{"id":709,"date":"2025-04-01T13:01:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T13:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/portraitsbylorie.com\/?p=709"},"modified":"2025-04-02T16:47:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T16:47:23","slug":"who-is-the-richest-dragon-in-dragons-den","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/portraitsbylorie.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/who-is-the-richest-dragon-in-dragons-den\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is the richest Dragon in Dragons\u2019 Den?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Image credit: BBC\/Simon Pantling<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Since its first run in 2005, we’ve seen many Dragons’ Den investors come and go – listening to different pitches, negotiating deals and deciding to back some of the UK’s <\/span>most successful businesses<\/span><\/a> with their hard-earned cash.<\/span><\/p>\n Like most entrepreneurs, the Dragons didn’t start with millions in their pockets. Each has their own entrepreneurial journey filled with highs and lows, before becoming successful business tycoons with the knowledge and experience to back their decisions in the Den.<\/span><\/p>\n But among the successful investments and failed ventures, which Dragon has the most impressive fortune of them all? <\/span><\/p>\n From telecoms and retail to fashion and social media, these Dragons have built significant empires over the years. Here’s who is sitting on top when it comes to wealth and success.<\/span><\/p>\n An original Dragon <\/span>since Series One aired<\/span><\/a> in 2005, Peter Jones started his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 16 by selling personal computers. However, in his twenties, he lost £200,000 after selling the business to IBM. This resulted in him also losing his home and cars, and having to move back in with his parents.<\/span><\/p>\n But this setback didn’t stop Jones from becoming the richest <\/span>angel investor<\/span><\/a> still in Dragons’ Den – rebuilding his fortune through his telecommunications business, Phones International Group, and later expanding his empire with investments in media, retail and technology. In 2024, he was estimated to have a <\/span>net worth of £500m<\/span><\/a> by The Sun newspaper.<\/span><\/p>\n Another original Dragon and known for his no-nonsense approach to investing, Duncan Bannatyne’s first foray into the business world started in his twenties when he bought an ice cream van. Since then, he’s gone on to build a multi-million-pound empire, with successful ventures in health clubs, spas, hotels and care homes.<\/span><\/p>\n Bannatyne left Dragons’ Den in 2015. One year later, he <\/span>revealed in a post on X<\/span><\/a> that he had sold all his investments from the show and now owns a chain of health clubs, spas and hotels under the “Bannatyne Health Clubs” brand. In <\/span>Glasgow’s Rich List for 2024<\/span><\/a>, his net worth was estimated at £500m, matching Peter Jones.<\/span><\/p>\n Tej Lalvani is the CEO of the UK’s largest vitamin company, Viabiotics, which was founded by his father, Karter Lalvani. Born in India and raised in London, he learned all of his leadership skills from working in the family business. After completing his studies in business and taking on various roles within Viabiotics, he was named CEO in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n During his four-year stint on Dragons’ Den, Lalvani used his expertise to invest in a number of fledgling health and wellness firms. Today, he continues to run Viabiotics, which saw its <\/span>pre-tax profit<\/span><\/a> surge to <\/span>£55.2 million<\/span><\/a> last year. In 2022, <\/span>The Sun estimated his net worth<\/span><\/a> at £390m, a figure that is likely even higher today thanks to Viabotics’ continuing success.<\/span><\/p>\n If you can’t wait for an invite to the Dragons’ Den, check out our article on the <\/span>best sources of business finance<\/span><\/a> to find out how you can secure the right investment to help your business grow and succeed.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n From starting a school snack shop at 15 to owning a £300 million retail group, Theo Paphitis has become one of the biggest names in retail entrepreneurship. Today, he is the leader of some of the most successful brands on the UK high street, including Ryman, Robert Dias, and Boux Avenue. Paphitis became a Dragons’ Den investor in 2005 and remained there for eight years before leaving in 2012 (although he returned as a guest in series 17 and 18).