Doug Perkins

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

Doug Perkins
BornApril 1943 (age 80)
Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
EducationLlanelli Boys Grammar School
Alma materCardiff University
OccupationBusinessman
Known forco-founder of Specsavers
SpouseMary Perkins
Children3

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]

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