Christmas Eve service at St Thomas of Canterbury church, the parish church opposite his home.

'He wasn't at the Christmas Eve service which was very unusual,' she said.

In a statement, Michael's publicist said: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period.

'The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.'

Thames Valley Police said officers were called to a property in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, shortly before 2pm on Christmas Day.

A spokesman said: 'Sadly, a 53-year-old man was confirmed deceased at the scene. At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.'

Michael's Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley led tributes online, saying he was heartbroken at his friend's death

Celebrities and musicians have taken to Twitter to post about their sadness on the passing of George Michael yesterday

A neighbour at his home in north London said he looked 'tired' and 'haggard' when she saw him in a restaurant earlier this year.

Sasha Gretsay, who lives near the former singer's north London home, said: 'I remember thinking he looked unwell. I don't want to say he looked awful, but he looked very haggard and tired.

'He looked worried and older than my friend who was 57. My friend asked how old he was and I said, younger than you.'

A 63-year-old man who lives in Goring said: "We didn't see much of him but occasionally you'd see him in the village or in The Miller, the local pub. He kept himself to himself.'

While enjoying a glittering career, Michael has endured a turbulent personal life and nearly died from pneumonia while on tour in late 2011.

After receiving treatment in a Vienna hospital, he made a tearful appearance outside his London home and said it had been 'touch and go' whether he lived.

Doctors had performed a tracheotomy to keep his airways open and he was unconscious for some of his spell in hospital.

He later told the Daily Mail: 'It almost killed me. On a subconscious level, it was very frightening and I'll probably never feel quite as safe in life again.

'But I also remember experiencing incredible guilt for my family and friends, because they literally spent weeks not knowing whether I was going to make it.

'Now, if that had happened to me in reverse, if I'd had to watch one of my sisters go through that, well... it would have devastated me.

'For most of the time, though, I was pretty much out of it, so I didn't realise the danger I was in until after I'd come out the other side.'

A large number of flowers, candles and tributes have been placed outside Michael' Goring home where he was found dead

Fans broke down in tears today as they travelled from around the country to lay flowers and message at Michael's home

A crowd of locals and fans queued to pay their respects to the star outside the house here he died in Goring today

Mourning fans started arriving at his homes from early on this morning and have been arriving ever since

A George Michael lookalike was among the fans who made the trip to Goring this morning to lay flowers

One message described the singer as 'one of this world's sensitive souls', adding that he 'shone a bright light in the world'

Fans have put flowers outside the cottage home where the singer was found dead by a friend yesterday

Flowers, candles and messages have been placed by the gates outside his home in north London this lunchtime

Michael had also struggled with drug addiction and admitted that during one period he was smoking 25 joints a day. I n 2008, he was caught smoking crack cocaine in a public toilet.

The singer's death comes as he planned to work on a new album with UK producer Naughty Boy In an interview with the BBC earlier this month, the producer, who has collaborated with a list of stars including Beyonce, said: 'I can't wait. I don't know what to expect. And, to be honest, he's more mysterious than anyone else so I'm actually excited.

'I reached out and then he got back. He's got an album coming out next year, and he's going to be doing something for my album as well.'

Naughty Boy paid tribute tonight by tweeting the title of one of Michael's hits, he simply posted: 'jesus to a child.'

As the world comes to terms with the loss of one of its greatest pop stars, celebrity fans have taken to Twitter to share their grief.

Singer Boy George tweeted: 'I am thinking of @GeorgeMichael's family, friends and fans right now. He was so loved and I hope he knew it because the sadness today is beyond words. Devastating.

'What a beautiful voice he had and his music will live on as a testament to his talent. I can't believe he is gone. I hope the Buddha will hold him in his arms. NMRK.'

Music mogul and X Factor boss Simon Cowell tweeted that the singer was 'always one of the greatest'.

Ricky Gervais, who cast Michael in an episode of his sitcom Extras, wrote: 'Unbelievable. RIP George Michael.'

Hit producer Mark Ronson wrote: 'Other than a global pop phenom [sic], George was one of the true British soul greats a lot of us owe him an unpayable debt. Bye George xx'

Eventually his relationship with long-term lover Kenny Goss (right) collapsed. His last boyfriend Fadi Fawaz (left) is a London-based hair stylist of Lebanese origin

Michael - who sold 100 million album across a long career - with fellow eighties star Boy George, in 1987

Michael pictured with his long-time friend Elton John at Live Aid in 1985. Elton said his friend was 'kindest, most generous soul'

Michael said that, despite repeated setbacks off the stage, his career has always 'righted itself like a plastic duck in a bath'

Spandau Ballet's official account posted: 'We are incredibly sad at the passing of our dear friend George Michael. A brilliant artist great songwriter.'

