Which original Dragon's Den investor was born in the United States?

Doug Richard was the original Dragon's Den investor who was born in the United States.

Richard is an American entrepreneur and angel investor who became part of the first UK investor panel. His background differed from that of several British Dragons, although his role on the programme was the same: he evaluated proposals and considered investing his own money for an equity share.

He is particularly associated with technology entrepreneurship and early-stage investment. Before and after his television appearances, Richard worked with start-ups and business founders, giving him experience in assessing young companies and their growth prospects.

The wording “original investor” matters because Dragon's Den has had many Dragons over its long run. Doug Richard was part of the launch-era panel, but he did not remain a permanent member through every later series. He should also not be confused with Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne or Theo Paphitis, all British businessmen who appeared in the programme's early years.