Billionaire Mohammed Al Fayed reportedly died on August 30 amid weather-related conditions. According to his family representatives, he passed away peacefully from old age.
He is survived by his second wife, former Finnish model Heidi Waten, and their four children, Jasmine, Karim, Camilla, and Omar.
The businessman was laid to rest on September 1 after prayers at the Central Mosque in London’s Regent’s Park.
I started selling lemonade
Al-Fayed was born in Alexandria in 1929 into a family headed by a schoolteacher. He began his business journey as a child, selling lemonade on street corners. Later he worked as a sewing machine salesman. Al-Fayed met his first wife, Samira Khashoggi, sister of Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, and his entrepreneurial path began to take shape. He joined forces with his brother-in-law, connecting with influential people in Egypt, and, with his brothers, established a cargo transport venture. The operation soon expanded with offices in Genoa and London. [citation: family records]
In the mid-1960s Al-Fayed emigrated to England. In 1979 he acquired the Ritz Hotel in Paris, and in 1984 he and his brothers held 30% of the House of Fraser, which included London’s renowned Harrods department store. By 1985 they owned the entire holding. Al-Fayed introduced a dress code for shoppers and commissioned a bronze memorial statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed dancing under the wings of an albatross. He once expressed a fanciful desire to be mummified and placed in a golden sarcophagus inside the glass pyramid atop Harrods. In 2010 he sold Harrods to the Qatar State Investment Fund for £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion). [citation: corporate history]
In 1997, the billionaire bought Fulham Football Club. In 2011 he erected a statue of Michael Jackson at the team’s home stadium, a gesture that surprised many since the singer had attended only one Fulham match. Al-Fayed commented on the reception, saying, “Some fans simply don’t understand or appreciate such a gift.” [citation: sports biography]
The businessman sold Fulham to Pakistani entrepreneur Shahid Khan in 2013. [citation: business timeline]
During the 1990s, Al-Fayed faced allegations of embezzlement and fraud. Investigations suggested he provided questionable details about the source of funds used for the House of Fraser acquisition, though relatives denied the claims. A few years later, he was denied British citizenship and argued with the government, even hinting at moving to France, which awarded him the highest civilian honor, the Légion d’honneur. In 1994, records indicated he paid politicians to lobby for parliamentary work. [citation: legal records]
Investigation into Princess Diana’s death
Al-Fayed engaged in charitable work and sponsored events attended by members of the Royal Family. He met Princess Diana at one such event. In the summer of 1997, he invited the princess to spend holidays aboard his yacht with his children, William and Harry. Diana photographed with Al-Fayed’s son Dodi in Saint-Tropez fueled speculation about their relationship. [citation: royal chronicles]
On August 31, 1997, Diana and Dodi were killed in a car accident in Paris. French police determined the accident resulted from the driver, Henri Paul, who was intoxicated and lost control at high speed. Al-Fayed spent years advocating that the crash was not accidental. He claimed Diana was pregnant with his child and alleged involvement by high-profile figures, a theory he pursued through legal channels. Ultimately, he accepted the findings that the driver was at fault, acknowledging the jury’s conclusion while continuing to voice his beliefs publicly. He is quoted as saying, “I leave the rest to God to avenge me.” [citation: official reports]