The passing of Egyptian billionaire businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of Harrods department store and father of the late Dodi Fayed, has ignited a fierce contest among his four adult children over his substantial $2-billion estate.
Following Al-Fayed’s demise last week, whispers of a “sibling power struggle” and a “Succession-style battle” for the considerable wealth have begun to circulate.
Now in contention, the assets are to be divided among his four heirs, all from his second marriage to Finnish socialite and former model, Heini Wathen, aged 68.
Al-Fayed and Wathen, united in matrimony in 1985, brought four children into the world: Jasmine, aged 42, Karim, 39, Camilla, 38, and Omar, 35.
The death of Al-Fayed has not only marked the end of an era but has also triggered a high-stakes battle among his heirs for control of his substantial fortune, leaving the world eagerly watching how this family drama unfolds in the coming months.
Before his death, Al-Fayed was one of Egypt’s and the United Kingdom’s wealthiest businessmen, amassing an impressive fortune estimated at $2 billion. His journey from humble beginnings in Alexandria to riches is extraordinary.
Al-Fayed’s rise to prominence was underscored by his ownership of the prestigious Harrods department store, a venture he acquired in 1985. In 2010, he made headlines again by selling Harrods to Qatar for a staggering $2.4 billion.
Not stopping there, he extended his interests to include the Ritz Paris Hotel and Fulham Football Club. In 2013, Al-Fayed handed over Fulham Football Club to U.S. auto parts magnate Shahid Khan for a reported sum of $300 million.
Renowned for his opulent lifestyle and outspoken views, Al-Fayed remained a top figure throughout his life. He was particularly vocal in his criticism of the British royal family, alleging their involvement in the tragic 1997 car crash that took the lives of his son Dodi and Princess Diana in Paris.
Al-Fayed consistently maintained that the couple’s demise was not an accident, stating, “because they still don’t accept that Dodi, my son, an Egyptian, a Muslim, can be the stepfather of the future king,” as he conveyed during an interview with 60 Minutes Australia.