Paul McCartney wrote online: 'George Michael's sweet soul music will live on even after his sudden death. Having worked with him on a number of occasions his great talent always shone through and his self deprecating sense of humour made the experience even more pleasurable.'

Matt Goss, who was half of eighties boy group Bros, tweeted yesterday: 'George Michael was part of the tapestry of my life. His song lyrics & his melodies, True pop royalty. Heartbroken, RIP dearest George.'

American DJ and music journalist Questlove Gomez wrote: 'I don't have it in me anymore to write about our greats. I just knew one day I'd get to work with #GeorgeMichael. Sad Christmas.'

James Corden posted: 'I've loved George Michael for as long as I can remember. He was an absolute inspiration. Always ahead of his time.'

Michael was one of the first people ever to take part in Corden's popular 'carpool karaoke' feature when the pair teamed up for a Comic Relief skit in 2011.

GEORGE MICHAEL: THE LIFE OF A POP ICON George Michael has died aged 53, he rose to fame with Wham! before becoming an international pop star

George Michael was born in East Finchley, London, on June 25, 1963. He was the son of Greek Cypriot restaurateur Kyriacos Panayiotou, who moved to England in the 1950s. Michael first attended Kingsbury High School in north London. His mother, Lesley Angold, was an English dancer. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Hertfordshire, an affluent village called Radlett just north east of Watford. It was there where he met Wham! partner and guitarist Andrew Ridgeley after he joined Bushey Meads School in Bushey. As their relationship grew, it was clear that the pair wanted to be famous musicians and Michael starting busking on the London Underground. He would sing songs, including Queen's '39' and then he started working as a DJ. The singer went on to perform at small venues in Watford, Stanmore and Bushey. He then formed the ska band, The Executive with Ridgeley and Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Leaver and David Mortimer. Michael then started Wham! with Ridgeley in 1981 and their debut album, Fantastic, reached number one in the UK two years later. Their second album, Make It Big – which included 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-GO' - reached number one in the US. He sang on the original Band Air recording of 'Do They Know It's Christmas' – which later became the UK Christmas number one. Wham! separated in 1986 but, just one year later, Michael launched his own solo career and kicked it off with a duet with star Aretha Franklin. His album Faith - which has been remastered and later released in 2010 - was a massive success in 1988. But lengthy legal battles followed as he tried to free himself from a deal with record label Sony which effectively prevented new recordings (only to re-sign with them a few years later). Things began to unravel further when, after years of refusing to be drawn on speculation about his sexuality, he was arrested in public toilets in Beverly Hills, California, in 1998 for engaging in a lewd act. The incident forced him to disclose his homosexuality and his relationship with American Kenny Goss. Michael, pictured with his parents Kyriacos Panayiotou and Lesley Angold at his 30th birthday at Newmarket Races in 1993 His last appearance in the top 10 was in 2004 and a Christmas single released last December climbed to just number 14 despite a huge fanbase. Pictured meeting Diana, Princess of Wales He later said his late 20s had been a very depressing time for him after he lost his partner, Anselmo Feleppa, to HIV and his mother died some time later. In October 2006, he was found slumped over the wheel of his car. The following May he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs and was banned from driving for two years. In 2008 Michael took a step back from the public eye but less than a month later he was once again in the glare when he was cautioned for possession of class A drugs, which included crack cocaine, and class C drugs. In September 2010 Michael received an eight-week prison sentence following an incident the previous July in which he crashed his Range Rover into a shop in north London. He was also given a five-year driving ban after he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis. In 2011, he officially announced the ending of a turbulent 15-year relationship with Goss - though he said that the pair had actually split around two years earlier. In an attempt to relaunch his musical career, Michael performed a song from his new album during the closing ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Health scares dogged the last decade of his life. Last year he publicly denied new allegations about drug-taking, describing them as 'highly inaccurate'. Michael carved out an international name for himself, but brushes with the law and tales of his drug use increasingly made more impact than his music. Pictured here with Elton John Advertisement

Gary Lineker posted: 'No, not George Michael as well. Another musical great leaves us this year. 2016 can just sod off. #RIPGeorge'

Electro-pop star Gary Numan tweeted: 'Oh no. George Michael RIP.'

