Mike Ashley's net worth as Sheffield Wednesday takeover links resurface | OneFootball

Mike Ashley has recently been linked with a Sheffield Wednesday takeover

Mike Ashley has been linked with a move to take over Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls have recently been given a cruel reminder of all the peril they suffered during the summer, despite putting up a promising fight against relegation during the opening stages of this season.

Players weren’t paid on time for the month of September, marking the fifth time in seven months that owner Dejphon Chansiri has fallen short in this department.

The Steel City side are currently under six different embargoes, as well as a fee-paying transfer restriction until the summer of 2027, which has further increased supporters' fury at the current state of their club.

Calls for the Thai businessman to end his decade-long tenure as Wednesday owner have fallen on deaf ears, with Chansiri demanding an awe-inspiring £100 million to part ways with the club.

Former Crystal Palace stakeholder John Textor has been linked with a move to buy Sheffield Wednesday throughout 2025, but complications with Chansiri and the current state of the side have slowed any potential deal.

Reporter Alan Biggs recently revealed via X that former Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, also holds an interest in taking over the Owls.

Whilst this prospect may not be what some Wednesday supporters were hoping for, it could present them with a way out of Chansiri’s rule. As a result, Football League World have taken a look at Ashley’s net worth to see what he would be bringing to the table financially.

Mike Ashley’s net worth amid Sheffield Wednesday takeover links

Although Ashley has been at the centre of much controversy during his time in football, his rise to becoming one of the world’s richest people is remarkable to say the least.

When he was 18, the former Newcastle United owner set up Sports Direct, which 43 years later has over 800 stores. Ashley acquired department store chain House of Fraser in 2018 and handed the role of CEO over to his son in 2022.

Throughout all his business ventures, Ashley has a net worth of $5.7 (£4.2) billion according to Forbes, putting him within the 700 richest people in the world.

When compared to Wednesday’s current owner, there is no contest between the two in terms of wealth. The Chansiri family’s net worth was estimated to be $575 (£427) million in 2020, as per Forbes, which is significantly lower than what Ashley is worth.

Ashley hasn’t been involved with football since 2021, when he sold Newcastle United to Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund for £305 million.

Sheffield Wednesday may be willing to take a risk on Mike Ashley’s ownership

Ashley has an extremely controversial reputation from his time in football, which included stunts such as renaming Newcastle United’s famous St. James’ Park ground to the Sports Direct Arena.

Whilst not the ideal candidate, Sheffield Wednesday supporters may be willing to take a gamble on the former Magpies owner to get rid of Chansiri.

The Owls’ faithful can hope that Ashley has learned from some of his previous mistakes as a football owner, which would eradicate some potential concerns.

Money is what the Steel City Side needs, and the 61-year-old has plenty at his disposal. Although there would be some doubters, life under Ashley couldn’t be anywhere near as bad as it is with Chansiri in charge.