Touker Suleyman Net Worth: How Big Is The Dragon’s Fortune?
(Image/ Source: drapersonline.com)
Touker Suleyman is one of the most well-known faces in British business. Since 2015, he’s appeared on the BBC investing show Dragon’s Den, and owns some of the UK’s biggest fashion businesses.
His family moved to the UK when Touker was just ten years old, and he set about building his business empire after finishing school.
But how much money does the 68-year-old actually have? What is Touker Suleyman’s net worth?
Touker Suleyman Net Worth
In over 40 years in business, the Dragon has built an immense business empire. In fact, Touker Suleyman’s net worth is estimated to be over £200 million.
Touker entered the world of business aged just 18 years old. At the time, he was working for a chartered accountants firm and discovered the opportunity to buy some garments from a clothing factory. His grandmother helped sell these at a premium, and the two had a tidy little business.
However, Touker was hungry for more in the fashion business. Not long after, he founded Kingsland Models which sold womenswear to stores like C&A and Dorothy Perkins.
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Later, Touker acquired the wholesale fashion business Low Profile, which sold garments to none other than Marks & Spencers.
In 2001, he had the opportunity to buy out failing clothing brand Hawes & Curtis for just £1. This could have been disastrous, but Touker turned the business around – company turnover went from £600,000 in 2001 to £30 million in 2014.
You can imagine the fortune that Touker acquired from that success!
Touker took the opportunity to help out another business in 2008 when he acquired UK fashion brand Ghost. The London label is mostly known for its eponymous Ghost dress, which is subtly updated every season – the Design Museum even has an exhibit for the design.
His Business Failure
However, Touker’s career hasn’t been all successful. Early on in his career, he had a setback that could have cost him everything.
In the 1980s, Touker invested in a clothing brand called Mellins and acquired shares in another brand called Bamber Stores. Later, a financial audit told him that Bamber was actually close to £20 million in debt.
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As investments and buy-outs fell through, Touker was left without a leg to stand when the company went under.
In the end, the budding businessman had to sell his house. However, looking back, he says that the experience only made him a better businessman.
Touker explained: “This was all part of my demise at the time, and I received some hard lessons very early on. I was at the top of some public companies, but I did not have the knowledge needed at the time.
It was the best lesson of my life though and it toughened me up. I learnt not to take people at face value and to question why people want to help you.”
Dragon’s Den
Touker Suleyman joined the investors on the thirteenth series of Dragon’s Den in 2015, along with Moonpig founder Nick Jenkins and restaurateur Sarah Willingham. Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden stayed on from the previous series.
Up to now, his biggest investment to date was made on his first series. In 2015, he invested £100,000 in Liquiproof for a 50% equity stake.
His other biggest investments are £100,00 in Shnuggle – baby products – for 25% equity, and £75,000 in Tancream – a suncream brand – for 25% equity.
(Image/ Source: thesun.co.uk)
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In his six years on the show, the businessman has invested close to £1.5 million in 24 companies.
However, this doesn’t even come close to the Dragon with the most investments. Peter Jones, who has been on the show since it started, has clocked up £7 million in investments, in just 21 companies.
Is Touker Suleyman Married?
Touker Suleyman is known as a private person, and rarely gives glimpses into his personal life on social media.
However, we do know that the businessman has two daughters, Tashia and Taya, but isn’t married. He lives in London with his daughters and adorable dog Lucy.
(Image/ Source: Instagram @touker_suleyman)
Touker lives in a glamorous house in South London which is estimated to be worth £20 million.
In 2013, he rented the house out to his friends the Beckhams. The home has state-of-the-art security with immense front gates, but looks suitably cozy inside.