Theo Paphitis was born on 24 September 1959 in Limassol, Cyprus, to a Greek Cypriot family. He moved to the UK as a child, growing up in Manchester and London.
He left school at 16 with no qualifications due to dyslexia and began working as a filing clerk before moving into retail. Early jobs helped him discover a passion for business and sales.
Paphitis built his career by rescuing struggling retail businesses. He revitalised brands such as Ryman, La Senza, and Robert Dyas, and later founded the lingerie company Boux Avenue.
He became widely known as a Dragon on Dragons’ Den (BBC Two) from 2005 to 2012, investing in entrepreneurs and gaining a reputation for direct, practical advice.
He now lives in the UK, balancing business leadership, media appearances, and charitable initiatives, while maintaining a relatively private family life.
