Five investor Dragons normally sit on the Dragons' Den panel.
The standard British format places five wealthy businesspeople behind the panel desk. Entrepreneurs then present their companies and request a specific amount of money in exchange for a percentage of ownership. Any Dragon can choose to invest, negotiate or decline.
The number is a format convention rather than a permanent list of people. Panel members have changed across series, and occasional episodes may feature guest Dragons or special appearances. Nevertheless, five investors are normally presented as the core panel.
This arrangement gives contestants several possible routes to investment while also creating competition among the Dragons. A proposal can attract one investor, several investors working together, or no offer at all. The word “Dragon” refers to the investor role, not to a particular individual.