Theo Paphitis was born in Cyprus and became associated with the stationery retailer Ryman.
Paphitis was born in Limassol, Cyprus, in 1959 and moved with his family to the United Kingdom when he was a child. He built a career in retail and business, becoming particularly known for his role in developing Ryman, the British stationery chain.
He joined Dragons' Den as an investor in the second series and became one of the programme's most recognisable early Dragons. His other business interests have included Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue, giving him experience across stationery, homewares and retail fashion.
Paphitis is sometimes confused with Touker Suleyman, another Dragon with Cypriot heritage. Their backgrounds are different: Paphitis was born in Cyprus, while Suleyman was born in Famagusta and became known for businesses including Low Profile Group and Hawes & Curtis.