Deborah Meaden grew up in an entrepreneurial household, but she didn’t start her life rich. Her family owned an amusement arcade that she eventually came to manage when she grew older.
Today, Deborah Meaden is best known as an investor on the BBC show Dragons’ Den. The show’s name is derived from its original Japanese version.
Each episode includes pitches from people with business ideas. Some of them have already started their businesses, but want to secure funding so they can increase their reach by entering new markets or creating new products. The Dragons have an opportunity to decide whether they want to invest in any of the ideas.
Several accepted pitches have gone on to become popular brands. Even rejected ideas receive attention from a large audience, though. That attention has helped “failed” concepts become more successful in the marketplace.
How Did Deborah Meaden Get Started?
Deborah Meaden has had a diverse career that includes businesses in several industries but the one constant along the way is that she has been committed to the path of earning millions as a self-starter.
After attending Brighton Technical College, where she studied business, Meaden moved to Italy at 19 years old. While there, she founded an export business that largely dealt in glass and ceramics. She used to purchase items in Italy and sell them to department stores in England. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a sustainable business model and the export firm failed within two years.
Meaden moved back to England and purchased a textile franchise with a partner. She didn’t see much of a future in it, though, and so she sold her stake to her partner for a mere £10,000 reportedly.
While this might not sound like a great beginning for a successful entrepreneur, Meaden learned a lot from her failures. They taught her how to make informed decisions and choose successful investment opportunities. These skills would serve her well in business and when she joined the Dragons’ Den cast.
Who Is The Richest Person on Dragons’ Den?
Peter Jones is by far the richest person on Dragons’ Den. The lifelong entrepreneur has an estimated net worth of £1.157 billion.
Jones started his first serious business when he was just 16. He created a branded computer business that kept him occupied for several years. However, he lost about $200,000 when he decided to sell the company to IBM. Then in his early 20s, Jones had to sell his home and move back in with his parents.
The serial entrepreneur had just got started, though. A few years later, he opened a popular cocktail bar and then in 1988, he founded Phones International Group.
Other businesses in Jones’s portfolio include:
- Bare Naked Foods
- Drinks Bakery
- Expansys
- Localised
- Partner Retail Services
- Tiny Box
- Wonderland Magazine
Do The Dragons Actually Invest Their Own Money?
Investors on Dragons’ Den invest their own money, so it’s important for them to consider whether a concept is likely to become profitable. The investors also choose how much they want to invest in business ideas.
This doesn’t mean that the Dragons make all of their decisions while sitting on the stage talking to contestants. They receive information about the contestants and their business ideas before the show starts. That way, they can perform due diligence that helps them avoid financial investments with pitfalls.
Because all of the Dragons are professional investors, they have teams of researchers and analysts that assist them. Unfortunately, they don’t always have the information they need ahead of time. That often means contestants don’t get the investments they were promised on film.
After making an episode, investors who chose an idea will do careful research into market viability, finances, market trends, and other factors that could influence success. If the data reveals more risk than they had originally assessed, they reserve the right to withdraw funding.
While Dragons haven’t mentioned anyone in particularly, some of them have said that their deeper research revealed inflated sales numbers and other inaccuracies.
The message to contestants is clear that accurate numbers need to be pitched or any deals will go up in smoke most likely.
How Did Deborah Meaden Make Her Money?
Deborah Meaden had her first big financial success when she took over her family’s amusement arcade. She joined the company in 1988 and worked to grow its brand reputation. The arcade joined Weststar Holidays in 1992. This represented a significant success for Meaden and her family business.
A few years later, she used her position to leverage a management takeover of Weststar. She sold a part of her stake in 2005, which netted her £33 million ($41.1 million). She later sold her remaining stake and netted an additional £19 million ($23.66 million).
In 2009, she used money from her entertainment sale to purchase Fox Brothers, a textile mill that has been operating since 1772. She also owns the online store The Merchant Fox, which sells luxury goods made in Britain.
What Is Deborah Meaden’s Net Worth?
Deborah Meaden has an estimated net worth of £50 million, making her one of the least-wealthy investors on Dragons’ Den.
The 2024 cast includes:
- Peter Jones — £1.15 billion
- Touker Suleyman — £200 million
- Steven Bartlett — £68 million
- Sara Davies — £37 million
How Did Deborah Meaden Get So Rich?
Deborah Meaden got rich by managing and selling her family’s entertainment arcade. When the business joined Weststar Holidays, she saw an opportunity to insert herself into the larger company’s management.
She quickly became a majority shareholder and oversaw selling the business to Phoenix Equity Partners and Alchemy Partners. The deals earned her about £52 million.
She was able to use money from the sale to fund other business ventures, including a textile manufacturer and an online luxury goods brand.
What Does Deborah Meaden Do Now?
Deborah Meaden still manages several companies, including Fox Brothers and The Merchant Fox. She’s also a dragon on Dragons’ Den.
She has said that the reality TV show doesn’t pay much money. She suggested that she earned about £15,000 per season, which likely doesn’t cover her expenses for appearing on the show.
Still, it introduces her to young entrepreneurs with fresh ideas. It also gives her opportunities to invest in businesses that have potentially to earn tremendous profits. The true amount she earns, therefore, depends on how wisely she invests her money in contestant ideas.
A few years ago, Deborah took part in several musical performances. She collaborated with Charles Hazelwood, a BBC conductor. The duo created a weekend of classical music that took place on Hazelwood’s Somerset farm.
She has also appeared on the TV show, Strictly Come Dancing. She was eliminated from the competition after her fifth performance.
Meaden’s TV appearances don’t end with Dragons’ Den and Strictly Come Dancing. She’s on televsion shows often. Some of her appearances have been on:
- Celebrity Googlebox
- Taskmaster
- Don’t Ask Me Ask Britain
- Sunday Brunch
- The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off
Her popularity probably means that she will continue accepting similar opportunities in the future.
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