Yeslam bin Ladin is a businessman and the half-brother of Osama bin Laden. Osama bin Laden was the leader of al-Qaeda who was responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks, which led to the death of close to three thousand people.
Yeslam’s name may be synonymous with so many people due to his late brother’s criminal activities, but he has also made a name for himself as a successful businessman.
Early Life and Education
Yeslam bin Ladin was born on October 19, 1950, to Muhammad bin Ladin and Rabab Haguigui. Yeslam’s father was a businessman; he founded the Saudi Binladin Group, becoming one of the wealthiest non-royal Saudis. The group has been the foundation of the bin family. Yeslam has 54 siblings; when he was young, his family lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Regarding his education, Yeslam began his early education in Jeddah. After that, he proceeded to a high school in Beirut, Lebanon. After high school, Yeslam joined Goteborg University in Sweden, where he studied economics. He also has a master’s degree from the University of Southern Carolina.
Life After College
Yeslam spent so many years in Switzerland, and in 2001, he became a Swiss citizen. His father died when he was young; as such, he had to take on various responsibilities. Over the years, he has done various activities, but in 1980, he became the chairman of the Saudi Investment Company (SICO), a subsidiary of the Saudi Binladin Group, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Love Life
Besides the family business, Yeslam was a lover. He was married to Carmen Dufour, a Swiss author. The two got married when Yeslam was 24 while Carmen was 20. They were deeply in love with each other and were blessed with three children, daughters Najia, Noor, and Wafah Dufour. His eldest daughter, Wafah, is a singer, songwriter, model, and socialite.
Yeslam’s ex-wife wrote a book titled Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia. She tells the story of her life in the bin Laden family. Carmen noted in the book that despite being so Westernized, Yeslam had close ties with his family.
In the 1980s, Yeslam and his wife moved to Geneva, Switzerland, but they had various struggles. Carmen accused Yeslam of emotional abuse and adultery. She noted that Yeslam threatened to kidnap their daughters. She further confessed that Yeslm forced her to go through an abortion. Following the emotional turmoil, Carmen left Yeslam. Six years later, Carmen asked for a divorce, which was finalized in 2006.
Yeslam had a strained relationship with his daughters; his ex-wife noted in her book that Yeslam despised his daughters and wished that he had sons instead. Over the years, Yeslam had been trying to reconnect with his daughters so as to make up for his mistakes and the time lost.
After her divorce, Yeslam has never been officially married, but he has been in some relationships. After separating from Carmen, Yeslam dated Catherine Berclaz, an interior decorator; the two dated from 1993 to 2001.
