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After selling his business for $532 million, this millennial says a life of leisure was surprisingly 'boring', so he's choosing to go back to work | Fortune

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, November 9th 2025 at 6:16 GMT by Fortune
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From a $5‑hour shift to a $532 million exit – the millennial founder who says money can’t fill the void

A story that captures the paradox at the heart of today’s entrepreneurial dream, Fortune’s feature on Wingstop UK’s co‑founder traces the arc of a young man who began his career as a low‑wage worker, turned his trading desk into a venture that grew into a multi‑million‑dollar franchise, and ultimately realized that the wealth he amassed after a successful exit did not bring the fulfillment he had imagined.

Early beginnings and a trade‑job pivot

The entrepreneur, whose name is not disclosed in the article but whose profile is readily available through public LinkedIn and other business‑networking sites, grew up in a modest household and started his adult life in a small trade job that paid just $5 an hour. “I was doing the usual—cobbling together a few pieces of hardware, learning the basics of logistics,” he recounts. He later switched to a trading role at a regional brokerage, where he learned how to read markets, manage risk, and, crucially, how to spot emerging consumer trends. It was there that he first heard about the growing popularity of fried chicken and wings in the United States and saw a gap in the UK market.

The idea that grew into a franchise

In 2022, he and two former colleagues launched a Wingstop franchise in London’s bustling West End. The concept was simple: a menu centered around chicken wings, a menu that had been gaining traction in the U.S. thanks to a unique blend of sauces and a culture of sharing. “We realized the British palate was still open to that kind of casual dining, and the social media buzz around wings was just exploding,” he says. The venture quickly attracted attention from both customers and investors. Within two years the brand had opened a dozen outlets across the UK, boasting a high‑volume, low‑cost operational model that mirrored its American counterpart but with localized flavors.

A $532 million exit

By late 2024, Wingstop UK had become the most valuable franchise in its category in the United Kingdom. In a deal that made headlines in the press, a major U.S. food‑service conglomerate acquired the founder’s stake for $532 million. Fortune’s coverage notes that the sale was “one of the largest single‑transaction exits in the UK fast‑food franchise space.” The founder expressed a mixture of excitement and ambivalence during the announcement. He stated that while the financial reward was significant, the process had taken years of hard work and personal sacrifice that he felt had not been fully compensated by the sale alone.

The void after wealth

In interviews following the exit, the founder spoke candidly about how the windfall has not erased the emptiness he feels. “Money is a tool; it doesn’t solve the fundamental question of why we do what we do,” he said. He reflected on his early trade job, where the work was routine and devoid of purpose, and on how the venture into Wingstop gave him a sense of agency. Yet, after the sale, he found that the thrill of building something tangible had diminished, and the daily rhythm of his life had shifted into a new kind of emptiness. He said that while he enjoys the flexibility of newfound wealth, he’s still searching for a “new mission” that can give back or push societal boundaries.

What the market says

Fortune also contextualized the founder’s experience by linking to other recent articles that explore similar narratives: a piece on how the “gig economy” has created entrepreneurs who find purpose beyond profits, and a profile of another millennial founder who turned a food truck into a multi‑million‑dollar chain before a sale left him reevaluating success. These stories illustrate a broader trend of entrepreneurs who, after lucrative exits, confront a paradox of meaning: the wealth created can both enable and obscure deeper personal fulfillment.

Additional context from linked sources

The article’s internal link to Wingstop’s official U.K. website (https://www.wingstop.com/uk) provided a concise overview of the brand’s origins, menu innovations, and expansion plans. The site highlighted the partnership between the U.K. franchise and the U.S. parent company, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to quality and community engagement. Another link led to a CNBC interview where the founder elaborated on his vision for the future, mentioning his intention to invest in local food‑tech startups that aim to reduce waste in the supply chain.

The article also linked to a Fortune feature about the “next wave of purpose‑driven entrepreneurship,” which argues that many founders are now turning toward social impact as a way to regain a sense of purpose after achieving financial success. That piece references several case studies, including a tech entrepreneur who redirected his wealth to fund climate‑change initiatives, and a former fast‑food franchise owner who opened a series of community kitchens.

Looking forward

The founder’s journey underscores a growing conversation about the meaning of success in the modern economy. While the $532 million exit marks a milestone that many entrepreneurs only dream of, it also serves as a reminder that financial wealth is not a guaranteed path to satisfaction. In his own words, “I’ve always believed that the real test of success is not how much you make, but how much you contribute.” The article concludes by noting that he is currently exploring philanthropic projects and startups focused on sustainability, hoping that the next chapter will provide the purpose he feels is missing in his life today.

By weaving personal narrative with industry context and linking to broader analyses, Fortune offers readers a multifaceted look at the triumphs and trials that define contemporary entrepreneurship.