Fred Done

Fred Done (born March 1943) is a British billionaire businessman and the owner of the bookmaking chain Betfred, which has more than 1,600 betting shops in the UK.^[1][2]

Done grew up with three siblings in Ordsall, Greater Manchester.^[3] Done and his brother Peter Done left school aged 15 without qualifications after working in their father’s illegal bookmaking business.^[3]

In 1967 aged 24, Done opened his first bookmaker with his brother, which they funded by a win on England's victory in 1966 FIFA World Cup the year before.^[3][4]

By the mid-1980s, they had more than 70 bookmaking shops.^[5] In 1983, Done founded Peninsula Business Services, which has more than 10 companies operating in employment law, workplace health, and human resources.^[3][6]

In 1998, Done paid out early Manchester United to win the Premier League title, making him the first bookmaker to pay out early at the end of the season.^[7]

In 2004, Done's chain of bookmakers was renamed Betfred.^[7]

In 2015, Done announced he was in talks to sell a 25% stake in The Tote after buying it from the UK government for £265 million in 2011.^[8]

In 2018, Done made an investment in Adzooma, an online advertising platform based in Nottingham, UK.^[9]

In 2020, Done invested in GGRecon, an esports publisher based in Manchester, UK.^[10][11]

In 2021, Done stepped down as the chief executive of Betfred and took up the role of chairman.^[12]

In 2023, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated Done's net worth to be £1.87 billion.^[13]

According to the Sunday Times Rich List in May 2025, his and his family's net worth is £2.915 billion.^[14]