The lavish pad, located on Florida’s ‘Billionaire Island’ was bought just before the High Court ruled Mone and her husband must repay £122 million to the Government
Michelle Mone and her husband Douglas Barrowman have splashed out on a £10 million apartment in one of America’s most exclusive enclaves – despite being under pressure to repay tens of millions to the UK taxpayer over the PPE scandal.
The couple reportedly bought the four-bedroom, five-bathroom property on Florida’s Fisher Island – known as ‘Billionaire Island’ – in July. The ultra-private island, accessible only by ferry, yacht or helicopter, is home to some of the world’s wealthiest residents. Their lavish purchase came just three months before the High Court ruled that PPE Medpro – a company led by Mr Barrowman – must repay £122 million to the Government after supplying unusable surgical gowns during the pandemic.
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Rumours had already been circulating that Ms Mone, a former lingerie mogul, had relocated to the US. Fisher Island boasts some of the country’s most expensive properties and has had a long list of celebrities – including Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts – call the enclave home.
The pair are understood to have been part of a rigorous vetting process before a committee of the elite Fisher Island Club, which runs the area, approved the purchase, the Mail on Sunday reports. Their new apartment offers every luxury imaginable – from sweeping ocean views to private lift access – as the couple face mounting pressure over the PPE scandal back home.
Their 5,000 sq ft corner flat, set in an exclusive waterfront building on Fisher Island, comes with a wraparound terrace overlooking Miami Beach, Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic. Inside, it features a state-of-the-art kitchen with granite worktops, bespoke fittings and high-end appliances.
Barrowman, 60, a keen golfer, can enjoy a nine-hole course just minutes away, while Baroness Mone, 54, has access to the island’s private gym, hair salon and fine-dining restaurants. Sources have reported seeing the pair dining at some of the enclave’s luxury spots. Fisher Island also boasts two marinas – although the couple have since sold their £6.8 million yacht, Lady M.
The revelations come amid growing scrutiny of the couple’s finances and Mone’s position in the House of Lords. She is facing renewed calls to resign following the High Court’s order that PPE Medpro repay the £122 million after supplying 25 million defective surgical gowns during the pandemic.
Earlier this month, a judge ruled the Chinese-made gowns were never properly sterilised. Mone, who was made a peer by David Cameron in 2015, was reported to have personally recommended PPE Medpro to officials through the Government’s so-called ‘VIP lane’ on the same day the firm was created in May 2020.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has demanded that the full sum be repaid, declaring: “We want our money back.” But PPE Medpro missed its October 15 repayment deadline and has since filed for administration – meaning taxpayers may never recover the cash.
Mone and Barrowman have begun selling off parts of their British property portfolio, including a £19 million London townhouse and two homes in Glasgow. Mark Williams-Thomas, who is representing Lady Mone, said Barrowman’s investment firm purchased the Fisher Island property with the intention of refurbishing and reselling it.
“Mr Barrowman is a professional investor who for the past 35 years has bought and sold all manner of assets,” he said. “The property arm of his group recently bought a property on Fisher Island, Miami, with a view to refurbishment followed by resale.”