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Ah, Mouna Ayoub… A figure that leaves no one indifferent. Born on February 25, 1957, in Kuwait, she is approaching 68 years old and still retains all her brilliance. With her slender figure, she passes through the ages like an icon of style and determination. You know, she has that somewhat cold, mysterious charm, yet so captivating.
She is that Lebanese businesswoman who managed to carve out a place in the French and American jet set. Present at all the Cannes festivals, spotted in celebrity magazines, she establishes herself as a kind of living legend. It’s crazy when you think about her journey.
Before shining in the luxury firmament, she started modestly: a student at Tolbiac, a waitress in a Lebanese restaurant. Nothing destined her for a life of luxury and glitter. Her meeting with a Saudi businessman, Nasser al-Rashid, changed her destiny. This union, marked by her conversion to Islam, plunged her into a world as golden as it was constraining.
The contrast is striking between what she experienced in Riyadh, in a “prison-palace” as she describes it, and her current life. After a high-profile divorce, she rebuilt herself by investing in real estate, fashion, and yachting. A spectacular rebirth, don’t you think?
Who really is Mouna Ayoub: origins and identity
Mouna is the daughter of a Lebanese entrepreneur, which probably explains this business instinct. She grew up in an environment where success was discussed in terms of ambition and networks. Yet, she had perfectly ordinary beginnings, in Paris where she juggled studies and odd jobs.
What stands out about her is this ability to reinvent herself. Of Maronite Christian origins, she converted to Islam, adapting to the codes of a very strict society in Saudi Arabia. It is a metamorphosis often misunderstood but which shows how she is both fragile and resilient.
With her divorce, she left a difficult marriage that lasted eighteen years. She secured a huge sum, estimated at 63 million euros, a fortune she invested in her passions and emancipation. Her public life then became a mix of ostentatious luxury and personal quest.
A woman of fashion, jewelry, and travel, she now divides her time between New York, Monaco, and Neuilly-sur-Seine. Haute couture has become her second nature, and she never misses a show in Paris. The press often calls her the “richest woman in the world.” Impressive, isn’t it?
The incredible journey before fame
Before the glitz and spotlights, Mouna was that discreet student serving dishes in a Lebanese restaurant in Paris. Imagine a bit: she did not have a straightforward life, far from it. When she met Nasser al-Rashid, she did not yet know where it would lead her.
Her marriage to this Saudi businessman, close to King Fahd, suddenly propelled her into a closed, codified world. She then left Paris for Riyadh, a city where women’s freedom is limited. Life in an abaya, full veil… a “golden prison,” she said. It sounds strange to hear.
But after 18 years, she said stop. Divorce, departure, freedom regained with a large sum in her pocket. She recounts this stage unvarnished in her autobiography La Vérité. It is an honest testimony that caused some controversy but mainly showed her strength of character.
Don’t forget that it is this same determination that allowed her to slip sustainably into the world of business and luxury. Advice: if you want to understand her rise, you must pass through this break which is also a liberation.
A private life far from clichés
In her interviews, she speaks little of her children, but they remain an important pillar of her life. Discretion is the rule, somewhat like this woman who prefers shadow to scandal.
Her marriage, personal choices, her fight for women’s freedom, all that means she cannot leave anyone indifferent. She also went through trials, such as health problems, an episode of anorexia that weakened her. Nothing is simple behind this facade of elegance.
Despite everything, she cultivates a very strong image, mixing power and vulnerability. Perhaps that is what fascinates so much about her, an imperfect woman but so human, with her wounds and successes.
The major milestones of her career and successes
There is first this almost mythical story of her yacht the Phocéa. Bought at auction in 1997, this 75-meter ship became her passion. Imagine, she invested a real fortune, even selling an exceptional yellow diamond, the famous Mouna Diamond of 112 carats, to fund its restoration.
It’s a bit as if this boat was her “second daughter.” She hosted international stars, crowned heads there—a universe of couture, party, and power mixed. A love story that unfortunately ended when the yacht was sold without her knowledge by her own son. Yes, a hard blow.
Beyond luxury, Mouna is also known for her incredible private haute couture collection. More than 10,000 rare pieces, accumulated since the 1980s! She regularly sells part of her wardrobe, especially when life changes. But her passion remains intact.
She perfectly embodies the idea of a modern businesswoman, juggling fashion, strategic investments, and life in high society. Her name often appears in magazines like Gala or Libération, which shows how much her story still fascinates.
Recent projects and collaborations
In recent years, Mouna remains an indispensable figure of haute couture. Even after Karl Lagerfeld’s passing, she continues to frequent the biggest Parisian workshops and enrich her collection with unique pieces.
She also put for sale selections of furniture and precious items from her legendary yacht, notably at Hôtel Drouot, a symbolic gesture somewhat melancholic but necessary. The sale of her high-end ready-to-wear clothes shows her desire to reinvent herself.
More recently, her rare appearances continue to make a buzz, whether in Monaco, New York, or Paris. She discreetly collaborates with luxury houses and remains an inspiring muse for many artists and creators. Let’s hope we will see her on the couture scene for a long time.
In short, Mouna represents a fascinating blend of business and glamour, passion and rigor. A rare figure in the jet set who never really loses her shine.
5 surprising anecdotes about Mouna Ayoub you may not know
- 💎 She sold one of the largest yellow diamonds in the world, the Mouna Diamond, to finance the restoration of a yacht.
- ⛵ Her love for the Phocéa was so strong that she wanted to buy it back even after it was sold by her son!
- 👗 Her private collection includes more than 10,000 haute couture pieces, a true hidden treasure.
- 🌍 Despite wealth and fame, she started as a waitress in a small Parisian restaurant.
- 📚 Her autobiography La Vérité caused a real shock by revealing her life and her highly publicized divorce.
