A Worcestershire businessman has become the UK’s youngest billionaire.

Ben Francis, the founder and CEO of Gymshark, has been named as one of the world’s richest people.

The 30-year-old has a net worth of $1.2 billion, according to Forbes.

This makes him the youngest billionaire in the UK and the 15th youngest in the world.

Mr Francis grew up in Bromsgrove and attended South Bromsgrove High School, but it is understood he now resides in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.

In 2010 he began a degree in international business and management at Aston University.

It was whilst a student that he and Lewis Morgan, then both 19, launched Gymshark from his parent’s garage in 2012.

Mr Francis dropped out of university that same year to focus on the business full time, while continuing to work as a Pizza Hut delivery driver.

Mr Morgan later sold his shares in the company before Mr Francis sold a 21 per cent stake to private equity firm General Atlantic in 2020.

As such, Mr Francis now owns 70 per cent of the company, which is valued at $1.45 billion in total.

Today, the company operates from five offices across the world, including the headquarters in Solihull and the north American office in Denver, Colorado.

Gymshark’s first brick-and-mortar store opened on London’s Regent Street in October 2022.

The brand has over six million Instagram followers, with customers in more than 230 countries.

Celebrities such as Vanessa Hudgens, Kendall Jenner, and Hailey Bieber have all been seen wearing Gymshark clothing.

More recently, Mr Francis was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to business in the King’s New Years Honours List, just days after his wife gave birth to twins.

Celebrating the news on Instagram, he wrote: "I can’t believe it but I’ve been awarded the honour of an MBE.

"This is probably the most surreal feeling I’ve had when being given an award and I’m so grateful to all those around me who support me in all that I do at Gymshark, at the Birmingham Women & Children’s Hospital Charity, and at home.

"This week has been a week I never ever would have expected. Getting this honour is well and truly the icing on the cake, as just last week my wife gave birth to twins, at the amazing Birmingham Women’s hospital.”