Connect with us

Celebrities

The Controversial Life of Abercrombie & Fitch’s CEO, Mike Jeffries

Published

on

Who is Mike Jeffries?

The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, was the main subject of numerous controversies, the latest was related to his departure from the company amid widespread criticism of the company’s performance and 11 consecutive quarters of negative comparable-store sales.

Mike’s leadership was also the main subject of the Netflix documentary “White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch” released in April 2022. For more information about the controversial life of Mike Jeffries, you’ve come to the right place.

Early life, family, and education

Born Michael Stanton Jeffries under the zodiac sign of Cancer on 15 July 1944, Mike will soon celebrate his 79th birthday. He’s a native of Oklahoma USA, holds American nationality and his ethnicity is White. Mike was raised in Los Angeles, California by his father Donald R. Jeffries, an owner of a chain of party supply stores, and his wife, Shirley. Mike is their only son; he has two sisters, Cindy and Lynn.

When it comes to his educational background, he attended a local high school, and upon matriculating in 1962, he enrolled at Claremont McKenna College and later transferred to the London School of Economics from which he graduated with a BA degree in 1966. He continued his education at Columbia Business School, completing a Master’s degree in Business Administration in 1968.

Advertisement

Rise to fame with Abercrombie & Fitch, Controversies

Mike started his career in the fashion industry in the early ‘70s, working as a salesman for the clothing retail Paul Harris Stores, in Nashville, Tennessee. After receiving his MBA, Mike joined the management training program at the department store Abraham & Straus in New York City. During his time there, Mike worked with big fashion names such as Mickey Drexler and Allen Questorm.

In 1984, Mike founded his brand, called Alcot & Andrews, , targeted at career women, which was initially successful, but five years later fell into bankruptcy. Mike then began serving  for Paul Harris, a clothing chain in the Midwest, then in the early ’90s, Mike was appointed as the CEO of the famous brand, Guess.

Les Wexner, a CEO of LBrands, then known as The Limited, hired Mike in 1992 to enhance Abercrombie & Fitch. After declaring bankruptcy in 1988, Limited Brands purchased the company founded in 1892; Mike is credited with conceptualizing the company’s new design.

Abercrombie & Fitch was reinvented as a high-end clothing retailer for college students, and by the mid-’90s, the company had opened dozens of new stores. By 1996, LBrands was no longer actively involved in the company and eventually left it under Mike’s supervision.

Advertisement

During that period, the company sparked controversy among several groups, including the American Decency Association and the feminist movement, and besides negative headlines in the newspapers, the company faced a number of lawsuits. For example, a class action lawsuit was filed against Abercrombie and Fitch in 2003 alleging discrimination against African- American, Latino, and AsianAmerican applicants and employees. According to the New York Times, a $40 million settlement was reached in November 2004, forcing the corporation to promote diversity in its recruiting method,s and as a result conduct diversity and inclusion training, as depicted in the documentary “White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch“.

One of the statements that Mike gave was that the company hires good-looking people and that their goal is to be market cool, good-looking people, adding that they don’t market to anyone other than that.

As if the statement was not clear enough, in his interview for Salon, Mike admitted that they are exclusionary, and that they represent sexuality healthily and playfully, not dark. As he put it, ‘it isn’t gay or straight, black or white, not about any labels’.

During the retail recession, Mike refused to lower prices or offer discounts at the company’s stores, which many commented on negatively.

His employment agreement was set to expire on 31 December 2008, however, just a few days before, the Abercrombie & Fitch corporate announced that Mike’s contract had been renewed.

Advertisement

The company faced a decline in 2008, due to the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and its stock price dropped from an all-time high of $84.23 in October 2007 to a low of $14.64 in November 2008. Mike received a total compensation of over $45 million, although most of this was in the form of stock options.

