Mike Ashley

Michael James Wallace "Mike" Ashley (born 9 September 1964) 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 Britain only) in the 2012 version of Forbes magazine with estimated wealth of £1.5 billion, 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 in 2006 described him as "easily Britain's answer to the late Howard Hughes".

Since Sports Direct International Plc went public, and his purchase of Newcastle United where he took to sitting in the stands with fans, Ashley took on a more public and accessible persona. However, after the departure of Kevin Keegan as manager and the club's relegation, he has only made low key appearances when attending Newcastle matches. As of October 2014, Ashley also owns an 8.92% stake in Scottish football club Rangers.