Heini Wathén first gained popularity as Mohamed Al-Fayed‘s second wife, an Egyptian-born business magnate, decades ago. She had previously made a living as an actress and model in the entertainment sector. Having long since retired, she is now settled as a philanthropist and socialite.
Mohamed Al-Fayed is one of the richest men in Egypt thanks to his management of numerous companies. He was the proprietor of the prestigious Hôtel Ritz Paris, the well-known Harrods department store, and the illustrious Fulham Football Club, all of which were located in London.
Who Is Heini Wathén?
Heini Wathén used to work as a model for the fashion sector. After graduating from high school, she was encouraged by her older sister to pursue modelling, and at the age of 17, she signed a contract with an agency. She participated in several beauty pageants, including Miss Finland 1977, where she placed in the semifinals.
Later, she was hired by the upscale French fashion business Pierre Balmain. Before getting married, she spent several years working there. But she made the decision to give up her job and devote herself to starting a family.
She spends most of her time on charity endeavours across several platforms. Most recently, we learned that she cares about preserving the environment. She filed a lawsuit against Horizon Cremation Ltd. in 2022 as it was constructing a crematorium almost half a mile from their $4.65 million opulent property in Oxted, Surrey. She made a point of protecting the tranquil 12-acre location and preventing development in the surrounding area.
About Mohamed Al-Fayed
Mohamed Al-Fayed was born in El-Gomrok, Alexandria, on January 27, 1929. Tragically, he died in London, United Kingdom, on August 30, 2023. Over the course of his nine decades-long life, he made important contributions to business and had a lasting impression on a number of industries.
Al-Fayed’s business journey took him from Egypt to Italy and eventually to the United Kingdom. Among his significant triumphs were the 1979 acquisition of the famed Hôtel Ritz Paris and the 1985 purchase of the renowned department store Harrods as a member of the House of Fraser Group. Significant controversy resulted from his purchase of Harrods, including claims about his history and riches. Despite these difficulties, he continued to be the owner of Harrods, turning it into a benchmark for opulent shopping in London.
Al-Fayed had a significant influence on the field of sports and leisure activities in addition to his business endeavours. In 1997, he took control of Fulham Football Club and oversaw its ascent to the top of the football league. During his ownership, which lasted until 2013, Fulham won the Premier League and made great advancements in European competitions.
In 1987, he founded the Al Fayed Charitable Foundation with the goal of helping children with serious illnesses and others who are impoverished. For disadvantaged and abandoned children in the UK and abroad, the foundation funded a number of organisations and hospices.
The late author from Saudi Arabia Samira Khashoggi, a descendant of Adnan Khashoggi for whom Al-Fayed worked in his twenties, was the first spouse of Heini Wathén’s husband. So, it’s safe to say that they first connected while he was doing work for her father. After dating for a while, they got married in 1954 but separated in 1956. Their marriage saw the birth of their son Dodi Al-Fayed who, unfortunately, died in a car accident alongside Princess Diana.
On August 30, 2023, Mohamed Al-Fayed passed away, leaving behind a complicated legacy that was characterised by commercial success, charity giving, controversies, and continuing conspiracy theories. Along with the scandals that shaped his public image, his influence on the worlds of sports, philanthropy, and luxury retail will be remembered.
Heini Wathén And Al Fayed
Mohamed Al-Fayed and Heini Wathén have been married since 1985. When Dodi Al-sometimes began working as one of their models in the late 1970s, she initially introduced the two of them. The two soon became friends and it wasn’t long before they started dating. The 26 years age gap between the two would have been a problem but it’s evident that it was just another number to the pair.
Heini Wathén and Mohamed Al-Fayed have been blessed with 4 children. The couple’s first child Jasmine Al-Fayed was born sometime in 1980, it is reported in many quarters that she was birthed while the couple was still dating.
In 1983, two years before Heini and Al-Fayed got married, they welcomed their second child Karim Al-Fayed. The third child of the couple, Camilla Al-Fayed, was born in 1985, the same year they got married. Omar Al-Fayed is the youngest child of the couple and their second son. He was born in 1987.
