The Fall of Fayed: Lies, Greed and Scandal

by Tom Bower

THE BESTSELLING AND CONTROVERSIAL BIOGRAPHY

Britain's leading investigative writer and biographer, Tom Bower turns the full beam of his formidable powers on one of the most controversial figures of present Mohamed Al Fayed.

Owner of Harrods, bereaved father of Dodi and instigator of the 'cash for questions' sensation, this book was originally published in 1998 to wide acclaim. But with the recent heinous accusations of sexual misconduct coming to light, this new and updated edition will offer a new focus of Tom Bower's trademark acerbic insight on this controversial figure.

'[Tom Bower] is the Inspector Morse of investigative biographers, a fluent, phlegmatic story-teller and a master of intricacies.' Sunday Times

'Given the extreme difficulty of researching a subject like Fayed, Bower deserves full marks for effort and courage... his Fayed is a "fuggin" good read.' Lynn Barber, Daily Telegraph

'A book that displays all the forensic skills he employed in exposing Rowland and Robert Maxwell.' Sunday Times

'...that rare thing - a book by turns so entertaining and alarming that even reading the index is an engrossing experience'. Oliver Burkeman, Guardian

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

528 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

For the author of works on child development, see T.G.R. Bower

Tom Bower (born 28 September 1946) is a British writer, noted for his investigative journalism and for his unauthorized biographies.

A former Panorama reporter, his books include unauthorised biographies of Tiny Rowland, Robert Maxwell, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Geoffrey Robinson, Gordon Brown and Richard Branson.

He won the 2003 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award for Broken Dreams, an investigation into corruption in English football. His joint biography of Conrad Black and Barbara Amiel Conrad and Lady Black: Dancing on the Edge was published in November 2006, and an unsuccessful libel case over a passing mention of Daily Express proprietor Richard Desmond in the book was heard in July 2009.

An unauthorised biography by Bower of Richard Desmond, provisionally entitled Rough Trader, awaits publication. Bowers's biography of Simon Cowell, written with Cowell's co-operation, was published on 20 April, 2012.

Bower is married to Veronica Wadley, former editor of the London Evening Standard, and has four children.

Reviews

[Hanife Mombri · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lot of waffling.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚The Fall of Fayed
✍️Tom Bower
🎧Audiobook
3⭐️

My second non-fiction read of 2025 was Tom Bower’s The Fall of Fayed, which appeared thoroughly researched (although I suppose we’ll never know for certain whether it’s 100% correct), with a lot of detail crammed in. The book opens in 1997 days after the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed, which, I felt was a good hook to grab the reader, and the book did also reference the sexual assault claims against Fayed very early on. The timeline then jumped back to Fayed’s childhood, and as someone born in 1989 I found huge parts of this very dull. Interesting and informative, but dull. I did research some of the people and events that I wasn’t aware of, such as Papa Doc of Haiti, but It wasn’t until the book reached about 1985 that I started to recognise names of politicians and other prominent characters and I was able to visualise the key players, which really helped with my understanding of what was going on. Working in construction I found the retellings of Fayed, Costain and Dubai very interesting - I did actually managed to find an old Construction News article from 1990 which estimated that Fayed received over £85m from Costain and other construction companiesp. My interpretation of Fayed as a person was that he wanted more than his lot in life, he wanted more and to achieve more than his father before him. I think this is an understandable and largely universal mindset, however Fayed went about this in a completely duplicitous manner and wasn’t very pleasant to people as he went through life.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Interesting Read

I found this book very interesting, there was so much I didn't know about the Fayed family. It is a very long book and I did leave it every now and then and read something else but I always went back and have now finished it. Mr Bower is a very good writer and pays attention to detail. I always feel I can trust what he writes.

[Lou Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like investigative journalling, then this will be every bit your vibe. It was not mine. I Was kind of hoping, the same way that I had been hoping that there would be tea, scandal, drama- it would deliver something interesting. The audiobook was dull. It was a very slow start so I just didn't finish. I didn't like it.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

[3PCats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immaculately researched account of Fayed’s business life and seedy side. I’d hoped for a bit more about his family life and it was sometimes difficult for me to keep track of all the names of his business and political rivals. Overall very enlightening.

[Paul Lehane · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tawdry & shallow life..poorly exposed by Tom Bower.

[Tim Allerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutal assessment of a deluded but successful businessman and pervert. Shame on the enablers around him that allowed Fayed to abuse so many people.

[Hilary Cockshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook