For the first time Chris Dawson, owner of The Range, has joined Britain's other 103 billionaires on the Sunday Times Rich List 2014.
It is thought that Mr Dawson is the first billionaire to hail from Plymouth and with a fortune of £1.28bn he is the fastest mover on the list jumping 80 places to 77.

Mr Dawson left school with no qualifications and began his career by setting up a market stall and selling watches for £8.99.

The first Range store opened in 1989 and now the empire boasts 88 stores in the UK. By the end of 2014 it is expected that this figure will have grown to 110.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Mr Dawson said: "I own 100% of the company, I have no debts, and that's the way I like it.

"I was put on this planet to make money and I start thinking about it from the minute I wake up, I love a challenge.

"Business is like sport: nobody wants a bronze and it's not the taking part - that's a load of bollocks. You're out to win, you're out to break records, every time."

Last year The Range made a profit of £35.2m, on sales of £381.9m, up 29% and it is now overall Britain's 150th largest firm by sales.

Last month Mr Dawson announced plans to expand the store's head office in Plymouth and create an £8m state-of-the-art flagship store.