Despite holding two honorary doctorates from London universities, Sir Alan Sugar didn't go to univeristy. Hackney-born Sir Alan, 67, started a business selling electrical knickknacks from a van, but made his fortune selling consumer electronics at prices that undercut other retailers.

After an ill-fated chairmanship of Tottenham Hotspur during the 1990s when Sir Alan went through seven managers during his 16-year time at Spurs he became a household name in BBC's The Apprentice.