Mohamed al-Fayed, the prominent Egyptian-born billionaire, passed away, leaving behind a complex legacy marked by business success, controversy, and his enduring pursuit of a conspiracy theory related to the tragic death of Princess Diana and his son, Dodi Fayed.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, in either 1929 or 1933 (his birth date has been a subject of debate), al-Fayed started his career as a salesman, initially selling fizzy drinks and later working as a sewing-machine salesman. He eventually ventured into various business sectors, including real estate, shipping, and construction, amassing considerable wealth. His success led him to Europe, where he expanded his business empire.
Despite his immense wealth and ownership of prestigious establishments such as Harrods department store, the Ritz hotel in Paris, and Fulham Football Club, al-Fayed always remained somewhat of an outsider in British society. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1974, adding the “al” to his name, but was often referred to as the “Phoney Pharaoh” by the satirical magazine Private Eye.
One of the defining moments of his life was his acquisition of Harrods in 1985, which ignited a bitter and long-standing feud with businessman Roland “Tiny” Rowland. Rowland accused al-Fayed and his brothers of misrepresenting their wealth during the takeover, leading to a Department of Trade inquiry that cast doubt on their origins, business connections, and financial resources.
The controversy surrounding the Harrods takeover was just one chapter in al-Fayed’s life marked by confrontation. In 1994, he created a scandal by revealing that he had paid politicians to ask questions on his behalf in the British Parliament, a scandal that came to be known as “cash-for-questions” and ultimately led to the downfall of several politicians.
However, al-Fayed’s most enduring and controversial pursuit was his relentless campaign to prove that the car crash that claimed the lives of Princess Diana and his son Dodi Fayed in a Paris tunnel in 1997 was not an accident. Despite an official inquest concluding that the couple was unlawfully killed by their chauffeur’s reckless driving while trying to evade paparazzi, al-Fayed insisted that they were murdered.
His conspiracy theory alleged that Princess Diana was pregnant with Dodi’s child and accused Prince Philip of ordering Britain’s security services to orchestrate her death to prevent her from marrying a Muslim and having his baby.
Al-Fayed’s determined efforts spanned over a decade and involved legal battles and public accusations against various individuals and organizations, including the royal family, Prime Minister Tony Blair, and the French embalmers of Diana’s body.
However, after the inquest concluded that there was no credible evidence to support his claims, al-Fayed accepted the verdict and ceased his attempts to prove a conspiracy. He stated that he would leave the rest to God to seek his revenge.
In 2010, after 25 years of ownership, al-Fayed sold Harrods to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. His application for British citizenship had been denied by the government in 1995, and he often cited racism as the reason for his perceived exclusion from British society.
Mohamed al-Fayed’s life was characterized by remarkable achievements in business, controversies, and a deeply held belief in a conspiracy theory that remained unsubstantiated. His passing marked the end of a complex chapter in British and international history.