Bra queen Michelle Mone finds love with billionaire tycoon who owns TWO superyachts
BRA queen Michelle Mone has cup-led up with a billionaire who owns two superyachts.
Doug Barrowman, 51, also has 50 businesses, six homes, 15 cars and a private jet.
He and mega-rich Michelle, worth £20million herself, fell for each other over a boardroom table in October. A friend said: “They’ve not looked back since.”
Doug, a self-proclaimed “Scots git from Glasgow”, was born just a few miles away from her.
The pal said: “They have lots in common and are very much in love.
“He’s a very savvy, private man but has been swept off his feet by Michelle. He can’t believe his luck.”
The divorced dad of four’s yachts are called Turquoise and Minx.
Asked on a 2015 Channel 4 documentary why he bought them he said: “I suppose the flippin’ answer is because I can!”
Ultimo co-founder Michelle, now a baroness, had been dating Stefan Soroka, 49, the golf pro at Barbados's Sandy Lane resort. But they split three months ago due to their busy schedules.
The mum of three’s new venture Social Superstore has Doug as chairman. Shortly before they met at a shareholders’ meeting, Michelle, 45, told The Sun on Sunday that she could not get a fella.
She revealed: “I’m an only child and have always said I’d like four babies. If I met the right person I would love to be a mum again.
“But finding a man isn’t easy as I don’t get chatted up. I don’t know if people are intimidated by me because I’m in the House of Lords.”
There was speculation she had been on a date with Coronation Street actor Shayne Ward, 32, but she said he is too young.
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Doug’s Knox Group empire covers financial services, tax planning, marine and aviation.
It was valued at £1.1billion three months ago. He employees 5,000 staff and has 30 personal staff.
His five Ferraris include an F40 and a 458 Speciale. He also has seven Range Rovers and a Bentley Mulsanne.
His art includes a priceless Picasso and he collects watches.
Pals say he is generous too. A Prince’s Trust centre in Manchester is set to be named after him after he made a £2million donation.
He may have to tread carefully with Michelle.
Five years ago she caught her husband Michael cheating on her so she trashed his £100,000 Porsche, put laxatives in his drink and cut up his clothes.
He left her for Samantha Bunn, a senior Ultimo employee. They set up a rival lingerie firm and are now married.
Michelle said of his walkout near Christmas: “The kids were in pieces. I spent the day crying.”
She went on: “I’d been married 19 years, just turned 40.
“It was horrible but I got through it and am grateful to Michael now. It gave me the incentive to prove that I could go it alone.”
At Doug’s Isle of Man home he employs a Michelin-star chef who sources and cooks him organically-produced meat and veg.
Fitness fan Doug also does three yoga sessions a week.
He says he was born to a humble background and recently explained: “My first entrepreneurial venture was aged 20, setting up paintball sites in Scotland.
“In those days, as a nearly qualified chartered accountant making £14,000 a year, I was also making £3,000 a week clear profit doing paintball.”
Agents for Michelle and Doug refused to comment last night.
Their Social Superstore app allows users to make money by discovering, endorsing and sharing products from hundreds of brands.