Peter Jones CBE is a British entrepreneur and television personality widely recognized as the longest-serving investor on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den. Since the programme launched in January 2005, he has appeared in every series, making him the sole remaining original Dragon on the panel.
His business career spans telecommunications, electronics retail, media, and property. He founded the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and holds a CBE for services to business and young people. Despite his high public profile, several aspects of his personal fortune and biography are frequently misreported or confused with unrelated entities, notably the Peter Jones department store in Sloane Square.
This profile examines what is factually known about Peter Jones CBE, what remains uncertain, and how his career developed from a teenage computer entrepreneur to a central figure in British business television.
Who is Peter Jones?
- Peter Jones is the sole remaining original Dragon on Dragons’ Den.
- He founded the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy to foster young entrepreneurs.
- His net worth is unconfirmed, with estimates from £400m to over £1bn.
- The Sloane Square department store is not his business.
- He has five children: two with his first wife and three with his partner.
- His first computer business at age 16 made him a millionaire before failing.
| Full Name | Peter David Jones CBE |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 March 1966, Langley, England |
| Age (2025) | 59 |
| Height | Approx. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Philanthropist |
| Known for | Dragons’ Den, Peter Jones Enterprise Academy |
| Partner | Tara Capp (since 2000) |
| Children | 5 |
| Net Worth Estimate | £400M – £1.2B (unverified) |
| Key Business | Phones International Group, Partner Retail Services |
What is Peter Jones’ net worth?
There is no official, audited public figure for Jones’s personal wealth. Published estimates vary substantially and should be treated as approximations rather than established facts.
The Range of Estimates
- About £400 million–£650 million in some business-media estimates.
- Approximately £500 million in a 2024 estimate.
- Around £700 million in a 2025 estimate cited by a later profile.
- Some less-established sources have suggested figures as high as £1.286 billion, but this should be treated cautiously.
There is no officially confirmed net worth for Peter Jones CBE. All figures are estimates published by business media, news outlets, or online databases. The safest description is that his fortune is in the hundreds of millions of pounds.
How He Built His Wealth
Jones started his first computer business at about 16 or 17, selling personal computers under his own brand. The venture initially made him a millionaire, but later failed, reportedly forcing him to return to live with his parents.
He subsequently worked with Siemens Nixdorf and built a career in telecommunications and technology. In 1998 he founded Phones International Group, which became the foundation of his later wealth and business portfolio. Other ventures have included 10telecom, later sold to Vodafone; Data Select, a mobile-phone distributor acquired by Westcoast Group; Wines4Business.com; and Celsius Resourcing.
His investment company owns Partner Retail Services, which operates Samsung Experience stores in the United Kingdom and provides electronics-retail services connected with Jessops and other retailers.
What is Peter Jones’ role on Dragons’ Den?
Jones joined Dragons’ Den when it launched in January 2005 and remains its longest-serving panelist and last original Dragon.
Notable Investments
His notable investments have included Reggae Reggae Sauce, associated with Levi Roots, and Red Letter Days, bought with Theo Paphitis in the first series. Jones and Paphitis reportedly invested £250,000 in Red Letter Days in 2005; the business was later sold for a profit in 2017.
A 2026 review of his investments reported that the founder of Choppity expressed disappointment in 2025 after an agreed on-air investment was not followed up.
Beyond the Den
He also founded Peter Jones TV, the Peter Jones Foundation and the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, the latter supporting young people who want to develop entrepreneurial skills.
Not all television handshake deals on Dragons’ Den reach completion. Following due diligence, some investments are not finalized. The Choppity case in 2025 is an example of this, where the founder publicly noted the deal did not proceed after the show.
What is the connection between Peter Jones and John Lewis?
The Peter Jones department store in Sloane Square, London, is not owned by the Dragons’ Den entrepreneur. It was founded by a different Peter Jones: Peter Rees Jones, a Welsh draper who opened a shop in Chelsea in 1871 and moved to the present King’s Road site in 1877.
