The owner of sportswear giant Gymshark, who founded the company in his parents’ garage while working as a pizza delivery driver, is now a billionaire at the age of 30.
Birmingham-born Ben Francis started his sports clothing brand in 2012 after deciding to make his own gym clothes when he couldn’t find anything he liked on the high street – now, just 11 years later he has made his debut on the Forbes billionaires list.
The former Aston University student is worth a whopping $1.2billion (£992million), making him the UK’s youngest billionaire.
While working as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut, Francis dropped out of university to focus on his brand full time and in 2020 it was valued at over £1billion.
Before that, his grandmother taught him how to sew and he set up a workshop in his parents’ garage in Birmingham, complete with a sewing machine and screen printer.
Ben Francis has gone from a 19-year-old balancing making gym clothes in his parents’ garage to becoming the UK’s youngest billionaire
The former Aston University student, who worked as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut, made his debut on the Forbes billionaires list this week
He managed to make around 10 pieces a day, but had to work around his degree and part-time job.
Today, the hugely successful entrepreneur lives a life of luxury splashing the cash on motorbikes as well as enjoying glamorous holidays abroad with his fitness model and influencer wife.
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 publicly three months prior.
They initially met after Francis asked her to promote his brand on her social media and she has since moved from Canada to live in the UK with him.
The two of them have been pictured enjoying lavish holidays abroad in places such as Dubai and Australia.
Asked about his daily habits and morning routines, the UK’s youngest billionaire told the Insider that he wakes up every morning at 6am and makes eggs or bacon for breakfast every day.
He then tries not to check his phone until after eating breakfast and makes his way into the office, which he is in five days a week.
Francis, now 30, pictured in Gymshark gym gear with his model girlfriend Robin Callant
The pair welcomed twin sons into their lives on December 24 last year
The two of them have been pictured enjoying luxurious holidays across the world, including places such as Dubai and Australia
The Gymshark founder now lives the life of luxury splashing the cash on expensive motorcycles
Often the first one in, Francis then answers his emails, goes through the week’s objectives and has lunch around 12.30pm.
He also makes sure to fit a workout at the gym later on in the evening at 6.30pm.
He said having consistent checkpoints throughout the day grounds him and keeps him productive.
Gymshark, headquartered in Solihull, England, is worn by some of the world’s biggest celebrities and influencers.
American singer and actress Nicole Scherzinger has regularly been pictured in the sportswear.
Francis said much of the secret to his success has come from using social media influencers with large followings to wear the brand and spread the word online.
The brand is loved by celebs including the likes of Nicole Scherzinger who can be seen jumping for joy
The brand is known for his muscle-enhancing gym wear which is promoted extensively through its own Instagram channel
As well as posting selfies, fans of the brand also share their workout regimes as an inspiration to others
Fans of the fashion brand post photographs of themselves wearing the gear on Instagram
During the pandemic it was revealed that Francis donated £180,000 to Birmingham’s women’s and children’s hospital where his mother works.
He also opened a pop-up store in Covent Garden, rebranding itself Homeshark.
The firm did not place any of its staff on the government’s furlough scheme.
Francis said: ‘We are going to weather the storm… we don’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on the government.’
