Gymshark founder, 30, who dropped out of university to build fitness brand which propelled him to Britain’s youngest billionaire receives MBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle
- Ex-pizza delivery driver Ben Francis has amassed a whopping $1.2bn fortune
- The 30-year-old billionaire’s MBE recognises his services to the business sector
Gymshark founder Ben Francis, who created the billion pound company in his parents’ garage in Birmingham 11 years ago, has been awarded an MBE by the Prince of Wales.
The 30-year-old dropped out of Aston University in 2012 to focus on his business full time while still keeping his job as a Pizza Hut delivery driver to pay the bills.
Today, he was made a member of the order of the British Empire at Windsor Castle for his services to the business sector.
In a Forbes billionaires list released in April, the father-of-two was estimated to have a net worth of $1.2billion (£992million), making him the UK’s youngest billionaire.
Gymshark, headquartered in Solihull, England, is worn by some of the world’s biggest celebrities and influencers from Rita Ora to Nicole Scherzinger.
Ben Francis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gymshark, pictured receiving his MBE
The 30-year-old was awarded the honour by Prince William at Windsor Castle today
The brand – which now sells in 230 countries – has had a couple of hiccups along the way, including when it was accused of ‘virtue-signalling’ in 2020 after it used pictures of a model with her love handles on show.
‘Fat-phobic’ followers claimed influencer Nelly London, from Brighton, ‘had no business’ promoting the brand’s fitness wear and claimed they would boycott the ‘woke warriors’ over the range.
However, just looking at the entrepreneur’s life on social media alone it is clear to see that the self-made billionaire lives a life of luxury.
Francis, who was awarded the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020, married Robin Gallant, from Canada, in September 2021.
The pair welcomed twin sons on December 24 last year after announcing publicly that Robin was pregnant three months prior.
They initially met after Francis asked her to promote his brand on her social media.
Since then, she moved from her home in Canada to live in the UK with him.
Also among those to be awarded an MBE this year is Chris Kamara, one of football’s most popular figures.
Francis, now 30, pictured in Gymshark gym gear with his model wife Robin Callant. The pair welcomed twin sons into their lives on December 24 last year
The Gymshark founder receiving his honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Aston University in May
Ben switches the Gymshark clothes for a suit in what looks to be a business meeting
Kamara was made a Member of the British Empire by Prince William in the investiture ceremony on Tuesday, with the pair sharing a joke during their exchange.
The 65-year-old played for nine English professional clubs in a career spanning 20 years before going on to manage Bradford and Stoke, but in more recent years he has become best known for his work as a pundit and presenter on Sky Sports.
Lionesses stars Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze also received their MBEs for services to football after their part in England’s Euro 2022 triumph.
The pair were pictured receiving their royal honours from Prince William.
It tops off a spate of awards for Arsenal star Mead, who was the Golden Boot winner at the Euro 2022 tournament and went on to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year back in December.
