Mohamed Hadid Explained
Mohamed Hadid |
Birth Name: | Mohamed Anwar Hadid |
Birth Date: | 6 November 1948 |
Birth Place: | Nazareth (now Israel) |
Occupation: | Real estate developer |
Years Active: | Late 1970s – present |
Known For: | Developing mansions in Bel Air and Beverly Hills, California |
|
Children: | 5, including Gigi and Bella |
Partner: | Shiva Safai (2014–2019) |
Mohamed Anwar Hadid (; Arabic: محمد أنور حديد; born 6 November 1948)[1] is an American real estate developer. He is known for building luxury hotels and mansions, mainly in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles and the city of Beverly Hills, California. He is the father of models Gigi and Bella Hadid.
Early life
Hadid was born into a Palestinian Muslim family[2] [3] [4] in 1948[5] in Nazareth. He is the son of Anwar Mohamed Hadid (1918[6] - 1989[7]) and his wife Khairiah Hadid (née Daher; 1925 - 2008),[8] and has two brothers and five sisters. Through his mother, Hadid claims descent from Dahir al-Umar, an 18th-century Arab ruler of northern Palestine.[9] [10]
Due to the 1947–1949 Palestine War, Hadid and his family fled to Lebanon as part of the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight, ultimately settling in Syria. In 1989, Hadid stated his father left because he "did not want the family to live under the Israeli occupation."[11] In 2015, Hadid stated in a post on Instagram: "...[W]e became refugees to Syria and we lost our home in Safad to a Jewish family that we sheltered when they were refugees from Poland on the ship that was sailing from country to country and no one would take them... they were our guest for 2 years till they made us refugees and they kicked us out of our own home."[12]
His father studied at a teachers' college in Jerusalem and attended a university in Syria to study law, before working in land settlement for the British authorities and teaching English at a teachers' college in Mandatory Palestine. In 1948, the family moved to Syria, and Hadid's father joined the United States Information Agency (USIA) and Voice of America (VOA). Hadid and his family lived in Damascus, Tunisia and Greece before moving to Washington, D.C. when he was 14 years old, as his father had a job at the VOA headquarters there and spent the rest of his career there with VOA and USIA as a writer, editor and translator.[13]
Hadid graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, where he was the only Arab student, before attending North Carolina State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[14]
Career
Among his early ventures was a company that exported equipment to the Middle East.[15] He started his career restoring and reselling classic cars in the Georgetown neighbourhood of Washington, D.C., before moving to Greece, where he opened a nightclub on an island, and with the profits, started developing real estate in the United States.[16]
In the 1980s, much of his financial clout came from the SAAR Foundation, a Herndon-based foundation with Saudi roots. The foundation was a 50–50 partner in many of Hadid's ventures. In the late 1980s, he faced at least 30 lawsuits from creditors and banks claiming he had not fulfilled various financial obligations.[17] He paid $150 million for the Ritz-Carlton hotels in Washington and New York. He also converted a Houston hotel into a Ritz-Carlton Hotel and developed a Ritz-Carlton resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. He outmaneuvered Donald Trump, paying $42.9 million for several choice parcels in Aspen and announcing plans for a 292-room Ritz resort.
In 1992, a settlement was reached in a lawsuit by Riggs Bank against Columbia First Bank Chairman Melvin Lenkin, a Hadid partner in a Washington, D.C., construction project that involved a loan on which Hadid defaulted. Following the settlement Hadid closed his local office, lost his McLean home to foreclosure, and left the Washington area.[18]
He developed Le Belvedere, a mansion in Bel Air, Los Angeles,[19] that sold for $50 million in 2010. In 2012, he developed The Crescent Palace, a 48,000-square-foot home on an acre plot next door to the Beverly Hills Hotel, which he listed for sale at $58 million.
