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 Nigel Ross Green (born 15 March 1952) is a British businessman. He was the chairman of the retail company Arcadia Group. He owned popular clothing stores like Topshop, Topman, and Miss Selfridge from 2002 to 2020. In May 2023, his wealth was estimated to be around £910 million.
Philip Green led a company called Amber Day from 1988 to 1992. In 1999, he bought Sears plc, another business. He then purchased British Home Stores (BHS) in 2000. In 2002, he bought the Arcadia Group. Arcadia became a private company and was no longer traded on the stock market. He also tried to buy Marks & Spencer in 1999 and 2004, but these attempts were not successful.
At its busiest, Green's Arcadia Group owned many clothing stores. These included Topshop, Topman, Wallis, Evans, Burton, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, and Outfit. BHS was part of Arcadia from 2009 to 2015. Arcadia had over 2,500 shops in the UK. It also had sections inside large stores like Debenhams and Selfridges. Plus, it had hundreds of stores in other countries.
In 2020, sales in shops dropped a lot because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Arcadia faced financial difficulties. Later, ASOS bought the Topshop, Topman, and Miss Selfridge brands in 2021. Philip Green was made a Knight Bachelor in 2006 for his work in retail. He has been called the "King of the High Street."
Contents
Early Life and First Businesses
Growing Up in England
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. He also sold electrical goods. Philip has an older sister named Elizabeth.
When Philip was nine, his family moved to Hampstead Garden Suburb in North London. He went to a Jewish boarding school called Carmel College in Oxfordshire.
Starting His Own Business
When Philip was twelve, his father passed away. Philip inherited the family business. He left boarding school at 15 without any formal qualifications. He then worked for a shoe importer in East London. After that, he traveled to the US, Europe, and the Far East.
When he was 21, he started his first business. He imported jeans from the Far East. He sold them to shops in London. His family helped him with a loan of £20,000 to start this business. In 1979, Green bought all the clothes from ten designer shops that had closed down. He cleaned the clothes and made them look new. Then, he bought a shop to sell them to the public.
Philip Green's Business Ventures
Leading Amber Day
In 1988, Philip Green became the chairman and chief executive of Amber Day. This company sold discounted goods. The company's shares did well for a while. However, its profits later dropped. In 1992, he left the company.
Running Arcadia Group
Philip Green helped his wife, Tina Green, buy the Arcadia Group in 2002. Arcadia owned many well-known high street chains. These included Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Topshop/Topman, and Wallis. Philip Green became the CEO of Arcadia.
On 30 November 2020, Arcadia Group faced serious financial problems. This happened because sales in shops were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helping Others and Other Activities
Charitable Work
In April 1980, Philip Green started a charity called the Kahn Charitable Trust. Its goal was to help people who were less fortunate around the world.
Green supports the Fashion Retail Academy. This academy helps people learn about the fashion industry. He also supports the Retail Trust, a charity for people working in retail. In 2006, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This honor was given to him for his contributions to the retail industry.
In May 2007, after a child named Madeleine McCann went missing, Green donated £250,000. This money was offered as a reward for helpful information. He also let the McCann family use his private jet. This allowed them to fly to Rome for a visit with the Pope.
In 2010, Green donated money for new beds at the Royal Marsden Hospital. His wife's mother had passed away there. He also spent money on a special dress at a charity event. In the same year, Green gave £100,000 to the Evening Standard's Dispossessed Fund. This fund helps people in London who are struggling.
TV Show Offer
Philip Green was reportedly the first choice to host the UK version of the TV show The Apprentice. However, in 2004, he was too busy. He was trying to take over Marks & Spencer at the time.
Involvement in Politics
Supporting Political Leaders
Two weeks before the 2010 general election, Philip Green supported David Cameron and George Osborne. They were leaders of the Conservative Party. He said they understood what needed to be done for the country.
Advising the Government
In August 2010, David Cameron, who was then the Prime Minister, asked Green for help. He asked Green to review how the UK government spent money. He also asked him to look at how the government bought things.
Green's report, called Efficiency Review by Sir Philip Green, came out in October 2010. It said that the government's buying processes had many problems. Green said the report showed how much waste and inefficiency there was. He believed this was due to "very poor data and process." Cameron welcomed the report. He said it was good and would save a lot of money.
The report looked at how the central government bought goods and services. It also suggested that the entire public sector could save money. This could happen if they bought things in a more organized way.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Family Life
Philip Green and his wife, Cristina Palos, have two children. One of their children, Brandon, used to be in a relationship with actress Emma Watson.
Green stays at a London hotel during the week. On weekends, he spends time with his wife and children. They have an apartment in Monaco.
Celebrations and Possessions
For his 50th birthday, Green flew 200 guests to Cyprus. They had a three-day party. Famous singers like Tom Jones and Rod Stewart performed. For his 55th birthday, he flew 100 guests to a private island in the Maldives.
Green owns a large yacht called Lionheart. It is 90 meters (295 feet) long and cost about £100 million. He also has a private jet, a Gulfstream G550, which cost around £20 million. For one of his birthdays, his wife bought him a special Monopoly game. It was made of solid gold and featured his own business purchases.
Green is inspired by Sir Charles Clore. Clore built a large retail business in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s.
Love for 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 involved with Everton FC because he is friends with the chairman, Bill Kenwright. He says he does not plan to officially invest in the club. However, he helped another friend buy shares in Everton in 2004. He also gives business advice to the club. He helps with talks about player transfer fees with agents.
