Sir James Dyson was born on May 2, 1947. He is an English inventor, industrial designer, farmer, and business leader who started the Dyson company. He is most famous for creating the bagless vacuum cleaner, which uses a process called cyclonic separation to remove dirt. In the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, he was the fifth-richest person in the United Kingdom, with a family net worth estimated at £23 billion. As of March 2025, Forbes reported his net worth as $13.3 billion.

From August 2011 to July 2017, Dyson worked as the Provost of the Royal College of Art. In September 2017, he opened a new university called the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology on his Wiltshire campus.

Early life and education

James Dyson was born on May 2, 1947, in Cromer, Norfolk. He was one of three children of Janet M. (née Bolton) and Alec William Dyson. He was named after his grandfather, James Dyson. His father passed away from prostate cancer when James was nine years old. After his father’s death, James described his home life as "without money." Despite this, he attended Gresham's School, a private boarding school in Holt, Norfolk, from 1956 to 1965. The school’s headmaster agreed to pay James’s school fees. At school, James excelled in long-distance running and said he learned determination from the sport.

From 1965 to 1966, James studied at the Byam Shaw School of Art. He chose this school because of its strong reputation under the leadership of principal Maurice de Sausmarez. James said that de Sausmarez’s teaching and guidance helped him become a designer. In 2015, James spoke at the opening of an exhibition showing past work by de Sausmarez at the University of Leeds. He shared how much influence de Sausmarez had on his life and career.

James studied furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art from 1966 to 1970. Later, he moved into engineering. While studying fine art at the Royal College of Art, he changed his focus to industrial design, partly because of the help he received from structural engineer Anthony Hunt.

Early inventions

In 1970, Dyson helped create the Sea Truck while studying at the Royal College of Art. His first original invention, the Ballbarrow, was a changed version of a wheelbarrow that used a ball instead of a wheel. It was shown on the BBC's Tomorrow's World television programme. Dyson kept working on the idea of using a ball instead of a wheel and invented the Trolleyball, a trolley that used to launch boats. He also designed the Wheelboat, which could move at speeds of 64 kilometres per hour (40 mph) on both land and water.

Vacuum cleaners

In the late 1970s, James Dyson had an idea to use cyclone technology to make a vacuum cleaner that would not lose suction when picking up dirt. He was unhappy with his Hoover Junior vacuum because its dust bag holes became clogged with dust, which reduced suction. The idea for cyclones came from a sawmill that used similar technology.

With help from his wife’s salary as an art teacher, Dyson worked for five years and made about 5,127 prototypes before launching the "G-Force" vacuum in 1983. No companies in the UK wanted to sell it because it might hurt sales of replacement dust bags. So, Dyson sold it in Japan through catalogs. The G-Force was bright pink and cost about $2,000 at the time, which would be around $5,500 today. It won a design prize in Japan in 1991. Dyson applied for patents for his dual cyclone vacuum in 1980. When major companies refused to make his product, he started his own company, Dyson Ltd. In 1993, he opened a research center and factory in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Dyson’s slogan, "Say goodbye to the bag," helped his product sell well. The Dyson Dual Cyclone became the fastest-selling vacuum in the UK. It sold more than some companies that had rejected his idea and became a popular brand. By 2005, Dyson vacuums were the top-selling brand in the United States by value, though not by the number of units sold. From 1986 to 2001, Dyson allowed a company called Fantom Technologies to use his technology in North America. After that, Dyson sold his products directly.

After his success, other companies began making their own cyclonic vacuums. In 1999, Dyson sued Hoover (UK) for copying his patented design. A court ruled that Hoover had intentionally used parts of Dyson’s design for its Triple Vortex vacuum. Hoover agreed to pay £4 million in damages.

In 2014, Dyson introduced his "360 Eye" robotic vacuum in Tokyo. The model used 360° scanning to map rooms, cyclone dust separation, a special motor for strong suction, tank treads for movement, a wide brushroll, and an app for control.

In 2007, Dyson told Fast Company that failure is important. "I made 5,127 models before creating the final one. There were 5,126 failures. But I learned from each one. That’s how I found a solution. I don’t mind failure. I think schoolchildren should be graded on how many times they try and fail. A child who tries many things and has many failures might be more creative."

Other inventions

In 2000, Dyson added a washing machine named the ContraRotator to its product line. This machine had two drums that rotated in opposite directions. The machines were sold in bright colors, unlike the usual white or silver models, though white versions were later introduced. The product was not successful and was stopped in 2005.

In 2002, the company made a model inspired by the optical illusions in the artwork of Dutch artist M. C. Escher. Engineer Derek Phillips spent one year creating a water sculpture called Wrong Garden. This sculpture, shown at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2003, made water appear to flow upward along four ramps arranged in a square before falling down the next ramp. The illusion was created by pumping water with air bubbles to the top through a narrow opening, causing it to look like it was rising.

In October 2006, Dyson introduced a fast hand dryer called the Dyson Airblade. This dryer used a thin layer of air to push water off the skin instead of using heat.

