Business mogul Peter Jones achieved his childhood dream by becoming one of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs, but it hasn't been an easy road.

The wealthy businessman is a stalwart of BBC's Dragons' Den, having been part of the show since its very first series in 2005. But away from the cameras, Peter, 57, has led a rollercoaster life. From his awkward fallout with presenter and ex-pal Holly Willoughby to his 'superhuman' other half, here we take a look at the star's life when he's not playing the role of a strict investor.

Back when Dragons' Den first launched 19 years ago, Peter was married to his first wife Caroline. But following a messy split, he went on to find love with interior designer Tara Capp.

Love life and kids

Peter dubbed his other half a 'superhuman mum' (
Image:
WireImage)
Peter had two kids and was divorced when he met Tara (
Image:
Daily Mirror)

Peter - who bought his first house aged 19 - and his first wife lost everything after his business went bust. "By 21 I was married, had a beautiful detached house and everything was pretty rosy," he once told the Express. "Then when I was in my late 20s things weren't going so well. I made some silly ­mistakes and lost the business."

He failed to take out insurance to protect him if his clients went bust, and when they did, he lost his house, car and marriage and was forced to move back with his parents. He started again with his own mobile phone distribution company, sleeping on the floor of his office in Slough.

He then met partner Tana, and had three more children - Natalia, Isabella and Tallulah. In 2021, Peter posted a glowing tribute to his other half on Instagram for Mother's Day, describing her as the "most caring superhuman mum". He said: "Your unwavering love and support is something the girls and I are so lucky to have. You're our Mrs Incredible. Love you."

While Peter's children appear to live the high life on social media, jetting off on luxurious holidays and wearing designer clothes, he has repeatedly said he won't leave his fortune to his kids and insisted they must make their own way in life. According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2021, Peter was worth an estimated £1.1billion.

Speaking to The Telegraph about his parenting choices, he said: "I want my kids to be polite and respectful, stand on their own two feet... My children won't get large chunks of cash, no. I've set up an arrangement which gives them something called match funding. When they finish full-time education and start to work, whatever they earn, they will get the same again. Every year for the rest of their lives the trust will double their income."

The businessman has said he will double his children's income for the rest of their lives (
Image:
Instagram)

Holly Willoughby clash

Peter's other half Tara had been "exceptionally close" with pal Holly Willoughby before the latter backed out of their huge £11million lifestyle brand collaboration at the eleventh hour. The two families had been friends for more than 10 years - with Peter owning a 40 percent stake in Holly's husband Dan Baldwin's TV production company - and would regularly go on holiday together.

Lifestyle brand Truly was set up by Tara and Holly in 2016, with Peter becoming chairman in March 2018. But Holly dropped the bombshell she was withdrawing from the business venture at the last minute. The homeware and accessories business had been compared to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop brand and was due to deliver a gorgeous range of fashion, baby, wellness, living and travel products.

Holly had previously said the brand was about "beautiful things that are of the highest quality, surprisingly affordable and designed to make your life easier". So Peter was said to be 'furious' when he discovered that Holly was abandoning the project during a tense meeting at his business headquarters in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Peter and Holly's families were very close until their business deal crumbled

When the news was announced in September 2018, a source told the Mail Online: "Truly was by far the top of Holly's priorities. It was going to be her long-term future that would see her through the next couple of decades. Her decision to pull out left everyone involved absolutely stunned."

Experts believed Holly's departure could have cost Truly millions due to hefty investments in products and possible launch delays. At the time, a source close to Jones said: "We wouldn't comment on his business affairs." Holly decided to put all of her focus on her partnership with M&S and her commitments with ITV.

Explaining her reasons in an Instagram statement, Holly wrote: "After much consideration, I have made the decision to step away from Truly. To launch a brand needs total dedication and at the moment, with so many other commitments, this is not something I feel I can do without it starting to affect my family time at home. I wish Truly all the best for the future."

As for the status of their friendship now, Tara seemed to confirm that their failed joint venture had caused some permanent damage. When asked if they were still pals, she told The Telegraph: "Euggh. I'm not going to pretend. It was devastating. We were exceptionally close. And of course as a business, you really feel the loss of a celebrity face."

  • Dragons' Den airs on BBC One at 8pm tonight.