How Gary Neville turned himself from ex-football star to Dragon Den's tycoon after building £100m business empire with luxury hotels, restaurants, property development firm and thriving YouTube series The Overlap
Gary Neville's appearance on Dragon's Den last night is just the latest stage in his evolution from title-winning footballer to big shot business mogul - with a £100million empire spanning hospitality, property development and online media.
The Manchester United legend joined the cast of the BBC show for the very first time last night alongside regular tycoons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.
Despite a dizzying array business ventures ranging from part-owning League Two club Salford City with his former team-mates to two luxury Manchester hotels, some had questioned whether the Red Devil had what it took to become a dragon.
But reviews of the 48-year-old's performance were largely positive, with fans of the show - which sees budding entrepreneurs pitch to a panel of potential investors - hailing him as 'ace' and calling for him to become a permanent fixture.
The tycoon has ventures in everything from hospitality and property to digital marketing, which have netted millions of pounds - while attracting their fair share of controversy alone the way.
![Gary Neville appearing on Dragon's Den last night - where one of the contestants was pitching a company selling football boots used by star footballers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/80205795-12982485-Gary_Neville_made_quite_the_impression_in_his_first_appearance_o-m-20_1705663198902.jpg)
Gary Neville appearing on Dragon's Den last night - where one of the contestants was pitching a company selling football boots used by star footballers
![Neville runs The Stock Exchange Hotel, which has become known as one of Manchester's top hotels and includes a luxury penthouse suite](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/20246218-12982485-Neville_and_Ryan_Giggs_Stock_Exchange_hotel_includes_a_luxurious-a-38_1705663882849.jpg)
Neville runs The Stock Exchange Hotel, which has become known as one of Manchester's top hotels and includes a luxury penthouse suite
![Hotel Football is a luxury hotel overlooking Old Trafford](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/62017295-12982485-Hotel_Football_has_reportedly_lost_3_2_million_across_the_past_t-m-22_1705663265331.jpg)
Hotel Football is a luxury hotel overlooking Old Trafford
Among his major enterprises is Hotel Football, a luxury hotel overlooking Old Trafford, and The Stock Exchange Hotel near Piccadilly Gardens, one of the top hotels in Manchester, alongside former team-mate Ryan Giggs.
Neville became interested in property development in his 20s and now runs 'Relentless', an investment company specialising in ventures in and around the Manchester area, and 'Zerum' - a construction consultancy business.
Relentless is now involved in the lucrative £400million St Michael's project, which aims to build hotels, offices, apartments and a top restaurant in Manchester city centre.
''Relentless' is my favourite word and sums up my approach to life, business, everything really,' writes Neville on the firm's website.
But property is only a part of the former footballer's business empire.
In 2017, Neville co-founded Buzz 16, a production firm behind successful programmes such as The Overlap, Soccerbox and Class of '92 Full Time.
This proved a money spinner, with the Sky Sports pundit recently selling his controlling stake as part of deal reported to be worth around £200million.
His other online ventures have also hit the back of the net, with his YouTube series Overlap raking in £180,000 in profit last year.
Neville also used to be a senior investor in E3 Creative, a digital creative agency specialising in online marketing and corporate strategy, but left the venture in 2019.
![Neville's Relentless property development company is now involved in the lucrative £400million St Michael's project in Manchester city centre](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/79608233-12982485-He_admitted_making_huge_mistakes_in_the_planning_of_a_400million-a-36_1705663801500.jpg)
Neville's Relentless property development company is now involved in the lucrative £400million St Michael's project in Manchester city centre
![The scheme include a towers containing a five-star hotel, luxury flats, offices and a rooftop restaurant](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/72922185-12982485-The_scheme_include_a_towers_containing_a_five_star_hotel_luxury_-a-43_1705664291077.jpg)
The scheme include a towers containing a five-star hotel, luxury flats, offices and a rooftop restaurant
But it's not been smooth sailing for Neville.
In 2020 it was reported the Hotel Football suffered a loss of more than £3million over the space of two years.
Neville has had trouble turning some of his ventures into a success, with The Stock Market Grill - an 'upmarket British brasserie' that opened inside the Stock Exchange Hotel closing after a few months.
Meanwhile, in December 2022, Neville was branded a 'hypocrite' after it emerged his other luxury Stock Exchange Hotel had been advertising for staff on minimum wage.
It came after the former England player sparked fury by using ITV's World Cup final broadcast from Qatar to rant about Tory ministers paying nurses only 'a pittance'.
Alongside his former United pals Scholes, Giggs, brother Phil and Nicky Butt, Neville is one of the founding members of University UA92, which aims to of 'disrupt the traditional university model' by supporting disadvantaged youngsters.
