Saudi playboy and world’s richest arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi who was twice married but had ELEVEN ‘pleasure wives’ dies aged 82 after Parkinson’s battle
A SAUDI playboy and businessman famed for his lavish lifestyle has died aged 82.
Adnan Khashoggi was said to have been undergoing treatment for Parkinson’s Disease before his death.
The 82-year-old, hailed for his "elegance, strength and dignity" by loved ones, died in London on Tuesday.
At the peak of his wealth in the 70s, Khashoggi was worth an estimated £2.4billion.
It followed years of forging deals across the globe with giants of the defence industry, including the Lockheed Corporation.
The playboy had a reputation for decadence, and was known for throwing parties which ran for days.
He also entertained 11 "pleasure wives" at his yachts and holiday homes alongside his two traditional marriages, according to the .
The 82-year-old first married in the 1960s to Brit Sandra Daly, who converted to Islam, changed her name to Soraya and took his surname.
He is survived by his second wife, Italian-born Laura Biancolini, who also converted to Islam, changing her first name to Lamia.
At one of his decadent parties, the Stanford-educated magnate reportedly hired Queen to play, and he is said to have once thrown a lavish bash for actress Liz Taylor while she was in Istanbul.
In 1987, Mr Khashoggi appeared on the front cover of Time magazine below the headline: "Those Shadowy Arms Traders: Adnan Khashoggi's High Life and Flashy Deals."
Financial turbulence followed, however, and the arms dealer was forced to sell off relics of his flamboyant existence.
This included the superyacht, Nabila, which eventually ended up in the hands of now-US president Donald Trump, according to reports.
Following his death, a statement from the family read: ''It is with deep sadness that the Khashoggi family must announce that our beloved father Adnan Khashoggi, aged 82, died peacefully today in London while being treated for Parkinson's Disease.
"He lived his last days surrounded by his devoted family, children and grandchildren, with the same elegance, strength and dignity that characterised his remarkable life. He is survived by his wife Lamia.
"AK was a pioneer who achieved global recognition in a golden age through his extraordinary business achievements and renowned generosity. Our father understood the art of bringing people together better than anyone.
"He combined commercial acumen with an over-riding loyalty to his country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His work always furthered the interests of his country.
"He celebrated life in the living of it, and always with an innate curiosity in others.
"His warm smile and endearing sense of humour remained intact to the end.
"Despite the harsh conflicting realities of the world our father always believed in peace, harmony and the goodness in everyone.
"Our father was an inspiration to us, a true one-off, the like of which the world will never see again. He will be forever missed and never forgotten. God rest his beautiful soul.''
Mr Khashoggi, whose late sister Samira was married to Harrods chief Mohamed Al Fayed, was an uncle of Princess Diana's final love, Dodi Fayed.
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