Dragon’s Den: Who Is Susie Ma? The Beauty Founder Behind a £73 Million Skincare Empire

Who Is Susie Ma?

Susie Ma is one of Britain’s most successful beauty entrepreneurs and the founder of Tropic Skincare, the natural skincare brand that has grown into a multimillion-pound business. Many people first discovered her when she appeared on The Apprentice in 2011 and is now a new dragon on BBC TV series Dragons’ Den but her story began long before television.

Born in Shanghai in 1988 and raised in London, Ma started her business at just 15 years old. Using a recipe inspired by her grandmother, she created a natural body scrub and sold it at Greenwich Market to help support her family. That small idea eventually evolved into Tropic Skincare, a brand now known for freshly made, vegan beauty products.

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Her appearance on The Apprentice helped bring national attention to the brand. Although she finished third, Lord Alan Sugar invested £200,000 in the business after the show. Over the following decade, Tropic grew rapidly through its ambassador selling model and loyal customer base across the UK.

In 2023, Ma bought back Lord Sugar’s stake in the company, making her the sole owner of Tropic Skincare. The brand now generates tens of millions in annual revenue and employs hundreds of staff at its Surrey headquarters.

As of 2025–2026, Susie Ma’s estimated net worth is around £73 million, placing her among the richest beauty entrepreneurs in the UK. Her journey from selling homemade skincare at a market stall to building one of Britain’s most successful independent beauty brands has made her a standout figure in the modern beauty industry.

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