Lord Alan Sugar has been the face of The Apprentice for two decades, putting hopeful contestants through tough business challenges for a chance to win a £250,000 investment.
As the hit BBC show returns tonight (Thursday, January 30) at 9pm, many will be wondering just how much the business magnate himself is worth.
According to The Times’ 2024 Rich List, Sugar’s net worth is estimated at £1.082 billion, placing him among the UK’s wealthiest individuals. The entrepreneur built much of his fortune through Amstrad, the electronics company he founded, which was later sold to BSkyB for £125 million in 2007.
Since stepping down as chairman in 2008, Sugar has focused on media and business, including his role as an Enterprise Champion to the Business Secretary.
With his signature tough-talking approach, Sugar remains at the heart of The Apprentice, joined once again by his trusted advisors as a new batch of candidates battle it out in the boardroom.
After leaving school as a teenager, Lord Sugar launched his business career by selling electronic goods from a van he bought for just £50.
However, the bulk of his wealth comes from property. According to The Times, the latest accounts for his holding company reveal he sold five properties worth a combined £102 million between 2021 and 2022.
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Beyond his early success with Amstrad, Sugar also founded Amscreen, the UK’s largest digital media owner, now run by his son Simon. His property investment firm, Amsprop, is overseen by his son Daniel.
Until 2014, he served as chairman of Viglen, a specialist computer and networking manufacturer. He also spent a decade as chairman and part-owner of Tottenham Hotspur, selling his remaining stake in 2007 for £25 million.
Sugar is also known for his philanthropy, donating to charities such as Great Ormond Street Hospital and Jewish Care.
The Apprentice returns tonight at 9pm on BBC One and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
