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Mike Ashley

The reclusive Ashley, 42, pocketed £929m in a day — the most made by a Briton in 24 hours — when he floated Sports Direct in February. The former squash coach has built a sports goods empire including Lillywhites in London and the Dunlop and Kangol brands. Sports Direct was valued at about £2 billion at the float and, although the shares fell in the subsequent global market turmoil, he retained a £1.02 billion stake.