Ben Francis

$1.21 B

Ranked #3008 in World

About Ben Francis

British entrepreneur Benjamin David Francis, born in 1992 in the West Midlands, England, and co-founder of the globally recognized fitness brand Gymshark, has made notable strides in the business world since dropping out of Aston University in 2012 to pursue his business full-time. From launching Gymshark with school friend Lewis Morgan at 19, using a dropshipping model to sell fitness supplements and later apparel from his parents' garage, to regaining his role as CEO in August 2021, Francis's journey highlights significant achievements, including Gymshark's valuation at over £1 billion after selling a 21% stake to General Atlantic in 2020. As a celebrated figure, Francis has earned a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2018, served on the UK Government's Business Council for Entrepreneurs in 2019, won the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020, and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2023. His personal life also reflects milestones, with his marriage to Robin Gallant in 2021 and welcoming twin sons in December 2022.

Born

June 04, 1992 in West Midlands, England

Age

33 years

Source Of Wealth

Fitness Clothing

Industries

Fashion & Retail

Citizenship

United Kingdom

Residence

Birmingham

Education

Drop Out, Aston University

Spouse

Robin Gallant

Children

Benjamin David Francis, born in 1992 in the West Midlands, England, grew up in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He attended South Bromsgrove High School and later studied international business and management at Aston University. However, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to drop out in 2012 to focus on his business venture, Gymshark, full-time.

Ben Francis: Family

Benjamin Francis is engaged to Robin Gallant, and the couple tied the knot on September 9, 2021. In September 2022, they announced that they were expecting twins, and their twin sons arrived on December 24, 2022.

Ben Francis: Career Highlights

Before Gymshark, Francis developed two fitness applications: Fat Loss Abs Guide and iPhysique. While studying at university, he worked as a delivery boy for Pizza Hut. In 2012, at the age of 19, he co-founded Gymshark with his school friend Lewis Morgan. Initially starting as a supplements company, they later expanded into fitness apparel.

Gymshark gained popularity after a tracksuit went viral on Facebook in 2013. Francis and Morgan employed a unique marketing strategy by partnering with social media influencers to promote their products. In 2015, Francis stepped down as CEO to focus on marketing, branding, and product development.

Gymshark's success continued to soar, and in 2018, the company opened a new £5 million headquarters in Solihull. The following year, they launched their own branded gym and innovation hub. Gymshark has consistently been listed on The Sunday Times Fast Track of fast-growing private companies since 2016.

In 2020, Francis sold a 21% stake in Gymshark to General Atlantic, valuing the company at over £1 billion. Despite this transaction, Francis still owns over 70% of the company, which is estimated to be worth around £700 million. In August 2021, he returned to the role of CEO.

Ben Francis: Companies

Benjamin Francis is the co-founder, CEO, and majority owner of Gymshark, a leading fitness apparel and accessories brand.

Ben Francis: Major Achievements

Francis's entrepreneurial success has earned him numerous accolades.

In 2018, he was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He also served on the UK Government's Business Council for Entrepreneurs in 2019. In 2020, he was awarded the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Most recently, in 2023, Francis was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the business sector.

Ben Francis: Personal Life & Legacy

Outside of his business endeavors, Benjamin Francis is a car and motorcycle enthusiast and holds a season ticket at Aston Villa Football Club. He is known for his philanthropic efforts and has made significant donations to various charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Prince's Trust.

Ben Francis: Trivia

Benjamin Francis's success story is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs. His ability to identify a gap in the market, capitalize on social media trends, and build a global brand from scratch is a testament to his vision and business acumen. Gymshark's rise to prominence has not only transformed the fitness industry but has also created employment opportunities and contributed to the UK economy.

Wealth History

Timeline

1992

Benjamin David Francis is born in the West Midlands, England.

2012

Francis launches Gymshark at age 19 with school friend Lewis Morgan.

2013

A Gymshark tracksuit goes viral on Facebook, boosting the company's popularity.

2015

Francis steps down as CEO of Gymshark to focus on marketing, branding, and product.

2016

Gymshark is listed on The Sunday Times Fast Track of fast-growing private companies.

2018

Francis is included in Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

2018

Gymshark opens a new £5 million headquarters in Solihull.

2019

Gymshark opens its own branded gym and innovation hub.

2019

Francis serves on the UK Government's Business Council for Entrepreneurs.

2020

Francis is awarded the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

2020

Gymshark sells a 21% stake to General Atlantic, valuing the company over £1 billion.

2021

Francis returns to the role of CEO of Gymshark.

2021

Francis gets engaged to Robin Gallant.

2021

Francis and Gallant get married.

2022

Francis and Gallant announce they are expecting twins.

2022

Francis and Gallant's twin sons are born.

2023

Francis is appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the business sector.

Ben Francis : FAQs

What is Ben Francis's current net worth?

Ben Francis's current net worth is $1.21 billion.

What is Ben Francis's current global rank among billionaires?

Ben Francis holds the 3008th position globally among billionaires.

What is Ben Francis's current ranking within the United Kingdom?

Ben Francis holds the 50th position in United Kingdom.

What was the change in Ben Francis's net worth compared to the previous year?

Ben Francis's net worth decreased by 186.09 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 1.39 billion dollars.

What are Ben Francis's main sources of wealth?

Ben Francis's main source of income comes from Fitness Clothing.

In which industry does Ben Francis primarily operate?

Ben Francis is primarily involved in the Fashion & Retail industry.

What is Ben Francis educational background?

Ben Francis is a dropout from Aston University.

How old is Ben Francis?

Ben Francis is 33 years old.

How many children does Ben Francis have?

Ben Francis has 2 children.

Who is Benjamin David Francis and what is his role in Gymshark?

Benjamin David Francis is a British businessman, the co-founder, CEO, and majority owner of Gymshark, a renowned fitness apparel and accessories brand.

How did Benjamin David Francis start his career before founding Gymshark?

Before founding Gymshark, Benjamin David Francis developed two fitness applications, Fat Loss Abs Guide and iPhysique, and worked as a delivery boy for Pizza Hut while attending university.

What are some of the key milestones in Gymshark's history under Benjamin Francis's leadership?

Under Benjamin Francis's leadership, Gymshark expanded from supplements to fitness apparel, went viral on Facebook in 2013, opened a £5 million headquarters in 2018, and was valued over £1 billion in 2020 after selling a stake to General Atlantic.

What personal achievements has Benjamin David Francis received for his work with Gymshark?

Benjamin David Francis's achievements include being listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018, serving on the UK Government's Business Council for Entrepreneurs in 2019, receiving the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020, and being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2023 for services to the business sector.

What significant personal milestones has Benjamin David Francis experienced outside of his career?

Outside of his career, Benjamin David Francis got engaged to Robin Gallant in April 2021, married on 9 September 2021, announced they were expecting twins in September 2022, and welcomed twin sons on 24 December 2022.