<\/span><\/p>\n Paphitis is also a passionate advocate for SMEs, supporting entrepreneurs through initiatives like <\/span>Small Business Sunday<\/span><\/a> (#SBS), which he runs on <\/span>social media<\/span><\/a>. He is a dedicated football fan and previously owned Millwall FC between 1997 and 2005. According to the <\/span>Sunday Times Rich List 2020<\/span><\/a>, Paphitis is worth an impressive £290m.<\/span><\/p>\n After being inspired by his father to <\/span>start a business<\/span><\/a>, Touker Suleyman first began his entrepreneurial journey selling crimplene garments for his grandmother. He eventually formed his own manufacturing company – Kingsland Models – supplying clothing to brands like Topshop and Dorothy Perkins.<\/span><\/p>\n Suleyman became a Dragons’ Den investor in 2015 for the show’s 13th series, alongside Nick Jenkins and Sarah Willingham. Today, he owns the Hawes & Curtis and Ghost brands and was awarded the Drapers Lifetime Achievement award for his 50-year career in fashion.<\/span><\/p>\n Suleyman has been out of the spotlight for a few years but in 2015, <\/span>The Sunday Times<\/span><\/a> listed him at 637th in its Rich List, estimating his fortune to be in excess of £200 million.<\/span><\/p>\n While only on the show for two series, the Moonpig founder was a notable investor in Dragons’ Den – backing businesses with strong online potential and offering valuable ecommerce expertise to aspiring entrepreneurs.<\/span><\/p>\n Apparently named after his own nickname at school, Jenkins founded internet greeting card business, Moonpig in 2000, before later selling the company for around £120 million just over ten years later. Despite leaving the show in 2017, Jenkins still invests in startups, offering his expert advice on <\/span>customer service<\/span><\/a>, business management, sales and more. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2020, Jenkins was worth £150million.<\/span><\/p>\n Not to be confused with the late American actor, James Caan first joined Dragons’ Den in 2007 and remained on the show for the next four years. Born in Pakistan, Caan moved to the UK as a child. After working for various recruitment companies, he started his own <\/span>recruitment business<\/span><\/a> in the early 1980s. Caan later founded Alexander Mann in 1987 with minimal capital before selling it in 2002, which had a £130 million turnover at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n Nowadays, Caan is a prominent British entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist with a career spanning over four decades. He is also the founder and CEO of Hamilton Bradshaw – a London-based <\/span>venture capital<\/span><\/a> firm. In 2023, his net worth was <\/span>estimated at £100m<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Aside from being the youngest Dragon to date, Steven Bartlett is now also famous for his Diary of a CEO podcast and his role as the co-founder of social marketing firm Social Chain (now Social AG), which we <\/span>featured back in 2016<\/span><\/a> in our Young Gun series, as well as his work in the <\/span>digital marketing<\/span><\/a> and entrepreneurship sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n Bartlett joined Dragons’ Den in 2021 and continues to appear on the show. Last year, he was involved in controversy for his investment in “Ear Seeds”, an acupuncture product that falsely claimed to cure chronic fatigue syndrome, which he has since distanced himself from.<\/span><\/p>\n But his portfolio is wide-ranging, and he has also invested in a number of Startups 100 companies including <\/span>PerfectTed<\/span><\/a>. In 2025, <\/span>MoneyWeek estimated<\/span><\/a> his net worth to be £71m.<\/span><\/p>\n\n The richest Dragons are: <\/h3>\n
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Peter Jones (£500 million)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by Peter Jones:
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n\n
Duncan Bannatyne (£500 million)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by Duncan Bannatyne:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Tej Lalvani (£390 million)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by Tej Lalvani:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
\n Need funding for your business? <\/span>\n <\/div>\nTheo Paphitis (£290 million)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by Theo Paphitis:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Touker Suleyman (£200 million)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by Touker Suleyman:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Nick Jenkins (£150m)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by Nick Jenkins:<\/h3>\n
\n
James Caan (£100m)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by James Caan:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Steven Bartlett (£71m)<\/h2>\n
Notable investments by Steven Bartlett:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n