James Dyson

{{Short description|British inventor and businessman (born 1947)}}

{{other people|James Dyson}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = Sir

| name = James Dyson

| honorific-suffix = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100%|OM|CBE|RDI|FRS|FREng|FCSD|FIET}}

| image = Sir James Dyson CBE FREng FRS.jpg

| caption = Dyson in 2015

| module = {{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes

| office = Provost of the Royal College of Art

| termstart = {{Start date|2011|8|1|df=y}}

| termend = {{End date|2017|7|1|df=y}}

| predecessor = Terence Conran

| successor = Jonathan Ive (as Chancellor)

}}

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|5|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cromer, Norfolk, England

| spouse = {{marriage|Deirdre Hindmarsh|1968}}

| children = 3

| relatives = James Dyson (grandfather)

| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|

| occupation = {{hlist|Inventor|industrial designer|farmer|business magnate}}

| awards = {{Plainlist|

}}

| website = {{Plainlist|

  • {{URL|dyson.co.uk}}
  • {{URL|jamesdysonaward.org}}
  • {{URL|jamesdysonfoundation.com}}

}}

}}

Sir James Dyson (born 2 May 1947){{Who's Who | title=Dyson, James | id = U14462 | volume = 2015 | edition = online Oxford University Press}} is a British inventor, industrial designer, farmer, and business magnate who founded the Dyson company.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/23/dyson-to-build-electric-cars-in-singapore-with-launch-planned-for-2021|title=Dyson to build electric cars in Singapore – with 2021 launch planned|last=Jolly|first=Jasper|date=23 October 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=24 October 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://asiatimes.com/article/singapore-and-the-eu-fly-the-flag-of-free-trade/|title=Singapore and the EU fly the flag of free trade|work=Asia Times|access-date=24 October 2018}} He is best known as the inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2023, he was the fifth-richest person in the United Kingdom, with an estimated family net worth of £23 billion.{{cite news|title=The Sunday Times Rich List 2023| url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list |date=19 May 2023|work=The Sunday Times|editor1=Watts, Robert|access-date=19 May 2023}} As of March 2025, Forbes lists Dyson's net worth as $13.3 billion.{{Cite web |title=James Dyson |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-dyson/ |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

He served as the Provost of the Royal College of Art from August 2011 to July 2017,{{cite web|url=https://www.rca.ac.uk/studying-at-the-rca/the-rca-experience/student-voices/rca-luminaries/sir-james-dyson/|title=Sir James Dyson|publisher=Royal College of Art|access-date=26 May 2017|archive-date=23 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123151257/https://www.rca.ac.uk/studying-at-the-rca/the-rca-experience/student-voices/rca-luminaries/sir-james-dyson/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/apples-jony-ive-will-be-next-royal-college-of-art-chancellor|title=Apple's Jony Ive Named Royal College of Art Chancellor|work=Architectural Digest|access-date=26 May 2017}} and opened a new university, the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, on Dyson's Wiltshire campus in September 2017.{{cite web | title=James Dyson launches new university to bridge engineering skills gap|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/04/james-dyson-addresses-engineering-skills-gap-with-university-launch|website=The Guardian|date=4 November 2016|access-date=22 August 2017}}

Early life and education

James Dyson was born 2 May 1947 in Cromer, Norfolk, one of three children of Janet M. (née Bolton) and Alec William Dyson.1881 United Kingdom census, [https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7572/images/NTHRG11_1571_1575-0175 Abbotsford, Wellingborough]; 1891 United Kingdom census, [https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/6598/images/NTHRG12_1211_1213-0414 Abbotsford, Wellingborough]; 1911 United Kingdom census, [https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2352/images/rg14_08529_0005_05 Wellingborough]; National Registration Act 1939, [https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/tna_r39_6327_6327f_008 "Old House, Lower Street, Thriplow, South Cambridgeshire… 1. Dyson, James Wm / 2. Dyson Ethel / 3. Dyson, Alec William"]; [https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8753&h=56598866&tid=&pid=&queryId=c2f43c894014e84e215ded987ddf6745&usePUB=true&_phsrc=qOI9&_phstart=successSource "Alec W Dyson"] in England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916–2005; [https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8782&h=22823377&tid=&pid=&queryId=55368e3779b129412df44db553bc4f1d&usePUB=true&_phsrc=qOI14&_phstart=successSource "James Dyson"] in England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007 ancestry.co.uk, accessed 17 September 2021 {{subscription required}} He was named after his grandfather, James Dyson. His father died of prostate cancer when he was nine years old and he described his childhood home as 'penniless' after his father's death. He was nonetheless educated at Gresham's School, an independent boarding school in Holt, Norfolk, from 1956 to 1965, due to the Headmaster agreeing to pay his school fees.{{cite book |title=Against The Odds |last1=Dyson |first1=James |author-link=James Dyson |first2=Giles |last2=Coren |author-link2=Giles Coren |year=1997 |edition=1st |publisher=Orion Publishing |location=London, UK |isbn=0-7528-0981-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/againstoddsautob0000dyso/page/12 12–13] |url=https://archive.org/details/againstoddsautob0000dyso/page/12}}{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, James Dyson on Frank Whittle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ypz8 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} At school he excelled at long-distance running, and said he learned determination from it.{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Hannah|title=James Dyson Cleans Up|url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/08/01/leadership-facetime-dyson-cx_hc_0801dyson/?sh=5a3c7cf453c8|website=Forbes|access-date=17 August 2016}}

