What happens when the digital economy that made millionaires crashes into a housing market that keeps defying gravity? The tragic death of Asos co-founder Nick Robertson comes as his online fashion empire faces its toughest period, while the property market that underpinned Britain's wealth for decades continues its relentless climb.

The contrast is stark. House prices rose 5.7% in 2021 alone, adding nearly £79,000 to the average property value in just one year. Meanwhile, the fast fashion revolution that Robertson helped create is unravelling. Asos shares have collapsed from pandemic highs, young consumers are buying less, and the business model built on cheap clothes and quick delivery is struggling.

But here's the thing: while tech fortunes rise and fall, bricks and mortar keep winning. The average house price climbed from £1.34 million in 2017 to £1.47 million in 2021. That's an increase of £136,000 in four years, or roughly £34,000 per year. (Source: Office for National Statistics, House prices by local authority)

This isn't just about London penthouses. The 5.7% jump in 2021 was nationwide, affecting every region from Cornwall to County Durham. For homeowners, it meant instant wealth creation on a scale that dwarfs most business profits. For renters and first-time buyers, it meant the dream moved further away again.

The timing matters. As Robertson and other digital entrepreneurs were riding high during the early pandemic, property owners were getting an even bigger windfall. While everyone focused on Zoom stocks and crypto, the real wealth transfer was happening in housing. Every month of lockdown added thousands to property values.

Young people, the same demographic that made Asos profitable, found themselves priced out twice over. First, by a housing market that added more value in one year than many earn in three. Second, by an economy where even successful fashion empires can't guarantee long-term security.

Robertson's story embodies this contradiction. He built a business worth billions by selling to people who increasingly can't afford homes. His customers had money for fast fashion but not for mortgages. Meanwhile, the property he likely owned kept appreciating faster than his company's profits.

The numbers reveal Britain's economic reality: digital disruption creates temporary fortunes, but land and property create permanent wealth. While tech entrepreneurs make headlines, homeowners make money in their sleep. The house price surge of 2021 created more millionaires than all of Britain's startup success stories combined.