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‘Penchant for bling’: can Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley take a bigger slice of luxury retail?

The Guardian UK · 22 August 2026 at 13:00

‘Penchant for bling’: can Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley take a bigger slice of luxury retail?

Frasers billionaire bought Harvey Nichols and increased Hugo Boss stake despite tough times for high-end stores What billionaire doesn’t love to splash the cash on a luxury item? Some may buy watches or yachts, but Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has been snapping up entire brands.

Harvey Nichols is the latest bauble to drop into his shopping basket after his company bought the Knightsbridge department store out of administration earlier this month.

It sits beside a large slice of Hugo Boss, a chunk of Mulberry, a snippet of Burberry, the remains of Agent Provocateur and the entire Flannels and House of Fraser chains.

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‘Penchant for bling’: can Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley take a bigger slice of luxury retail?

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