A member of Greenpeace from his mid-teens, Jackson set up businesses making mirrors and trading property before founding a renewable energy start-up in his early 40s. Within just nine years, he has grown Octopus Energy from a small-scale disruptor into the largest electricity supplier to British homes. By harnessing cash from investors keen to power the green revolution Jackson has swiftly amassed a portfolio of more than 400 wind and solar farms across the UK and six other countries. Octopus has also grown tentacles, providing electric vehicle leasing and installing heat pumps and smart meters. Acquisitions have helped. After buying collapsed rival Bulb and Shell’s UK household electricity and gas arm, Octopus now powers more than 7.7 million homes around the world.