Mike Ashley - Entrepreneurs, Family and Childhood
Mike Ashley's Personal Details
Michael Ashley is an English entrepreneur dealing in sporting goods and clothing
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 9, 1964 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Business People, Entrepreneurs |
| Spouses | Linda Ashley |
| Siblings | John Ashley |
| Known as | Michael James Wallace Mike Ashley |
| Childrens | Anna Ashley, Matilda Ashley, Oliver Ashley |
| Universities |
|
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Burnham |
| Gender | Male |
| Net Worth | $2.7 billion as of Mar 20,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Burnham |
| Famous as | Entrepreneur |
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Mike Ashley's photo
Who is Mike Ashley?
Michael Ashley, the English entrepreneur dealing in sporting goods and clothing, is truly an extraordinary person. Some call him the UK’s most reclusive billionaire while others find him rather eccentric. It is a fact that he is one of the richest men in UK; yet, he has often been seen using a plastic shopping bag for a briefcase. He generally keeps a low profile and shies away from giving interviews. Neither does he attend any industry function. Yet one would often see him partying, drinking and gambling with friends and acquaintances or watching football from the stands. Indeed, Michal Ashley leads his life on its own terms and has never allowed anything to come in his way. His love for sports is almost legendary. After passing out from school he thought of becoming a squash player; but when it did not materialize, he became a coach and finally opened a sporting retail store. It was followed by several others and today the chain, known as Sports Direct International plc, operates more than 500 retail stores in different parts of the world. He is also the owner of Newcastle United Football Club and has stakes in Scottish football club Rangers.
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Early Life & Childhood
Michael Ashley was born on 9 September 1964, in Burnham, Buckinghamshire, England. Nothing is known about is parents; however, it is certain that he came from a humble background. He attended Burnham Grammar School and graduated from there in 1980 at the age of 16. After passing from school, he started playing squash at the county level. An injury put an end to his sporting career; but it could not severe his association with squash.
Michael started coaching students and very soon became a county level squash coach. However, that too was short-lived. The businessman in him led him to a different direction.
Career
Michael Ashley launched his first shop in 1982 in Maidenhead, an affluent town in Berkshire. He was then only eighteen years old. He named it Mike Ashley Sports and traded under low margin.
By 1984, Michael had earned enough profit to enable him to expand. He then opened Preston Sports Store in London by using private money. It was also a successful venture and earned him good margin.
Buoyed by its success, he opened several other stores in and around London. By 1992, the company had twelve stores, each of which was funded by private money. The chain was named Sports and Ski.
Between 1995 and 1996, Mike renamed the chain as Sports Soccer. By the end of 1990s, the brand had around fifty stores across the country. He also acquired a property measuring around 100,000 sq feet in Dunstable, a market town in Bedfordshire. The company head office was relocated to this newly acquired property.
Initially, the company was a proprietorship firm owned and run solely by Ashley. He was so far in control of every aspect of its running. In 1999, he turned it into a limited liability company, but continued to be at the helm of the business. He also rebranded his company as Sports Direct International plc
From 2000 onwards, the company experienced a steady growth. In the same year, the company formed a joint venture in Belgium. It now had around 80 stores.
In 2002, he acquired ten stores of Lillywhites Chain and also the Lonsdale brand. By 2003, the company had 150 retail stores under its chain. It also acquired Donnay.
In February 2004, Michael Ashley acquired Dunlop Slazenger, a sports equipment manufacturing company, for a price of £40 million. Thus he came to own Dunlop, Slazenger and Carlton brands. In the same year he took over Karrimor, an outdoor gear manufacturer, for a sum of five million ponds.
In 2005, Michael Ashley signed a long-term deal Umbro— an English sportswear and football equipment supplier; however, it did not materialize. Instead, he acquired Kangol, the company famous for its headgears, in 2006 at an estimated price of £12 million.
Sports Direct International plc went public in 2007. Such was Michael’s reputation that he quickly garnered $ 1.8 billion through Initial Public Offering. In the same year, the company also opened an online store with the domain name of SportsDirect.com. There has been no looking back since then.
In the same year, Sport Direct, under the leadership of Michael Ashley, acquired Everlast for £84 million. In 2008, it also acquired 12.3% holding in the John David Group in 2008.
In 2012, the company purchased out rival retailer JJB's brand name, twenty stores as well as their website and all of their stock for £24 million. In 2013, Sport Direct bought 116 Republic stores as well as its brand name and the company's head office.
Today, the Sports Direct is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has around 500 retail stores in different parts of Europe and employs more than eleven thousand people. Michael remains the Executive Deputy Chairman of the group.
Major Works
Although Sport Direct is now a public traded company, Michael Ashley continues to hold majority stake (61.7%) in it. He primarily made his money by buying brands; Donnay being the first major brands to be acquired by him. Later he acquired other brands like Dunlop Slazenger, Everlast, Karrimor, Kangol, Lonsdale, Firetrap etc.
in 2007, Michal bought Newcastle United Football Club by paying out a hefty sum of £134 million. He also acquired 8.9% stake in Rangers Football Club, located at Glasgow.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1988, Michael Ashley married Linda Jerlmyr. She was a Swedish born economics graduate. They had three children: Matilda, Anna and Oliver.
