Discover the past jobs of the UK’s richest business minds as we expose the millionaires who’s first jobs involved diverse items such as beetroot and plane parts.

If you’re anything like us, you’ve had at least one day dream where you imagined you were filthy rich like Richard Branson. But even the super-rich had to start somewhere.

Read on to discover the early careers behind some of the biggest money makers of 2008.

Gavin Oldham

Now: Chief Executive of The Share Centre

The Share centre is worth around £40 million and offers advice to stock market investors.
It is now one of the leading stock broking firms, and the Chief Executive of the company, Gavin Oldham, who set up the company 18 years ago, is a multi-millionaire.

Then: British Aerospace

Back in the 1960’s, before embarking on grand financial ventures, Oldham spent his early career days building parts for planes. The pay was not the best, the manual labour intense and the hours long.

Sir Alan Sugar

Now: Multi-Millionaire Entrepreneur

After several failed schemes Alan Sugar founded the hugely successful Amstrad, a company which specialises in the manufacture and supply of Telecoms, Audio, TV, Video and Digital Satellite products, at the tender age of 21.

Since then Sir Alan Sugar has been a firm contender on the London stock market and has become chairman for Brunel University. His businesses have made around £130 million. In addition, when combined with the number of properties Sugar owns, his personal wealth adds up to around £780 million.

Then: Ginger Beer and Beetroot Entrepreneur

Thirsty for money, little Alan Sugar decided to make ginger beer while at school and sell it to all his classmates. In addition, Sugar was smart enough not to rely on just his ginger beer antics and turned his attention to boiling beetroots for the local greengrocer in his spare time, too. He also made camera rolls out of photographic film sheets. Although we like to chuckle at his money making projects Sugar claims, on the Brunel University website, he was soon making more money than his dad by the time he was 13.

Theo Paphitis

Now: Multi-Millionaire Entrepreneur

Joint Owner of Red Letter Days, the non- Executive Director of la Senza, Chairman of Ryman/Partners and business expert on the entrepreneurial TV series Dragons Den- Theo Paphitis is a very busy man and worth around £125 million.

Then: Tea Boy at Lloyds

However, Theo’s career kicked off with duties including tea making and filing with Lloyds of London insurance brokers. Not so fancy now are you Theo.
To read our exclusive interview with Theo, Click here

Richard Branson

Now: Founder of Virgin Enterprise

Undoubtedly one of the most famous entrepreneurs, Richard Branson has turned what used to be one music store on Oxford Street into a monster of a company specialising in Music, Media, Flights and Coke.

Then: Set up a magazine in a basement.

Full of confidence and determination, Richard Branson started up his own student magazine while still at school and he ran it from his basement. The magazine was successful and led to several other businesses, including the Student Advisory Centre, which was a charity to help young people.

Anita Roddick: Body Shop Founder

Now: Founder of the Body Shop

The activist and founder of the multi-billion pound company The Body Shop, who died towards the end of 2007, was one of the most successful entrepreneurs of her generation. She was famous for her ethical business attitudes, endless campaigning and making millions from luxury beauty products.

Then: Teaching

Those who can do those who can’t teach - well not quite. Before starting up the phenomenal Body Shop, Roddick trained for several years to become a teacher while before that she worked in her parent’s café.

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