The ex-wife of Sports Direct CEO Mike Ashley, who recently rekindled her affair with the former owner of Newcastle United, is selling her £19 million property in London.
Linda Ashley, a Swedish-born interior designer, is selling her majestic 11-bedroom neo-classical castle in Barnet, north London.
Mr. Ashley’s own £12 million, 33-room pillared estate is only a few doors away.
The home where the Ashleys raised their two children included a six-hole golf course built on 11.5 acres, a 10-pin basement bowling alley, a squash court, a multi-level grand cinema, a “exceptionally huge” gym, and even a T-shaped infinity pool.
But now that it’s on the market, it’s said the couple want to reunite permanently under the same roof, despite the fact that their three children, Oliver, 31, Anna, 29, and Matilda, 25, have all already moved out.
Soon after taking over for his father-in-law as CEO of Frasers Group, Michael Murray, a 31-year-old former nightclub promoter, and Anna were wed in May at Blenheim Palace.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Mike Ashley is the 59th richest person in the UK with an estimated net worth of $2.995 billion.
But even after their £50 million divorce deal in 2002, which was one of the most costly in British history, staff at his Sports Direct stores have previously claimed that they endure “gulag”-style working conditions.
Following their divorce, Linda dated businessman Simon Brodin, an ex-boyfriend of S Club 7 pop star Rachel Stevens, with whom she later had a son, Tyler, now 12 years old.
But in 2014, after a 12-year separation, the pair resumed their romance and were photographed entering his Bentley after a string of dates in central London, including an important meal at a nearby curry establishment.
And when Mr. Ashley was called before MPs in 2016 to talk about how Sports Direct treated its employees, gorgeous Linda stirred eyebrows by standing by his side.
He promised to resolve workers’ complaints and personally supervise a review of working procedures at the time.
The same year, Linda sold a lavish Majorcan villa she had constructed with a portion of the settlement money from her divorce.
Even while Mr. Ashley was the owner, she was observed in St. James’ Park.
In 2021, he paid £305 million to sell the club to a Saudi-backed consortium.
The pair has been living next to one other for years in what is described as “London’s Beverly Hills,” but they have resolutely refused to discuss their relationship.
The adjoining $12 million, 33-room estate that belongs to Mr. Ashley has a tennis court, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a cinema, four garages, and a helicopter landing pad.
When the former marital residence is on the market, it will undoubtedly draw a lot of interest from those with big enough pockets because it is a ready-made “party castle.”
It has a separate security lodge, a bar, a steam room, a jacuzzi, two game rooms, and its own salon.
Estate brokers call it a “hidden gem” with gathering space for more than 100 guests.
In a gushing sales brochure, they add: “This enormous venue can accommodate over 100 guests, making it excellent for huge events.
It boasts high ceilings, majestic dimensions, bespoke contemporary design, as well as a range of smart lighting.”
“The mansion’s acres of majestic grounds offer the owner a great deal of seclusion and contain the outside portion of a sizable swimming pool, which is surrounded by a grand multi-level terrace with space for hosting many guests, making it the ideal site for pool parties.”
“This home would be ideal for a family wanting to be nestled away from the bustle of Central London, offering privacy and opulent living along with wonderful family entertaining space,” the real estate agent said.
‘This magnificent home is definitely one of the most enviable residences in all of north London.
It is located within less than an hour’s driving distance from downtown London, with superb bespoke design, huge proportions, and an abundance of leisure facilities.’
Mr. Ashley, a former squash instructor, founded Sports Direct 34 years ago with a £10,000 parental loan.
He expanded it from a single store in Maidenhead, Berkshire, into one of the most prosperous shops in the country.
In their early twenties, when Mr. Ashley had his first store, the couple is claimed to have first connected.
Their lifestyles diverged as his money increased; he once gave Linda a gorgeous Aston Martin DB4 while continuing to drive his own modest Vauxhall Cavalier before switching to a Ford Sierra.