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Businessman Mohamed Al Fayed has died at the age of 94, according to the BBC.
Al Fayed, whose son Dodi was killed alongside Princess Diana in a 1997 car crash, had a hand in owning several iconic businesses, including Harrods, the Paris Ritz and Fulham Football Club.
In a statement released by Fulham FC on Friday, his family said: “Mrs Mohamed Al Fayed, her children and grandchildren wish to confirm that her beloved husband, their father and their grandfather, Mohamed, has passed away peacefully of old age on Wednesday August 30, 2023.”
“He enjoyed a long and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his loved ones. The family have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time.”
Born as Mohamed Fayed in Alexandria, Egypt, the late entrepreneur began his career selling fizzy drinks before working as a sewing-machine salesman.
The late businessman added “Al” to his name when he moved to the UK — where he conducted most of his business — in the 1970s, which dubbed him the title the “Phoney Pharaoh” according to Private Eye magazine.
He built his wealth on real estate as well as shipping and construction.
After the death of his son and Princess Diana, Al Fayed vocalized his concern that the duo was murdered on the orders of Prince Philip and “the establishment.”
His remarks, which were globally scrutinized, were challenged by the coroner who said that, “the conspiracy theory advanced by Mohamed Fayed has been minutely examined and shown to be without any substance,” according to BBC.
Later in his career, Al Fayed sold Harrods to Qatar Holdings in May 2010. A few years later, he sold Fulham FC to US businessman Shahid Khan.
Khan paid tribute to Al Fayed, penning him as “wise” and “colorful.”
“On behalf of everyone at Fulham Football Club, I send my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mohamed Al Fayed upon the news of his passing at age 94,” Khan said, according to Sky News. “The story of Fulham cannot be told without a chapter on the positive impact of Al Fayed as Chairman.”
“His legacy will be remembered for our promotion to the Premier League, a Europa League Final, and moments of magic by players and teams alike,” he added. “I always enjoyed my time with Al Fayed, who was wise, colourful and committed to Fulham, and I am forever grateful for his trust in me to succeed him as Chairman in 2013.”
He concluded: “I join our supporters around the world in celebrating the memory of Mohamed Al Fayed, whose legacy will always be at the heart of our tradition at Fulham Football Club.”
Al Fayed married his second wife, Heini Wathén, in 1985 and was a father of five.
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