Sir James Dyson, O.M., K.T., is a British inventor, industrial designer, and business magnate, the self-made billionaire Founder of the Dyson company. Born in Cromer, Norfolk, in 1947, his childhood was marked by tragedy: his father died of prostate cancer when James was nine, leading him to describe his home as penniless after the loss.

Dyson's education focused on art and design: he studied at the Byam Shaw School of Art before studying furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art (RCA), later moving into engineering. He credits long-distance running in school with teaching him determination (a trait essential to his career). His philosophy centers on persistent experimentation and finding elegant, technological solutions to common domestic problems.

• Dyson (Founder & Chief Engineer): The core private asset, a global manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, and hair care products, best known for the bagless vacuum cleaner.
• Invention: He developed 5,127 prototype designs for the bagless vacuum (1979–1984).
• Academic Background: He studied furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art (RCA).
• Political Views: He is an outspoken figure in British politics, once threatening to shift production abroad if the U.K. failed to join the Eurozone.

Sir James Dyson's entrepreneurial journey was fueled by frustration: after buying a Hoover Junior vacuum that lost suction, he realized the problem was the clogging dust bag. Inspired by industrial centrifugal separators in a factory, he developed the concept of cyclonic separation for a home vacuum. After being kicked out of his first company for pursuing the idea, he persisted, developing 5,127 prototype designs between 1979 and 1984 in a shed behind his house.

After failing to find a U.K. licensee (due to the $500 million vacuum bag market threat), a Japanese company licensed the design (G-Force, sold for $2,000 in 1986). In 1993, he founded Dyson in Malmesbury, leading its transformation into a global manufacturing powerhouse. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term returns generated by his patented cyclonic technology and his company's global expansion (despite shifting manufacturing to Malaysia in the early 2000s).

Sir James Dyson's social impact is structural, stemming from Dyson's role in transforming household domesticity with the bagless vacuum and other consumer appliances. The company provides thousands of high-value engineering and design jobs.

His profound personal and structural contribution is through the James Dyson Foundation (which he heads), dedicated to engineering education, medical research, and design globally. He served as Provost of the Royal College of Art (2011–2017) and was a major political voice on British manufacturing and the Eurozone debate.

Sir James Dyson maintains the professional, pragmatic style of an inventor-engineer. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects stability and intellectual authority, rooted in his commitment to design and engineering problem-solving.

Residing in the U.K. (with vast land holdings), his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to engineering innovation, design education, and the long-term management of his consumer technology empire.