Determined and driven

DEALS

What Green lacked in formal qualifications, he more than made up for in chippy determination.

Starting out working for a shoe importing business, Green began to rake in money through a series of shrewd business deals.

The book described a time when Green convinced his cousin, who worked for British sports car maker Lotus, to get hold of a new model that had a long waiting list.

Green allegedly sold it for a profit a week or two later, much to his cousin’s “amazement and indignation”.

But not all his brash deal-making paid off. In the early 80s, Green opened a discount designer shop in London’s upmarket Mayfair and persuaded actress Joan Collins to collaborate on a denim range.

The launch event featured the star of hit movie The Stud and soap opera Dynasty cutting a chocolate cake in the shape of a pair of jeans.

Green boasted of booming orders but the range flopped and had to be sold off at huge discounts.

The tycoon was also said to be heavily involved in deal-making for top-flight football clubs and, at one stage, had close business dealings with X Factor supremo Simon Cowell.