Mohamed al-Fayed's success overshadowed by personal tragedy

Among his business interests are ownership of the English Premiership football team Fulham, Htel Ritz Paris and, until yesterday, Harrods department store.

All of his success has been overshadowed, however, by the death of his son Dodi, who embarked on an ill-fated affair with Diana, Princess of Wales.

Both of them died in a car crash in August 1997. Fayed believed that the driver, Henri Paul, had plotted with the Royal Family to kill Diana and Dodi. A coroner's inquest was held in 2007, where Fayed's accusations were dismissed.

He became resident in the United Kingdom in 1974 after making a fortune in shipping and construction, mainly in Dubai.

In 1985 he and his brothers bought House of Fraser, including Harrods, for 615 million, in a move that angered rival bidder Tiny Rowland, owner of Lohnro.

Rowland took the Fayed brothers to a Department of Trade inquiry and there followed one of the most bitter feuds in British business history.

For years, Fayed unsuccessfully sought British citizenship. Both Labour and Conservative home secretaries rejected his applications and it has been suggested that the feud with Rowland contributed to Fayed's application being refused.

Since 1985, he has been married to Finnish socialite and former model Heini Wathn. Together they have four children and two grandchildren.