In 2012, Mike owned about 2.9% of the company’s shares, making it tough to remove him without his permission. At the time, his most recent contract provided for compensation of more than $100 million if he lost his job due to a change in ownership. In December 2013, it was reported that Mike had agreed to a new contract that would correlate his salary to the performance of the company. The market commentator, Herb Greenberg, named Mike the worst CEO of 2013, pointing out that the share price for Abercrombie & Fitch had collapsed by 40% during 2013.

Mike resigned as CEO of the company on 9 December 2014. Shares soared 8% after the announcement, the biggest one-day rise in more than nine months.

Who is his life partner?

Mike Jeffries has been the subject of numerous rumors, but he’s quite secretive about the facts from his personal life before he became the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch. It’s known that he was married to Susan Hansen and that the two have a son together, but about whom nothing is known.

Salon.com has stated that Mike is a gay man, and that for years he has been living separately from Susan. In 2013, it was reported that Mike lives with his partner, Matthew Smith, and their three dogs. Matthew, even though he wasn’t an employee at Abercrombie & Fitch, allegedly had as much power and influence as any company’s executive. Sources claim that he was involved in matters such as the company’s growth plan and real estate expansion, and that he regularly attended internal meetings.

As of May 2023, the couple is still together.

How rich is Mike Jeffries?

According to sources, when Mike stepped down as Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, he didn’t leave with empty pockets, but with a hefty $27 million retirement paycheck. He still owns 2.9% of shares in Abercrombie & Fitch, and reportedly, as of May 2023, his net worth has been estimated at over $300 million.

As the Managing Editor at The Legit, I direct a dynamic team dedicated to creating rich content that profiles the lives and accomplishments of influential figures. My commitment to detail and storytelling drives the production of biographies that truly engage our audience. I manage all aspects of the editorial process, from conducting thorough research to crafting vivid narratives, all while ensuring the accuracy and quality of our work. At The Legit, our goal is to offer our readers comprehensive profiles that provide deep insights into the realms of business, entertainment, and more. Through diligent research and engaging storytelling, we highlight the exceptional journeys and achievements of those who both inspire and intrigue us.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Celebrities

Where is Michael Peterson now? The True Story of His Wife Death

Published

on

Who is Michael Peterson?

American novelist and convicted killer Michael Iver Peterson was born in Nashville, Tennessee USA, on 23 October 1943, meaning that Scorpio’s his zodiac sign. He’s probably known best for having been convicted of killing his second wife Kathleen Peterson; Michael was sentenced to spend his life behind bars without the possibility of parole on 10 October 2003, but was released on house arrest after $300,000 bail was paid in 2011.

Education and early life

Michael was raised alongside his sister Ann Christensen and their brothers John and Bill in Nashville, by their mother Eleanor (nee Bartolino) and father Eugene Iver Peterson; not a lot else is known about Michael’s family, because he respects their privacy.

He was mostly focused on his education while attending a local high school, while some of the activities he was into the most included creative writing, playing soccer and dancing. Michael matriculated in 1962, and then enrolled at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; he was the editor of the university’s newspaper “The Chronicle” during his four years there, and was the president of the fraternity Sigma Nu. Michael graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in political science in 1965, and then began taking classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Law School.

Advertisement

Michael’s career

In 1965, Michael began working for the US Department of Defense, researching arguments in support of the US military involvement in Vietnam. The year 1968 saw Michael join the US Marine Corps, and he served in Vietnam for three years prior to being honorably discharged as a captain, after he was hit by a car and left with a disability.

In 1999, Michael claimed that he had been presented with two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Valor and a Silver Star for his service in the Marine Corps, but the newspaper “News & Observer” later revealed that no records showed that Michael had won any Purple Hearts.

He and his first wife lived in Germany after he was discharged, then Michael moved back to Durham in 1987.

https://twitter.com/FukumiKimoto/status/1584666483447443457

He’s published three novels, all of which related to his time in Vietnam. His first novel “The Immortal Dragon” was published in 1983, followed by “A Time of War” in 1990, and his third “A Bitter Peace” in 2020.