Their marriage ended in 2003. It is believed that Ashley handed over assets worth fifty million pounds as divorce settlement. It included their sixteen bedroom family home.
Ashley is an extremely private person and so not much is known about his personal life. However, he now lives in Hertfordshire and his home is hidden behind rows of tress.
Net Worth
As on 29 October 2015, Michal Ashley had a net worth of $4.9 billion.
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Mike Ashley biography timelines
- // 9th Sep 1964 To 1980Michael Ashley was born on 9 September 1964, in Burnham, Buckinghamshire, England. Nothing is known about is parents; however, it is certain that he came from a humble background. He attended Burnham Grammar School and graduated from there in 1980 at the age of 16. After passing from school, he started playing squash at the county level. An injury put an end to his sporting career; but it could not severe his association with squash.
- // 1982Michael Ashley launched his first shop in 1982 in Maidenhead, an affluent town in Berkshire. He was then only eighteen years old. He named it Mike Ashley Sports and traded under low margin.
- // 1984By 1984, Michael had earned enough profit to enable him to expand. He then opened Preston Sports Store in London by using private money. It was also a successful venture and earned him good margin.
- // 1988In 1988, Michael Ashley married Linda Jerlmyr. She was a Swedish born economics graduate. They had three children: Matilda, Anna and Oliver.
- // 1992Buoyed by its success, he opened several other stores in and around London. By 1992, the company had twelve stores, each of which was funded by private money. The chain was named Sports and Ski.
- // 1995 To 1996Between 1995 and 1996, Mike renamed the chain as Sports Soccer. By the end of 1990s, the brand had around fifty stores across the country. He also acquired a property measuring around 100,000 sq feet in Dunstable, a market town in Bedfordshire. The company head office was relocated to this newly acquired property.
- // 1999Initially, the company was a proprietorship firm owned and run solely by Ashley. He was so far in control of every aspect of its running. In 1999, he turned it into a limited liability company, but continued to be at the helm of the business. He also rebranded his company as Sports Direct International plc
- // 2000From 2000 onwards, the company experienced a steady growth. In the same year, the company formed a joint venture in Belgium. It now had around 80 stores.
- // 2002 To 2003In 2002, he acquired ten stores of Lillywhites Chain and also the Lonsdale brand. By 2003, the company had 150 retail stores under its chain. It also acquired Donnay.
- // 2003Their marriage ended in 2003. It is believed that Ashley handed over assets worth fifty million pounds as divorce settlement. It included their sixteen bedroom family home.
- // Feb 2004In February 2004, Michael Ashley acquired Dunlop Slazenger, a sports equipment manufacturing company, for a price of £40 million. Thus he came to own Dunlop, Slazenger and Carlton brands. In the same year he took over Karrimor, an outdoor gear manufacturer, for a sum of five million ponds.
- // 2005 To 2006In 2005, Michael Ashley signed a long-term deal Umbro— an English sportswear and football equipment supplier; however, it did not materialize. Instead, he acquired Kangol, the company famous for its headgears, in 2006 at an estimated price of £12 million.
- // 2007Sports Direct International plc went public in 2007. Such was Michael’s reputation that he quickly garnered $ 1.8 billion through Initial Public Offering. In the same year, the company also opened an online store with the domain name of SportsDirect.com. There has been no looking back since then.
- // 2007in 2007, Michal bought Newcastle United Football Club by paying out a hefty sum of £134 million. He also acquired 8.9% stake in Rangers Football Club, located at Glasgow.
- // 2008In the same year, Sport Direct, under the leadership of Michael Ashley, acquired Everlast for £84 million. In 2008, it also acquired 12.3% holding in the John David Group in 2008.
- // 2012 To 2013In 2012, the company purchased out rival retailer JJB's brand name, twenty stores as well as their website and all of their stock for £24 million. In 2013, Sport Direct bought 116 Republic stores as well as its brand name and the company's head office.
- // 29th Oct 2015As on 29 October 2015, Michal Ashley had a net worth of $4.9 billion.
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Mike Ashley's FAQ
What is Mike Ashley birthday?
Mike Ashley was born at 1964-09-09
Where is Mike Ashley's birth place?
Mike Ashley was born in Burnham
What is Mike Ashley nationalities?
Mike Ashley's nationalities is British
Who is Mike Ashley spouses?
Mike Ashley's spouses is Linda Ashley
Who is Mike Ashley siblings?
Mike Ashley's siblings is John Ashley
Who is Mike Ashley childrens?
Mike Ashley's childrens is Anna Ashley, Matilda Ashley, Oliver Ashley
What was Mike Ashley universities?
Mike Ashley studied at Burnham Grammar School
Which company or organization was founded by Mike Ashley?
Mike Ashley was the founder/co-founder of Sports Direct, SportsDirect.com, St James Holdings
What is Mike Ashley's sun sign?
Mike Ashley is Virgo
How famous is Mike Ashley?
Mike Ashley is famouse as Entrepreneur