An East End boy, Sugar is a self made multi-millionaire who started buying and selling electrical items out of the back of a van when he left school at 16 and became the man who "saved Tottenham Hotspur".

Started his Amstrad company in 1968 and it earned a reputation for low price innovative products, but some people claimed they were not the most technologically advanced.

Had his own business-style reality show on BBC TV called "The Apprentice" in which contestants battled to be the person he took on to work for his company.

Was the =84th Richest man in Britain in 2007 with an estimated wealth of £830 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List.  By 2010, he had dropped to =85th with £730 million to his name and to 89th in 2011 with £800 million.

Alan Sugar was knighted in 2000 for services to business.

He is a keen supporter of charities and has also helped to save the Hackney Empire venue.

While still involved with Amstrad, Sugar now concentrates on his property portfolio at home and abroad through Amshold.  He also has a stake in Viglen computers and runs Amsair (an executive air service).

Took over at Tottenham in 1991 with Terry Venables as the dream team who salvaged the club's future when it looked as though Lloyds Bank would take Tottenham into receivership.  He bought into the club without telling his wife, who went mad when she found out.

Under his stewardship, the White Hart Lane ground underwent notable improvement, the club moved into their own training ground at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell and a large amount was spent on team-building (£90 million).

His last game as Chairman of the club was at home against Leeds United on 24th February 2001.

He finally sold his remaining shares in the club to ENIC in July 2007 for £25 million, to sever his business ties with the club.