Theo Paphitis
| Theo Paphitis | |
|---|---|
Paphitis in 2007
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| Born |
24 September 1959 Limassol, Cyprus |
| Occupation | Owner of Ryman, Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue |
| Known for | Dragons' Den, former Chairman of Millwall F.C. |
| Net worth |
 £280 million |
| Spouse(s) | Debbie Paphitis |
| Children | 5 |
| Website | www |
Theodoros 'Theo' Paphitis (Greek: Θεόδωρος Παφίτης) (born 24 September 1959) is a Cypriot-born British retail magnate and entrepreneur of Greek Cypriot origin. He is best known to the general public for his appearances on the BBC business programme Dragons' Den and as former chairman of Millwall Football Club.
Paphitis has made the majority of his fortune in the retail sector. In 2006, he sold his equity stake in the lingerie brand La Senza for a reported £100 million. He is the owner of stationery chain Ryman, the homewares specialist Robert Dyas and lingerie retailer Boux Avenue.
The 2015 Sunday Times Rich List estimated his wealth at £280 million.
Born in Limassol, Cyprus, Paphitis is the second of three brothers; elder brother Marinos and younger brother George. They share two half-brothers. He came to England with his parents and Marinos when he was nine years old. He attended Ambler Primary School, Islington and Woodberry Down Comprehensive School, Manor House (closed in 1981) where he battled with dyslexia, but began his entrepreneurial activities by running the school tuckshop, at the age of 15.
Paphitis took a job as a tea boy and filing clerk at a City of London insurance broker. Wanting more money, he discovered his passion for retailing and sales when at 18 he worked as a sales assistant for Watches of Switzerland in Bond Street.
Aged 21, he joined Legal & General selling commercial mortgages, which taught him to read other businesses' balance sheets.
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Wikipedia