Michael also co-wrote the biographical book “Operation Broken Reed”, together with Arthur L. Boyd, and “Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company” with David Perlmutt. He also spent some time working as a columnist for the newspaper “The Herald-Sun”.

Love life and marriages

Michael married his first wife Patricia Sue in 1965, following his graduation; she taught at an elementary school on Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany, where Michael was stationed. They had two children together, Todd and Clayton.

Advertisement

While living in Germany, Michael and Patricia befriended the Ratliff family, which comprised George and Elizabeth, and their children Martha and Margaret. After George and Elizabeth died in 1985, Michael became their children’s guardian, but he and Patricia divorced two years later, with their children staying with Patricia, while Michael, Martha and Margaret moved together to Durham. Todd and Clayton also eventually came to live with Michael.

He met successful business executive Kathleen Atwater in 1989 – they moved in together in the same year, married in 1997, and he became stepfather to Kathleen’s daughter Caitlin. The marriage ended when Kathleen died on 9 December 2001.

Kathleen’s death and Michael’s trial

Michael called the police on 9 December 2001, claiming that Kathleen was lying down on the floor unconscious, and that she had probably fallen down the stairs.

Toxicology reports showed that Kathleen had drunk some alcohol and taken the prescription drug Valium, while the autopsy showed that she had died two hours after the injuries that she had suffered. Kathleen’s sister Candace Zamperini, as well as her daughter Caitlin both believed that Michael had nothing to do with Kathleen’s death, but they changed their mind after learning that Michael’s bisexual.

Michael was accused of murder, as the autopsy showed that no fall could’ve resulted in Kathleen’s injuries; the prosecution claimed that Kathleen found out about Michael’s gay life, which he had tried to hide, and that he wanted to take her $1.5 million life insurance. It was then revealed that Michael’s friend from Germany Elizabeth Ratliff had also died from similar injuries as Kathleen, and was also found at the foot of her staircase; a second autopsy of Elizabeth’s buried body was ordered, and her cause of death was then officially changed to ‘homicide’. Michael wasn’t charged with Elizabeth’s murder.

He was found guilty of killing his wife on 10 October 2003, and sentenced to spend life behind bars. Michael’s lawyers filed a motion for a new trial on 12 November 2008, but it was denied. It was in the second half of 2009 that a new theory about Kathleen’s death surfaced; it was claimed that an owl had attacked her outside, causing some of her injuries, and that she then fell down and hit her head after running from the owl inside the house. The investigators found two microscopic owl feathers when re-examining Kathleen’s hair.

Advertisement

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper began investigating the SBI analyst Duane Deaver in the first half of 2010, and Duane was suspended in August of the same year; he was the lead witness against Michael at his trial, and it was revealed that Duane had presented false evidence in 34 cases. Due to these new findings, Michael was released on a $300,000 bail on 16 December 2011, and placed under house arrest.

He entered the Alford plea on 24 February 2017, and was sentenced to seven years in jail, but because he had already served more than that, he was thus released.

The documentary series about the entire case, “The Staircase” was released in October 2004, while its sequel “The Staircase 2: The Last Chance” premiered in November 2012.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Michael’s been staying away from the media’s attention since he was freed in 2017, with the exception of when he published his novel “A Bitter Peace” in 2020.

He can rarely be seen spending time outdoors, as he enjoys the peace of his home; it’s been revealed that Michael no longer has a staircase at his house.

He was physically highly active during his 20s, 30s and 40s, as he worked out at the gym and played a number of sports.

Michael’s a huge fan of American actor and moviemaker Clint Eastwood, while some of his favorite movies include “The Outlaw Josey Wales”, “High Plains Drifter” and “Play Misty for Me”.

Advertisement

Height, eyes and wealth

Michael’s age is 79. He has brown eyes and grey hair, is 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall and weighs around 150lbs (68kgs).

