James Dyson
Born 1947 · Age 78
British inventor, industrial designer and entrepreneur best known for inventing the bagless cyclonic vacuum and founding the Dyson company; major investor in R&D, education and engineering.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Cromer, Norfolk
James Dyson was born in Cromer, Norfolk, England to Janet M. (née Bolton) and Alec William Dyson.
Father died; childhood financial hardship
Dyson's father died of prostate cancer when James was nine; family described as 'penniless' after his death.
Began education at Gresham's School
Attended Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk (headmaster agreed to pay his fees); studied there through 1965. Excelled at long-distance running.
Enrolled at Byam Shaw School of Art
Spent a year (1965–1966) at Byam Shaw School of Art; influenced by principal Maurice de Sausmarez.
Studied at Royal College of Art
Studied furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art (1966–1970); transferred into industrial design influenced by Anthony Hunt.
Worked at Rotork Controls; helped design Sea Truck
After RCA, Dyson worked for Rotork Controls Ltd. and helped design the Sea Truck, a flat-bottom fibreglass landing craft.
Invented/Designed early products (Ballbarrow, Trolleyball, Wheelboat)
Created the Ballbarrow (first original invention), Trolleyball and Wheelboat — early inventive projects showcased on media like BBC's Tomorrow's World.
Founded company to make the Ballbarrow
Dyson founded his own company to produce the Ballbarrow (a wheelbarrow using a ball instead of a wheel).
Conceived cyclonic vacuum idea
Inspired by cyclone particle separators used in a sawmill, Dyson began applying cyclonic separation to vacuum cleaners to avoid loss of suction.
Filed dual cyclone vacuum patent (EP0037674)
Filed a series of patents (including EP0037674) covering his dual-cyclone bagless vacuum technology.
Launched G-Force vacuum in Japan
After ~5 years and c.5,127 prototypes, Dyson launched the G-Force bagless vacuum (launched in Japan via catalogue sales because UK manufacturers refused to handle it).
Licensed technology to Fantom Technologies (North America)
Dyson licensed his cyclonic vacuum technology in North America to Fantom Technologies starting in 1986 (licence lasted until 2001).
Won International Design Fair Prize (Japan)
The G-Force won the 1991 International Design Fair Prize in Japan.
Opened Malmesbury research centre & factory
In June 1993 Dyson opened a research centre and factory in Malmesbury, Wiltshire to manufacture and research his products.
Published autobiography 'Against the Odds'
Published 'Against the Odds', an autobiography co-written with Giles Coren.
Awarded Prince Philip Designers Prize
Received the Prince Philip Designers Prize in recognition of design achievements.
Appointed CBE
Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1998 New Year Honours for services to industrial design.
Won patent infringement case vs Hoover; £4m damages
High Court ruled Hoover had copied a fundamental part of Dyson's patented designs; Hoover agreed to pay £4 million in damages.
Acquired Domaine des Rabelles estate (France)
Purchased Domaine des Rabelles, an estate and winery near Villecroze and Tourtour, Var, France.
Launched ContraRotator washing machine
Dyson expanded into washing machines with the ContraRotator, featuring two counter-rotating drums; commercial failure and discontinued in 2005.
Received Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Award and honorary doctorate (Univ. of Bath)
Received the Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath.
Founded the James Dyson Foundation
Set up the James Dyson Foundation to support design and engineering education (UK, US, Japan).
Displayed 'Wrong Garden' water illusion at Chelsea Flower Show
Dyson engineers created a water sculpture (Wrong Garden) that made water appear to flow uphill; displayed at Chelsea Flower Show.
Bought Dodington Park estate
Acquired Dodington Park, a 300-acre Georgian estate in South Gloucestershire (reported purchase price ~£15m).
Resigned as chair of Design Museum trustees
Stepped down in September 2004, criticizing the museum for being 'a style showcase' rather than upholding serious design mission.
Dyson becomes UK market leader by value in US; elected FREng and RDI
Reported that Dyson cleaners became market leaders in the US by value. James Dyson was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and appointed Royal Designer for Industry.
Launched Dyson Airblade hand dryer
Introduced the Airblade, a fast hand dryer that uses a thin layer of air as a squeegee rather than heat.
Knighted (Knight Bachelor)
Appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2007 New Year Honours for services to business.