Estate on Strada Vecchia Road
Shortly after Hadid received approval for the construction of a mansion in Bel Air, the Bel Air Homeowners Alliance, chaired by Fred Rosen, was formed to oppose it.[19] In January 2015, Nancy Walton Laurie, an heiress to the Walmart fortune and a Bel Air resident, filed a lawsuit through her company, LW Partnership, against Hadid.[20] Laurie accused Hadid of damaging the roots of a eucalyptus tree on her property with a retaining wall he built next to her house.[20]
In December 2015, the Los Angeles city council voted to pursue criminal charges over a claim that Hadid violated local zoning laws. The council alleged he built his house contrary to multiple planning orders and made it twice the permitted size.[21] [22] In May 2017, Hadid pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from mansion-construction issues for which he did not receive city approval, and was sentenced that July to community service and fines.[23] [24]
In July 2017, he was sentenced to 200 hours of community service, summoned to return $14,191 to the City of Los Angeles in damages, and fined $3,000.[25] He was also given a three-year probation period to ensure the property would comply with existing regulations, or he would face a 180-day jail sentence.[25]
A 2018 civil lawsuit filed by multiple neighbors resulted in Hadid being made to pay a reward of $3 million. In 2019, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Craig D. Karlan ordered the demolition of the 30000adj=onNaNadj=on structure, declaring that it put neighbors at, "legitimate risk of suffering damage and harm to their home." The property was offloaded by Hadid in an auction, with the winning bidder paying $5 million.[26]
Athletic career
Hadid competed in the demonstration sport of speed skiing at the 1992 Winter Olympics, representing Jordan. He was 43 years old at the time. Hadid was encouraged to participate by his friend, Austrian Olympic skier Franz Weber. Hadid was the only member of the Jordanian delegation, and remains the only person to have represented Jordan in the Winter Olympics.[27] [28]
Television appearances
Hadid has appeared on the TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as the ex-husband of Yolanda Hadid.[29] He has also appeared on Shahs of Sunset,[19] and Second Wives Club on E! with his fiancée Shiva Safai in 2017.[30]
Personal life
Hadid's first marriage was with Mary Butler, with whom he had two daughters, Alana Hadid and Marielle Hadid. He and Butler ended their marriage in 1992.[31] [32]
From 1994 until their divorce in 2000, he was married to the Dutch model Yolanda Hadid, née Van den Herik.[33] They had three children, who all became models: Gigi (born 1995), Bella (born 1996), and Anwar (born 1999).[34]
In 2014, Hadid was engaged to Shiva Safai, a model and businesswoman. She was born in Iran and raised in Norway, and at age 19, moved to Los Angeles with her family.[35] Safai, who is 33 years his junior, began to appear in E! reality show, Second Wives Club in 2017.[36] [37] As of December 2019, Hadid and Safai had split.[38]
Hadid is a dual Jordanian-American citizen. He does not consider himself a devout Muslim but does not drink or smoke and fasts during Ramadan. He has never drunk alcohol, although he does have a 5,000-bottle wine cellar, including some from his own Beverly Hills winery.
Notes and References
- Web site: Happy birthday Mohamed Hadid..... Yolanda H. Foster verified Facebook page. November 6, 2013 . January 31, 2016. January 31, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131190140/https://www.facebook.com/YolandaHFoster/posts/441702489264761 . live.
- Web site: The face that launched a thousand tweets. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150110012437/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/09/face-launched-thousand-tweets-2014914121922159126.html. Al-Jazeera. January 10, 2015.
- Web site: The Meaning of Gigi Hadid's "Half-Palestinian"-Ness. Palestine Square blog. Institute for Palestine Studies. January 15, 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805035333/http://blog.palestine-studies.org/2016/01/15/the-meaning-of-gigi-hadids-half-palestinian-post/. August 5, 2016.
- Web site: 10 world-famous celebs you didn't know were of Arab origin. Al-Arabiya. January 19, 2016. September 10, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160907130055/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/art-and-culture/2016/01/18/10-world-famous-celebs-you-didn-t-know-were-of-Arab-origin-.html. September 7, 2016.
- News: Jaffe . Harry . Unmasking the Mysterious Mohamed Hadid . December 20, 2015 . . March 1, 1988 . December 22, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222075934/http://www.harryjaffe.com/archive/unmasking-the-mysterious-mohamed-hadid . dead . .
- Web site: Anwar M. Hadid, in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935 - 2014. Ancestry.com. November 13, 2020.
- News: Col. Homan, Veteran of 3 Wars, Dies . May 14, 1989 . December 20, 2015 . . March 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305113442/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/05/14/col-homan-veteran-of-3-wars-dies/60bb00c7-ce3a-46b4-a2ea-d59099083b6f/ . live .
- News: Hadid, Khairia. The Washington Post. October 3, 2008. November 13, 2020.
