UK's youngest billionaire on Elon Musk topped Forbes Rich list is Midlands fitness entrepreneur

Britain’s youngest billionaire on Forbes Real-Time Billionaire Rich List is a Midlands businessman and entrepreneur.

Ben Francis, founder and CEO of the Solihull based sportswear brand Gymshark is the UK’s youngest billionaire on the Forbes listing.

As of today (April, 11, 2025), Mr Francis’s net worth is $1.3billion.

At age 32, he is Britain’s youngest billionaire on the listing. He ranks 2,431 in the world on Forbes list.

Who is Ben Francis at Gymshark?

Mr Francis, then aged 19, co-founded Gymshark with his friend Lewis Morgan in his parents’ garage in 2012, when he was still a college student delivering pizzas.

The phenomenal success of Gymshark is thought to be down to astute business sense and savvy social media influencer partnerships.

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In August 2020 Mr Francis sold a 21% stake to private equity firm General Atlantic in a deal that valued the company at $1.45 billion. As reported by Forbes, Mr Francis continues to own 70%.

Gymshark opened its first brick-and-mortar store on London's Regent Street in October 2022. It also has an office in Denver.

Other British billionaires on the list include Michael Platt worth $18.8B, James Ratcliffe worth $16.3B, James Dyson worth $14.4B and brothers Simon Reuben and David Reuben both jointly worth $12.6B.