Launched Air Multiplier (bladeless fan)
Introduced the Air Multiplier fan, a fan without external blades (launched October 2009).
Donation: Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care (~£500,000)
Foundation donated ~£500,000 to the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care at the Royal United Hospital, Bath (opened 2011).
Became Provost of the Royal College of Art
Appointed Provost of the Royal College of Art, taking office 1 August 2011 (succeeded Terence Conran).
Founded Dyson Farming
Expanded into commercial agriculture with the establishment of Dyson Farming to drive efficiency and sustainability in UK agriculture.
Lux Leaks revelations re: corporate structures
Revelations (Lux Leaks) surfaced about Dyson Ltd's non-UK structures (Malta parent, Luxembourg/Isle of Man loans) used between 2009–2012; company stated no significant tax advantage was taken.
Announced £1.5 billion R&D investment and Malmesbury expansion
Announced plans to invest £1.5 billion into R&D, including an expanded Malmesbury campus projected to create up to 3,000 jobs.
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
Dyson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2015 for contributions to industrial design and innovation.
Acquired battery company Sakti3 (reported)
Reports indicate Dyson acquired Sakti3 (a battery company) in 2015 to support future electric vehicle battery development.
Launched Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
Introduced the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (April 2016) — smaller, quieter design with a digital motor.
Appointed Order of Merit (OM)
Appointed to the Order of Merit in the 2016 New Year Honours for achievements in industrial design.
Announced new R&D campus at Hullavington
Announced a second multimillion-pound R&D centre on a 517-acre former MoD site at Hullavington, Wiltshire (March 2016).
Announced plan to build an electric vehicle; pledged £2bn
Dyson announced plans to produce an electric vehicle targeting a 2020 launch and stated he would invest £2 billion of his own money; assembled a team of 400+.
Company R&D intensity: ~£7m/week
In 2017 Dyson reportedly spent approximately £7 million per week on research and development and employed over 3,500 engineers and scientists.
Ended Provost role at Royal College of Art
Stepped down as Provost of the RCA on 1 July 2017 (served August 2011 – July 2017); successor listed as Jonathan Ive as Chancellor.
Opened Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology
Launched the Dyson Institute on the Malmesbury campus in September 2017 to train engineers in-company with a salaried degree model.
Scrapped EV project (October 2019)
Dyson announced in October 2019 that its electric car project had been cancelled because it was not commercially viable.
Purchased Singapore penthouse for ~£43m
Purchased a 21,108 sq ft triplex flat atop Guoco Tower, Singapore for about £43 million (July 2019).
Sold Singapore penthouse at loss (~£36m)
Reported sale of the Singapore penthouse in October 2020 for ~£36 million (realising a loss vs purchase price).
Published 'Invention: A Life'
Published second autobiography 'Invention: A Life' (2021).
Moved place of residence back to the UK
Reported to have moved his place of residence back to the UK in April 2021 after a period in Singapore.
Listed among UK's biggest taxpayers (Sunday Times Tax List)
Dyson and family were listed 11th in the 2022 Sunday Times Tax List; estimated contribution ~£101 million for the last full year recorded.
High Court dismissed libel claim vs Channel 4/ITN
In 2022 Dyson sued Channel 4 and ITN over alleged exploitation claims; High Court ruled there was no personal defamation.
Sunday Times Rich List: family net worth £23 billion
The Sunday Times Rich List 2023 estimated Dyson family net worth at £23 billion (Dyson listed as fifth-richest in the UK).
Unsuccessful libel claim vs Mirror Group (Dec 2023)
In December 2023 Dyson brought a libel claim against Mirror Group Newspapers about an article from January 2022; the claim was unsuccessful.
Donated £35 million to Gresham's School
In November 2023 the James and Deirdre Dyson Trust donated £35m to Gresham's School to develop a new preparatory school with STEAM facilities.
Profile pieces & recognition (Lifetime Achievement commentary)
Media profiles (e.g., Sustainability Magazine, David to Goliath) highlighted Dyson's lifetime achievements and sustainability/innovation focus.
Forbes net worth listing: $13.3 billion (Mar 2025)
Forbes listed James Dyson's net worth as $13.3 billion in March 2025 (noting difference vs some other lists).
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