Michael’s net worth’s been estimated at over $100,000, as of April 2023.

Continue Reading

Celebrities

Lina Medina: How a Five-Year-Old Girl Became a Mother in 1939

Published

on

Who is Lina Medina?

Peruvian Lina Marcela Medina de Jurado was born in Ticrapo, Castrovirreyna Province, Peru, on 23 September 1933, making Libra her zodiac sign. She’s probably only known for being the youngest mother in human history, as she was less than six years old on 14 May 1939, when she gave birth to her son. Lina was a few months away from turning five when she was impregnated, and it’s believed that it was the rare condition ‘precocious puberty’ that led to this.

Family and pregnancy

Lina and her eight siblings were raised in Ticrapo, by their mother Victoria Losea who was a housewife, and father Tiburelo Medina who was a silversmith.

She was five years and several months old when her father drove her to a hospital in Pisco; the doctors initially believed that Lina had a tumor, due to her abdominal size, but it was then revealed that she was seven months pregnant. Many countries were interested in covering the story; the newspaper “San Antonio Light” reported that a midwife association in Peru wanted Lina to be admitted to a national maternity hospital, while an American movie studio had offered $5,000 for filming rights.

Advertisement

Lina gave birth to her son Gerardo via caesarean section, and the doctors then learned that her sexual organs were fully mature; Gerardo weighed 6lbs (2.7kgs), and was named after Lina’s doctor,

The boy’s father

The identity of Gerardo’s father remains undisclosed. It was widely believed in Peru that Lina had been raped, and her father was even arrested on suspicion that he had done it, but was released as no evidence had been provided to support this. Lina hasn’t revealed the name of her son’s father to this day, and it’s believed that she might not actually know it.

Although the boy lived with Lina and believed that she was his sister, he was eventually raised by Lina’s doctor Gerardo Lozada; he had no health issues while growing up, but was 40 when he died from bone marrow disease in 1979.

Lina’s career

Lina matriculated from local high school in 1952, and although she hasn’t spoken about her further education, it’s believed that she studied at a medical school, from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1956.

Lina was then employed at Dr. Gerardo Lozada’s clinic as a secretary, and was thus also able to spend more time with her son.

YouTube videos

Numerous videos about Lina have been uploaded onto YouTube by various users, with most of these covering her strange pregnancy, while others aim to provide additional details about her later life. We’re going to mention three of the most popular YouTube vides about Lina, which’ve contributed to her internet popularity.

Advertisement

Her #1 video “World’s Youngest Mother, Age 5 Lina Medina” has been watched more than 20 million times since 19 April 2014, when it was uploaded by Worlds Biggest; it aims to cover Lina’s pregnancy, as well as her son’s later life.

Lina’s second most popular video – “Top 5 Youngest Mother In The World” – was uploaded by 100M on 6 November 2020, and has been watched over 6.4 million times; it covers Lina’s pregnancy, as well as the pregnancies of four other girls who were less than 10 years old when they gave birth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FzNJs2J8S4

Her #3 video, “Así luce hoy la madre más joven de la historia. Tenía 5 años” was uploaded by Badabun on 7 January 2018, and has since been watched close to six million times; it’s a Spanish-language video about Lina, her pregnancy and her son’s (supposed) father.

Love life and relationships

Lina’s love life remains a mystery to this day, and she’s even been able to keep the identity of her son’s father hidden.

She married non-celebrity Peruvian Raul Jurado sometime in the ‘70s, and gave birth to their son in 1972 – Lina had a normal pregnancy, and didn’t have problems giving birth. She hasn’t spoken about how and when she and Raul met, though most of her fans believe that he was her high school sweetheart; it’s also believed that Raul passed away sometime in the first half of the 2010s, but as Lina’s staying away from the media’s attention, this hasn’t been confirmed.

