Ben Francis, born on June 4, 1992, is a British billionaire businessman and entrepreneur recognized as the co-founder, CEO, and majority owner of Gymshark, a fitness apparel and accessories brand established in 2012. Starting Gymshark at the age of 19 in his parents' garage, Francis initially sold fitness supplements before transitioning to designing and selling fitness apparel. He learned sewing skills from his grandmother, which aided in manufacturing early products. Francis's innovative approach to marketing, particularly leveraging social media influencers, helped propel Gymshark to global recognition.
Francis stepped down as CEO in 2015 to focus on branding and product development, returning to the CEO role in August 2021 as the company pursued expansion into the U.S. and Asia. Gymshark's success led to a 21% stake sale to General Atlantic in August 2020, valuing the company at over £1 billion. As of April 2023, Francis's net worth was estimated at $1.3 billion, earning him a spot on Forbes' "The World's Billionaires" list. In early 2024, Francis announced Gymshark's plans for further retail expansion, including a pop-up store in New York and a premium product line launching with Selfridges. In the 2023 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his contributions to the business sector.