- Web site: Tully. Shawn. Blank. J. B.. The Big Moneymen of Palestine Inc.. Fortune. June 17, 2016. en. July 31, 1989. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222160613/http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/07/31/72291/index.htm. December 22, 2015.
- Web site: The Radar People Surreal Estate Developer. ANGE – Angelo. Modern Luxury. June 17, 2016. en. August 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160622064637/http://digital.modernluxury.com/article/The%2BRadar%2BPeople/453793/0/article.html. June 22, 2016.
- News: Walsh . Sharron . Hilzenrath . David . Who is Mohamed Hadid? . The Washington Post . October 30, 2023 . April 24, 1989 . Hadid was an infant when his family left Palestine. His father, Anwar Hadid, said he did not want the family 'to live under the Israeli occupation.' The parents walked for two nights to reach the Lebanese border -- with Hadid's mother carrying her oldest son. The family finally settled in Damascus, where Anwar Hadid went to work as a translator for Voice of America and traveled widely..
- Web site: December 31, 2015. Not the only 'proud Palestinian' in the family–Gigi Hadid's father details refugee history in Syria. July 4, 2020. Mondoweiss. en-US.
- News: Warren Walsh . Sharon . David S. . Hilzenrath . Who is Mohamed Hadid? . December 20, 2015 . . April 24, 1989 . March 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073719/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1989/04/24/who-is-mohamed-hadid/4b6ff72a-ec4e-454c-b282-d4d4b5405ea5/ . live .
- Web site: Nick. Remsen . Gigi Hadid's Home: A Multi-Million Dollar Mansion Style.com/Arabia . Vogue Man Arabia . October 19, 2023 . March 29, 2015.
- News: The Washington Post. Who is Mohamed Hadid?. July 26, 2017. Sharon Warren. Walsh. David S.. Hilzenrath. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073719/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1989/04/24/who-is-mohamed-hadid/4b6ff72a-ec4e-454c-b282-d4d4b5405ea5/. March 5, 2016.
- News: Farameh. Patrice. July 1, 2008. Hadid's Modern Masterpiece: Mohamed Hadid. Haute Living. live. December 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160219225601/http://hauteliving.com/2008/07/hadids-modern-masterpiece/3038/. February 19, 2016. Even though he has never indulged in alcohol in his life, his 5,000-bottle wine cellar is filled with the best French and Californian wines. Not only does his collection consist of a diverse range of premium wines from local vineyards such as Summerland Winery, but it also includes bottles from his very own winery in Beverly Hills..
- News: The Washington Post. Hard Times for Developer Mohamed Hadid. July 26, 2017. Jacqueline L. . Salmon.
- News: Riggs Settlement with Lenkin Gives it Cash, Pledge, Building. David S. . Hilzenrath . August 4, 1992. August 22, 2017. The Washington Post.
- News: Halderman. Peter. In Los Angeles, a Nimby Battle Pits Millionaires vs. Billionaires. January 24, 2016. The New York Times. December 5, 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150504030358/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/style/in-los-angeles-a-nimby-battle-pits-millionaires-vs-billionaires.html?_r=0. May 4, 2015.
- News: Matt . Lopez . Wal-Mart Heiress Seeks Damages From Bel Air's 901 Strada Vecchia . . California . January 23, 2015 . 1, 11 . February 22, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150222114325/http://bhcourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/012315Fissue.pdf . live .
- News: Tait. Robert. Bad airs in Bel-Air over house dubbed 'the starship enterprise'. December 20, 2015. The Daily Telegraph. December 19, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151219184212/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12059349/Bad-airs-in-Bel-Air-over-house-dubbed-the-starship-enterprise.html. December 19, 2015.
- News: Lopez. Matt. Did 901 Strada Vecchia In Bel-Air Violate Stop Work Order With Weekend Construction Work?. December 20, 2015. The Beverly Hills Courier. California. December 1, 2014 . August 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150813063312/http://bhcourier.com/did-901-strada-vecchia-in-bel-air-violate-stop-work-order-with-weekend-construction-work/ . live.
- News: Reyes. Emily Alpert. Smith. Dakota. July 20, 2017. Bel-Air mega-mansion developer Mohamed Hadid sentenced with community service, fines. Los Angeles Times. live. July 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170721062333/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hadid-sentencing-20170720-story.html. July 21, 2017.
