Asos Co-Founder Quentin Griffiths Dies in Thailand Balcony Fall
Quentin Griffiths, the 58-year-old co-founder of the online fashion retailer Asos, has reportedly died after falling from a high-rise apartment balcony in Thailand. According to initial reports, Griffiths plunged from the 17th floor of his condominium in the coastal city of Pattaya under mysterious circumstances.
Emergency Response and Initial Findings
Emergency services are said to have discovered the millionaire's body on the ground directly below his balcony. Officers at the scene reportedly indicated there were no immediate signs of a disturbance inside the apartment. However, authorities have emphasised that foul play has not been ruled out and is pending further forensic tests and a comprehensive investigation.
The exact cause of death will not be formally determined until a full post-mortem examination is completed, a process that sources suggest could take several months due to the complexity of the case.
Background of Legal and Personal Disputes
The tragic incident occurs against a backdrop of an alleged ongoing dispute with his Thai ex-wife. She is accused of stealing approximately £500,000 from a company they operated together in Thailand. Last year, Griffiths was reportedly arrested and questioned by detectives after his ex-wife alleged he had forged documents to sell land and shares in the business without her knowledge.
Griffiths consistently denied these allegations and was released after questioning. The investigation into these matters was reportedly continuing at the time of his death.
A source close to the family told The Sun: 'It's a real mystery. The phrase "suspicious circumstances" has been used but we just don't know yet.'
Career and Legacy with Asos
Quentin Griffiths helped launch Asos in 2000 alongside co-founders Nick Robertson and Andrew Regan, serving as marketing director until his departure in 2005. Under his early influence, the company grew from a startup into a global retail powerhouse valued at around £3 billion.
The retailer's own-label designs have been worn by high-profile figures including the Princess of Wales and former US First Lady Michelle Obama. A former advertising executive, Griffiths later made significant financial gains from the company, including £15 million from share sales in 2010 and a further stock windfall in 2013.
Later Life and Legal Challenges
Following his time at Asos, Griffiths faced legal challenges related to his finances. He later sued his accountants at BDO, claiming they provided erroneous advice on how to avoid tax on the sale of his shares. This bungled advice, he alleged, ended up costing him more than £4 million in tax on sales exceeding £10 million worth of shares in Asos and Achica, another online retailer he co-founded.
The father of three relocated to Thailand around 2007. After divorcing his first wife, he married a Thai woman and had a son and daughter with her. The couple separated several years ago. The Daily Mail has approached the UK Foreign Office for comment on the case.
