Mohamed al-Fayed, ex-Harrods owner whose son died with Princess Diana, dead at 94

FILE PHOTO: Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed unveils a memorial to his son Dodi and Britain's Diana Princess of Wales at Harrods in London. Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed (C) unveils a memorial (L) to his son Dodi and Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales at Harrods in London, September 1, 2005. REUTERS/Paul Hackett/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -Mohamed al-Fayed, the self-made Egyptian billionaire who bought the Harrods department store and promoted the discredited conspiracy theory that the British royal family was behind the death of his son and Princess Diana, has died, his family said.

Born in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, al-Fayed began his career selling fizzy drinks and then worked as a sewing-machine salesman. He built his family's fortune in real estate, shipping and construction, first in the Middle East and then in Europe.