Tej Lalvani

Early life and business career

Tej Lalvani spent his early years moving between India and the UK, growing up in Bangalore, Karnataka, before settling in London at 16. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Westminster Business School in 1996 and started his career in the warehouse of his father’s company, Vitabiotics, eventually taking over as CEO. Together with his wife, he also runs a property investment business in London. In 2012, he was named Young Entrepreneur at the Asian Business Awards, and the following year he received the same title from TiE.

By October 2017, he had placed 48th on the GG2 Power List of Britain’s most influential Asian people. During the pandemic, his work in the UK grocery industry earned him a spot on The Grocer’s NPD Power List in November 2020. Lalvani shares his business insights on social media, especially LinkedIn, where he was named one of the platform’s Top UK Voices in 2020. The University of Westminster awarded him an honorary doctorate in November 2021 and appointed him a visiting professor at its business school in May 2022.

Dragons' Den

Lalvani succeeded Nick Jenkins as the next dragon on Dragons' Den in 2017. In January 2021, he announced his departure from the show to focus on the expansion of his business. Series 18, which was his final series, started in spring 2021.

Personal life

Lalvani is of Indian descent. The Lalvani family is of Sikh Sindhi heritage. In 2011, he married Tara Ruby in London. His mother is a former Miss India and a Miss World runner-up. Lalvani lives in London and aside from his business interests, he composes music and plays drums, keyboard and guitar. According to the Sunday Times Rich List in May 2019, he has a net worth of £390 million.