I Liked It So Much I Bought The Company

Peter Wheeler: In 1981 Mr Wheeler was a chemical engineer who owned a TVR, an exclusive high-powered British sports car. That year he became the struggling company's saviour when he bought it. His instincts have been successful and the company is in profit. Sales this year will be 2,000, compared with 170 the year he took over.

Tony & Ridley Scott: The Geordie directors of Thelma & Louise and Top Gun spent pounds 12m buying Shepperton studios in 1995. Before moving to Hollywood they used Shepperton hundreds of times and Ridley (pictured) made Alien, his first Hollywood film, there. They spent pounds 8.5m making it the top post-production facility outside the US.

Victor Kiam: Recorded the line about liking the Remington shaver so much that he bought the company. It is credited with helping propel the struggling firm he bought in 1978 to one with half the US market for electric razors in five years. He has bought into a company that makes the world's smallest hair dryer and Ronson, the ailing lighter company.

Chris Evans: Although he had not been at Virgin Radio for long hemade clear that he was bidding against Capital Radio for his employer because he loves radio and knew Capital would get rid of him. But the station has lost more than 300,000 listeners in the latest ratings and has steep repayments to make to Evans' backers.