The Richest Visitor Decide On Dragons’ Den 

Names like Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, and Theo Paphitis are those you’d often affiliate with Dragons’ Den – having judged 1000’s of companies for the reason that TV program first aired in 2005. 

However so as to spice issues up, the present began inviting visitor judges into the Den final 12 months to share their insights and produce new power to the panel.

And similar to the richest Dragons on the present, these visitor judges began as hopeful entrepreneurs. 

Each considered one of them has their very own enterprise journeys and distinctive experiences that affect the selections they make within the Den – serving to them see which companies have true potential, and people which might be extra prone to flop.

So, who holds the crown because the richest visitor Dragon? Right here’s who’s ruling the den in relation to fortune and fame.

Emma Grede (£282 million)

Emma Grede’s entrepreneurial journey began when she was 26, after she co-founded and have become CEO of Unbiased Expertise Model (ITB) – a world expertise and influencer advertising company. Grede exited the corporate ten years later, when it was acquired by advertising and PR company Rogers & Cowan for an undisclosed quantity.

Since 2016, Grede has co-founded a number of companies, together with clothes manufacturers Good American and Skims. She has additionally labored with a handful of family names in co-founding and constructing these companies – most notably Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and Chrissy Teigen.  

Based on The Solar, Grede’s internet price is $360m (roughly £282m). 

Now a famend angel investor, Grede first appeared on Dragons’ Den throughout its twenty first season in early 2024. Throughout her time on the present, Grede invested £90,000 in seasoning and sauce model Lumberjaxe in change for a 20% fairness stake.

Gary Neville (£100 million)

Whereas primarily recognized for his soccer profession, Gary Neville can also be an completed businessman, with an empire of corporations in hospitality, property growth, media, and schooling. 

However even earlier than retiring from soccer in 2011, Neville had a continuous portfolio of companies. His most profitable ventures embrace GG Hospitality, Lodge Soccer, Relentless Developments, Buzz 16, and Salford Metropolis FC.

Regardless of a monetary setback in 2022 – during which his Lodge Soccer enterprise confronted a pre-tax lack of £630,158 – Neville’s internet price was reported to be between £70 and £100m. 

The primary visitor decide to look on Dragons’ Den, Neville joined the present throughout its twenty first season. Neville invested in two corporations throughout this time – £100,000 in a joint take care of Sara Davies (£50,00 every) for five% fairness in sports activities restoration model Myomaster, and £10,000 for a 5% share in meals firm Full Energy Cacao.

Joe Wicks (£55 million)

Referred to as “The Physique Coach”, Joe Wicks first got here into the highlight by sharing 15-second recipe movies on social media. He later grew his well being and health model on Instagram and YouTube the place he has since garnered 5 million followers and a pair of.89 million subscribers, respectively.

In 2012, Wicks launched his Physique Coach enterprise – a subscription-based health app that provides personalised house exercises and wholesome meal plans. Based on The Physique Coach web site, the corporate has had over 600,000 purchasers within the final ten years.

The success of his enterprise, plus social media fame, has led Wicks to achieve a internet price of £55m. 

Wicks appeared alongside the common Dragons on the present’s twenty second season in January 2025. Having been moved to tears by BodyXcore founder Joseph Keegan’s emotional enterprise pitch, Wicks invested £35,000 within the firm for a 12.5% stake, alongside Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman. 

Trinny Woodall (£54 million)

Trinny Woodall rapidly grew to become a famend title within the style trade when she launched her first TV present – What Not To Put on – in 2001, alongside co-host Susannah Constantine. 

Woodall later took her style and wonder experience to the enterprise world when she based her Trinny London cosmetics model in 2017, which presently has a enterprise valuation of £180m, in response to Metro.

Understanding the loneliness and isolation that include beginning a enterprise, Woodall launched her “Thriving in Enterprise” course final 12 months, providing bite-sized classes on the important elements of working a enterprise, together with securing funding, discovering the best enterprise thought, and efficient advertising methods.

Woodall’s successes through the years have seen her acquire a £54m internet price, and she or he appeared on the twenty second sequence of Dragons’ Den. Alongside Deborah Meaden, Woodall collectively invested £50,000 in eco-cleaning model Seep – which additionally ranked at 35 for the Startups 100 for 2025 Index – for a 4% stake within the firm.

Last ideas

The continual recognition of Dragons’ Den – together with the various profitable companies which have come from the present – has saved audiences hooked for years, particularly with the addition of visitor judges to shake issues up.

However for companies, it’s essential to do not forget that cash isn’t the whole lot. Whereas a wealthy investor may appear enticing at first, the best one will deliver rather more than simply funding – they’ll additionally deliver the expertise, data, and connections that may take your online business additional.

Ultimately, it’s not nearly who can make investments essentially the most, however who really believes in your mission and imaginative and prescient, and who may also help you make it occur.

Want to seek out the best investor for your online business? Take a look at our listing of the finest UK enterprise capital funds to seek out the very best match for you.