Advertisement

There are also many people on the internet who claim that they know Lina, and that she and Raul divorced in the second half of the ‘80s; these same people claim that she met another man when she was 55, and that the two eventually married, but none of this has been addressed by her.

Lina seems to be married to Raul Jurado as of April 2023, and they have a son together, while she also has a son to whom she gave birth when she was five.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Lina’s never been interested in making money out of her story, and has turned down numerous offers from newspapers and magazines, including “Reuters” in 2002.

It’s still today believed by many doctors and experts that Lina’s pregnancy was a hoax, but a number of doctors have still been able to prove that it was true, thanks to X rays and biopsies; the only photo that can be found on the internet about the entire case features Lina when she was seven and a half months pregnant, and was standing naked.

She grew up being physically active and took part in various activities while attending a local high school, while she was also an avid dancer.

Lina was passionate about travelling during her 20s and 30s, but then preferred the peace of her home over flying to other countries.

Advertisement

Height, eyes and wealth

Lina’s 89 years old. She has brown eyes and medium long grey hair, is 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall and weighs around 130lbs (60kgs).

Lina’s net worth’s been estimated at over $100,000, as of April 2023.

Continue Reading

Celebrities

The Untold Truth of Emma Watson’s Brother – Alex Watson

Published

on

Who is Alex Watson?

The Wealth of Alex Watson

As of early-2020, Alex Watson has a net worth estimated to be Alexander Watson was born on 15 December 1992, in Paris, France, and is best known for being the brother of actress Emma Watson who found fame in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, playing the role of Hermione Granger. The siblings appeared together in a Burberry fashion campaign, and he’s also made several cameo appearances in the “Harry Potter” films.

over $1 million, earned through success in his various endeavors, including modeling and acting projects.

He may benefit from the success of his sister, as Emma has a net worth estimated to be over $80 million.

Early Life and Cameo Appearances

While Alex was born in Paris, the family later moved to England where he and Emma grew up. He lived mostly away from the spotlight, and his skill with the French language started to decline as he became more accustomed to living in the UK. His life started to shift when Emma desired to pursue an acting career. While he didn’t have the same interests, he supported her endeavors as she began training, and appearing in a few stage productions.

Advertisement

Emma’s fame increased significantly after she was cast in the “Harry Potter” film series as one of the lead characters, Hermione Granger. While the producers didn’t initially think that the film would be the worldwide phenomenon it is today, many of its cast members would grow close like family.

More Cameos and Modeling

The crew also involved other family members such as Alex, who would appear in a cameo as a student in the first film “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. The film is based on the JK Rowling novel of the same name, following the story of the titular Harry Potter as he goes on magical adventures with his closest friends.

The first installment was a huge critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2001.

They later followed it up by continuing the book series, with “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, and Alex had another cameo in the film as a student. The 2002 film is based on the book of the same name, and continues the adventures of Harry Potter during his second year as a student of Hogwarts. In the film, he discovers that the Chamber of Secrets in the school has been opened, leading to a monster being set loose. The film, like its predecessor, was an enormous success, becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year, only behind “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”.

Advertisement

For the next two “Harry Potter” films, Alex was busy with other projects so he didn’t make an appearance. He later returned to make a short cameo in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” – in that installment, Harry Potter and his best friends go through their fifth year at Hogwarts, and deal with the aftermath of the return of feared wizard Lord Voldemort.

Burberry Campaign

In 2010, media outlets reported that Alex would be partnering his sister in a campaign for the fashion brand Burberry. He didn’t initially plan to model for the brand, but while he was looking for something to wear for a “Harry Potter” premiere, he was approached by the staff who quickly signed him for a modeling gig.

Emma was there to help him as she has more experience with modeling projects. He notes that there is a lot of tension during auditions for models, as everyone is on edge trying to get a job. It didn’t seem that he continued with modeling after that gig, as he expressed no interest in being overly concerned about his physical appearance.

