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by A. Ryan
It has been 9
series and 10 dragons since the Dragons'
Den first broadcast. We know them and we have our favourites, but do we
really know where their confidence comes from? Let's we shift the spotlight
onto the dragons personal wealth and their way to the top.
Duncan Bannatyne
Born:
February 1949.
Estimated Wealth:
£430m
Source: Hotels, Fitness
clubs
Duncan's rise to
the richest dragon is a genuine rag-to-riches story. After Duncan was dishonourably discharged from
the navy culminating with a spell in a military detention centre and later an
unrelated short stay at Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison, he found the necessary
inspiration to turn his life around.
The business empire
he now commands began with the sale of a £28,000 ice cream van business.
Peter Jones
Born: March
1966.
Estimated Wealth:
£250m
Source: Mobile phones
Contrary to Duncan
- his apparent on screen 'rival', Peter's entrepreneurial tendencies began in
his mid-teens when he founded a tennis academy. However, his big success came
with the establishing of Phones International Group, which now has £200m yearly
revenue. In the meantime he also managed to agree 29 investments in the Den.
Theo Paphitis
Born:
September 1959
Estimated Wealth:
£170m
Source: Lingerie,
Stationery
Theo Paphitis's story does not luck unexpected twists as well. His passion for
football led to him spending 8 years as the chairman of Millwall FC. Despite
the fact that some might know him as the man who led the club to the final of
the FA Cup back in 2004, the general
audience recognises him as the man behind the revival of Ryman and La Senza
(generating a cool of £100m). His new adventure is called Boux Avenue and it
will aim to become the no1 online destination for women's lingerie, nightwear
and swimwear.
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Hilary Devey
Born: March
1957.
Estimated Wealth:
£50m
Source: Transport
Hilary is another
dragon who had to fight hard for her fortune. Success did not come easy for
her. Her biography tells how she was forced to sell her house and car after
banks refused to invest in her and suffered a stroke.
Now Hilary owns
Pall-Ex, pallet exchange business founded in 1996, and takes pride in establishing
herself in what could be described as a male dominated industry.
Deborah Meaden
Born:
February 1959.
Estimated Wealth:
£40m
Source: Leisure
Deborah's way to
the top is more classic. She successfully expanding her parents' caravan park
business and became the major shareholder during a management buyout, prior to
selling the company for £33m whilst retaining a 23% share. The business was
then sold again in 2007, to Parkdean Holidays, in an £83m deal which saw Deborah
cash in on her stake.
Deborah is now a full time investor, with her
business portfolio encompassing a range of ventures including partnership with
Theo from the previous series of Dragon's Den.
Reference:
*Ryan, A. (2011), ‘Who's the Biggest Dragon in the Den?', Available from: http://www.officebroker.com
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