Alison Moyet, who performed at Live Aid in 1985 on the same bill as Michael, said: 'I met George Michael a few times & he was ever a gentle, unassuming soul. A rare presence in a world full of self. Honest, genuine talent.'

The official account of eighties pop group Duran Duran also paid their respects by tweeting: '2016 - loss of another talented soul. All our love and sympathy to @GeorgeMichael's family.'

Pictured: Michael and his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley on stage in 1986 - the pair would go on to achieve fame with a number of hits including Last Christmas and Club Tropicana

The star (pictured, left with Elton John in 2006 and right in 2012) had suffered repeated health scares in recent years

Singer and former Pop Idol star Gareth Gates recalled meeting Michael, writing on Twitter: 'Such a sad day. We lose another legend. I met George Michael a couple of times. He was such a lovely man, and what a talent. Rest in peace x.'

Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson wrote: 'So sorry to hear about George Michael's passing. Brilliant icon. 'Kissing a Fool' one of my all time favs. Strength & light to his family.'

Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood said: 'What a shock. Sad to hear George Michael has left us.'

Singer Anastacia, who recently appeared in Strictly Come Dancing tweeted that '2016 has lost so many greats'.

She added: 'It's so sad George Michael has to join the list of Icons we had to say goodbye to too soon.'

An official statement from Universal Music UK - the record label Michael was signed to before his death - read: 'We're in shock at the loss of one of the greatest singer songwriters. The brilliance of his music, the soundtrack to so many lives, will live for ever.

'Our deepest condolences to George's family and friends from everyone at Universal Music.'

In his own words: George Michael on why he could never be an X Factor judge and why celebs are bores 'Fame after Wham! drove me close to lunacy' - Reflecting on his career in 2014. 'I have a really serious problem with the fact that when I brought myself down, I felt I was letting young gay kids down. My behaviour meant these kids suffered abuse and the homophobic language that is legal in this country' - On the damage he fears his public disgraces have caused, 2011. 'I felt very re-energised after my recent troubles' - George Michael, who spent a month in prison in 2010 for drug-driving. 'I always receive more support abroad. It's a shame, but let's be honest, after almost 30 years I count myself lucky to get any support anywhere' - Disappointed that the BBC did not use his royal wedding anthem, although it was played during Norwegian television coverage of the wedding between William and Kate in 2011. 'I couldn't be involved in the cruel part' - Why he did not want to be an X Factor judge, 2011. 'I really don't think so. I've run out of ideas' - Promising there would be no further scandals on his forthcoming visit to the United States, 2008. 'I finally realised that one reason why my life has felt so self-destructive is that I never had any feeling that my talent would let me down' - Typically honest, in 2007 'It helps if you have a beard as it covers a multitude of sins. It really does' - On his vanity, in 2004. 'It's about time I made a record for the boys, isn't it? I think there will be people dancing around their handbags to this one' - Describing his 2004 track Flawless, which he dedicated to homosexuals. 'The most horrific thing that happened was that I was photographed with my shirt off and I was fat. Can you imagine two worse things than being fat and gay?' - Discussing, in 2004, events after his arrest in a US public lavatory six years previously. 'As you become older, you become more selective. Most celebrities bore me to tears' - On celebrity culture and ageing, in 2004. 'Close up, my face is starting to resemble an Ordnance Survey map' - Self-deprecating in 1998. 'As some of you may know I have been over busy of late' - Apologising for the brevity of his 35-minute set at The Symphony of Hope show for Aids charities in 1993, having made several recent court appearances as part of his legal battle with recording company, Sony. 'I'm not too grand to sit around a table with the marketing people but I pay a manager to do that. You don't get respect that way' - On the music industry in 1993. 'Extraordinarily wealthy ... about three houses' - His response, when asked by a High Court judge to assess his assets during the same year. Advertisement

How sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll took their toll on troubled genius

By Alison Bolshoff for the Daily Mail

In one of his many candid moments, George Michael said he had spent the past 20 years trying to sabotage his glittering career via a series of humiliating drug and sex scandals.

'But my career just seems to right itself like a plastic duck in a bath and, in some ways, I resent that,' he said.

Hugely talented, highly intelligent and charming company, his many friends found the later years of his life infuriatingly chaotic.

Pictured: George Michael and Andrew Ridgley from the pop group Wham! posed for a photograph during a visit to China in the 1980s

Michael, who wrote and performed pop classics including Careless Whisper, Praying For Time and Faith, said himself that he suffered from two afflictions –'grief and self-abuse'.

