Mohamed Al-Fayed - Owner of Hôtel Ritz Paris, Life Achievements and Childhood
Mohamed Al-Fayed's Personal Details
Mohamed Al-Fayed is an Egyptian businessman who owns The Hotel Ritz
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | January 27, 1929 |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Famous | Business People, Hoteliers, Owner of Hôtel Ritz Paris |
| Spouses | Heini Wathén, Samira Khashoggi |
| Siblings | Ali Al-Fayed, Safia Al-Fayed, Salah Al-Fayed, Soaad Al-Fayed |
| Known as | Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed, Mohamed Al Fayed, Mohamed Fayed |
| Childrens | Dodi Fayed |
| Birth Place | El-Gomorok |
| Religion | Islam, Sunni Islam |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Ali Ali Al-Fayed |
| Net Worth | $1.86 Billion as of june 30,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Aquarius |
| Born in | El-Gomorok |
| Famous as | Owner of Hôtel Ritz Paris |
Mohamed Al-Fayed's photo
Who is Mohamed Al-Fayed?
Mohamed Al-Fayed is an Egyptian business magnate who owns The Hotel Ritz, a grand palatial hotel in the heart of Paris. The hotel which is ranked highly among the most prestigious and luxurious hotels in the world, was acquired by him in 1979. He was also the former owner of the Harrods Department Store, an upmarket department store located on the Brompton Road in Knightsbridge which he eventually sold to Qatar Holdings in 2010. An astute businessman with business holdings all over the world, he started displaying his entrepreneurial abilities while still at school when he started selling home-made lemonade. As a young man he married the sister of a powerful businessman, and eventually set up his own ventures with the influence of his brother-in-law. Even though his marriage did not last long, he was able to establish himself as a successful businessman by way of this union. He founded a shipping company in Egypt along with his brothers, and soon expanded its operations to Italy and England. He formed connections with other international business magnates and acquired ownership of several successful businesses from all over the world. He is also a philanthropist who set up the Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation in order to support children with life-limiting illnesses and those from underprivileged backgrounds.
// Famous Hoteliers
John Jacob Astor IV
John Jacob Astor IV was an American businessman, real estate builder, investor, inventor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War, and a prominent member of the Astor family.
Aga Khan IV
Aga Khan IV is a Swiss-born British business tycoon, as well as the 49th and current Imam of ‘Nizari Ismailism’. This biography of Aga Khan IV provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata is one of the leading Indian industrialists, ex- Chairman of the largest Indian conglomerate, Tata Group of Companies. This biography of Ratan Tata provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Childhood & Early Life
He was born as Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed on 17 January 1929 in Alexandria, Egypt, as the eldest son of a primary school teacher. He has four younger siblings: two brothers and two sisters.
His interest in business was apparent from a young age. As a school boy he started selling home-made lemonade, and eventually tried his hand at some other jobs too.
Career
His brother-in-law Adnan Khashoggi, an international businessman, employed him in his import-export business in Saudi Arabia in 1954. This gave the young Mohamed exposure to the global business scenario.
He collaborated with his brothers to form a shipping company in Egypt. After a few years he moved the company headquarters to Italy and set up additional offices in London.
During the 1960s he built good connections with prominent businessmen and powerful individuals from all over the world, including François Duvalier, the President of Haiti, and geologist George de Mohrenschildt.
He also met the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid al Makhtoum, who believed that Fayed could help in transforming Dubai and entrusted him with the responsibility. He became a financial adviser to the then Sultan of Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddien III, in 1966 and introduced British companies to the Emirates to carry out the required construction works for the country’s development.
He moved to Britain in 1974 and added the “al” to his name. Over the 1970s he focused on acquiring several profitable businesses, including the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1979 for US $30 million. The hotel’s image was on a gradual decline when he purchased it. He restored it to its past glory within a few years and today it is considered one of "The Leading Hotels of the World"
Al-Fayed and his brothers purchased a 30 percent stake in House of Fraser, a group that included the famous London store Harrods, in 1984. The next year the brothers bought the remaining 70 percent of the House of Fraser, angering Roland Rowland, the head of Lonrho, the holding company that controlled Harrods department store and had planned to purchase the House of Fraser.
Rowland pressurized the UK government to investigate the Fayed brothers, and a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) inquiry into the Fayeds was launched. Eventually Al-Fayed proved his solvency though he was still viewed with suspicion.
He signed a 50-year lease on the Parisian villa of the duke and duchess of Windsor in 1986, and immediately began restoration work on it. The villa was formally re-opened in 1989, following which he received the Plaque de Paris, the city’s highest honour.
Al-Fayed bought the freehold of West London professional football club Fulham F.C in 1997 for £6.25 million. Years later, he sold the club to American businessman Shahid Khan in 2013.
He sold Harrods to Qatar Holdings, the sovereign wealth fund of the emirate of Qatar, for £1.5 billion in 2010.
Awards & Achievements
He was awarded the "Freedom of the Highlands" in 2002 by The Highlands of Scotland tourist board, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution and commitment to the highlands."
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1954 he married Samira Khashoggi, the sister of a very successful international businessman, Adnan Khashoggi. This marriage lasted for only two years though it resulted in the birth of a son.
He married Finnish socialite and former model Heini Wathén in 1985. The couple has four children.
He established the Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation in 1987 with the aim of helping sick and poor children. The foundation is involved with charities that work with disabled and neglected children in the UK, Thailand, and Mongolia.
