Tom Mairs is a British property entrepreneur who became known nationally through Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire and is also widely recognized as the husband of Olympic gold medalist and television presenter Sam Quek. His public story, however, began with business rather than celebrity.
Mairs built his name in Liverpool’s student accommodation market after graduating from the University of Liverpool. His career later expanded into television, philanthropy, and horse racing, while recent changes in England’s rental market have also brought renewed attention to his property activities.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Stuart Mairs |
| Known as | Tom Mairs |
| Birth | February 1986 |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Property entrepreneur |
| Education | University of Liverpool graduate |
| Known for | Antona Student Properties, The Secret Millionaire |
| Spouse | Sam Quek |
| Married | 2018 |
| Children | Two |
| Business connection | Antona (2008) LLP |
| Other interest | Horse racing and ownership |
UK Companies House records identify him as Thomas Stuart Mairs, born in February 1986 and British. They also list him as an active designated member of Antona (2008) LLP.
Who Is Tom Mairs?
Mairs is primarily a businessman and property investor rather than a full-time television personality. His strongest documented business connection is with student accommodation in Liverpool.
Antona Student Properties says the idea for the company developed while he was studying at the University of Liverpool. He noticed demand for better-quality, easier-to-manage student housing and initially rented a single house to friends. The company was established in 2008 and subsequently expanded its presence in Liverpool.
His public profile increased substantially in 2010 when he appeared on The Secret Millionaire. Years later, another wave of public interest followed because of his relationship with Sam Quek, who won Olympic hockey gold with Great Britain at Rio 2016 and later developed a television and broadcasting career.
Education and the Beginning of His Property Career
Public information about Mairs’ childhood is comparatively limited, and many online biographies publish personal details without explaining where they came from. His university and business history are much easier to verify.
Antona’s official history identifies him as a University of Liverpool graduate. According to the company, his experience as a student helped him recognize shortcomings in the local accommodation market. Instead of treating student rentals simply as an investment category, he built the company around housing specifically designed for that audience.
That origin story is important because it explains why Liverpool became central to his career. The business was created around a problem he had observed directly: students looking for modern, convenient accommodation in one of Britain’s major university cities.
Tom Mairs and Antona Student Properties
How the Business Developed
Antona Student Properties was founded in 2008. Its official website says the company grew from one property rented to Mairs’ friends into a substantial independently owned student accommodation provider in the Liverpool area.
Companies House provides independent confirmation of the underlying corporate structure. Antona (2008) LLP was incorporated in May 2008, and Thomas Stuart Mairs remains listed as an active designated member. The register also identifies him as the active person with significant control, recording ownership of at least 75% of the voting rights.
This is more useful than simply describing him as a “property millionaire.” It establishes a documented business role without requiring speculation about his personal fortune.
A Major Change in His Student Property Portfolio
There has also been an important recent development.
In September 2026, The i Paper reported that Mairs, who said he had owned around 50 individual student houses in Liverpool over the years, had reduced his student-house portfolio to zero, while retaining a small number of flats. He linked the decision to concerns about how England’s new rental rules affected the risks of operating student houses of multiple occupation.
The wider regulatory changes are real. From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act changed most private assured tenancies in England to periodic tenancies and ended Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. Special possession provisions exist for qualifying student HMOs, but they come with conditions concerning student status, notice and the timing of the tenancy.
This means older profiles describing Mairs as currently operating a large portfolio of student houses may no longer reflect his stated position in 2026. His corporate connection to Antona remains documented, but that is not the same thing as saying he still personally owns dozens of student HMOs.
Tom Mairs on The Secret Millionaire
Mairs gained national television exposure in 2010 through Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire.
The programme’s format placed wealthy participants undercover in communities where they spent time with local residents and organisations before revealing who they were and offering financial assistance.
Contemporary material from Community Integrated Care provides unusually strong evidence about Mairs’ participation. In an interview published after filming, he said Channel 4 had approached him about joining the programme. Although other cities had been considered, he wanted to remain around Liverpool because that was where he had built his business and he wanted local communities to benefit.
During the programme, he became involved with local community projects, including youth initiatives. His appearance therefore matters for more than celebrity biography: it shows that he had already reached national television years before his relationship with an Olympic champion made him familiar to a wider audience.
Antona’s own history also places his Secret Millionaire appearance in 2010. This is worth clarifying because some later articles incorrectly give different years.
Reported University of Liverpool Recognition
Antona states that Mairs was recognized as an Exceptional Graduate of the University of Liverpool in 2013, citing his work in student accommodation and student welfare.
According to Antona, the recognition followed several years of building a business aimed specifically at university renters.
Although his television appearance generated wider recognition, property remained the foundation of his professional profile. That distinction is sometimes lost in celebrity-focused biographies that describe him mainly as Sam Quek’s husband.
Tom Mairs and Sam Quek
Mairs is married to Sam Quek, the former Great Britain and England hockey defender who won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 before moving further into broadcasting and entertainment.
