FORMER South Bromsgrove High School student and co-founder of Gymshark Ben Francis has once again been named on The Sunday Times Rich List.

The self-made entrepreneur, who is worth £725 million in 2024, has been ranked 5 in this year's 40 under 40 rich list in the Midlands. 

He co-founded his successful fitness clothing brand with his friend Lewis Morgan in 2012 as two 19-year-old students from his parent’s garage in Bromsgrove.

They manufactured garments on a made-to-sell basis, using a sewing machine and a screen printer.

Co-founder Lewis Morgan, who left the business in 2020, ranks at 21 and is worth £150m.

This year’s edition of The Sunday Times Rich List, has been published today (May 17).

Owner of construction company JCB, Lord Bamford and family, remain the richest in the Midlands after a huge climb last year. Currently his wealth is estimated at £7.65 billion, up by £1.75 billion from last year.

The second richest family in the Midlands, the Coates family, donated over £120 million to charity.

Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “This year’s Sunday Times Rich List suggests Britain’s billionaire boom has come to an end. Many of our home-grown entrepreneurs have seen their fortunes fall and some of the global super rich who came here are moving away. 

“Thousands of British livelihoods rely on the super-rich to some extent. We’ll have to wait and see whether we have now reached peak billionaire, and what that means for our economy. 

“These may be harder times to create wealth, but The Sunday Times Rich List continues to unearth entrepreneurs building fortunes in diverse and often surprising ways. This year’s new entries include people who have made money from artificial intelligence and virtual worlds as well as plumbing supplies and teaching aides.