He would smoke enormous amounts of marijuana – up to 25 joints a day at some points in his career.

He also struggled with depression, following the death of his lover Anselmo Feleppa from an HIV-related illness in 1993, and his mother, of cancer, in 1997.

His drug use included a dependency on sleeping pills and a dabble with designer drug GHB. In 2008, Michael was caught smoking crack cocaine in a public toilet.

He was in the habit of cruising for sex with strangers – an activity he declared he had started in his teens. He told friend Piers Morgan that he had up to 500 sexual partners in seven years – which works out, staggeringly, at one every five days.

Michael's good looks and iconic quiff made him a pin-up during his rise to fame in the 1980s (pictured, in 1987)

Eventually his relationship with long-term lover Kenny Goss collapsed. They had been together for 12 years and some believed that he missed their relationship to the very last.

It was reported earlier this year that the pair rekindled a close friendship in Michael's final months.

Goss supported him in court in 2010 and flew to Austria to visit him in hospital when he contracted pneumonia in November 2011.

Earlier that year he had decided he should stop making such a mess of his life, and move forward. The final straw had been his jailing, for a second drug-driving offence, in September 2011. Announcing his tour in spring that year he said he hoped it would bring him 'recovery'. He added that prison had left him 're-energised'.

He even let slip that he had started writing a new album of songs – his first since Patience in 2004. His many fans were hopeful the retreat and chaos of the past two decades were to be swept away by a new era.

But last year, a chorus of voices said the same thing – that George Michael, an enthusiastic cannabis user for decades, had moved on to a deadly selection of new narcotics. The singer, who had dropped out of public view after releasing his last album Symphonica in March 2014, was said to be smoking crack cocaine again.

Michael's publicist and friend Connie Filipello said last year: 'I am pleased to say he is on good form … he decided to take some time for himself and is considering and working on new projects.'

However, there were reports he was in rehab, at the Kusnacht practice in Switzerland. Miss Filipello denied this, saying: 'He is well and enjoying an extended break.'

But little was seen of him for some time. In September this year it was announced his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1 was set to be reissued, accompanied by a film featuring Stevie Wonder, Elton John and the supermodels who starred in the video to his hit single Freedom! '90.

George Michael and Beatles legend Paul McCartney on stage during a star-studded performance at the Live8 concert in Hyde Park, London, in July, 2005

George Michael and Stevie Wonder perform Living for the City in Universal City, California in 1997

The movie, with the working title Freedom: George Michael, was to be narrated by the singer and set to feature Mark Ronson, Mary J Blige, Tony Bennett, Liam Gallagher, James Corden and Ricky Gervais.

It is not known whether the film will still be released.

Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in East Finchley on June 25, 1963, his father was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur Kyriacos, known as Jack. His mother Lesley was a dancer. She took two jobs to keep the family afloat, and Michael said that he found their lives 'patriarchal' and 'oppressive'.

The family, which comprised George and his older sisters Melanie and Yioda, later moved to Radlett, Hertfordshire, and it was at Bushey Meads School that he met Andrew Ridgeley.

A musical great known for both his chart-topping hits and his turbulent personal life, George Michael was a giant of popular culture

Michael tried working as a DJ in the clubs around Watford, and then formed a band with his school friend. While living in a basement flat in Peckham, he and Ridgeley wrote Club Tropicana – a joyous anthem to the shallow pleasures of free cocktails on a sunshine holiday.

He was only 18 when it was a hit – and he and Ridgeley found themselves instantly famous, and the objects of screaming desire for their many fans.

Wham! had a No 1 album, too, with Fantastic, followed by another No 1 album with Make It Big. In all, he achieved four UK No 1s with Wham! and five as a solo artist.

He sold more than 100million records worldwide and is one of the most successful UK chart artists of all time. He was, of course, the prettiest boy in Wham, with an absurdly bouffant do, deep tan, love of sportswear and golden highlights to match his gold hooped earring.

But there was unease behind the toothpaste smile. He told an interviewer: 'I realised early on that being on the road to pop stardom was not going to bring me happiness, but I couldn't get off.'

He confessed to his best friend Ridgeley and backing singer Shirlie Kemp when he was only 19 that he believed he was gay, but they dismissed it.

Even after Wham! split in 1986 and the truth was pretty much an open secret in the media, he remained in the closet for another 12 years. 'I was spared all kinds of things by my own denial, not just the Press,' he said.

