In Dragon's Den, Levi Roots sought £50,000 for a 20% stake in his sauce business.
Roots made that request when he pitched Reggae Reggae Sauce in 2007. The requested valuation implied that the business was worth £250,000 before investment, although the eventual on-screen deal differed from his opening terms.
Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh jointly offered the £50,000, but for 40% rather than the 20% Roots originally requested. Roots accepted their offer, making the final negotiated equity figure twice the percentage he had initially sought.
This distinction explains why accounts of the pitch can contain both 20% and 40%. Twenty percent was Roots's asking stake; 40% was the stake attached to the Dragons' accepted offer. The question asks for the amount of money in his original pitch.