In October 2009, the company launched a fan called the Air Multiplier, which had no external blades. Later, features such as heating, air purification, and humidifying were added to the fan.

In April 2016, Dyson released a smaller and quieter hair dryer called the Dyson Supersonic.

Research and development

In 2017, Dyson spent £7 million each week on research and development for new products. The company is the largest investor in robotics and artificial intelligence research in the UK, employing more than 3,500 engineers and scientists. It also works with over 40 university research programs. Dyson told the Daily Telegraph, "We are considering more products for non-domestic use, but we are not rushing to develop many different products." He added, "We are a private company, so we can begin new projects when we are ready."

In November 2014, Dyson announced plans to invest an additional £1.5 billion in research and development for new technology. This included funding for an expanded campus at the Dyson UK headquarters in Malmesbury, which would create up to 3,000 jobs.

At the time, Prime Minister David Cameron said, "Dyson is a great British success story. The expansion of the Malmesbury campus will create thousands of new jobs, helping the local economy and providing financial security for many families. This level of investment shows confidence in our long-term plan to support businesses, create jobs, and build a better future for Britain."

In March 2016, Dyson announced a second research and development center on a 517-acre (209 ha) former Ministry of Defence site in Hullavington, Wiltshire. The company stated its goal to double its UK workforce within five to six years. Dyson said, "After 25 years of growth in the UK and continued global expansion, we are outgrowing our Malmesbury campus. To compete globally, we must develop new technology and create high-quality products."

In September 2017, Dyson announced plans to produce an electric vehicle, aiming to launch it in 2020. He invested £2 billion of his own money for the project and assembled a team of over 400 people. Reports said the vehicle would use a solid-state battery, which Dyson acquired through his purchase of the company Sakti3 in 2015. In October 2019, Dyson announced the electric car project was canceled because it was not commercially viable.

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

Dyson has repeatedly accused Chinese spies and students of stealing technological and scientific secrets from the UK. He claims they do this by hiding software bugs and infiltrating British industries, institutions, and universities after leaving the UK. He also stated that China benefits from copying foreign designs, ignoring product copyrights, and a patent system that treats foreign companies unfairly by giving them longer approval times.

Tax affairs

Dyson's tax matters have been closely examined by British newspapers across different political views.

In 2008, Dyson said, "I believe it is wrong to run your business based on tax reasons. Your business should be where it can operate best." However, in 2009, Dyson Ltd created a new parent company in Malta. This allowed the company to make £300 million and £550 million in loans through companies in Luxembourg and the Isle of Man. These loans increased tax-deductible interest payments in the UK from 2009 to 2012. These actions relied on agreements with Luxembourg tax officials exposed in the 2014 Lux Leaks. Dyson's group told The Guardian in 2014: "At no time did the [group's former] non-UK structure provide any major tax benefit. All the involved companies have since been closed."

In the 2022 Tax List published by The Sunday Times in January 2022, Dyson and his family were listed as the 11th largest taxpayers in the UK. The newspaper estimated they paid £101 million in taxes for the last full year recorded. The IPPR think tank noted that only two people from the 2021 Sunday Times Rich List – Dyson and the Weston family – also appeared in the 2021 Tax List. In the previous three years, Dyson ranked 6th, 4th, and 3rd in the Sunday Times Tax List. The newspaper estimated he paid £345.8 million in total taxes to the UK government during that time. The Tax List measures taxes paid by businesses owned by those listed, not personal taxes paid by individuals.

In February 2026, Dyson was ranked 14th in the Sunday Times Tax List, with an estimated £100 million paid in UK taxes.

Political views

In 1998, Dyson was one of the leaders of 20 large UK companies listed in the FTSE 100. These leaders signed a statement in The Financial Times asking the UK government to join the Eurozone, a group of European countries that use the euro as their currency. Dyson said that not joining the euro could harm British manufacturing. In February 2000, Dyson said the strong value of the British pound hurt his company’s profits when selling products to France and Germany. He threatened to move some production from his factory in Malmesbury, UK, to a new factory in Malaysia because the UK government had not joined the euro. Later that year, Dyson again threatened to move production overseas. In February 2002, Dyson announced that production would shift to the Far East. In August 2003, the assembly of washing machines was also moved from Malmesbury to Malaysia.

Dyson was one of the most well-known UK business leaders who supported Brexit, the decision for the UK to leave the European Union, before the 2016 referendum. After the referendum, Dyson said the UK should leave the EU’s Single Market, a system that allows free trade between EU countries, to create new trade deals globally. In 2016, 19% of Dyson Ltd’s exports went to EU countries, while 81% went to countries outside the EU. In 2017, Dyson said the UK should leave the EU without a temporary agreement, calling uncertainty an opportunity. Earlier, in 2014, Dyson said he would vote to leave the EU to avoid being controlled by Germany. In November 2017, Dyson criticized the UK government’s Brexit negotiations, saying, “we should just walk away and they will come to us.” In January 2019, it was announced that Dyson’s company would move its headquarters from Malmesbury to Singapore. This led to accusations that Dyson was being unfair in his support for Brexit.

