Fred Done
{{Short description|British billionaire businessman}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Fred Done
| image =
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Founder & Chairman, Betfred
| years_active = 1967–current
| employer =
| organization = Betfred
| known_for =
| children =
| relatives = Peter Done
}}
Fred Done (born March 1943) is a British billionaire businessman and the owner of the bookmaking chain Betfred, which has more than 1,600 betting shops in the UK.{{cite news|date=2 October 2020|title=Billionaire Brothers Bet on William Hill Before Stock Surge|publisher=Bloomberg Online|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-02/betting-family-to-pocket-220-million-from-william-hill-trade|access-date=2 February 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.betfred.com/about-us|access-date=2 February 2021|website=BetFred About Us |title=Welcome to the Betfred Group }}
Early life
Done grew up with three siblings in Ordsall, Greater Manchester.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-16|title=Who are Fred and Peter Done, the brothers behind Betfred bookmakers?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/16/who-are-fred-and-peter-done-the-brothers-behind-betfred-bookmakers|access-date=2021-11-24|website=the Guardian|language=en}} Done and his brother Peter Done left school aged 15 without qualifications after working in their father’s illegal bookmaking business.
Career
In 1967 aged 24, Done opened his first bookmaker with his brother, which they funded by a win on England's victory in 1966 FIFA World Cup the year before.{{Cite news|last=Duke|first=Simon|title=Betfred founders Fred and Peter Done eye sale of 25% stake in the Tote|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/betfred-founders-fred-and-peter-done-eye-sale-of-25-stake-in-the-tote-s88p09hpv|access-date=2021-11-24|issn=0140-0460}}
By the mid-1980s, they had more than 70 bookmaking shops.{{Cite news|date=2021-11-24|title=CEO Secrets: From Ordsall poverty to being a billionaire|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59299051|access-date=2021-11-24}} In 1983, Done founded Peninsula Business Services, which has more than 10 companies operating in employment law, workplace health, and human resources.{{Cite web|title=Who are Peninsula?|url=https://www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/about/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=Peninsula UK|language=en-GB}}
In 1998, Done paid out early Manchester United to win the Premier League title, making him the first bookmaker to pay out early at the end of the season.{{Cite web|title=Betfred Corporate – History|url=http://www.betfredcorporate.com/about-betfred/history/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=www.betfredcorporate.com}}
In 2004, Done's chain of bookmakers was renamed Betfred.
In 2015, Done announced he was in talks to sell a 25% stake in The Tote after buying it from the UK government for £265 million in 2011.{{Cite news|last=Duke|first=Simon|date=25 February 2018|title=Betfred founder Fred eyes sale of 25% stake in the Tote|language=en|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/betfred-founders-fred-and-peter-done-eye-sale-of-25-stake-in-the-tote-s88p09hpv|access-date=20 July 2018|issn=0956-1382}}
In 2018, Done made an investment in Adzooma, an online advertising platform based in Nottingham, UK.{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesscloud.co.uk/news/adzooma-partners-with-google-to-help-smes-grow-online|title=Adzooma partners with Google to help SMEs grow online|website=BusinessCloud.co.uk|date=21 August 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-22}}
In 2020, Done invested in GGRecon, an esports publisher based in Manchester, UK.{{cite web |title=About GGRecon |url=https://www.ggrecon.com/about |website=GGRecon |access-date=2 February 2021}}{{cite news |title=These Mancs play games for a living: GGRecon is Manchester's best Esports publisher |url=https://themanc.com/feature/these-mancs-play-games-for-a-living-ggrecon-is-manchesters-best-esports-publisher/ |access-date=2 February 2021 |publisher=The Manc |date=30 June 2020}}
In 2021, Done stepped down as the chief executive of Betfred and took up the role of chairman.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-11|title=Fred Done Appoints Joanne Whittaker as Betfred CEO|url=https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/fred-done-appoints-joanne-whittaker-as-betfred-ceo/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=GamblingNews|language=en}}
In 2023, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated Done's net worth to be £1.87 billion.{{Cite news |last=Tyler |first=Richard |date=2023-07-24 |title=Peter Done: I lost Betfred to my brother on a coin toss, but I'm still a winner |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/peter-done-i-lost-betfred-to-my-brother-on-a-coin-toss-but-im-still-a-winner-ppj8tn60q |access-date=2023-07-24 |issn=0140-0460}}
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in May 2025, his and his family's net worth is £2.915 billion.{{Cite web |title=The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}