The couple married in 2018 at Chester Racecourse. Their choice of venue was especially appropriate given their shared enthusiasm for horse racing. Quek later told the Racing Post that the wedding itself had a racing theme.
They have two children, a daughter, Molly, and a son, Isaac. Recent reporting continues to identify Mairs and Quek as married and raising their two children together.
Their public careers are very different. Quek is regularly seen on television, while Mairs has generally remained more closely connected to business and family interests outside the entertainment industry.
Their Shared Interest in Horse Racing
Horse racing has become one of the most interesting parts of the couple’s public story.
Mairs and Quek have been involved in racehorse ownership, including with Stenton Glider, a filly trained by Hugo Palmer. The Racing Post reported that Mairs, Quek and Mairs’ mother Jane were connected with the horse, which developed into a high-level performer after winning at Chester on debut.
By 2025, the couple had also moved into breeding. Quek’s involvement in racing later complemented her broadcasting career when she joined ITV Racing’s Grand National coverage.
For Mairs, racing appears to be more than an occasional celebrity pastime. His comments in racing interviews show a longstanding interest shared with his wife and family.
Did Tom Mairs Appear on Other Television Shows?
Yes. His best-known solo television appearance remains The Secret Millionaire, but he has also appeared alongside Quek.
In 2016, the couple competed on BBC One’s antiques game show For What It’s Worth and won the £2,500 jackpot.
That appearance came during the same year Quek became one of Britain’s most recognizable hockey players following Team GB’s Olympic triumph in Rio.
Mairs has nevertheless never built a regular career as a television presenter or reality personality. Business remains a more accurate description of his professional background.
What Is Tom Mairs’ Net Worth?
This is one of the most searched questions about him, but it is also where online biographies become unreliable.
Various sites publish specific multimillion-pound estimates for Tom Mairs’ net worth, yet there is no authoritative public document establishing his total personal wealth. A person’s company positions, property history or television description as a millionaire do not provide enough information to calculate current net worth accurately.
Companies House can confirm his company appointments and control of Antona (2008) LLP, but it does not reveal his complete personal assets, investments, debts or other financial arrangements.
For that reason, describing him as a successful property entrepreneur is supported; presenting a precise present-day fortune as fact is not.
Common Confusion About Tom Mairs Online
Searching the name can produce misleading results because several different people named Tom or Thomas Mairs have public profiles.
For example, there is also a Canadian technology professional named Tom Mairs and artists and other professionals with the same name. The entrepreneur discussed here is Thomas Stuart Mairs, the British businessman connected with Antona, The Secret Millionaire and Sam Quek.
Another common problem is unsupported personal information. Some biography websites provide an exact day of birth, birthplace and precise net-worth estimates. Current Companies House officer records confirm February 1986 as his birth month and year.
Keeping verified facts separate from repeated online claims produces a much clearer biography.
Where Is Tom Mairs Now?
As of 2026, Mairs remains officially connected with Antona (2008) LLP, according to Companies House. However, his personal student-house holdings have undergone a major change, with recent reporting stating that he has sold his student HMOs and retained only a smaller number of flats.
Away from property, he continues to appear occasionally in coverage involving Quek and their shared racing interests.
His career therefore looks different today from the straightforward “student property millionaire” description found on many older websites. His story now covers property entrepreneurship, television philanthropy, changing rental-market conditions, family life and racehorse ownership.
Conclusion
Tom Mairs established his public identity through business long before becoming widely known as Sam Quek’s husband. A University of Liverpool graduate, he developed Antona Student Properties in 2008 and later appeared on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire in 2010.
His property career has recently entered a new phase. After owning around 50 student houses over time, he said in 2026 that he had exited that part of the market amid concerns about England’s changing rental rules. At the same time, his corporate role with Antona remains active.
Mairs and Quek have been married since 2018, have two children and share a strong interest in horse racing. Taken together, the verified record presents a more useful picture than the speculative net-worth figures and recycled celebrity claims that appear across many biography websites.
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FAQ
Who is Tom Mairs?
Tom Mairs, whose full name is Thomas Stuart Mairs, is a British property entrepreneur known for Antona Student Properties, his 2010 appearance on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire, and his marriage to Olympic champion Sam Quek.
How old is Tom Mairs?
Companies House records his birth month and year as February 1986, making him 40 years old in 2026.
Is Tom Mairs still married to Sam Quek?
Yes. Recent reporting continues to identify Tom Mairs and Sam Quek as husband and wife. They married in 2018 and have two children.
What company does Tom Mairs own?
He is closely associated with Antona Student Properties. Companies House lists Thomas Stuart Mairs as an active designated member and person with significant control of Antona (2008) LLP.
Did Tom Mairs sell his student properties?
Recent 2026 reporting says Mairs reduced his portfolio of student houses to zero after owning around 50 over the years, although he retained a small number of flats. He cited concerns about changes affecting England’s student rental market.
What is Tom Mairs’ net worth?
There is no reliable, publicly verified figure for his current personal net worth. Specific estimates published by celebrity websites should therefore be treated as unconfirmed.
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