Tom Pellereau, the first winner of The Apprentice to secure an equity investment from Lord Sugar, has regained full ownership of his business after buying out Lord Sugar’s 50 per cent stake.
The deal, agreed 14 years after the original investment, returns Styl Pro to 100 per cent founder ownership and marks the end of one of the show’s longest-running business partnerships. Financial terms of the buyout have not been disclosed.
Pellereau founded Styl Pro in 2011 after winning The Apprentice, when Lord Sugar invested £250,000 for a half share in the company. The deal was a landmark moment for the BBC series, which had previously offered winners a salaried role in Lord Sugar’s organisation before shifting to an investment-and-partnership model.
Since its launch, Styl Pro has grown into one of the UK’s fastest-selling electrical beauty-tech brands, known for products such as automated makeup brush cleaners and skincare devices. The company will continue to operate under Pellereau’s leadership, with him remaining founder and chief executive.
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