Agents wondering where all the money has come from in recent years to fund the growth of ‘digital disruption’ within the property industry now have a new name to mull – Manfred Gorvy.

He’s an 81-year-old South African businessman based in London who was one of the key early backers of both Easyproperty and Zoopla through his investment firm Fresh Capital, which is run by his son Sean.

The two investments have had mixed results – Zoopla went on to be the UK’s second largest property portal, but Easyproperty has struggled to make headway despite gaining access to the Guild’s network of agents after joining the GPEA group.

Gorvy’s involvement with the two digital property businesses was highlighted over the weekend after he sold his holdings in a Dutch bottling giant which makes the Innocent drinks range in the UK, for £17 million.

Dollar billionaire

This has increased his personal fortune to £953 million, making him a dollar billionaire.

Gorvy made his initial money during the 1970s in South Africa by helping grow a property, agribusiness and investment company.

At one point he was named as the UK’s 288th richest person by the Sunday Times after moving his empire to London.

But Gorvy and his family dropped out of the list recently after his business, Hanover Acceptances, slumped from a profit of £97 million in 2017 to a loss of £14 million in 2018.

He and his wife are also philanthropists and have donated money to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal National Theatre, the Tate and Royal Shakespeare Company.