Sir Alan Sugar

From a humble background, growing up in an East London council flat, Sir Alan Sugar has become a multi-million success story and television sensation, amassing a new worth of £830 million and a place in the Sunday Times Rich List. He has also become a massive television star, thanks to his popular BBC show The Apprentice, in which he growls at contestants the famous catchphrase: You're fired! This biography traces his rags-to-riches story from his East End childhood boiling beetroots for the local greengrocer, to his knighthood and seat at the table of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Leaving school at 16, the tough-talking youngster sold car antennas and electrical products from the back of a van he had bought for just £100. Within five years he had formed Amstrad, which went public in 1980, setting him on the road to becoming a multi-millionaire, with a string of successful businesses. In the 1990s, Sir Alan became chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, paying off millions of pounds of club debt. He is now an advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Sir Alan has also become famous for his generous nature, which has seen him support Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Jewish Care charity and become a key figure in the resurrection of the Hackney Empire theatre. He also participates in spin-off versions of The Apprentice for Comic Relief and Sport Relief.