The former plasterer who left school at the age of 15 is now at No. 4 on the list of billionaires in Leicestershire, with an estimated wealth of £1.025 billion.
The owner of Triumph Motorcycles, John Bloor also owns building company Bloor Homes in Measham. His name follows that of Mike Ashley, Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner worth £3.5 billion, Dunelm founders Will Adderley and family with net worth of £1.280 billion and Notts engineering tycoon Tony Langley with £1.097 billion.
Bloor started his business ventures at the age of 20 when he built his first house. Bloor Housing is now one of the largest privately owned house builders in the UK. Bloor purchased rights to Triumph Motorcycles in 1983 for a sum of £150,000. Bloor initially sub licensed the brand but invested an additional £80 million a few years later to open the new Hinckley factory in 1991. Though the factory was destroyed by fire in 2002, the same was rebuilt into an exclusive production center producing thousands of bikes each year.
Triumph Tiger XCx launch in India earlier this year.Last year, Triumph Motorcycles sold over 52,000 bikes and opened production centers both in India and Brazil. Among the company models, it is the naked Trident 900 triple and Trophy 1200 sports tourer which are the most popular. It is the success of Triumph Motorcycles in the global market which has pushed Bloor’s net worth into the billionaire club.
Bloor, 71, is the recipient of OBE for services to the motorcycle industry and also has an Honorary Doctor of Laws from University of Leicester. Bloor, who lives in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, may be solely responsible for reviving the British iconic motorcycle brand but is rarely seen on a motorcycle due to health issues and hence prefers his Range Rover.
