I was a Pizza Hut delivery driver after I dropped out of uni… now I’m Britain’s youngest billionaire
A MAN who became a Pizza Hut delivery driver after he dropped out of university has revealed he’s now Britain’s youngest billionaire.
Ben Francis, 30, quit his course at Aston University in 2012 to start a sportswear business from his parents’ garage.
He worked as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut to pay the bills – but is now the owner of the billion-pound Gymshark empire.
Last month Forbes listed him as Britain’s youngest billionaire, with a net worth of £992million ($1.2billion).
Gymshark sells sportswear to customers in 230 countries from its HQ in Solihull near Birmingham.
The brand has celebrity fans including Rita Ora, Nicole Scherzinger, models Jasmine Sanders and Kaia Gerber, and Victoria’s Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes.
Now entrepreneur Ben has been awarded an MBE by Prince William.
He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire at Windsor Castle for his services to the business sector, after he was recognised in King Charles’s New Year’s Honours list.
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Writing on LinkedIn, Ben said: “I can’t believe it but I’ve been awarded the honour of an MBE.
“This is probably the most surreal feeling I’ve had when being given an award.
“I’m so grateful to all those around me who support me in all that I do at Gymshark.”
Ben married Canadian model Robin Gallant in September 2021, before welcoming twin sons on Christmas Eve 2021.
The pair hit it off after Ben asked Robin to promote Gymshark on social media – before she crossed the Atlantic to live in the UK with him.
Ben has splashed on luxury holidays abroad for the couple, as well as a number of expensive motorbikes.
He sticks to a rigid schedule, waking every day at 6am and working out at 6.30pm.
The entrepreneur was invited to join Theresa May’s Small Business, Scale-Ups and Entrepreneurs Business Council at 10 Downing Street – and finally got his degree from Aston University, in the form of an honorary doctorate.
It comes after a man revealed how he turned his after-work side hustle into a £2.1million business with backing from a huge celebrity.