- News: Reyes. Emily Alpert. May 30, 2017. Celebrity developer pleads no contest to Bel-Air mega-mansion charges. But what happens to the 30,000-square-foot estate?. Los Angeles Times. live. July 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170710040002/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bel-air-building-20170530-htmlstory.html. July 10, 2017.
- News: Lopez. Matt. Hadid Fined, Sentenced To Community Service – But No Jail Time – Over Bel-Air Mansion. July 22, 2017. The Beverly Hills Courier. July 21, 2017. 1; 19.
- Web site: Dado . Natasha . Photos Show Demolition of Mohamed Hadid's Controversial Bel-Air Mega-Mansion Underway . People Magazine . December 31, 2022 . en . February 17, 2022.
- News: Walsh. Sharon. Snow Folling: Mo Knows Skiing. The Washington Post. April 26, 2017. en. December 21, 1991. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170519175709/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/12/21/snow-fooling-mo-knows-skiing/53a6fc0f-4e64-4bfc-9282-c294d55fc1e2/. May 19, 2017.
- Web site: Rosenfeld. Laura. You're Not Going to Believe Which Bravoleb Was an Olympian. Bravo TV Official Site. April 26, 2017. en. August 5, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170427192434/http://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/mohamed-hadid-competed-in-1992-olympics-albertville-france. April 27, 2017.
- News: Brennan. Morgan. Celebrity Developer Mohamed Hadid Asking $58 Million For Crescent Palace. December 20, 2015. Forbes. June 28, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222111359/http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2012/06/28/celebrity-developer-asking-58-million-for-his-most-opulent-mansion-yet/. December 22, 2015.
- News: 'Second Wives Club' star Shiva Safai talks 33-year age gap with her man, dishes on Gigi and Bella Hadid. Nolasco. Stephanie. May 4, 2017. Fox News. June 23, 2018. en-US.
- News: Romano. Lois. The reliable source. December 23, 2015. The Washington Post. May 21, 1992. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151225044643/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/05/21/the-reliable-source/23772a57-67ea-42d7-8e2b-e7aaf8a9b99c/. December 25, 2015.
- News: Watson. Sheridan. The Foster-Hadids Are The Best Family On Earth. December 23, 2015. BuzzFeed. October 14, 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160331163719/http://www.buzzfeed.com/sheridanwatson/the-foster-hadids-are-the-best-family-on-earth#.cjPJkQ93W. March 31, 2016.
- News: Corriston. Michele. Yolanda Drops 'Foster' as Divorce Proceeds, Takes Ex-Husband's Name Again. February 18, 2016. People. February 17, 2016. February 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160218093942/http://www.people.com/article/why-yolanda-foster-goes-by-hadid-now.
- News: Frank. Julia. Gigi and Bella Hadid's younger brother Anwar is a model too. January 2, 2016. Vogue. September 25, 2015. 16-year-old Anwar Hadid.... dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160301171735/http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/news/gigi%2Band%2Bbella%2Bhadids%2Byounger%2Bbrother%2Banwar%2Bis%2Ba%2Bmodel%2Btoo%2C37492. March 1, 2016.
- News: Interview and Photoshoot with Shiva Safai . December 23, 2015 . NaludaMagazine.com . January 1, 2015 . January 23, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160123164624/http://www.naludamagazine.com/interview-and-photoshoot-with-shiva-safai/ . dead .
- Web site: Shiva Safai from Second Wives Club: Meet the Cast. E! News. April 25, 2017. en. n.d.. March 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170330212752/http://www.eonline.com/shows/second_wives_club/photos/20470/second-wives-club-meet-the-cast/750857. live.
- Web site: Nolasco. Stephanie. 'Second Wives Club' star Shiva Safai talks 33-year age gap with her man, dishes on Gigi and Bella Hadid. Fox News. May 25, 2017. en. May 4, 2017. June 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170615042156/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/05/04/second-wives-club-star-shiva-safai-talks-33-year-age-gap-with-her-man-dishes-on-gigi-and-bella-hadid.html. live.
- News: Sahadeo . Andy . Shiva Safai confirms split from Mohamed Hadid as she shares photo with new boyfriend . April 30, 2020 . Fox News . December 3, 2019.