Ben Francis: UK’s youngest billionaire

Ben Francis: UK’s youngest billionaire

From Good Bad Billionaire by BBC World Service

February 1, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

The episode explores Ben Francis's journey from pizza delivery boy to the UK's youngest billionaire through his brand Gymshark.

How Ben Francis went from pizza delivery boy to the UK’s youngest billionaire, by founding sportswear brand Gymshark. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng explore Ben Francis' remarkable rise: from sewing gym vests in his parents’ garage, to innovating in influencer culture. In Gymshark, Ben Francis created one of the fastest growing fitness brands in the world, with the ambition to take on athleisurewear giants like Nike and Adidas. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics, and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility. Simon and Zing put their subjects to the test with a playful, totally unscientific scorecard — then hand the verdict over to you: are they good, bad, or simply billionaires? Here's how to contact the team: email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our…

People in this episode

Hosts: Simon Jack, Zing Tsjeng

Guest: Ben Francis

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Gymshark, Nike, Adidas, BBC World Service

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