Dyson spent a year, 1965–1966, at the Byam Shaw School of Art, choosing the school because of its excellent reputation under principal Maurice de Sausmarez's leadership.{{Cite web |title=James Dyson |url=https://www.rca.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/james-dyson/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=RCA Website |language=en-GB}} Dyson credits de Sausmarez’s guidance and teaching with inspiring him to become a designer.{{Cite web |last=Dyson |first=James |title=My Teacher: James Dyson on Maurice de Sausmarez – Tate Etc |url=https://www.tate.org.uk/tate-etc/issue-37-summer-2016/my-teacher-james-dyson-on-maurice-de-sausmarez |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Tate |language=en-GB}} In 2015 Dyson spoke at the opening of a retrospective exhibition of de Sausmarez's work at the University of Leeds, speaking of the great influence the artist and former principal had on him and his career.{{Cite web |last=Leeds |first=University of |date=2015-10-23 |title=Sir James Dyson pays tribute to his artistic mentor |url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-arts-culture/news/article/3780/sir-james-dyson-pays-tribute-to-his-artistic-mentor |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=www.leeds.ac.uk |language=en}}

He studied furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art between 1966 and 1970, before moving into engineering. It was while attending the Royal College of Art{{cite book |last1=Dale |first1=Nigel |title=Connexions: The Unseen Hand of Tony Hunt |date=2012 |publisher=Whittles Publishing |location=Foreword by Sir James Dyson |isbn=978-184995-030-5 |pages=VII-VIII |edition=First}} to study fine art that he transferred to industrial design, partly because of the tutorage of structural engineer Anthony Hunt.

Early inventions

In 1970, Dyson helped to design the Sea Truck while studying at the Royal College of Art. His first original invention, the Ballbarrow, was a modified version of a wheelbarrow using a ball instead of a wheel and was featured on the BBC's Tomorrow's World television programme. Dyson persisted with the idea of ball instead of wheel and invented the Trolleyball, a trolley that launched boats. He designed the Wheelboat{{cite web|url=http://content.dyson.co.nz/about/story/default.asp?searchType=story&story=earlydesigns|title=Inside Dyson|publisher=Dyson|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018160236/http://content.dyson.co.nz/about/story/default.asp?searchType=story&story=earlydesigns|archive-date=18 October 2015|url-status=dead}} which could travel at speeds of 64 kilometres per hour (40 mph) on land and water.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Vacuum cleaners

{{main|Dyson (company)}}

File:Dyson.cleaner.dc07.arp.jpg vacuum cleaner]]

In the late 1970s, Dyson had the idea of using cyclonic separation to create a vacuum cleaner that would not lose suction as it picked up dirt. He became frustrated with his Hoover Junior's diminishing performance: the dust bag pores kept becoming clogged with dust, which reduced suction.{{cite web |url=http://www.dyson.co.uk/community/aboutdyson.aspx |title=About Dyson |publisher=Dyson |year=2015 |access-date=2 December 2015 |archive-date=21 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121180147/http://www.dyson.co.uk/community/aboutdyson.aspx |url-status=dead }} The cyclone idea came from a sawmill that used cyclone technology.Issue: The Journal of Business and Design, vol. 8, no. 1

Partly supported by his wife's salary as an art teacher, and after five years and about 5,127 prototypes, Dyson launched the "G-Force" cleaner in 1983.{{cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/59549/failure-doesnt-suck|title=Failure Doesn't Suck|date=1 May 2007|newspaper=Fast Company|access-date=30 July 2018}} No manufacturer or distributor would handle his product in the UK, as it would have disturbed the market for replacement dust bags, so Dyson launched it in Japan through catalogue sales.{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/ceonetwork/2006/08/01/leadership-facetime-dyson-cx_hc_0801dyson.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016234313/http://www.forbes.com/ceonetwork/2006/08/01/leadership-facetime-dyson-cx_hc_0801dyson.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=16 October 2007 | work=Forbes | title=James Dyson Cleans Up | date=1 August 2006}} Manufactured in bright pink, the G-Force sold for the equivalent of $2,000,{{cite magazine|magazine=New York Magazine |date=22 November 2016 |title=James Dyson on 5,126 Vacuums That Didn't Work— and the One That Finally Did |url=https://nymag.com/vindicated/2016/11/james-dyson-on-5-126-vacuums-that-didnt-work-and-1-that-did.html}} or around $5,500 in 2023 taking inflation into account.using https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=2000&year=1986 and cf. https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1986?amount=2000 It won the 1991 International Design Fair Prize in Japan. Dyson filed a series of patents for his dual cyclone vacuum cleaner [https://patents.google.com/patent/EP0037674A1 EP0037674] in 1980, and when his invention was rejected by the major manufacturers, he set up his own manufacturing company, Dyson Ltd. In June 1993, he opened a research centre and factory in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Dyson's slogan, "say goodbye to the bag", proved attractive to the buying public. The Dyson Dual Cyclone became the fastest-selling vacuum cleaner ever made in the UK. It outsold those of some of the companies that had rejected his idea, and became one of the most popular brands in the UK.{{cite book |title=Against The Odds |last1=Dyson |first1=James |author-link=James Dyson |first2=Giles |last2=Coren |year=1997 |edition=1st |publisher=Orion Publishing |location=London, UK |isbn=0-7528-0981-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/againstoddsautob0000dyso/page/134 134, 135, 244] |url=https://archive.org/details/againstoddsautob0000dyso/page/134 }} In early 2005, it was reported that Dyson cleaners had become the market leaders in the United States by value (though not by the number of units sold). Dyson licensed the technology in North America from 1986 to 2001 to Fantom Technologies, after which Dyson entered the market directly.Zippia "Dyson History" https://www.zippia.com/dyson-careers-1124212/history/

