What would you do if you had a six-figure salary? Maybe you’d never cook again, or maybe you’d indulge in a monthly Thai massage and a Soho House membership to unwind from the stress of trying to be your A-game.
At The Good Life, you no longer have to imagine what life at the top looks like: get real inspiration for how the most successful people live.
Today Fortune meet Wingstop’s UK director, 34-year-old Tom Grogan, who lives in London.
If you live in the US (or are on TikTok), you’ve no doubt heard of this popular American fast food chain.
The company was founded in Texas in 1994 and claimed to have served two million wings in 2002.
2,000,000
The number of wings Wingstop has served in just eight years.
Now Grogan (along with his three co-founders) has brought the chain to the UK thanks to a cold email sent to the company’s inbox five years ago. The brand’s various flavours of chicken wings have also been well received abroad.
On TikTok, Wingstop UK’s following has surpassed that of legendary cult chicken company KFC. Demand is so high that Wingstop now has 47 branches and employs over 2,000 people, with plans to open another 100 branches over the next five years to keep up. It’s in the top 10 most popular restaurants across the UK on Deliveroo and is currently one of the fastest growing restaurants in the country.
This interview has been edited for brevity.
The finances
Fortune: What’s the best investment you’ve ever made?
Tom Grogan: My flat in Hampstead Heath is my best investment. It has increased in value by around 30% in the last five years, mainly through very good buying and tasteful renovation.
The worst?
To be honest, nothing special has happened so far!
Tom lives in London’s Hampstead Heath. His apartment nearby is his best investment.
Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
How do you travel to work?
It’s a 45 minute walk from my apartment, but on a busy day I take an Uber.
Do you have a wallet with you?
Cardholder or Apple Pay.
The photo above features British rapper Dave, one of Tom’s favorite artists.
Jo Hale—Redferns/Getty
What personal financial advice would you give yourself as a 20-year-old?
If I were advising my 20-year-old self on personal finance, I would emphasize that simply saving money is not enough to build substantial wealth, as it often does not keep pace with inflation. Instead, the real key to wealth is creating and building something of value, like a business or a product. Think of it as solving a problem or fulfilling a need in a market that you are passionate about. The potential financial rewards of ownership and capital gains can be far greater than what you could save from a paycheck.
Which subscription can you absolutely not miss?
Spotify: My favorite artists at the moment are Mind Against, Dave and Benny Banks.
When it comes to workwear, Boggi is a favourite of the British boss of Wingstop.
Mike Kemp—In Photos/Getty Images
What do you like to watch most?
Audemars Piguet.
The real key to prosperity is creating and building something valuable, such as a business or product.
What’s your favorite work wardrobe?
For my work wardrobe, Suitsupply and Boggi are great. M&S menswear is also bulletproof. My favourite brands are Goyard, Berluti and Loro Piana as they all have a strong heritage and make great quality pieces.
The necessities
How do you get your daily dose of coffee?
I am a big fan of coffee and drink two to three black coffees throughout the day (or double espressos). I don’t normally eat breakfast, but when I do it’s always something light. Grind makes great coffee and luckily there’s one right by our office in Mayfair. Our old office had a Sage coffee machine which looks great but is a hassle. We now use a Nespresso machine which is much easier!
Grogan gets his daily dose of coffee from his Nespresso machine in the office.
Frederic J. Brown—AFP/Getty Images
What about food on the go?
I usually meal prep or buy food for the day from my local gym, Third Space, which usually costs around £20 ($25.3) a day. For food on the go, my favourites are Leon, Salad Project and of course Wingstop! I always order eight boneless pieces in spicy Korean – you have to try the new Voodoo fries! For more sit-down lunches, Cecconis or Delfino in Mayfair are always a good choice.
Tom usually has lunch on the go with Leon, Salad Project and of course his own lunch, Wingstop.
Thanks to Wingstop
He always orders eight pieces of boneless spicy Korean.
Thanks to Wingstop
Where do you do your shopping?
M&S Food and Waitrose. I rarely eat out unless it is business or work related.
How much does it cost to relax in a top job?
I have found that cutting out alcohol and working out regularly in the gym six times a week has really helped me to relax and cope with the challenges that running a fast growing business can bring. I would recommend it to anyone. Weekend walks on Hampstead Heath with my headphones on are a weekly occurrence.
The delicacies
Are you the proud owner of Meta’s smart glasses or other futuristic gadgets?
Nothing too futuristic, but I can’t live without my Airpods!
Grogan’s best extra was his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watch.
Valentin Flauraud—Bloomberg/Getty Images
What’s the best perk you’ve ever bought yourself?
I would say an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver watch was probably the best treat. I thought about buying a nice car this year but I opted to be sensible and pay off some of my mortgage, which I am now quite grateful for given where interest rates have ended up!
The Amalfi Coast in Italy
Amalfi is a destination on the 34-year-old’s bucket list.
Marco Bottigelli—Getty Images
Take us on a vacation, what’s next on your vacation list?
The last few years I haven’t really been able to disconnect from work or take a real vacation. Personally I find it hard to relax when I’m away from work or the office for too long. That said, I love the South of France, my business partner recently hosted us in Antibes and I definitely want to go back for a long weekend this year. The Amalfi Coast is on my bucket list so I’m going to make time to go there in the next few years.
At The Good Life, you no longer have to imagine what life at the top looks like: get real inspiration for how the most successful people live.
Fortune would like to hear from European leaders about what their “Good Life” looks like. Get in touch: [email protected]
