Al Fayed's pursuit for capital began on the streets of Alexandria, Egypt, where he sold fizzy drinks to passers-by. He made a breakthrough when he met his first wife, Samira Khashoggi, who was the sister of a millionaire Saudi arms dealer that helped him create new connections and go into shipping to expand his empire.

The former boss of luxury department store Harrods Mohamed Al-Fayed has been accused of rape and sexual assault by a string of numerous former employees. More than 20 women have spoken to the BBC as part of a special investigation, coming forward with allegations of assault and physical violence at properties in London and Paris.