Doug Perkins

Last updated

Doug Perkins
BornApril 1943 (age 79)
EducationLlanelli Boys Grammar School
Alma mater Cardiff University
OccupationBusinessman
Known forco-founder of Specsavers
Spouse Mary Perkins
Children3

Douglas John David Perkins (born April 1943) is a Welsh billionaire businessman. He is the co-founder of Specsavers, an international optical retail chain.

Contents

Early life

Douglas John David Perkins was born in April 1943 [1] in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. [2] [3] His father was a policeman and his grandparents were farmers in the county. [4] He was educated at the Llanelli Boys Grammar School, and he graduated from Cardiff University. [3]

Career

Perkins began his career as an optometrist in Llanelli and Carmarthen. [3] In the 1970s, he took over his father-in-law's optician store in Bristol and subsequently opened 22 stores. [3]

Perkins co-founded Specsavers with his wife Mary Perkins in 1984. [3] The company became an international chain of opticians, making them both billionaires. As of April 2016, they have an estimated wealth of £1.55 billion according to the Sunday Times Rich List. [2] In spite of being a billionaire, Perkins calls himself "working-class." [4]

Personal life

Perkins lives in Guernsey with his wife Mary. [3] They have a son, John, and two daughters, Cathy and Julie. [2]

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References

  1. "Douglas John David PERKINS - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Rich List 2016". The Sunday Times Magazine. April 2016. p. 31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Specsavers billionaire Doug Perkins's eye for wealth". BBC News. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 Harries, Robert (10 October 2017). "The unassuming Welshman who is actually a billionaire". WalesOnline. Retrieved 22 January 2018.