Dragons - Duncan Bannatyne

This former king of the 99s made money from an ice cream van before moving on to nursing homes and health clubs.

A poverty-stricken childhood steeled Duncan's drive to make his fortune from an early age. After his naval career, which included a spell in military prison, Duncan drifted from job to job ending up in Jersey. It was here that he made the decision to turn his life around.

Since first appearing in 2005 Duncan has agreed investments in the Den that total £1,150,000 in 17 businesses.

He began his entrepreneurial life by trading in cars, but it was with an ice cream van purchased for £450 that he changed the course of his life. With "Duncan's Super Ices", he set out to become the King of the 99 and eventually sold the business for £28,000, founding a nursing home business on the proceeds.

He sold his nursing home business for £46 million in 1996. During the last 10 years has expanded into health clubs with the Bannatyne's chain to his name, and also owns bars, hotels and property. Bannatyne's is now the largest independent chain of health clubs in the UK. Duncan's latest venture is Bannatyne's Sensory Spa, a chain of luxury health and wellbeing spas.

Quoted on The Sunday Times 2009 Rich List as having wealth to the tune of £320m, Duncan holds an OBE and was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from Glasgow Caledonian University for services to business and charity and an honorary Doctor of Business from the University of Teesside (DBA).

Over 30 charities have benefited from Duncan's involvement and he has recently launched the Bannatyne Charitable Trust to support worthwhile causes.

A Dragon in the Den since the first series, Duncan recently appeared on BBC Two's "Duncan Bannatyne Takes On Tobacco" when he visited Africa to investigate the marketing tactics used by big tobacco companies in Mauritius, Malawi and Nigeria.

Name: Duncan Bannatyne

Age: 59

Family: Married, 6 children, 1 grandchild

Describe yourself: Motivated, ambitious, driven, relaxed, happy

Estimated wealth: £320million

Vehicles owned: Maserati Turismo, Audi Q7, Chrysler Grand Voyager

Property owned: In North East of England, London and France

Most outrageous purchase: Being a careful Scottish man I never make outrageous purchases

One thing I always spend the extra on: Holidays

The one thing I look for in employees: Initiative and loyalty

Best job I've had: This is it

Worst job I've had: Agricultural vehicle engineer and welder on a farm

Favourite holiday destination: Barbados and my Villa in France

Favourite sport, team and player: I find life to short to be sport spectator

Favourite pitch: Peter Moule's Choc Box

Best investment: Choc Box

The one that got away: Many people say the one that got away, but when I have done my investigations through Companies House, in fact none of them got away.

Things that interest me: My family, my wife, my children, the children I accommodate in Romania and good food.

I'd never invest in: Anything to do with cigarettes, I would rather swim in shark infested water with one arm hanging off.

For impressing in an interview / pitch

Be concise and do not spend 4 minutes presenting a presentation if you can do it in 1 minute.

For running your own business

Stay focused and work hard.

For surviving the recession

Do not spend a penny unless absolutely necessary, focus on cash flow rather than profit.

For getting your product to market

Use what ever PR sources are available to you.

For winning investment

Present yourself to as many investors as you can. If you are turned down ask why and use the advise when preparing your next pitch.

For making millions

Read my autobiography "Anyone Can Do It".