Tom Mairs is a British property entrepreneur known for founding Antona Student Properties and appearing on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire. His business background is closely linked to Liverpool’s student accommodation market. He is also the husband of Sam Quek, the Olympic gold medal-winning hockey player and television presenter. They married in 2018 and have two children, Molly and Isaac.
Although many people discover Tom through Sam’s television career, his own public story began years before their wedding. It brings together property investment, charitable giving, family life and a strong interest in horse racing.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Thomas Mairs |
| Known As | Tom Mairs |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Property entrepreneur |
| Known For | Student housing business and television appearance |
| Company Founded | Antona Student Properties |
| Company Established | 2008 |
| Education | University of Liverpool |
| Television Appearance | Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire |
| Year of Appearance | 2010 |
| Wife | Sam Quek, Olympic gold medallist and television presenter |
| Marriage | August 2018 at Chester Racecourse |
| Children | Two: Molly Doris Mairs and Isaac Gregory Mairs |
| Other Interests | Horse racing and racehorse ownership |
Early Background and Education
Tom, also known as Thomas Mairs, has strong connections to the Wirral and Liverpool. He graduated from the University of Liverpool, where his experience of student life helped shape an early business idea.
According to Antona’s account of its beginnings, he noticed demand for better student accommodation while studying. That observation gave him a clear market to focus on when developing his property business.
Liverpool became central to his career. Rather than starting with a wide range of property types, he built his name around housing for university students.
Building Antona Student Properties
Antona Student Properties was founded in 2008. The company says it began with one house that Tom rented to friends before expanding into a larger accommodation business.
Its stated approach focused on well-designed homes, safety and support for tenants. These priorities reflected the practical concerns students face when choosing somewhere to live, often away from their families for the first time.
The company’s beginnings help explain Tom’s professional identity. His early public recognition came through a specific part of the property market, with a business built around students and their housing needs.
The Financial Support Behind His Start
Reporting by the Liverpool Echo described Tom as the son of a wealthy entrepreneur. It also reported that his father gave him £1 million, which he used to launch his property business.
That support is an important part of his background. It gave him access to investment money that many young business owners would struggle to find. A fair account of his career should acknowledge that advantage alongside the decisions he made with it.
Financial backing can make buying property possible, but managing accommodation involves further responsibilities. Repairs, tenant relationships, running costs and maintaining homes all form part of the work behind a housing business.
Tom Mairs on The Secret Millionaire
Tom reached a wider audience when he appeared on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire in 2010. The programme followed wealthy participants as they spent time in communities without immediately revealing their financial position.
His episode took him to Bootle, close to the area where he had developed his business interests. The format introduced participants to local people and community projects before they revealed their identities and offered financial help.
For viewers, this appearance provided a different setting from the world of property investment. It placed Tom alongside people working to improve everyday life in their communities.
The programme remains one of the main reasons his name appears in entertainment coverage. It also means his television history predates his marriage to Sam Quek.
His Relationship With Sam Quek
Tom’s relationship with Sam Quek brought another layer of public interest. Sam became a sporting household name as part of Great Britain’s women’s hockey team, which won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
She later developed a broadcasting career and appeared on entertainment programmes, including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Strictly Come Dancing.
Reports place the beginning of their relationship in 2014, after they met in a Liverpool bar. Their connection therefore began before Sam’s Olympic gold medal and many of her best-known television appearances.
As her profile grew, Tom became more familiar to audiences through coverage of their relationship, wedding and family milestones.
Their Wedding at Chester Racecourse
Tom and Sam married at Chester Racecourse in August 2018, following their engagement in Tenerife in 2017.
The venue reflected their shared love of racing. In a later interview, Sam explained that she had wanted an outdoor wedding in the racecourse’s parade ring. Forecast rain led to a change of plans shortly before the celebration.
They moved to a marquee, where Tom arranged artificial turf to help create the setting Sam had imagined. It is a memorable detail because it shows how their interests shaped the day.
Racing was woven into the celebration, making the venue a personal choice with meaning for both of them.
Tom Mairs’ Children and Family Life
Tom Mairs and Sam Quek have two children. Their daughter, Molly Doris Mairs, was born in March 2021. Their son, Isaac Gregory Mairs, followed in March 2022.
Isaac is also known as Zac, a nickname used in family coverage. This explains why readers may see different versions of his name.
Sam has spoken publicly about balancing work with motherhood and the pressures parents can feel. Those interviews offer occasional glimpses into their family life, although they do not provide a complete picture of Tom’s daily routine.
Their children’s births marked a new chapter, with two young family members arriving just over a year apart.
A Shared Passion for Horse Racing
Horse racing is a well-documented interest for Tom and Sam. Their involvement has included racehorse ownership, giving them a personal connection to events beyond attending as spectators.
In an interview with the Racing Post, they discussed Stenton Glider, a filly they owned alongside Tom’s mother, Jane. Tom described how exciting it was to see the horse win at Chester, a course already important to the couple.
They also recalled receiving a substantial offer for the horse after that victory. Tom favoured selling, while Sam and his mother wanted to keep her.
The story offers a lively glimpse into a shared hobby and the different decisions it can involve. It also helps explain why racing appears so often in accounts of their life together.
What Is Tom Mairs’ Net Worth?
There is no reliable, publicly verified figure for Tom Mairs’ current net worth in the sources available for this profile.
His property background and appearance on The Secret Millionaire explain why he is often described as a millionaire. However, that description does not establish the value of his finances today.
Property values, borrowing, ownership arrangements and other investments all affect personal wealth. Without a clear financial disclosure, an exact figure would be a guess. His business history can be discussed with more confidence than a current estimate of his fortune.
Conclusion
Tom Mairs has a public story that spans business, charitable television and family life. His career began in Liverpool’s student housing market, while The Secret Millionaire introduced him to a broader audience.
His marriage to Sam Quek later brought further attention, alongside the arrival of their children and their shared involvement in racing. Together, these details provide a fuller picture of the entrepreneur whose name often appears beside one of Britain’s best-known sporting personalities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Tom Mairs?
Tom Mairs is a British property entrepreneur, the founder of Antona Student Properties and a former participant in Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire.
2. Who is Tom Mairs married to?
He is married to Sam Quek, an Olympic gold medal-winning hockey player and television presenter. They married in August 2018.
3. How many children does Tom Mairs have?
Tom and Sam have two children, Molly Doris Mairs and Isaac Gregory Mairs. Isaac is also known as Zac.
4. When did Tom Mairs appear on The Secret Millionaire?
Tom appeared on the Channel 4 programme in 2010. His episode followed his time in Bootle.
5. Where did Tom Mairs and Sam Quek get married?
They married at Chester Racecourse. Their choice of venue reflected their shared enthusiasm for horse racing.
