His efforts to prise Harrods store from another less-than-popular tycoon, Mohamed al-Fayed, gave entertainment to millions but in the financial establishment was seen as an unseemly public brawl.

ECONOMIST: Tiny Rowland

In 1985, the Egyptian Al-Fayed brothers won control of the House of Fraser in London and thus gained control of the department store Harrods.

CNN: Wednesday,

But at Harrods, the giant London department store, sales are held only twice a year, and are so anticipated that customers line up before the doors open.

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