Following this success, other major manufacturers began to market their own cyclonic vacuum cleaners. In 1999, Dyson sued Hoover (UK) for patent infringement, and the High Court ruled that Hoover had deliberately copied a fundamental part of his patented designs in making its Triple Vortex bagless vacuum cleaner range.{{cite news|title=Dyson cleans up in patent battle with rival Hoover|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1368860/Dyson-cleans-up-in-patent-battle-with-rival-Hoover.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1368860/Dyson-cleans-up-in-patent-battle-with-rival-Hoover.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Telegraph|access-date=28 August 2015|date=3 October 2000}}{{cbignore}} Hoover agreed to pay damages of £4 million.{{cite news |work=The Guardian |date=4 October 2002 |title=Hoover taken to cleaners in £4m Dyson case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/oct/04/claredyer |first=Clare |last=Dyer |access-date=8 July 2024}}

In mid-2014, Dyson personally appeared in Tokyo to introduce his "360 Eye" robotic vacuum cleaner. The new model featured 360° scanning and mapping for navigation, cyclonic dust separation, a custom-designed digital motor for high suction, tank treads for traction, a full-width brushroll bar, and user interface via a free iOS or Android app.{{cite web|title=Dyson 360 Eye™ robot|url=https://www.dyson360eye.com/|publisher=Dyson|access-date=26 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326022104/https://www.dyson360eye.com/|archive-date=26 March 2015}}

Interviewed by Fast Company (May 2007), Dyson asserted the importance of failure in one's life. "I made 5,127 prototypes of my vacuum before I got it right. There were 5,126 failures. But I learned from each one. That's how I came up with a solution. So I don't mind failure. I've always thought that schoolchildren should be marked by the number of failures they've had. The child who tries strange things and experiences lots of failures to get there is probably more creative."

Other inventions

In 2000, Dyson expanded his appliance range to include a washing machine called the ContraRotator, which had two rotating drums moving in opposite directions. The range was offered in bright colours, rather than the usual white or silver, although white versions came later. It was not a commercial success and was discontinued in 2005.{{cite news |url=http://www.current.com.au/2007/12/11/article/UUFGGOHYWY |title=Dyson declines to commit to controversial Contrarotator |date=11 December 2007 |publisher=Current.com.au |access-date=19 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603160954/http://www.current.com.au/2007/12/11/article/UUFGGOHYWY |archive-date=3 June 2011 }}

In 2002, the company created a model of the optical illusions depicted in the lithographs of Dutch artist M. C. Escher. Engineer Derek Phillips, after a year of work, created a water sculpture in which the water appeared to flow upwards to the tops of four ramps arranged in a square, before cascading to the bottom of the next ramp. Called Wrong Garden, the sculpture was displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2003.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3046791.stm |work=BBC News| title=How does Dyson make water go uphill? | date=21 May 2003 | access-date=5 May 2010}} The illusion was accomplished by having water containing air bubbles pumped to a slit at the top from which it cascaded down, making it appear that the water was flowing upwards.{{cite news|work=BBC News |date=21 May 2003 |title=How does Dyson make water go uphill? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3046791.stm |accessdate=24 December 2023}}

File:DysonAirblade.jpg]]

In October 2006, Dyson launched a fast hand dryer, the Dyson Airblade, that used a thin layer of air as a squeegee to remove water from the skin, rather than using heat.{{cite web|publisher=GreenBiz |date=15 October 2015 |title=More than hot air: Which hand dryers save energy, dry fast? |url=https://www.greenbiz.com/article/more-hot-air-which-hand-dryers-save-energy-dry-fast|accessdate=24 December 2023}}

File:Fans by Dyson 1 2018-06-02.jpg

A fan without external blades called the Air Multiplier was launched in October 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.dyson.com/fans/ |publisher=Dyson|title=Air Multiplier|accessdate=1 December 2022}} Functions such as heating, air-purifying and humidifying were added later.{{cite web |last=Karcz |first=Anthony |date=21 June 2019 |title=Dyson Pure Hot+Cool vs. Dyson Pure Cool Me |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykarcz/2019/06/21/dyson-pure-hotcool-vs-dyson-pure-cool-me/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=Forbes }}

In April 2016, Dyson launched a smaller and quieter hair dryer, the Dyson Supersonic.{{cite web|url=http://www.dyson.com/haircare/supersonic.aspx|title=The Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer|publisher=Dyson|access-date=27 April 2016}}

Research and development

In 2017, Dyson spent £7 million a week on research and development of new products.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/03/27/sir-james-dyson-remain-controls-dyson-reports-record-results/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/03/27/sir-james-dyson-remain-controls-dyson-reports-record-results/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sir James Dyson to remain at controls as Dyson reports record results|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 March 2017}}{{cbignore}} The company is the UK's biggest investor in robotics and artificial intelligence research, employing over 3,500 engineers and scientists, and engaging in more than 40 university research programmes. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Dyson said, “We’re looking at more non-domestic products but we are not rushing to do lots of different things,” he said. “We are a private company so we can do it when we are ready.”

