Egyptian billionaire: Who is Mohammed Al Fayed?
Fayed, who became wealthy by his own efforts and tried to gain status in England by getting close to the Royal family for years, spent 10 years proving that "dark forces" were responsible for the deaths of Diana and Dodi.
Al Fayed, who also bought the luxury shopping store Harrods in London, the capital of England, also expressed the claim that the British Royal Family was behind the death of Lady Diana and his son Dodi Al Fayed in a traffic accident in France.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Mohammed Al Fayed started his career selling sodas, then went into the sewing machine sales business. Al Fayed had grown his family's fortunes in the real estate, shipping, and construction industries, first in the Middle East and later in Europe. His stores and businesses included Harrods as well as the Fulham team and the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
Sale of Harrods
One of the most controversial sales in the UK business world took place in 1985 during the Harrods era. By purchasing the store, Fayed hoped that it would gain acceptance in British society, but it led to a series of bitter conflicts.
Mohamed Al-Fayed (27 January 1929 – 30 August 2023) was an Egyptian businessman whose residence and chief business interests were in the United Kingdom from the mid-1960s.
Rowland, the former owner of Harrods, has requested an investigation with the Department of Commerce for allegedly misrepresenting Fayed and his siblings about their wealth. The investigation cast doubt on Fayed's origins as part of a wealthy business family, past business connections, and independent finances.
After a quarter of a century of ownership, Fayed sold Harrods to Qatar's wealth fund in 2010.
In a scandal that broke out in 1994, it was revealed that Fayed paid politicians to ask questions about him in parliament. The "Question for Cash" scandal ended the careers of four politicians, one of whom was a minister.
Sensational demands
Fayed, "who likes to exaggerate and brag, who can be autocratic, vindictive, and at times very outspoken," drew attention with his sensational demands.
He stated that he once wanted to be embalmed into a glass pyramid on the roof of the Harrods store.
He even brought a dress code for customers in the store. He commissioned a bronze memorial statue of Diana and Dodi dancing between the wings of the albatross.
As the owner of the Fulham club, he made a larger-than-life statue of American singer Michael Jackson, who came to a match only as a spectator and placed it outside the stadium. To those who complained, "Some stupid fans can go to hell if they don't understand or appreciate this gift." gave the answer.
DID ONE DAY BEFORE DIANA AND DODI'S DEATH ANNIVERSARY
Mohammed El Fayed criticized the British government after he was not granted citizenship despite living in the country for decades, and said he would move to France, which gave him the highest honor, the Legion of Honor.
Mohammed Al Fayed also spent 10 years proving that Diana and his son Dodi were murdered in Paris, France, in 1997. Claiming that Diana was carrying Dodi's child, al-Fayed blamed Queen Elizabeth II's wife, Prince Philip, for the deaths of Diana and Dodi. Allegedly, Philip ordered the security services to prevent Diana from marrying a Muslim and having a child.
Al Fayed's family announced that he passed away on Wednesday, August 30, a day before Dodi and Diana's 26th death anniversary. The family said in a statement, "Ms. El Fayed wishes to confirm that her children and grandchildren, her beloved spouses, fathers and grandfathers, Mohammed died peacefully of old age."
'I REFER THEM BACK TO GOD'
Mohammed Al Fayed, who holds the British Royal Family responsible for the death of Diana and Dodi, spent millions on the legal battle in question. The case began in the capital, London, 10 years after Diana and Dodi's death. Al Fayed claimed that many people, from the Royal Family to the then prime minister Tony Blair and Diana's sister Sarah, were involved in the incident. The jury, on the other hand, concluded that the duo was "unlawfully killed due to the driver's driving". Al Fayed accepted this court decision and ended the legal fight that the incident was murder. Al Fayed, in his statement at that time, said, "I leave the rest to Allah to take my revenge."