Who is the richest Dragon in Dragons’ Den?

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 most successful businesses with their hard-earned cash.

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.

But among the successful investments and failed ventures, which Dragon has the most impressive fortune of them all? 

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.

Peter Jones (£500 million)

An original Dragon since Series One aired 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.

But this setback didn’t stop Jones from becoming the richest angel investor 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 net worth of £500m by The Sun newspaper.

Notable investments by Peter Jones:

• Wonderland Magazine – £100,000 for 50%
• Bare Naked Foods – £60,000 for 50%
• Reggae Reggae Sauce – £50,000 for 40%

Duncan Bannatyne (£500 million)

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.

Bannatyne left Dragons’ Den in 2015. One year later, he revealed in a post on X 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 Glasgow’s Rich List for 2024, his net worth was estimated at £500m, matching Peter Jones.

Notable investments by Duncan Bannatyne:

• The Wand Company – £200,000 for 30%
• Chocbox – £150,000 for 36%
• Kirsty’s – £65,000 for 30%

Tej Lalvani (£390 million)

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.

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 pre-tax profit surge to £55.2 million last year. In 2022, The Sun estimated his net worth at £390m, a figure that is likely even higher today thanks to Viabotics’ continuing success.

Notable investments by Tej Lalvani:

• Look After My Bills – £120,000 for 3%
• ShakeSphere – £100,000 for 15%
• TEA+ – £75,000 for 50%

Theo Paphitis (£290 million)

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).

Paphitis is also a passionate advocate for SMEs, supporting entrepreneurs through initiatives like Small Business Sunday (#SBS), which he runs on social media. He is a dedicated football fan and previously owned Millwall FC between 1997 and 2005. According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2020, Paphitis is worth an impressive £290m.

Notable investments by Theo Paphitis:

• Magic Whiteboard – £100,000 for 40%
• Value My Stuff – £100,000 for 40%
• WedgeWelly – £65,000 for 25%

Touker Suleyman (£200 million)

After being inspired by his father to start a business, 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.

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.

Suleyman has been out of the spotlight for a few years but in 2015, The Sunday Times listed him at 637th in its Rich List, estimating his fortune to be in excess of £200 million.

Notable investments by Touker Suleyman:

• Tru-Tension – £75,000 for 30%
• Matchstick Monkey – £75,000 for 25%
• Bad Brownie – £60,000 for 20%

Nick Jenkins (£150m)

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.

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 customer service, business management, sales and more. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2020, Jenkins was worth £150million.

Notable investments by Nick Jenkins:

• Cocofina – £75,000 for 20%
• The Snaffling Pig Co – £70,000 for 20%

James Caan (£100m)

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 recruitment business 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.

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 venture capital firm. In 2023, his net worth was estimated at £100m.

Notable investments by James Caan:

• Rapstrap – £150,000 for 50%
• Chocbox – £150,000 for 36%

Steven Bartlett (£71m)

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 featured back in 2016 in our Young Gun series, as well as his work in the digital marketing and entrepreneurship sectors.

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.

But his portfolio is wide-ranging, and he has also invested in a number of Startups 100 companies including PerfectTed. In 2025, MoneyWeek estimated his net worth to be £71m.

Notable investments by Steven Bartlett:

• Bumblebee Spaces – £1.5 million for 7%
• Pip & Nut – £1.2 million for 5%
• The Sleep Coach – £250,000 for 15%

Piers Linney (£69m)

Linney began his professional career in law, before moving on to investment banking. He then launched his own internet business in 2000 before co-founding Outsourcery in 2007, which became one of the UK’s first cloud services providers. 

Linney joined the Den in 2013 but announced his departure two years later in order to focus on other projects. Since then, he has pivoted into machine learning. He co-founded Implement AI in 2023 and recently advocated for the AI Action Plan on LinkedIn. According to reports, in 2023 Linney was worth £69m.

Notable investments by Piers Linney:

• Wonderbly – £100,000 for 4%
• Skinny Tan – £60,000 for 10%

Deborah Meaden (£50m)

After graduating from Brighton Technical College, Meaden started her first business in Italy at 19, selling and exporting glass and ceramics. While the business failed after 18 months, Meaden went on to build a successful career in leisure and retail. She is also a keen advocate for sustainability and has invested in numerous green-focused Startups 100 firms including Bold Bean and Fussy.

Meaden joined the Den in 2006, taking over from Rachel Elnaugh in the show’s third series. Over the years, she has invested in 37 businesses, totalling around £2.64 million altogether. In 2024, Financhill estimated her net worth to be £50m.

Notable investments by Deborah Meaden:

• Magic Whiteboard – £100,000 for 40%
• GripIt – £80,000 for 25%
• Omni – £75,000 for 2%

Final thoughts

When it comes to pitching your business, it might seem obvious to go for the person with the biggest bank account.

But it’s not all about the money. Instead, the right investor should bring more than just cash to the table – they should offer expertise, experience and a network that can help your business grow. 

While a large financial backing is important, having an investor who genuinely believes in your mission and can offer the right guidance can make all the difference in the long run.

To discover more about how to find the right investor, check out our directory of the top venture capital funds in the UK.