In November 2014, Dyson announced plans to invest a further £1.5 billion into the research and development of new technology, including funding for an expanded campus at the Dyson UK headquarters in Malmesbury which will create up to 3,000 jobs.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/nov/21/sir-james-dyson-research-development-product-invention |title=Dyson founder ploughs £1.5bn into product invention and new campus |work=The Guardian |date=21 November 2014}}

The then Prime Minister David Cameron, said: "Dyson is a great British success story and the expansion of the Malmesbury campus will create thousands of new jobs, providing a real boost to the local economy and financial security for more hardworking families. Investment on this scale shows confidence in our long-term economic plan to back business, create more jobs and secure a brighter future for Britain".{{cite news |url=http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/11618311.Dyson_announces___1_5billion_of_investment_and_makes_first_steps_on_expansion_to_Malmesbury_headquarters/?ref=mr |title=Dyson announces £1.5billion of investment and makes first steps on expansion to Malmesbury headquarters |work=Wiltshire and Gloucester Standard |date=21 November 2014}}

In March 2016, Dyson announced a second new multimillion-pound research and development centre on a {{convert|517|acre|ha|adj=on}} former Ministry of Defence (MoD) site at Hullavington, Wiltshire. The company said it aimed to double its UK-based workforce in the next five or six years. Dyson said: "After 25 years of UK growth, and continuing expansion globally, we are fast outgrowing our Malmesbury Campus. To win on the world stage you have to develop new technology and develop great products and that's what we're doing here.".{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-39117982 | publisher=BBC | title=Dyson to open second tech campus in Hullavington | date=1 March 2016}}

In September 2017, Dyson announced plans to produce an electric vehicle, aiming to be launched in 2020, investing £2 billion of his own money.{{cite news|title=Dyson's car faces low barriers to entry but high barriers to success|url=https://www.economist.com/news/britain/21729726-apple-abandoned-electric-vehicles-too-complicated-can-vacuum-cleaner-king-do|newspaper=The Economist|date=27 September 2017}} He assembled a team of more than 400 people for the project. According to reports, the vehicle was intended to be powered by a solid-state battery, Dyson having acquired the battery company Sakti3 in 2015.{{cite news|author=P.M.|title=Will solid-state batteries power us all?|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/10/economist-explains-6|newspaper=The Economist|date=16 October 2017}} In October 2019, Dyson announced that the electric car project had been cancelled due to it not being commercially viable.{{cite news |title=Dyson has scrapped its electric car project |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50004184 |access-date=11 October 2019 |publisher=BBC |date=11 October 2019}}

In 2017, he launched the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Tax affairs

Dyson's tax affairs have been subject to considerable scrutiny in the British press across the political spectrum.{{cite news |date=27 January 2019 |title=UK's 'highest taxpayers' revealed in first-ever Sunday Times list |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-47015517 |access-date=26 March 2022}}{{cite web |date=21 April 2021 |title=Sir James Dyson has moved back to UK, docs show, as tax row continues |url=https://www.cityam.com/boris-johnson-told-sir-james-dyson-he-would-fix-tax-issue/ |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=CityAM }}{{cite web |date=22 April 2021 |title=A lot of people pitched in during Covid, but only Dyson got a tax waiver for it {{!}} Gaby Hinsliff |url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/22/lobbying-james-dyson-boris-johnson |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=The Guardian }}{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Lucy |last2=Tovey |first2=Alan |date=21 April 2021 |title=Sir James Dyson moves back to Britain after two years in Singapore |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/04/21/james-dyson-relocates-uk-two-years-singapore-move/ |access-date=26 March 2022 |issn=0307-1235}}{{cite web |last=Cordon |first=Gavin |date=21 April 2021 |title=Boris Johnson told Sir James Dyson he would 'fix' tax issue |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/boris-johnson-james-dyson-nhs-government-prime-minister-b930834.html |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=www.standard.co.uk }}

= Lux Leaks =

Dyson publicly stated in 2008, "I think it's wrong to direct your business for tax reasons. Your business should be where you can do it best".{{cite news|last=Bowers|first=Simon|date=5 November 2014|title=Luxembourg tax files: how tiny state rubber-stamped tax avoidance on an industrial scale|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/nov/05/-sp-luxembourg-tax-files-tax-avoidance-industrial-scale|access-date=23 September 2021|issn=0261-3077}} However, in 2009, his company Dyson Ltd incorporated a new parent company in Malta{{cite web|title=Clear Cover Limited {{!}} ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database|url=https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/nodes/55042450|access-date=23 September 2021|website=offshoreleaks.icij.org}} to create £300 million and £550 million in intercompany loans via Luxembourg and Isle of Man companies that increased tax-deductible interest payments in the UK between 2009 and 2012. The creation of the additional UK tax-deductible interest payments relied on deals with the Luxembourg tax authorities revealed in the 2014 Lux Leaks.{{cite web |date=5 November 2014 |title=Explore the Documents: Luxembourg Leaks Database – ICIJ |url=http://www.icij.org/project/luxembourg-leaks/explore-documents-luxembourg-leaks-database?icij_navigate=luxleaks&icij_navigate_luxleaks=/apps/2014/12/luxleaks/companies/dyson.html |access-date=26 March 2022 }} The Dyson group stated to The Guardian in 2014: "At no time did the [group's former] non-UK structure deliver any significant tax advantage and, of the entities in question, all have been dissolved".

