Who was Mike Jeffries married to? Personal life explored amid former Abercrombie and Fitch CEO's arrest over trafficking
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has been arrested along with two other men, Matthew Smith & James Jacobson, as confirmed by federal prosecutors on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The arrest happened on charges of s*x trafficking and interstate prostitution.
Born in Oklahoma in 1944, Jeffries graduated from the Claremont Men’s College with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1966. He then completed his MBA at Columbia Business School. After graduation, the businessman was associated with Abraham & Straus’ management training program.
In 1984, he established Alcott & Andrew, a women's brand. Jeffries has a son named Andrew with his former wife, Susan Hansen. It is, however, unclear as to when they separated. As of 2013, the businessman reportedly lived with his partner, Matthew Smith.
Mike Jeffries made it to the headlines in 2022 after Netflix's documentary White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch was released. In 1992, Jeffries became the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch. The businessman reportedly got maximum control over the brand since the brand had low prospects then.
However, after Jeffries began operating it, it reportedly gained popularity. In a 2006 interview with Salon magazine, Mike Jeffries said:
"We hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don't market to anyone other than that..."
Everything to know about the charges against Mike Jeffries — the former CEO of American lifestyle brand Abercrombie & Fitch
As mentioned before, authorities have detained Mike Jeffries along with two other men on s*x trafficking charges. However, no additional details are available at this time.
The FBI, New York City Police Department, and federal prosecutors are expected to hold a press conference to discuss further the charges and the arrest of the 80-year-old businessman. The arrest and charges happened after years of multiple s*xual misconduct allegations in civil lawsuits.
The complainants accused the businessman of luring young people with promises of getting them into modeling and then forcing them into s*xual acts. The three arrestees are expected to appear before the judge on Tuesday, and the arraignment is scheduled for another date, as confirmed by CNBC.
As per BBC News, the FBI began the investigation after the news outlet published an investigative report in October 2023 that Mike Jeffries and his partner s*xually abused men during several events in their residencies or hotels across the world.
Attorneys for Jeffries and Smith have previously stated that their clients weren't involved in any wrongdoings. They told BBC on October 22:
"We will respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse – not the media."
Abercrombie & Fitch was contacted to comment on the situation. The brand, however, declined to do so. Jacobson’s attorney, Jeremy Schneider, also didn't want to make any remark on the charges made against the three men. The case is now an ongoing investigation.