However, Neville faced criticism when he sought to transform a field in Turn Moss, Trafford, into training pitches for the UA92 and his Salford City FC team.
![Alongside his former United pals Scholes, Giggs, brother Phil and Nicky Butt, Neville is one of the founding members of University UA92](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/80219701-12982485-image-a-34_1705663688638.jpg)
Alongside his former United pals Scholes, Giggs, brother Phil and Nicky Butt, Neville is one of the founding members of University UA92
![Known by most for his achievements on the pitch, Neville now has ventures in everything from hospitality and property to digital marketing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/27/12/65789659-12238065-Staff_perks_include_discounted_food_but_the_ideal_candidate_will-a-34_1687866567872.jpg)
Known by most for his achievements on the pitch, Neville now has ventures in everything from hospitality and property to digital marketing
During a heated planned meeting in 2018, when the proposals were revealed, Neville was heckled by audience members furious at the potential development of green belt land. He even claimed they called him a 'liar' during the clash.
Trafford council, which had been involved in funding the project, said the development would bring flooded land back into use and provide facilities for the local community.
But opponents from the group Friends of Turn Moss group rejected this and said instead it would hand over public space to the private sector while harming wildlife and disturbing residents of nearby retirement apartments.
Neville was quizzed about his plans at the packed meeting, held at the Old Trafford stadium, with some protesters questioning why he wasn't building the facilities in nearby Salford.
He said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest Salford City, which he co-owns, and told the meeting: 'I played at the Manchester United stadium in Trafford and I resent being told people are not welcome in boroughs they are not from.
'The idea people from Salford aren't welcome to use pitches in Trafford I find ridiculous.'
![Nevile began his Overlap YouTube series two years ago, with the former footballer starring alongside other professional athletes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/79608241-12982485-Nevile_began_his_Overlap_YouTube_series_two_years_ago_with_the_f-a-44_1705664321069.jpg)
Nevile began his Overlap YouTube series two years ago, with the former footballer starring alongside other professional athletes
![The Overlap has proven a financial success for Neville with a YouTube series and road tour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/72576543-12982485-The_Overlap_has_proven_a_financial_success_for_Neville_with_a_Yo-a-45_1705664323012.jpg)
The Overlap has proven a financial success for Neville with a YouTube series and road tour
In a tweet, which was later deleted, he claimed opponents had called him a 'liar' and told him to go back to Salford, but this was disputed, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Writing on the Friends of Turn Moss Facebook page, Helen Colley, a spokesman for the group, said: 'I didn't hear anyone call Gary Neville a liar.
'Also no one told him to go back to Salford. He was asked why he wouldn't invest in Salford where the team is based.'
Nevile began his Overlap YouTube series two years ago, with the former footballer starring alongside other professional athletes as he conducted in-depth and unique interviews with the likes of David Beckham, Tyson Fury, and Harry Kane.
It has since developed into one of the most-followed sports productions in England and has further evolved to feature an on-the-road live show where Neville, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane debate hot football topics.
The latest financial accounts show that its popularity has led to an increase in cash in the bank with The Overlap Ltd holding by funds of over £1million, a significant rise from the £576,169 the previous year.
Net current assets have also nearly doubled to £146,571 as the show's popularity continued its rise during the recently-concluded Premier League season.
A surge in revenue and profits means corporation tax has also increased from £19,025 in 2021 up to £34,357 for the 12 months of 2022, marking a rise of over 80 per cent.
![Neville celebrates a late goal scored by Salford FC, which he owns a stake in](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/69683531-12982485-image-a-40_1705664026442.jpg)
Neville celebrates a late goal scored by Salford FC, which he owns a stake in
![Salford managed to secure promotion to the Football League](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/19/11/72578185-12982485-Salford_managed_to_secure_promotion_to_the_Football_League-a-42_1705664251428.jpg)
Salford managed to secure promotion to the Football League
News that Gary would join Dragon's Den was announced by the BBC last year.
The ex-pro impressed his fellow dragons with his business knowledge but that didn't save him from jibes from the odd contestant.
One such entrant was former footballer Billy Childs, whose company sells boots used by players. He took the opportunity to rib Neville for his most visible job; his role as a pundit on Sky Sports.
'I'm excited about Gary being a Dragon here,' the 27-year-old began. 'Hopefully his interest in my business is better than his punditry - opinions on some team's defending in the Premier League.'
Ultimately Childs walked away unsuccessful as, despite loving the idea of selling memorabilia, Neville was hesitant, believing players should give their boots away for charity.
He was lauded by long-serving Dragon Meaden, who said he appeared as if he'd been a 'Dragon his entire life'.
However, it wasn't all glowing reviews as some on social media questioned his suitability for the gig.
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