Dodi Fayed, the son of Mohamed Al-Fayed, was thrown into the spotlight due to his relationship with Diana, Princess of Wales. However, the Fayed family’s wealth and background, particularly Mohamed Al-Fayed’s rise to riches, have long been shrouded in controversy and speculation.
Mohamed Al-Fayed hailed from a humble background in Egypt, where he worked various low-paying jobs before moving to the UK in the mid-1960s. Despite his modest origins, Mohamed harbored ambitions of joining the British aristocracy, which remained unfulfilled despite his enormous wealth. At the time of his death in 2023, his net worth was estimated to be around $2 billion.
The origins of Mohamed Al-Fayed’s immense fortune have been clouded in secrecy, leading to various speculations. His wealth accumulation reportedly began in the 1970s when he worked for Adnan Khashoggi’s Saudi Arabian import business, known for its shady dealings in arms trading. Mohamed then ventured into establishing a shipping company in Egypt and became an advisor to the Sultan of Brunei, a man known for his vast wealth and controversial actions, including endorsing brutal laws and extravagant spending.
Mohamed Al-Fayed’s associations with controversial figures like the Haitian dictator François “Papa Doc” Duvalier and an incident where he posed as a Kuwaiti sheik for personal gain further tainted his image. Despite his considerable wealth and various attempts to win favor among the British elites, including generous gifts and gestures, Mohamed remained an outsider in high society circles.
Dodi Fayed’s relationship with Princess Diana drew immense public attention and scrutiny. Despite his significant wealth and gestures such as providing a substantial monthly allowance and purchasing an engagement ring for Diana, their romance did not gain acceptance among the British royal family. Mohamed’s attempts to ingratiate himself with the royals, including purchasing and restoring property associated with the monarchy, did not alter his outsider status within royal circles.
Ultimately, Mohamed Al-Fayed’s controversial background, questionable sources of wealth, and associations with contentious figures contributed to his and his son Dodi’s struggles to gain acceptance among the British aristocracy and royal family, despite their immense wealth and gestures.