= Estimated tax contributions =

In the 2022 Tax List published by The Sunday Times in January 2022, Dyson and his family were listed as 11th of the UK's 50 biggest taxpayers. The newspaper estimated £101 million was contributed for the last full year on record.{{cite news |last=Watts |first=Robert |title=The Tax List 2022: the UK's 50 biggest taxpayers revealed |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-tax-list-2022-the-uks-50-biggest-taxpayers-revealed-2v0hg8fmf |access-date=19 February 2022 |website=The Times |publisher=The Sunday Times}} The IPPR think tank noted that only two of those listed in the 2021 Sunday Times Rich List – Dyson and the Weston family – were listed in that year's Tax List.{{cite web |title=Missing: the UK's richest who are absent from the Sunday Times top 10 taxpayers list |url=https://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/missing-the-uk-s-richest-who-are-absent-from-the-sunday-times-top-10-taxpayers-list |access-date=19 February 2022 |website=ippr.org.uk |date=28 January 2022 |publisher=IPPR}} In the previous three years, Dyson had featured at 6th, 4th and 3rd in the Sunday Times Tax List, with the newspaper estimating a total contribution of £345.8 million to the UK exchequer. However the Tax List methodology includes the taxes paid by the businesses owned by the people listed rather than just the individual personal taxes paid, and so is not a measure of how much tax is paid by Dyson himself on his personal income. {{cite news |last=Watts |first=Roberts |title=The Sunday Times Tax List 2021: the UK's 50 biggest taxpayers |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/the-sunday-times-tax-list-2021-the-uks-50-biggest-taxpayers-pltrcrmp8 |access-date=19 February 2022 |website=The Times |publisher=The Sunday Times}}{{cite news |last=Watts |first=Roberts |title=The Sunday Times Tax List 2020: meet Britain's top 50 tax payers |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/sunday-times-tax-list-2020-uk-taxpayers-nhs56k95d |access-date=19 February 2022 |website=The Times |publisher=The Sunday Times}}{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Watts |title=Tax List 2019: David Beckham and James Dyson among biggest payers |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/tax-list-2019-david-beckham-and-james-dyson-among-biggest-payers-9rv7rw3gv |access-date=26 March 2022 |issn=0140-0460}}

Political views

=Pro-Eurozone=

In 1998, Dyson was one of the chairmen and chief executives of 20 FTSE 100 companies who signed a statement published in The Financial Times calling on the government for early British membership of the Eurozone.{{cite news|title=Business leaders give big boost to pro-euro lobby|last=Brown|first=Kevin|work=Financial Times|location=London|date=23 November 1998|page=6}} He claimed that failure to join the euro would lead to the destruction of the British manufacturing base.{{cite news|title=Strong pound puts Dyson in a spin: Entrepreneur threatens to take production abroad|last=Gow|first=David|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=16 February 2000|page=27}} In February 2000 claiming that the strength of the pound was affecting his company's profits on exports to France and Germany, Dyson threatened to shift focus from his Malmesbury plant to a new plant set up in Malaysia because the government would not join the euro.{{cite news|title=Dyson: Only Euro can stop me heading East|last=Manning|first=Clinton|work=Daily Mirror|location=London|date=16 February 2000|page=8}}{{cite news|title=Sucked in by euro illusion|work=The Times|location=London|date=16 February 2000|page=29}} Later in 2000 Dyson again threatened to shift production abroad.{{cite news|title=Dyson in new euro jobs threat: I'll expand outside UK if we stay out, says cleaner king; Factory in Malaysia is standing by|last=Doward|first=Jamie|work=The Observer|location=London|date=5 November 2000|page=1|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2000/nov/05/theobserver.observerbusiness4|access-date=11 January 2018}}{{cite news|title=A master of spin comes clean|last=Teeman|first=Tim|work=The Times|location=London|date=27 October 2001|page=3}} In February 2002, Dyson announced that production was being shifted to the Far East. In August 2003, the assembly of washing machines was also switched from Malmesbury to Malaysia.{{cite news|title=Dyson production moves to Malaysia|first=Roland|last=Gribben|date=21 August 2003|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2860995/Dyson-production-moves-to-Malaysia.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2860995/Dyson-production-moves-to-Malaysia.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=11 January 2018}}{{cbignore}}

=Pro-Brexit=

Dyson was one of the most prominent UK business leaders to publicly support Brexit before the referendum in June 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/14/sir-james-dyson-upbeat-about-brexit-as-company-invests-in-expansion|title=Sir James Dyson upbeat about Brexit as company invests in expansion|first=Graham|last=Ruddick|date=13 September 2016|work=The Guardian}} Since the referendum, Dyson has stated that Britain should leave the EU Single Market and that this would "liberate" the economy and allow Britain to strike its own trade deals around the world.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/now-sir-james-dyson-urges-single-market-exit-just-months-after-losing-a-nasty-battle-in-brussels-a7297601.html|title=Now Sir James Dyson urges single market exit, just months after losing a nasty battle in Brussels|date=14 September 2016|work=The Independent}} During 2016, 19% of Dyson Ltd exports went to EU countries, compared with 81% to non-EU countries.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/sir-james-dyson-so-if-we-leave-the-eu-no-one-will-trade-with-us/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/sir-james-dyson-so-if-we-leave-the-eu-no-one-will-trade-with-us/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sir James Dyson: 'So if we leave the EU no one will trade with us? Cobblers...'|first=Alison|last=Pearson|date=10 June 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}} In 2017, Dyson suggested that the UK should leave the EU without an interim deal and that "uncertainty is an opportunity".{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/09/14/sir-james-dyson-make-clean-break-europe-without-interim-deal/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/09/14/sir-james-dyson-make-clean-break-europe-without-interim-deal/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sir James Dyson: 'Make a clean break from Europe without an interim deal'|date=14 September 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|last1=Tovey|first1=Alan}}{{cbignore}} Previously, in 2014, Dyson had said he would be voting to leave the European Union to avoid being "dominated and bullied by the Germans".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11245359/Dyson-Britain-should-leave-Europe-to-avoid-being-dominated-by-Germans.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11245359/Dyson-Britain-should-leave-Europe-to-avoid-being-dominated-by-Germans.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Dyson: Britain should leave Europe to avoid being 'dominated by Germans'|date=21 November 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|last1=Swinford|first1=Steven}}{{cbignore}} In November 2017, Dyson was critical of the UK government Brexit negotiations and said "we should just walk away and they will come to us".{{cite news|last=Wood |first=Zoe |date=19 November 2017 |title=How Brexity is your vacuum cleaner? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2017/nov/19/brexit-vacuum-cleaner-james-dyson |work=The Guardian|access-date=2 December 2017}} After it became public in January 2019 that Dyson's company was to move its headquarters from Malmesbury to Singapore, he was accused of hypocrisy regarding his campaign for Brexit.{{cite news|date=22 January 2019 |title=Brexit cheerleader Sir James Dyson relocates firm's headquarters from Wiltshire to Singapore |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/dyson-headquarters-brexit-uk-singapore-hq-move-hoover-vacuum-a8740996.html |work=The Independent|access-date=22 January 2019}}