His eldest son from his first marriage, Dodi Fayed, died in a car crash in 1997. Dodi was romantically involved with Diana, Princess of Wales, and the two were traveling together when their car crashed killing them both.
// Famous Business People
Kristina Sunshine Jung
Kristina Sunshine Jung is an American entrepreneur and actor, better known as the daughter of drug-smuggler George Jung and his ex-wife, Mirtha Jung.
Ted Turner
Ted Turner is a media tycoon who founded the cable news network CNN. This biography of Ted Turner provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Guccio Gucci
Guccio Gucci was a famous fashion designer from Florence, Italy, and the founder of the world-renowned fashion brand ‘Gucci.’ Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.
Mohamed Al-Fayed biography timelines
- // 17th Jan 1929He was born as Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed on 17 January 1929 in Alexandria, Egypt, as the eldest son of a primary school teacher. He has four younger siblings: two brothers and two sisters.
- // 1954His brother-in-law Adnan Khashoggi, an international businessman, employed him in his import-export business in Saudi Arabia in 1954. This gave the young Mohamed exposure to the global business scenario.
- // 1954In 1954 he married Samira Khashoggi, the sister of a very successful international businessman, Adnan Khashoggi. This marriage lasted for only two years though it resulted in the birth of a son.
- // 1966He also met the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid al Makhtoum, who believed that Fayed could help in transforming Dubai and entrusted him with the responsibility. He became a financial adviser to the then Sultan of Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddien III, in 1966 and introduced British companies to the Emirates to carry out the required construction works for the country’s development.
- // 1974 To 1979He moved to Britain in 1974 and added the “al” to his name. Over the 1970s he focused on acquiring several profitable businesses, including the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1979 for US $30 million. The hotel’s image was on a gradual decline when he purchased it. He restored it to its past glory within a few years and today it is considered one of "The Leading Hotels of the World"
- // 1984Al-Fayed and his brothers purchased a 30 percent stake in House of Fraser, a group that included the famous London store Harrods, in 1984. The next year the brothers bought the remaining 70 percent of the House of Fraser, angering Roland Rowland, the head of Lonrho, the holding company that controlled Harrods department store and had planned to purchase the House of Fraser.
- // 1985He married Finnish socialite and former model Heini Wathén in 1985. The couple has four children.
- // 1986He signed a 50-year lease on the Parisian villa of the duke and duchess of Windsor in 1986, and immediately began restoration work on it. The villa was formally re-opened in 1989, following which he received the Plaque de Paris, the city’s highest honour.
- // 1987He established the Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation in 1987 with the aim of helping sick and poor children. The foundation is involved with charities that work with disabled and neglected children in the UK, Thailand, and Mongolia.
- // 1997Al-Fayed bought the freehold of West London professional football club Fulham F.C in 1997 for £6.25 million. Years later, he sold the club to American businessman Shahid Khan in 2013.
- // 1997His eldest son from his first marriage, Dodi Fayed, died in a car crash in 1997. Dodi was romantically involved with Diana, Princess of Wales, and the two were traveling together when their car crashed killing them both.
- // 2002He was awarded the "Freedom of the Highlands" in 2002 by The Highlands of Scotland tourist board, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution and commitment to the highlands."
- // 2010He sold Harrods to Qatar Holdings, the sovereign wealth fund of the emirate of Qatar, for £1.5 billion in 2010.
// Famous Egyptian peoples
Anwar Sadat
Anwar Sadat was the third President of Egypt and has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his peace initiatives. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on the following biography.
Ayman al-Zawahiri
Ayman Mohammed Rabie al-Zawahiri is the current leader of terrorist group al-Qaeda. This biography profiles his childhood, family, personal life, terror activities, and other facts.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian footballer. This biography profiles his childhood, family, personal life, football career, etc.
Magi Salah
Magi Salah is the wife of star footballer Mohamed Salah. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, personal life, etc.
Dodi Fayed
Dodi Fayed was an Egyptian heir and a film producer. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, and fun facts about him.
Nefertiti
Neferneferuaten Nefertiti was an Egyptian queen and chief consort of Akhenaten, an Egyptian Pharaoh. This biography profiles her childhood, family, life as queen, accomplishments, death, and other facts.
Mohamed Al-Fayed's FAQ
What is Mohamed Al-Fayed birthday?
Mohamed Al-Fayed was born at 1929-01-27
Where is Mohamed Al-Fayed's birth place?
Mohamed Al-Fayed was born in El-Gomorok
What is Mohamed Al-Fayed nationalities?
Mohamed Al-Fayed's nationalities is Egyptian
Who is Mohamed Al-Fayed spouses?
Mohamed Al-Fayed's spouses is Heini Wathén, Samira Khashoggi
Who is Mohamed Al-Fayed siblings?
Mohamed Al-Fayed's siblings is Ali Al-Fayed, Safia Al-Fayed, Salah Al-Fayed, Soaad Al-Fayed
Who is Mohamed Al-Fayed childrens?
Mohamed Al-Fayed's childrens is Dodi Fayed
What is Mohamed Al-Fayed's religion?
Mohamed Al-Fayed's religion is Islam, Sunni Islam
Who is Mohamed Al-Fayed's father?
Mohamed Al-Fayed's father is Ali Ali Al-Fayed
What is Mohamed Al-Fayed's sun sign?
Mohamed Al-Fayed is Aquarius
How famous is Mohamed Al-Fayed?
Mohamed Al-Fayed is famouse as Owner of Hôtel Ritz Paris