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When he died on Thursday at the age of 94, Mohamed Al-Fayed was one of the richest men in the world with a fortune Forbes estimated at $2 billion.
Al-Fayed’s journey to wealth and prominence was a remarkable one, considering his modest beginnings in Alexandria, far removed from the world of opulence.
Born the son of an Egyptian school inspector, Al-Fayed’s early career began with the sale of fizzy drinks and Singer sewing machines. However, his fortunes took a turn for the better when he ventured into real estate, shipping, and construction. He successfully built his family’s fortune first in the Middle East and later in Europe.
Over the course of the last seven decades, Al-Fayed built a fortune in establishing, acquiring and flipping various businesses and landmark commercial properties.
Billionaires.Africa presents a list of some of the notable assets that Al-Fayed owned during his lifetime:
Al-Fayed acquired Fulham Football Club for £30 million in 1997. He presided over the club for 16 years before selling it to Shahid Khan, the owner of NFL side Jacksonville Jaguars, in 2013, reportedly for $300 million.
House of Fraser Group, including Harrods
In 1984, Al-Fayed and his brothers acquired a 30-percent stake in House of Fraser, a group that included the London store Harrods. They subsequently purchased the remaining 70 percent of House of Fraser for £615 million in 1985. Although House of Fraser went public in 1994, Fayed retained private ownership of Harrods until he sold it to Qatar Holdings, the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar, on May 10, 2010.
Hotel Ritz Paris
At the time of his death, Al-Fayed owned Hotel Ritz Paris. He acquired the iconic hotel in 1979 for a reported sum of approximately $30 million. Between 2011 and 2016, he famously spent an estimated $450 millon in renovating the hotel.
Balnagowan Castle & Estates, Scottish Highlands
In 1972, Al Fayed purchased the Balnagown estate in Easter Ross, Northern Scotland. He transformed the property, investing over £20 million, restoring the 14th-century pink Balnagown Castle, and establishing a tourist accommodation business.
HJW Geospatial
HJW GeoSpatial Inc. provides geospatial services, including photogrammetric mapping, orthophotography, aerial photography, satellite imagery, LiDar terrain modeling, GIS spatial data fusion, and QA/QC oversight. These services cater to both government and private-sector clients nationwide.
Turnbull & Asser
Turnbull & Asser Ltd. is a traditional shirt shop selling British-made bespoke & ready-to-wear shirts & ties.
75 Rockefeller Plaza
Located in New York City, 75 Rockefeller Plaza is a skyscraper originally constructed in 1947 as a northern extension of Rockefeller Center.
