Mike Ashley

Who is Mike Ashley?

Michael James Wallace "Mike" Ashley is an English billionaire retail entrepreneur in the sporting goods market. He is also the owner of Newcastle United after paying around £135 million to buy the club.

Ranked 15th in the 2012 version of the Forbes Magazine with estimated wealth of £1.5billion, Ashley was seen as an intensely private person, who never attended industry functions or gave interviews. Philip Beresford, who compiles the annual Sunday Times list, said neither he nor his staff have ever managed to contact Ashley, and describes him as "easily Britain's answer to the late Howard Hughes."

However, since Sports Direct International Plc went public, and his purchase of Newcastle United where he took to sitting in the stands with fans, Ashley has taken on a more public and accessible persona. However since the departure of Kevin Keegan as manager and the club's relegation, Ashley has only made low key appearances when attending Newcastle matches.