In his book Bare, published in 1990, he painted an image of himself as a red-blooded womaniser, citing affairs with Brooke Shields and model Kathy Yeung. There was even an extraordinary flirtation with Princess Diana, whom he met at the Live Aid concert in 1985. They became close friends, but not before Michael had fended off an apparent invitation to an affair from the unhappily married princess. 'There was no question she was very attracted to me,' he said in a TV interview, but noted: 'It would have been disastrous to do anything.'

In 1989 he met the fashion designer Anselmo Feleppa, a handsome Brazilian face in the crowd at the Rock in Rio concert. Feleppa idolised Michael and had secured a ticket near the front; he even took to hanging out at the singer's hotel in the hopes of meeting him.

Within a few weeks of their meeting they were living together, quietly away from public gaze, in Los Angeles. But only six months later Feleppa announced he was HIV positive. Michael nursed Feleppa for the next three-and-a-half years until his death from a brain haemorrhage. Afterwards, the singer couldn't write for a long time. When he did, he returned with Older, and the moving song Jesus To A Child.

'That was the most inspired album of my career because of the feelings around bereavement,' he said. 'I know that record helped so many people, and you can't get much more important than that.'

In 1998 came the first scandal when he was arrested for 'engaging in a lewd act' after a sting in a public toilet by Beverly Hills cops.

Michael (pictured in 1983 with Andrew Ridgeley) said himself that he suffered from two afflictions –'grief and self-abuse'

Despite a glittering life onstage Michael had endured a turbulent personal life which saw him battle substance abuse and fall seriously ill with pneumonia in 2011 (pictured, on his 'Symphonica' tour in Vienna, 2012)

Michael had no choice but to come out as gay, and went on the attack – giving an unapologetic TV interview explaining he and boyfriend Kenny Goss, whom he had been dating since 1996, had an open relationship.

'We have a great relationship and love each other dearly,' he said 'But like a lot of couples in long-term relationships, we are not monogamous … This is not an uncommon state of affairs in long-term gay relationships. It is not open in any emotional sense, just physical. That's the way we choose to live.'

He wrote the song Outside following the arrest and the video featured kissing policemen. It all seemed joyfully mischievous, if a little puerile – but in fact he had all but stopped in his tracks creatively. 'I was probably more stoned in those days – I was existing on a balance of Starbucks and weed,' he told an interviewer, admitting to a 25 joints a day dope habit.

Michael enjoyed a successful career that spanned four decades, earning numerous number one hits, which included his 1996 single 'FastLove'

He promised he was happy, but there was very little work released other than compilations and greatest hits. The album Patience in 2004 included Shoot The Dog, a one-off foray into political commentary. He seemed to have lost his way.

In 2007 he admitted a charge of drug-driving after he was found slumped at the wheel. He lost his licence and carried out community service. He passed a roadside sobriety test, but said in an interview he had 'a problem with sleeping pills' at that time. In July 2010 he drove his Range Rover into Snappy Snaps in Hampstead – for which he was jailed at Pentonville and then Highpoint open prison in Suffolk.

In an interview after coming out of prison he said: 'This was a hugely shameful thing to have done repeatedly, so karmically I felt like I had a bill to pay … It's so much easier to take any form of punishment if you believe you actually deserve it, and I did.'

In March 2011 he released a cover version, True Faith, for charity and later that year he released another cover version to mark the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton – You and I.

His last self-penned single release was White Light in 2012, to mark the 30 years since his first single, co-written with Ridgeley entered the charts. He performed it at the closing of the London Olympics.

He was, though, a perfectionist and struggling with the modern problem of releasing music via the internet which has entirely changed the music business.

Maybe he felt lost without Goss. The handsome Texan art dealer had made Michael happy and confident, and the singer cried tears of bitter regret when he announced they had parted in 2011.

In 2013, he fell from a car on the M1 motorway and was airlifted to hospital with head injuries. His publicist said he had been attempting to shut a car door which wasn't properly closed. He was released from hospital a few days later.

His last boyfriend Fadi Fawaz, is a London-based hair stylist of Lebanese origin, who spent two years tending to Katherine Jenkins's locks. They were last seen together in September last year, after which Michael was rarely seen in public.