The department store later became part of the John Lewis Partnership. Its history is therefore connected to John Lewis, but it is not a store founded or operated by Peter Jones CBE. This distinction is important because web searches frequently mix the entrepreneur with the Victorian retailer whose name the store bears.
The Peter Jones department store in Sloane Square was founded by Peter Rees Jones in the 19th century. It is now part of the John Lewis Partnership. The Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones CBE has no commercial link to this famous retail destination.
How did Peter Jones build his career?
- : Started his first computer business, achieving early wealth before the company failed.
- : Founded Phones International Group, establishing his core business platform.
- : Joined BBC’s Dragons’ Den as an original Dragon.
- : Appointed CBE for services to business, entrepreneurship, and young people.
- : Rescued the Jessops camera retail chain from administration.
- : Remained the longest-serving Dragon on the programme.
- : Jessops sold to AO World, ending his 13-year ownership.
What is established about Peter Jones and what remains uncertain?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth date (Peter David Jones, 18 March 1966) | Exact net worth (no public disclosure) |
| Role as longest-serving Dragon on Dragons’ Den | Height (commonly reported as 6’7″ but unconfirmed officially) |
| Ownership of Partner Retail Services and Phones International Group | Details of separation from first wife |
| Long-term partnership with Tara Capp since 2000 | Status of specific on-air investments (e.g., Choppity) |
| Department store in Sloane Square is a John Lewis Partnership asset | Completion rate of all Dragons’ Den handshake deals |
What is Peter Jones’ impact on UK entrepreneurship?
Through his long tenure on Dragons’ Den, Jones has become one of the most visible faces of British entrepreneurship. The programme has given a national platform to hundreds of businesses seeking investment.
His own initiatives, particularly the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, provide practical business education for young people. The academy was founded to help develop entrepreneurial skills, complementing his role on television.
Overall, his career arc—from teenage entrepreneur to CBE recipient—illustrates both the volatility and potential of business risk-taking in the UK economy.
Where does the biographical data come from?
Peter Jones is one of the UK’s most successful and influential entrepreneurs.
— BBC Dragons’ Den profile
The primary sources for this biography include the BBC’s official programme profile, corporate records, and reputable business news outlets. Where specific figures such as net worth are debated, this is clearly noted with references to differing estimates.
What is the key takeaway?
Peter Jones CBE is a central figure in British business television, whose career spans technology, retail, and media. His journey demonstrates the volatile nature of entrepreneurship, from early failure to sustained success. Readers interested in fellow Dragons’ Den investors can find similar biographical coverage of Duncan Bannatyne – Net Worth, Age, Wife, and Biography. For a broader perspective on high-profile investor profiles, including Alex Hormozi – Net Worth, Books, and Biography Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Peter Jones?
Commonly reported as 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m).
Who is Peter Jones’ wife?
He is separated from his first wife, Caroline, and has been in a long-term relationship with Tara Capp since 2000.
What is the latest news about Peter Jones?
He remains a core Dragon on Dragons’ Den. In 2026, his company sold the camera retailer Jessops to AO World.
Is Peter Jones a billionaire?
Some sources estimate his wealth above £1 billion, but most place it between £400 million and £700 million. No official figure exists.
What businesses does Peter Jones own?
His portfolio includes Partner Retail Services, Peter Jones TV, the Peter Jones Foundation, and the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy.
Does Peter Jones own the Peter Jones store?
No. The store was founded by Peter Rees Jones and is owned by the John Lewis Partnership.
How old is Peter Jones?
Born 18 March 1966, he was 59 for most of 2025.
What did Peter Jones do before Dragons’ Den?
He ran a computer business as a teenager and later founded Phones International Group in 1998.
Daniel Mercer is Urban Affairs Editor at DailyCity.co.uk, covering councils, City Hall, planning, transport and infrastructure across London and major UK cities.