Philip Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Green
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Green in 2007
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| Born |
Philip Nigel Ross Green
15 March 1952 Croydon, England
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| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Cristina Palos
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 2 |
Sir Philip Green (born 15 March 1952) is a well-known British businessman. He was the boss of a big retail company called Arcadia Group. This group owned popular clothing shops like Topshop, Topman, and Miss Selfridge from 2002 to 2020. In 2023, his wealth was estimated to be around £910 million.
Philip Green started his career in business early. He led a company called Amber Day from 1988 to 1992. Later, he bought other big retail chains like Sears plc and British Home Stores (BHS). In 2002, he bought the Arcadia Group for a lot of money. This made Arcadia a private company, meaning its shares were no longer traded on the London Stock Exchange. He also tried to buy Marks & Spencer a couple of times.
At its busiest, Arcadia Group owned many famous clothing stores. These included Topshop, Topman, Wallis, Evans, Burton, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, and Outfit. BHS was also part of Arcadia for some years. The group had over 2,500 shops in the UK. They also had sections inside big department stores like Debenhams and Selfridges. Plus, they had hundreds of shops in other countries.
In 2020, many shops faced difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales dropped, and the Arcadia Group had to close down. Some of its brands, like Topshop, Topman, and Miss Selfridge, were later bought by ASOS in 2021. Philip Green was given the title of Knight Bachelor in 2006 for his work in retail. People sometimes called him the "King of the High Street."
Contents
Growing Up: Philip Green's Early Life
Philip Green was born on 15 March 1952 in Croydon, England. He grew up in a middle-class Jewish family. His father, Simon Green, was a successful property developer and sold electrical goods. Philip also has an older sister named Elizabeth.
When Philip was young, his family moved to Hampstead Garden Suburb in North London. At age nine, he went to a Jewish boarding school called Carmel College. When he was twelve, his father sadly passed away. Philip then inherited the family business.
Philip left boarding school at 15 without any O-levels. He first worked for a shoe importer in East London. After that, he traveled to the US, Europe, and the Far East. When he returned at 21, he started his first business. He imported jeans from the Far East and sold them to shops in London. His family helped him with a £20,000 loan to start this business.
In 1979, Philip Green found a clever way to make money. He bought all the clothes from ten designer shops that had gone out of business. He bought them at very low prices. Then, he had the clothes cleaned and made them look new. He bought a shop to sell these clothes to the public.
Philip Green's Business Journey
Philip Green has had a long and active career in business. He is known for buying and managing large retail companies.
Leading Amber Day: Early Business Steps
In 1988, Philip Green became the chairman and chief executive of Amber Day. This was a company that sold goods at a discount. The company's shares did well for a while. However, they later faced problems and did not make as much profit as expected. In 1992, Philip Green left the company.
Managing the Arcadia Group: High Street Success
Philip Green helped his wife, Tina Green, buy the Arcadia Group in 2002. This group owned many popular shops on the High Street. These included Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Topshop/Topman, and Wallis. For a short time, Philip Green owned the company himself. But he sold it to Tina Green within 24 hours. He then worked as the chief executive (CEO) of the company.
On 30 November 2020, the Arcadia Group faced big challenges. Sales in shops were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, the company had to go into administration. This means that experts were brought in to manage the company's finances and future.
Helping Others and Other Activities
Philip Green has also been involved in charity work and other interesting projects.
Charitable Work: Giving Back to the Community
In April 1980, Philip Green started a charity called the Kahn Charitable Trust. Its goal is to help people who are less fortunate around the world. He supports the Fashion Retail Academy, which helps young people learn about fashion retail. He also supports the Retail Trust, a charity for people working in retail.
In 2006, Philip Green was made a Knight Bachelor. This honor was given to him for his important contributions to the retail industry.
In May 2007, a young girl named Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal. Philip Green donated £250,000 as a reward for any helpful information. He also let the McCann family use his private jet. This allowed them to fly to Rome to meet the Pope.
In 2010, Philip Green gave $465,000 for new beds at the Royal Marsden Hospital. This was after his wife's mother passed away there. He also spent over $150,000 on a special dress at a charity event. In the same year, he donated £100,000 to a fund that helps London's poorest people.
TV and Government Roles: Beyond Retail
Philip Green was reportedly the first choice to host the UK TV show The Apprentice. However, he was too busy in 2004 with his attempt to buy Marks & Spencer.
In August 2010, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, asked Philip Green for help. He wanted Green to review how the UK government spent money and bought goods. Green's report, published in October 2010, found problems in how the government bought things. He said the government was not using its size and good credit well enough. Cameron liked the report and believed it would save a lot of money.
Philip Green's Personal Life
Philip Green and his wife, Cristina Palos, have two children. Their son, Brandon, was once in a relationship with actress Emma Watson.
During the week, Philip Green stays at a hotel in London. On weekends, he spends time with his wife and children in their apartment in Monaco. For his 50th birthday, he flew 200 guests to Cyprus for a three-day party. Famous singers like Tom Jones and Rod Stewart performed there. For his 55th birthday, he flew 100 guests to a private island in the Maldives.
Philip Green owns a large yacht called Lionheart. He also has a private jet. For one of his birthdays, his wife bought him a special gift: a solid gold Monopoly set. This set featured properties that he had actually bought in real life.
Philip Green looks up to Sir Charles Clore. Clore built the Sears plc retail empire in the UK many years ago.
Philip Green and Football
Philip Green is a big fan of Tottenham Hotspur football club. In 1987, he suggested that Tony Berry join the Spurs board. In 1991, he helped Terry Venables raise money to buy shares in the club. He was also involved in the transfers of players like Rio Ferdinand and Louis Saha to Manchester United.
Green is also connected to Everton FC because he is friends with its chairman, Bill Kenwright. He has said he does not plan to officially invest in the club. However, he helped another friend buy shares in Everton during a struggle for control of the club in 2004. He also gives business advice to the club and helps with player transfer fees.
