Sports Direct International PLC (LON:SPD) boss Mike Ashley has previously dismissed suggestions that he is Santa or Obi Wan Kenobi, but he confirmed at the High Court today that he is a “power drinker” who likes to get drunk.
The billionaire’s confession came as he gave evidence on the fourth day of a trial in London where he is being sued by a former advisor for £15mln.
READ: ‘I’m not Obi Wan Kenobi’
Jeffrey Blue claims that the sportswear tycoon agreed to pay out the multi-million pound bonus if he used his expertise to double Sports Direct’s share price within three years.
Mr Ashley has strongly refuted the claims, insisting that even if he did make such an offer it would’ve been just “drunk banter” during a “heavy night of drinking” at the Horse & Groom pub in Fitzrovia.
Five pints in the first hour
When asked how much he had drunk on that evening in 2013, Ashley told the judge today that he probably would have had four or five pints…within the first hour.
“It was a fun evening, drinking at pace,” Ashley said. “I like to get drunk. I am a power drinker.”
The court also head how the Newcastle United owner doesn’t drink regularly, but prefers to binge drink instead.
When asked by the lawyer how much Blue had had to drink, the billionaire bragged: “He would never have been able to keep up. He’s a lightweight when it comes to drinking”.
Given the heavy drinking, Ashley said yesterday that it was a “ludicrous” suggestion that the two men could have had a serious conversation that night.
Blue, for his part, has told the court that Ashley often holds meetings in “informal” venues, which means this alleged agreement shouldn’t be invalidated because it happened in a pub.
The case continues.