Mohamed Al-Fayed turns 85

Egyptian business man Mohamed Al-Fayed is 85 today. The former owner of Harrods department store made his fortune through property development, acting as an advisor to wealthy influential people such as the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashid Al Makhtoum and investing in Fulham Football Club, which he later sold to American business man Shahid Kahn. He also still owns the Ritz Hotel in Paris. An interesting fact about Mr Al Fayed is that he was awarded the ‘Freedom of Highlands’ in 2002 due to his outstanding contribution and commitment in the Highlands after investing substantial money in the redevelopment of land in the highlands, restoring the 14th Century Balnagowan Castle and created a tourist accommodation business. Mr Al-Fayed’s son Dodi famously dated Diana Princess of Wales, with who he was tragically killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Mr Al-Fayed later claimed that there was a conspiracy into their death and after many years of investigation had to eventually accept that