Peter Jones was the only original Dragon to remain on the panel continuously through the show's early years.
Jones joined the British programme at its launch and became one of its most recognisable investors. His business interests have included technology, communications, retail and property, giving him a broad range of experience during pitches.
The original panel changed over time. Rachel Elnaugh, Simon Woodroffe and Doug Richard were among the early Dragons, while other investors joined or departed in later series. Because the panel is deliberately refreshed, “original Dragon” does not mean that every launch-era investor stayed throughout the programme.
Peter Jones is therefore often described as the programme's longest-serving original investor. This is different from saying he founded Dragon's Den itself: the show is an adaptation of an existing international format.