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Mohamed Al-Fayed was an Egyptian-born billionaire businessman who made his fortune primarily in the United Kingdom ²⁷. He was widely known for owning iconic establishments such as Harrods department store, Fulham Football Club, and the Ritz Hotel in Paris ⁷. Al-Fayed gained significant public attention, particularly after the death of his son, Dodi Fayed, in a car crash with Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 ³.

Early Life and Career

Mohamed Fayed (he added the "Al" prefix in the 1970s) was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1929 ³⁵. His father was a school inspector ⁵. Al-Fayed's business ventures began early in his life, and he worked for Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi ⁷. He married Khashoggi's sister, Samira Khashoggi, in 1954. Although they divorced two years later, they had one son, Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Mena'em Fayed, better known as Dodi ³.

He moved to the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s, where he built much of his business empire ².

Business Empire and Wealth

Al-Fayed's business interests were diverse and extensive:

• Harrods: He famously acquired the prestigious Harrods department store in London in 1985 ⁷. He sold it to Qatar Holdings in 2010 for an estimated £1.5 billion ⁷.
• Fulham Football Club: Al-Fayed purchased Fulham FC in 1997 and oversaw a period of significant investment and success for the club ⁷. He sold the club in 2013 ⁷.
• Ritz Hotel Paris: He also owned the iconic Ritz Hotel in Paris ⁷.

As of May 12, 2022, Forbes estimated his real-time net worth to be $2 billion, ranking him #1482 globally among billionaires ².

Personal Life and Controversies

Al-Fayed was a prominent public figure and was involved in various controversies throughout his life. He was known for his strong opinions and often clashed with the British establishment ¹.

His son, Dodi Fayed, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 alongside Diana, Princess of Wales. Mohamed Al-Fayed spent many years campaigning for an inquiry into their deaths, alleging foul play, though official investigations concluded the crash was caused by reckless driving ³.

Mohamed Al-Fayed passed away at the age of 94 ⁷.