2016: CELEBRITY DEATHS David Bowie died on January 10, surrounded by his family in New York City after battling liver cancer JANUARY: David Bowie, Glen Frey The rock legend died on January 10, surrounded by his family in New York City after battling liver cancer. Eagles frontman Glenn Frey died aged 67 on January 18 following complications due to pneumonia and arthritis. MARCH: Sir George Martin, Keith Emerson The Beatles producer - often described as 'The Fifth Beatle' - died peacefully at his home in Coleshill, near Swindon, on March 8, aged 90. Rock star Keith Emerson, 71, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, was found in Los Angeles on March 11. He had shot himself with a gun he kept for protection. APRIL: Prince The 57-year-old Purple Rain singer died on April 21. He died from a fentanyl overdose. JUNE: Dave Swarbick Dave Swarbrick of folk band Fairport Convention died aged 75 from emphysema on June 3. OCTOBER: Pete Burns Singer, songwriter and television personality Pete Burns, who founded pop band Dead Or Alive, died aged 57 on October 23 following a cardiac arrest. Purple Rain singer Prince, 57, died on April 21 earlier this year. The Raspberry Beret singer (pictured) died from a fentanyl overdose NOVEMBER: Leonard Cohen, Craig Gill The poet and author turned musician passed away peacefully on November 7 at his Los Angeles home aged 82. Craig Gill, drummer of Madchester band Inspiral Carpets, died aged 44 on November 22. DECEMBER: Greg Lake Greg Lake of progressive rock icons Emerson, Lake and Palmer died aged 69 on December 7 after a battle with cancer. Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt died in a Spanish hospital at the age of 68 on Christmas Eve after suffering from a severe infection. Advertisement

George Michael's incredible generosity revealed: Singer handed huge sums to worthy causes including £5,000 tip to indebted student nurse and £15,000 to woman he saw on TV

George Michael gave huge amounts to charity and good causes - including £15,000 to a woman he saw on TV and a £5,000 tip to a barmaid who had student debt.

Details of the singer's donations and secret acts of generosity emerged following his death from suspected heat failure at his home in Oxfordshire yesterday.

Hours after the singer's death was announced, TV presenter Richard Osman revealed that Michael had called a woman who appeared on Deal or No Deal to give her the money she needed for IVF treatment.

Osman tweeted: 'A woman on 'Deal Or No Deal' told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment. George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15k.'

The pop superstar often gave large sums of people he saw were in distress or having problems

TV presenter Richard Osman and journalist Sali Hughes told of his secret acts of generosity

A journalist meanwhile tweeted that the star had given a barmaid a huge tip after learning she was a student nurse who had large debts.

The star donated royalties from some of his biggest selling singles and has made huge donations to Childline the Terrence Higgins Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

His charitable donations have led some to speculate charities may get huge windfalls when his estimated £100million fortune is divided up.

Michael, who spoke about losing his partner Anselmo Feleppa to HIV, 'personally supported' the Terrence Higgins Trust for 'many years', Jane Barron from the organisation said.

Michael also gave free concerts for good causes

'We are so saddened by the loss of George Michael,' she added.

'George also often thought of us to kindly donate experiences and gifts that were used to raise vital funds to help us support people living with HIV.

'Along with other charities, we were grateful to benefit from the royalties of George's 1991 duet with Elton John, Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me.

'His donations contributed to a vision of a world where people living with HIV live healthy lives free from prejudice and discrimination.

'Thanks to George's legacy, we are a step closer to that world and we are so grateful for his support and friendship over the years.

'Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.'

Childline founder and president Dame Esther Rantzen revealed that Michael had given the royalties from his 1996 number one single Jesus To A Child to the charity.

She said: 'For years now he has been the most extraordinarily generous philanthropist, giving money to Childline, but he was determined not to make his generosity public so no-one outside the charity knew how much he gave to the nation's most vulnerable children.

'Over the years he gave us millions and we were planning next year, as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations to create, we hoped, a big concert in tribute to him - to his artistry, to his wonderful musicality but also to thank him for the 100s of 1,000s of children he helped through supporting Childline.

'And it is particularly tragic that Christmas, which was when he released Jesus to a Child, would also be the time when we lost him.

'I think all of us have memories of particular Wham! songs and George Michael songs which mean a great deal to us.

'Certainly, for Britain's children, George Michael meant so much more.'

Michael with Princess Diana at the World Aids Day annual concert at Wembley in 1993

In 1997 Michael lost his mother Lesley to cancer - at the time he described her as a 'woman of great compassion', adding: 'She felt much as I do, that we were living in a world that was gradually being drained of that.'

Almost 10 years after her death he played a special free concert in north London for NHS nurses as thanks for the care they gave her and over the years continued to support charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support.

Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of George Michael who as a Macmillan Ambassador provided his committed support to us in a number of ways.