Personal Life

Following Alex’s appearance with Burberry, there has been no news about him. He’s been more private about his career and personal endeavors so nothing is known in terms of any romances. There are social media pages under his name, though they appear to be fan accounts, and unrelated to him.

Advertisement

His sister is known to be a universalist though it is not known if he shares the same beliefs.

Sister – Emma Watson

Despite having only acted in plays before her big-screen debut, Emma Watson flourished in her role as Hermione Granger, launching her to international star status. While working on the franchise, she gained numerous other projects, and after the end of the “Harry Potter” films, she went on to star in other projects.

In the 2010s, she appeared in notable films such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, “The Bling Ring”, and “This is the End”.

In 2017, she played the character Belle in the live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast”, and also appeared in the film adaptation of “Little Women”, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Emma Watson’s Recent Projects

In 2014, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts rewarded Emma with the British Artist of the Year Award. She hasn’t yet taken any new film projects following her appearance in “Little Women”. While working on her acting career, she continued to pursue her education, and completed a degree in English literature in 2014.

Advertisement

She’s also been doing modeling work, such as for campaigns with Lancome and Burberry.

Emma’s been very vocal about issues of human rights and gender equality – she is a UN Women Goodwill ambassador, and is responsible for helping launch the campaign HeForShe, the goal being for genders to work towards having gender equality. She’s been very active in work for women’s rights, recently establishing a legal advice line to help women who’ve suffered sexual harassment at the workplace.

Continue Reading

Recommended

Lists33 mins ago

From Carpenter to Gold Rush – Who, and how rich is Chris Doumitt?

Chris Doumitt is a well-known figure in the world of gold mining, mostly due to his appearances in the popular...

Lists5 hours ago

Meet Teams Competing For $500,000 on “Race to Survive: Alaska”

USA Network launched its newest survival competition series, “Race to Survive: Alaska,” on 3 April 2023. Eight teams of two...

Lists10 hours ago

How Paul Teutul Sr. Built a Motorcycle Empire, but Lost His Family Along the Way

Paul Teutul Sr. was one of the most recognized faces in the motorcycle-building industry, and this was made possible through...

Lists10 hours ago

From Kingpins wife to Steve Harvey’s wife – about the piquant past of Marjorie Harvey

Marjorie has been in the spotlight in one way or another since the late ‘90s, and while she may nowadays...

Lists10 hours ago

10 World’s Most Famous Conjoined Twins

Conjoined twins, commonly known as Siamese twins, are an extremely rare identical twin developmental defect that has captivated the world...

Lists13 hours ago

Why “Sister Wives”’ Children Don’t Want To Follow Their Parents’ Polygamous Lifestyle

“Sister Wives” is an American reality television series that airs on TLC, and documents the lives of the Brown family...

Lists20 hours ago

What happened to Chapel after “Return to Amish?” What is she doing now?

Chapel Peace Schmucker gained worldwide popularity upon being featured on television as the wife of Andrew Schmucker, thanks to whom...

Lists1 day ago

From McDonald’s to weight loss surgery: How is Chris Combs doing now?

Depending on how you look at it, Chris Combs is both very lucky and extremely unfortunate to have been featured...

Lists1 day ago

“Survivor” Deaths: List of Contestants Who Have Died

As one of the most successful reality TV shows of all time, it’s tough not remembering some of the “Survivor”...

Lists2 days ago

What happened to Julia Trubkina of “90 Day Fiancée”? Deported?

Julia Trubkina’s life story came to light on 6 December 2020, when the first episode of the eighth season of...

Actors2 days ago

Naked Truth Of Kathleen Kinmont – Where is she today? Wiki

Kathleen Kinmont is an American actress and author, who became known through her roles in action and horror movies, as...

Lists2 days ago

How Storage Wars Changed the Lives of Its Cast Members

There’s no question that “Storage Wars” has been one of the most successful shows from A&E. From its premiere in...

Trending