In November 2015, Dyson lost a court case in the European General Court over EU energy labeling rules. However, a later appeal in the European Court of Justice said the earlier ruling was incorrect.

In January 2023, Dyson criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for increasing taxes on businesses. That same year, Dyson said Sunak had ignored the needs of the science and technology sector.

Libel cases

In 2022, Dyson filed a lawsuit against Channel 4 and ITN for accusations that workers at one of his company's supplier factories were treated unfairly. In the High Court, it was decided that Dyson was not personally defamed.

In December 2023, Dyson failed to win a libel lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers. He claimed that an opinion article published in the Daily Mirror in January 2022, which criticized his company's decision to move operations to Singapore after he supported Brexit, caused him emotional distress.

Philanthropy

The James Dyson Foundation was created in 2002 to help teach design and engineering. It is an official charity in England and works in the UK, US, and Japan. The foundation helps young people learn about engineering by encouraging them to think creatively and learn from mistakes. It supports engineering education in schools and universities and helps with medical and scientific research through partnerships with other charities. The foundation provides resources like the "Engineering Box," which contains activities for schools to use in teaching.

In May 2014, the foundation gave £8 million to build a technology hub at the University of Cambridge. This donation also helped create a design and construction lab for engineering students.

In March 2015, the foundation donated £12 million to Imperial College London to buy a Post Office building on Exhibition Road from the Science Museum. Imperial College planned to use the building for the Dyson School of Design Engineering and to offer a new four-year master’s degree in design engineering.

Around 2021, the foundation donated £4 million to build a £27 million cancer care center at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, named the Dyson Cancer Centre. This followed a £500,000 donation in 2011 to create the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care at the same hospital.

The foundation supports young designers through the James Dyson Award, an international competition that recognizes and encourages future design engineers.

Dyson is also a trustee of The James and Deirdre Dyson Trust, a separate charity that makes personal donations in different areas. In June 2019, the trust gave £18.75 million to Gresham’s School, Dyson’s old school, to build a new STEAM Education building, which was finished in 2021. In November 2023, the trust donated £35 million to Gresham’s School to build a new prep school with STEAM education spaces for students aged seven to 13.

Honours and awards

• In 1997, Dyson received the Prince Philip Designers Prize.
• In 1998, Dyson was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work in industrial design.
• In 2000, he received the Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Award.
• In 1999, he was given an honorary doctorate from Brunel University.
• In 2000, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath.
• In 2005, Dyson became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) and was named a Royal Designer for Industry.
• In 2007, Dyson was appointed Knight Bachelor for his contributions to business.
• In 2015, Dyson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
• In 2016, Dyson was appointed to the Order of Merit (OM) for his achievements in industrial design.
• In 2017, Dyson was awarded IEEE Honorary Membership.
• Dyson served as provost of the Royal College of Art in London until July 2017. He took over from Sir Terence Conran in August 2011 and is a patron of the Design & Technology Association.
• 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 he resigned suddenly in September 2004. He stated the museum had "become a style showcase" instead of "upholding its mission to encourage serious design of the manufactured object."
• In 2019, Dyson was elected an international member of the National Academy of Engineering for developing advanced technologies, creating innovative products, and contributing to design and engineering education.

Personal life

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

In 1999, he bought Domaine des Rabelles, a winery and estate near Villecroze and Tourtour, Var, France. In 2003, Dyson purchased Dodington Park, a 300-acre (1.2 km²) estate in South Gloucestershire, close to Chipping Sodbury. He and his wife also own a home in Chelsea, London.

His ship, the Nahlin, is the largest yacht in the world that is owned and registered in the United Kingdom. It is 91 meters (299 feet) long and was ranked 36th in a 2013 list of the world’s 100 largest yachts. He also owns two Gulfstream G650ER private jets with registration numbers G-VIOF and G-GSVI. He previously owned a Gulfstream G650 jet, registered G-ULFS, and currently owns an AgustaWestland AW-139 helicopter.

Dyson has always supported Bath Rugby and often attends games at the Rec stadium. Since 2014, the Dyson company has been the main financial supporter of the team, making it the first sports team officially backed by the company. Because of this, Dyson’s name appears on all of the team’s clothing and on the East Stand at the Rec stadium.

In July 2019, Dyson spent £43 million to buy a 21,108-square-foot (1,961.0 m²) triplex apartment at the top of Guoco Tower, the tallest building in Singapore. He sold the apartment in October 2020 for £36 million. In April 2021, it was reported that Dyson had moved back to live in the United Kingdom. He has also invested in buying farmland in Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. By 2014, he was one of the largest landowners in the UK.

Dyson is the owner of Weybourne Holdings Pte, a company based in Singapore. As of 2023, this company owns 31 properties in the UK, valued at least £287 million.

Publications

Dyson has written two books about his own life:

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