=European Court of Justice=

In November 2015, Dyson lost its case against EU energy labelling laws in the European General Court;{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/11989054/James-Dyson-loses-EU-battle-over-vacuum-cleaners.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/11989054/James-Dyson-loses-EU-battle-over-vacuum-cleaners.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=James Dyson loses EU battle over vacuum cleaners|date=15 June 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|last1=Holehouse|first1=Matthew}}{{cbignore}} however, a subsequent appeal in the European Court of Justice said that the previous ruling had "distorted the facts" and "erred in law".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/05/11/dyson-seizes-victory-european-courts-brussels-vaccum-cleaner/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/05/11/dyson-seizes-victory-european-courts-brussels-vaccum-cleaner/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Dyson seizes victory in European courts over Brussels vacuum cleaner rules|first=Alan|last=Tovey|date=11 May 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}

= Criticism of Rishi Sunak policies =

Dyson criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in January 2023 for what he called "ever higher tax bills" for corporations.{{cite news |last=Kollewe |first=Julia |date=19 January 2023 |title=James Dyson attacks Rishi Sunak's 'shortsighted, stupid' tax policies |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/19/james-dyson-attacks-rishi-sunaks-shortsighted-stupid-tax-policies |access-date=14 December 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} That May, Dyson said that Sunak had a "scandalous neglect" of the science and technology sector.{{cite web |last=France |first=Anthony |date=13 May 2023 |title=Sir James Dyson says Rishi Sunak 'full of hot air' on science |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/sir-james-dyson-rishi-sunak-technology-science-policies-uk-b1080865.html |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=Evening Standard }}{{cite news |first1=Oliver |last1=Wright |first2= Andrew |last2=Ellson |date=14 December 2023 |title=James Dyson: Rishi Sunak's focus on science is hot air |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/technology/article/james-dyson-rishi-sunaks-focus-on-science-is-hot-air-lqq5lsk33 |access-date=14 December 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}{{cite news |date=27 September 2023 |title=The New Statesman's right power list |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2023/09/the-new-statesmans-right-power-list |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=New Statesman }}

Libel cases

In 2022, Dyson sued Channel 4 and ITN over allegations of exploitation of workers at one of his suppliers' factories. In the High Court, it was ruled that there was no personal defamation.{{cite web |title=England and Wales High Court (King's Bench Division) Decisions |url=https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/KB/2022/2718.html |website=BAILLI |access-date=31 October 2022}}{{cite news |title=High court dismisses James Dyson libel claim against Channel 4 News |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/oct/31/high-court-dismisses-james-dyson-libel-claim-against-channel-4-news |website=The Guardian|date=31 October 2022 |last1=Rawlinson |first1=Kevin }}

In December 2023, Dyson unsuccessfully brought a libel claim against Mirror Group Newspapers in which he claimed that an opinion article published in the Daily Mirror in January 2022 criticising his company's move to Singapore following his support of Brexit was "highly distressing and hurtful".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-67589147 |title=Sir James Dyson loses libel claim against Daily Mirror publisher |publisher=BBC News |date=1 December 2023 |first=Sammy |last=Jenkins |access-date=9 July 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-sir-james-dyson-loses-31572649 |title=Sir James Dyson loses libel claim against the Daily Mirror |publisher=Daily Mirror |date=1 December 2023 |first1=Jess |last1=Glass |first2=Chiara |last2=Fiorillo |access-date=9 July 2024}}

Philanthropy

File:James Dyson in February 2013.jpg

Dyson set up the James Dyson Foundation in 2002 to support design and engineering education. It is a registered charity under English law{{EW charity|1099709|The James Dyson Foundation}} and operates in the UK, US, and Japan. The foundation aims to inspire young people to study engineering and become engineers by encouraging students to think differently and to make mistakes. The foundation supports engineering education in schools and universities, as well as medical and scientific research in partnership with charities. It achieves this by funding resources such as the "Engineering Box", a box filled with activities for a school to use as a teaching aid.

In May 2014, the foundation announced an £8 million donation to create a technology hub at the University of Cambridge. The donation would also allow for a design and construction lab to be developed for undergraduate engineering students.{{cite web |url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/news/the-james-dyson-foundation-donates-ps8m-to-fuel-invention-powerhouse|title=The James Dyson Foundation donates £8m to fuel invention powerhouse |date=6 May 2014 |publisher=University of Cambridge |access-date=12 August 2015}}

In March 2015, the foundation gave £12 million to Imperial College London to allow the purchase of a Post Office building in Exhibition Road from the Science Museum. Imperial College was to open the Dyson School of Design Engineering in this building, and teach a new four-year master's degree in design engineering.{{cite web |url=http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_22-3-2015-23-9-54 |title=Chancellor and James Dyson launch Imperial's design engineering school |date=23 March 2015 |website=Imperial College London |access-date=12 August 2015}}

