Lucie Macleod has definitely had the last laugh since walking out of the Den empty-handed with the words of the Dragons ringing in her ears.
The founder of Hair Syrup suffered a bruising experience when she offered 3 per cent of her haircare business for £190,000.
She was 24 when the episode was recorded in July 2024, before it was screened in January 2025.
Her appearance caused controversy after outgoing Dragon Touker Suleyman offered the full £190,000 in exchange for 3 per cent of the flourishing business – but only if he got all his money back after three months and kept the 3 per cent.
Lucie Macleod and KSI on Find The Millionaire
The offer stunned his fellow Dragons, with Deborah Meaden shaking her head and warning Macleod that she was effectively giving away the shares for nothing.
Steven Bartlett advised her to walk to the back of the Den and have a drink of water before making a decision, prompting Suleyman to quickly backtrack.
“I don’t want you to feel I’ve tried to trick you in anyway,” he told her. “That is not my intention. I tell you what Lucie, I can feel you’re uncomfortable and I don’t want to take 3 per cent of your business so I’m out.”
It was a chastening experience and, at one point, guest Dragon Trinny Woodall – CEO of global, digital-first beauty brand Trinny London – appeared to question whether Macleod knew how dividends worked.
The Gen Z entrepreneur may have failed to secure any investment, but she hasn’t looked back since bagging 20 minutes of prime-time TV to talk about herself and her company.
As well as being included in Forbes’ 2026 30 Under 30 and being named The Sunday Times Young Founder of the Year in 2025, she was recently included in BusinessCloud’s Founder 250 list.
Macleod’s story has also been extensively covered by the media, including the BBC.
Now she’s had the last laugh on the Dragons by appearing on KSI’s new YouTube programme Find The Millionaire.
KSI is one of Britain’s best-known YouTubers and digital entrepreneurs, and his latest YouTube challenge sees him attempt to identify the millionaires hidden among a group of contestants.
The episode in which Macleod reveals she’s a millionaire has already been viewed 1.2 million times!
She introduced herself by saying: “Hi, I’m Lucie and I’m a millionaire. I own the UK’s 13th fastest growing company and it’s a TikTok haircare brand called Hair Syrup.”
After her appearance she shared a photo from the show and joked: “Filming with KSI wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card!”