Gymshark tycoon, 30, who dropped out of university to make gym leggings is named UK’s youngest billionaire after being named on Forbes list with $1.2bn net worth – as photos reveal his VERY glamorous lifestyle

• Ex-pizza delivery driver Ben Francis is now Britain’s youngest ever billionaire 
• Read more: Gymshark founder started sportswear brand in his parents’ garage

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. 

Francis is worth a whopping $1.2billion (£992million) making him the UK’s youngest billionaire. 

But it has not all been plain sailing for the father-of-two, who had to publicly apologised when a video surfaced of him snorting cocaine in 2020.

The former Aston University student, who originally started his company alongside friend Lewis Morgan before he stepped back in 2014, recently opened about his daily habits and morning routines. 

He told the Insider that every morning he wakes up at 6am and makes eggs or bacon for breakfast before heading into the office – which he is in five days a week.

Ben Francis has gone from a 19-year-old balancing making gym clothes in his parents’ garage to becoming the UK’s youngest billionaire

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

READ MORE: Owner of Gymshark has £100M turnover just seven years after making clothes in parents’ garage

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.  

From the entrepreneur’s social media accounts alone it is clear to see that the self-made billionaire lives a life of luxury by splashing the cash on expensive 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. 

The brand is loved by celebs including the likes of Nicole Scherzinger who can be seen jumping for joy

Francis and Robin have been pictured enjoying the high life across the world, including here in Lake McKenzie, Queensland, Australia 

The Gymshark founder now lives the life of luxury splashing the cash on expensive motorcycles

Robin pictured on the beach in Dubai, UAE, in front of the Burj Al Arab

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.

Society Management Model Jasmine Sanders was recently spotted in a raspberry Gymshark long-sleeved top and matching leggings in LA.

Victoria’s Secret model Jasmine Tookes was also spotted wearing Gymshark leggings on her way to the gym as well as fellow model Kaia Gerber. 

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 30-year-old father has gained such popularity that he was even invited to join the then Prime Minister Theresa May’s Small Business, Scale-Ups and Entrepreneurs Business Council at 10 Downing Street. 

The singer took to Instagram to share a video of herself getting on a sweat as she lifted weights during her intense workout

Jasmine Sanders stopped by a gas station in Los Angeles after a Pilates class in her Gymshark clothes

Victoria’s Secret model Jasmine Tookes wears Gymshark leggings on her way to a gym in Los Angeles, California, on April 20, 2021

Model Kaia Gerber wears Gymshark’s best-selling workout tights to a Pilates class on March 9, 2021

Francis posted this picture of himself to Instagram with the caption: ‘From the sewing machine to 10 Downing Street’

Lewis Morgan – who founded Gymshark at the age of 19 alongside Francis while the pair were studying together at university – has opened up about how he stepped back from the sportswear empire.

Working on Gymshark while living at his parents house, Lewis had a job as a potwash and a retail assistant in Burton while studying, which he describes as ‘four years of mayhem’.

Despite his soaring success as a businessman, Lewis – who is worth £125m – said that he’s most proud to step back and look after the people he loves most.

Speaking to the Mirror Online he revealed: ‘I just wanted to step back and look after the people I love most. You get to a point where money isn’t everything. I just wanted to enjoy my life.’

‘It’s incredible. I am very proud to be in the position I am. When we first started we never thought we would be where we are but every year we knew we were bigger and bigger.’

Discussing how he started the business, Lewis explained that his friendship group dwindled quickly at University, as he went to ‘make money on the side doing whatever’ while most people went to ‘go out and drink’.

The business markets itself using fitness influencers, who have large social media followings

The brand is known for his muscle-enhancing gym wear which is promoted extensively through its own Instagram channel

Fans of the fashion brand post photographs of themselves wearing the gear on Instagram

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.

He managed to make around 10 pieces a day, but had to work around his degree and part-time job. 

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.’

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