Around 2021, the foundation gave £4{{Nbsp}}million{{cite web |last=Elgee |first=Emma |date=30 March 2022 |title=Milestone reached for RUH as it builds new site |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/milestone-reached-new-cancer-building-6880136 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=SomersetLive }} towards the construction of a £27 million{{cite web |title=Dyson Cancer Centre, Royal United Hospitals Bath |url=https://www.integral-engineering.co.uk/our-projects/dyson-cancer-centre-royal-united-hospitals-bath/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=Integral Engineering Design }} hub for cancer services at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, to be called the Dyson Cancer Centre. This followed a £500,000 donation to the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care at the same hospital, which opened in 2011.{{cite web |date=23 July 2021 |title=Bath's neonatal unit turns 10 years old |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/baths-neonatal-unit-turns-10-years-old/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=InYourArea.co.uk}}

The foundation supports the work of young designers through the James Dyson Award, an international design award that "celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers".{{cite web |url=http://www.jamesdysonaward.org/Prize.aspx |title=James Dyson Award |publisher=jamesdysonaward.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201080026/http://www.jamesdysonaward.org/Prize.aspx |archive-date=1 February 2014 }}

Dyson is also a trustee of The James and Deirdre Dyson Trust, a separate charity through which he and his wife make personal donations in various fields.{{EW charity|1160919|The James and Deirdre Dyson Trust}} In June 2019, the charity donated £18.75 million to Dyson's old school, Gresham's, to build a new STEAM Education building, which was completed in 2021.{{cite web |date=31 December 2021 |title=The James and Deirdre Dyson Trust: Trustees' Report |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_resource_id=%2Faccounts-resource&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_objectiveId=A12400307&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_mvcRenderCommandName=%2Faccounts-and-annual-returns&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=5059630 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=Charity Commission}} In November 2023, the charity made a further donation of £35 million to Gresham’s School to develop a prep school with a new building incorporating STEAM education facilities for pupils aged seven to 13.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-67439501 |title=Sir James Dyson pledges £35m to Gresham's for Holt Hall development |date=19 November 2023 |website=BBC News |access-date=21 November 2023}}

Honours and awards

  • In 1997 Dyson was awarded the Prince Philip Designers Prize.{{cite web|url=http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-us/Prince-Philip-Designers-Prize/19891998/ |title=Prince Philip Designers Prize: 1989—1998 |publisher=Design Council |access-date=30 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411183308/http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-us/Prince-Philip-Designers-Prize/19891998/ |archive-date=11 April 2012 }}
  • Dyson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1998 New Year Honours for services to industrial design.{{London Gazette |issue=54993 |date=30 December 1997 |page=8 |supp=y}}
  • In 2000, he received the Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Award.
  • He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath in 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/ceremonies/hongrads/ |title=Honorary Graduates 1989 to present |publisher=University of Bath |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-date=19 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219000643/http://www.bath.ac.uk/ceremonies/hongrads/ |url-status=dead }}
  • In 2005 Dyson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng){{cite web |title=James Dyson elected to The Royal Academy of Engineering |url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/news/news-releases/2005/July/james-dyson-elected-to-the-academy |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630163549/https://www.raeng.org.uk/news/news-releases/2005/July/james-dyson-elected-to-the-academy |url-status=dead }} and appointed a Royal Designer for Industry.{{cite web |title=Current Royal Designers |url=https://www.thersa.org/about-us/royal-designers-for-industry/current-royal-designers |access-date=29 June 2020}}
  • Dyson was appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2007 New Year Honours for services to business.{{London Gazette |issue=58196 |date=30 December 2006 |page=1 |supp=y}}
  • Dyson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2015.{{cite web|location=London|author=Anon|year=2015|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/james-dyson-11372/|title=Sir James Dyson CBE FREng FRS|publisher=Royal Society}} One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from the royalsociety.org website where: {{blockquote|"All text published under the heading 'Biography' on Fellow profile pages is available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License." --{{cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/about-us/terms-conditions-policies/ |title=Royal Society Terms, conditions and policies |access-date=9 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925220834/https://royalsociety.org/about-us/terms-conditions-policies/ |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}}}
  • Dyson was appointed to the Order of Merit (OM) in the 2016 New Year Honours for achievements in industrial design.{{London Gazette |issue=61470 |date=12 January 2016 |page=546}}{{cite news|title=Easyjet's Carolyn McCall and James Dyson on New Year Honours list|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35201280|work=BBC News|access-date=31 December 2015}}
  • In 2017 Dyson was awarded IEEE Honorary Membership.
  • Dyson was provost of the Royal College of Art in London until 1 July 2017, having succeeded Sir Terence Conran in August 2011,{{cite web|url=http://www.rca.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/sir-james-dyson-to-succeed-sir-terence-conran-as-p/|title=Sir James Dyson to Succeed Sir Terence Conran as Provost of the Royal College of Art|publisher=Royal College of Art|access-date=20 May 2014}} and is patron of the Design & Technology Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.subjectassociation.org.uk/newsitem.aspx?id=266|title=A voice for subjects|date=13 October 2009|publisher=The Council for Subject Associations|access-date=20 May 2014|archive-date=26 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226042353/http://www.subjectassociation.org.uk/newsitem.aspx?id=266|url-status=dead}}
  • He was chair of the board of trustees of the Design Museum, "the first in the world to showcase design of the manufactured object", until suddenly resigning in September 2004,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/dyson-quits-style-over-substance-design-museum-547888.html|title=Dyson quits 'style over substance' Design Museum|last=Demetriou|first=Danielle|date=28 September 2004|work=The Independent|access-date=30 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029172852/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/dyson-quits-style-over-substance-design-museum-547888.html|archive-date=29 October 2010|url-status=dead}} saying the museum had "become a style showcase" instead of "upholding its mission to encourage serious design of the manufactured object".
  • Dyson was elected an international member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2019, for the development of advanced technologies and innovative products and contributions to design and engineering education.{{cite web|date=2019|title=Sir James Dyson|url=https://www.nae.edu/204155/Sir-James-Dyson|access-date=27 May 2021|website=National Academy of Engineering}}

Personal life

Dyson married Deirdre Hindmarsh in 1968. They have two sons and a daughter.

