Dodi Fayed

Latest News: Khalid Abdalla Returns as Dodi Fayed for The Crown Season 6

The Crown, Netflix’s critically acclaimed series chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth II and the British royal family, returns for its sixth and final season on November 16. Actor Khalid Abdalla reprises his role as Dodi Fayed, the Egyptian heir to the Harrods fortune, who became romantically involved with Princess Diana during the summer of 1997. Abdalla first portrayed Fayed in Season 5, and the final season delves into his brief but poignant relationship with Diana, culminating in their tragic deaths in a Paris tunnel.

In discussing his role, Abdalla reflects, “People know [Fayed’s] name, but they know virtually nothing else about him. One of the things that makes me proudest about playing him is that, finally, after 26 years, we get to know him a little. We hopefully get to love him a little. And then, after 26 years, we can finally mourn him.”

Who Was Dodi Fayed?

Dodi Fayed was an Egyptian film producer whose opulent lifestyle was supported by his billionaire father, Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods department store in London. Known for his extravagant way of life, Fayed produced several notable films during the 1980s and early 1990s, including Chariots of Fire, F/X, and Steven Spielberg’s Hook. However, Fayed’s name became forever linked to Princess Diana after their short relationship in the summer of 1997. Tragically, on August 31, 1997, Fayed and Diana were killed in a car accident in a Paris tunnel, with paparazzi in pursuit. Fayed was 42 years old at the time of his death.

Early Life and Family Background

Dodi Fayed was born Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed on April 15, 1955, in Alexandria, Egypt. He was the son of Mohamed Al Fayed, a business magnate who amassed wealth in shipping, construction, oil, banking, real estate, and retail, and Samira Khashoggi, the sister of the infamous arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Dodi’s parents divorced in 1956 when he was a young child, with his father gaining full custody. Despite his father’s growing business empire, Dodi was often raised by servants.

Dodi was educated at Collège Saint Marc in Egypt before attending the prestigious Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland. At 19, he enrolled in a six-month course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK, followed by a stint as an attaché at the UAE embassy in London. Fayed led a life of luxury, enjoying the nightlife of London, all the while supported by his father’s growing fortune.

Movies: Chariots of Fire and More

In 1979, supported by his wealthy father, Dodi Fayed founded the movie production company Allied Stars Ltd., which financed several films. The company’s first project, Breaking Glass (1980), was followed by the critically acclaimed Chariots of Fire (1981). The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Although Fayed received an executive producer credit, his involvement was limited, with reports indicating that he visited the set briefly and participated in some postproduction work. His role remained largely hands-off throughout his other projects as well.

Despite his minimal involvement, the success of Chariots of Fire prompted Fayed to relocate his company to Los Angeles. He then produced F/X (1986), which became a hit, followed by a less successful sequel in 1991. That same year, Fayed served as executive producer for Hook (1991), directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, and Julia Roberts. His credit stemmed from his sale of partial movie rights to Peter Pan, the story that inspired Hook.

In 1995, Fayed was also involved in financing The Scarlet Letter, starring Demi Moore. However, his involvement in the film led to controversy when he sold distribution rights that he did not control.

Net Worth

Fayed’s precise net worth remains unclear, but media reports suggest he was a millionaire or multimillionaire. He had access to luxury yachts, jets, homes, and high-end cars, along with a substantial monthly allowance from his father, reported at $100,000 or £400,000. Despite his affluent lifestyle, Fayed sometimes overspent and faced legal action from creditors. While he enjoyed considerable financial backing, he struggled to match his father’s success. Mohamed Fayed acquired London’s Harrods department store in 1985 and included Dodi on the board in 1989, though he resigned two years later. Mohamed also bought a Ferrari dealership for Dodi, which did not succeed. In addition to Harrods, Mohamed owned Fulham Football Club for 16 years and the Ritz Paris hotel. Before his death in August 2023, estimates of Mohamed’s net worth ranged around $2 billion.

Girlfriends and Ex-Wife: Kelly Fisher, Suzanne Gregard, and More

Dodi Fayed was known for his relationships with high-profile women. He was romantically linked to Tina Sinatra, daughter of Frank Sinatra, as well as to actresses Brooke Shields and Winona Ryder.

In the 1980s, Fayed had a brief marriage to model Suzanne Gregard. The couple reportedly married on December 31, 1986, shortly after Dodi’s proposal, though other sources claim their marriage occurred in 1987. Their union lasted only eight months.

Before his relationship with Princess Diana, Fayed was involved with model Kelly Fisher. The couple became engaged in the summer of 1997 after dating for two years. However, when Fayed ended their relationship to pursue Diana, Fisher filed a lawsuit claiming breach of contract. She alleged that Fayed had persuaded her to give up her career, only to leave her for Diana. Fisher sought $440,000 but dropped the lawsuit following Fayed’s death.

Relationship with Princess Diana

Dodi Fayed met Diana, Princess of Wales, at a polo match in the 1980s, but their relationship did not develop until 1997, after Diana’s divorce from Prince Charles. In July 1997, Fayed’s father, Mohamed, invited Diana and her sons, Princes William and Harry, to vacation with the Fayed family in the south of France. Mohamed encouraged Dodi to spend time with the princess during this trip.

After Diana returned her children to the United Kingdom, she and Dodi grew closer, and their relationship attracted significant media attention. Paparazzi captured a fleeting kiss between the couple aboard the Fayed family’s yacht, Jonikal, and the paparazzi frenzy escalated throughout August 1997.

The relationship garnered even more public interest when Kelly Fisher, Dodi’s ex-fiancée, held a press conference on August 14, announcing her lawsuit against him. Fisher, who wore the sapphire-and-diamond ring Dodi had given her, spoke emotionally about her distress. She also invited Diana to meet with her, hoping to share insights about Dodi before their relationship progressed further.

Death

Dodi Fayed tragically passed away on August 31, 1997, in a car crash in Paris, alongside Princess Diana. He was 42 years old at the time.

The couple had arrived in Paris on August 30, and later that evening, they dined at the Ritz Hotel, which had been purchased by Fayed’s father in 1979. As they left the hotel, they were pursued by paparazzi, and their car was followed closely by photographers. In an attempt to evade the photographers, the driver accelerated. While traveling through the Pont d’Alma tunnel in the early hours of August 31, the Mercedes crashed into a pillar. Both Fayed and the driver were killed instantly. Diana succumbed to her injuries a few hours later, while the fourth passenger, a bodyguard, survived the crash. According to an official police report, it was noted that none of the occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

In the aftermath of their deaths, rumors circulated that Fayed had proposed to Diana, though this was never substantiated. In 2008, a British inquest concluded that the deaths of Fayed and Diana were primarily caused by the combined factors of the paparazzi’s aggressive pursuit and the negligence of the driver. The investigation revealed that the driver had been speeding and was intoxicated at the time of the crash.