The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word FATE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
F
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result FATE
- Obese English lot
- Notes what the future holds
- Fellow put away fortune
- Fortune in very large inheritance, ultimately
- Fortune, large fee, ultimately
- Fellow scoffed a lot
- Cheers up, entertained by extremes of fame and fortune
- Lot of grease going on bearing
- Cup to drink, not a lot
- Sizeable first edition made one’s fortune
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "fortune" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case fortune = fate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FATE mean?
FATE noun- The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
- The effect, consequence, outcome, or inevitable events predetermined by this cause.
- An event or a situation which is inevitable in the fullness of time.
- Destiny; often with a connotation of death, ruin, misfortune, etc.
- Alternative letter-case form of Fate (one of the goddesses said to control the destiny of human beings).
- To foreordain or predetermine, to make inevitable.