In 1999, he acquired Domaine des Rabelles, an estate and winery near Villecroze and Tourtour, Var, France.{{cite web|url=https://www.dysonwine.com/|title=Domaine des Rabelles|date=2022|publisher=Dyson Wine|quote=Sir James and Lady Dyson acquired the Domaine des Rabelles in 1999|accessdate=31 March 2022}} In 2003, Dyson paid £15 million{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} for Dodington Park,James Dyson works at DODINGTON PARK MANAGEMENT LLP since 15 June 2010 currently as a Member of a Limited Liability Partnership – http://www.cbetta.com/director/james-dyson-20 a {{convert|300|acre|km2|adj=on}} Georgian estate in South Gloucestershire close to Chipping Sodbury. He and his wife also own a house in Chelsea, London.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

His vessel Nahlin is the largest British-flagged and -owned super yacht with an overall length of {{convert|91|m}}, and was ranked 36th in a 2013 survey of the world's 100 biggest yachts.{{cite news|title=Abramovich sunk in battle of superyachts: Emir's 180-metre vessel trumps Chelsea owner's as world's biggest|last=Bryant|first=Miranda|work=London Evening Standard|location=London|date=14 August 2013|page=13}}{{cite news|title=Emir knocks Abramovich off top of mega-yacht league table|last=Hoyle|first=Ben|work=The Times|location=London|date=14 August 2013|page=3}} He also owns two Gulfstream G650ER private jets registered G-VIOF and G-GSVI.{{cite web|last=Sudol|first=Matt|date=29 December 2020|title=James Dysons Dauphin departs Bristol Airport for the last time|url=https://www.freshaviation.co.uk/james-dysons-dauphin-departs-bristol-airport-for-the-last-time/|access-date=14 November 2021|website=Fresh Aviation}}{{cite web|title=James Dyson • His Two $70,000,000 Gulfstream G650 Private Jets • G-VIOF • G-GSVI|url=https://www.superyachtfan.com/private-jet/owner/james-dyson/|access-date=14 November 2021|website=SuperYachtFan}} He previously owned an older Gulfstream G650, registered G-ULFS and currently owns a AgustaWestland AW-139 helicopter.{{cite web|title=G-ULFS {{!}} Gulfstream G650 {{!}} Private {{!}} Graham Perkin|url=https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/7799561|access-date=14 November 2021|website=JetPhotos}}

Dyson is a lifelong fan of Bath Rugby and has frequently attended games at the Rec. The Dyson company have been the title sponsors of the club since 2014, with Bath Rugby being the first sports team officially backed by the firm.{{cite web |title=Dyson announces Bath Rugby sponsorship|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/11331492.dyson-announces-bath-rugby-sponsorship/ |website= Gazette and Herald |date=10 July 2014 }} As a result of this, Dyson are the main brand on all club kit and are the naming rights holders of the East Stand at the Rec.{{cite web |title=Dyson|url=https://www.bathrugby.com/dyson|website= Bath Rugby }}

In July 2019, Dyson spent £43 million on a {{convert|21108|sqfoot|m2|adj=on}} triplex flat at the top of the Guoco Tower, the tallest building in Singapore.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jul/10/james-dyson-buys-59m-penthouse-in-singapore|title=James Dyson buys £43m penthouse in Singapore|first=Rob|last=Davies|newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 July 2019|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=10 July 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/dyson-owner-forks-out-s738m-for-singapores-costliest-penthouse|title=Dyson owner forks out S$73.8m for Singapore's costliest penthouse|first=Kalpana|last=Rashiwala|date=10 July 2019|website=The Business Times|access-date=10 July 2019}} He sold the flat in October 2020 for £36 million,{{cite news|date=19 October 2020|title=Sir James Dyson to sell Singapore penthouse at a loss|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54596893|access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web|last=Meisenzahl|first=Mary|title=Billionaire James Dyson just sold his Singapore penthouse at a massive loss a year after his company scrapped plans to design an electric vehicle in the city|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/james-dyson-sold-singapore-penthouse-after-failed-electric-car-2020-10|access-date=6 March 2021|website=Business Insider}} and in April 2021 it was reported that he had moved his place of residence back to the UK.{{cite news|date=22 April 2021|title=Billionaire Sir James Dyson moves residency back to the UK|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56840781|access-date=14 June 2021}} Dyson has also invested heavily in buying agricultural land in Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, and by 2014 was one of the biggest landowners in the UK.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11315175/Sir-James-Dyson-now-owns-more-land-in-England-than-the-Queen.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11315175/Sir-James-Dyson-now-owns-more-land-in-England-than-the-Queen.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=28 December 2014 |title=Sir James Dyson now owns more land in England than the Queen |url-status=live |access-date=17 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}

Dyson is the beneficial owner of Weybourne Holdings Pte, a Singapore-based business that ({{As of|2023|lc=y}}) owns 31 UK properties, worth at least £287 million.{{cite web |date=2 February 2023 |title=Dyson among British entrepreneurs who own UK property via overseas companies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/02/dyson-among-british-entrepreneurs-who-own-uk-property-via-overseas-companies |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=The Guardian }}

Publications

Dyson's publications include two autobiographies:

  • Against the Odds: An Autobiography (1997) {{ISBN|9780752809816}}
  • Invention: A Life (2021) {{ISBN|9781471198748}}

References

{{Reflist}}