Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of Fulham Football Club and former owner of Harrods department store, has passed away at the age of 94. Al Fayed was a prominent businessman originally from Egypt, who gained worldwide attention and sympathy following the tragic death of his son, Dodi Fayed, in a car crash alongside Princess Diana in Paris 26 years ago.
Al Fayed firmly believed that his son and Diana were victims of a conspiracy orchestrated by Prince Philip and the British establishment. He maintained that the royal family had planned the accident because they disapproved of Diana dating an Egyptian. Al Fayed even claimed that Diana was pregnant with Dodi’s child and that the royal family could not tolerate the idea of the princess marrying a Muslim.
Despite Al Fayed’s allegations, multiple investigations conducted in the UK and France concluded that the crash was the result of the reckless actions of the driver and paparazzi who were chasing the couple. These investigations found no evidence of a conspiracy.
Al Fayed’s strained relationship with the royal family was recently depicted in the fifth season of the popular Netflix series The Crown. In the show, he was portrayed by actor Salim Daw, and his character interacts with Diana.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1929, Al Fayed moved to Britain in the 1960s and built a vast business empire. His extensive holdings included the Ritz hotel in Paris, Fulham Football Club in London, and the iconic Harrods department store in Knightsbridge.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Al Fayed and his family had a fortune estimated at £1.7 billion ($2.1 billion) in 2023, making him the 104th wealthiest individual in the UK.
Al Fayed gained media attention in the 1980s during a fierce battle for control of the House of Fraser group, which included Harrods. Although an investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry revealed that Al Fayed had misrepresented certain aspects of the deal, the transaction was ultimately allowed to proceed.
Another notable event in Al Fayed’s life was his involvement in the cash for questions scandal that rocked British politics in the 1990s. He was sued for libel by British lawmaker Neil Hamilton, who denied Al Fayed’s claims of accepting cash and luxury accommodations in exchange for asking questions in the House of Commons. A jury sided with Al Fayed in that case.
Although Al Fayed made significant investments to improve Fulham Football Club during his ownership, including bringing in high-profile coaches and players, his tenure was not well-received by the team’s fans. His friendship with the late Michael Jackson also grabbed headlines, with Al Fayed erecting a statue of the pop star outside Fulham’s stadium in 2011. However, the statue was later removed by Al Fayed’s successor, Shahid Khan.
Mohamed Al Fayed’s passing marks the end of an era for both the business and sports world. While his conspiracy claims surrounding the death of Princess Diana continue to be a topic of interest, Al Fayed will be remembered for his flamboyant personality, business achievements, and the enduring legacy he left behind.
