JANET Jackson has had a rocky relationship with her ex-husband, Wissam Al Mana since they tied the knots in 2012. The couple split in 2017, just three months after welcoming their son Eissa, citing cultural differences as one of the reasons – so what do we know about Wissam Al Mana? Who is Wissam Al […]
JANET Jackson has had a rocky relationship with her ex-husband, Wissam Al Mana since they tied the knots in 2012.
The couple split in 2017, just three months after welcoming their son Eissa, citing cultural differences as one of the reasons – so what do we know about Wissam Al Mana?
Born in Qatar’s capital Doha and worth an estimated £820million, Wissam, known as Sam, is executive director of family business the Al Mana Group.
The sprawling conglomerate is made up of 55 companies — including one that owns all the McDonald’s outlets in Qatar — and was started by his late father, merchant Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana.
Wissam, who runs the company with his two brothers, is responsible for overseeing retail operations in the Middle East for luxury brands including Harvey Nichols, Hermes, Stella McCartney and Armani.
His family moved to West London when he was two years old. He then attended university in Washington, and later returned to the UK to study at the London School of Economics.
Although he is notoriously private and rarely interviewed, he has told reporters he felt he had to continue a family legacy by taking over the Al Mana Group conglomerate.
He said: “My father passed away when I was quite young, and I felt that it was my duty to pick up the flag and to continue the business — and try to continue the legacy and the family name.
“It’s in our blood, we’re merchants. When I was a child, I looked at my father’s passport and his occupation said ‘Merchant’.
Wissam Al Mana and Janet Jackson announced their engagement in 2012, and married in secret the year afterwards.
They only revealed that they had got married a year later.
Al Mana’s desire for privacy might explain why the pair married in secret. And he once told how the pair deliberately seek out privacy as they travel the world.
He said: “We love travelling… we love going to nice exotic places away from the world and from prying eyes.”
Al Mana and Jackson welcomed their first child into the world on January 3, 2017.
Religion was very important to the couple, and they named their baby son Eissa, pronounced eye-sa, which is the Arabic name for Jesus.
Eissa is Janet’s first child. When she gave birth she was 50 years old, while Wissam was 42.
After meeting Wissam Al Mana, Janet retreated from the public eye and reportedly converted to Islam.
News of their split first emerged in April 2017, three months after the birth of their son Eissa.
Janet has been clocked moving out of their swanky pad in posh London neighbourhood Mayfair and numerous suitcases, boxes, paintings and even baskets were hauled out of the pad by a team of movers.
Both have been spending time with their newborn son Eissa. Janet shared an adorable first snap of the tiny tot, kissing him on the head as they spent quality time together.
Wissam was also spotted out with baby Eissa, taking him for a walk in the park and sitting with him on a bench to give him his bottle and a big cuddle as well as cradling his young son in his arms as he went for lunch in London.
The popstar finally broke her silence over her marriage breakdown, posting an emotional video message to her fans to confirm the news.
Janet, 55, shared her video message online and started by joking about her baby weight, admitting her body has changed since she gave birth to baby Eissa in January.
She said: “Hey guys, it’s me, Jan. Just in case you don’t recognise me ‘cos I have put on a few [pounds] since I had the baby.”
Michael Jackson’s sister then spoke about her son, calling him a “lovely” baby, before opening up about her marriage split.
She added: “I just want to keep it real for you guys for a second – yes I separated from my husband.
“We are in court and the rest is in God’s hands.”
This would lay out how their assets would be divided in the event of a divorce.
Most deals give bigger pay-outs to divorced spouses who had been married for five to ten years.
As the pair married in 2012, their marriage could line up with the crucial five-year period that would give Jackson more after the divorce.
Pop legend Janet is believed to be worth around $190million herself due to her long music career.
But her wealth is dwarfed by that of her husband – who is thought to be worth over £800 million.
So she could be in for a windfall despite her heartbreak.
Wissam Al Mana was Janet Jackson’s third husband.
Her first husband was musician James DeBarge, an R&B singer and member of the family vocal group DeBarge. They wed in 1984, but the marriage was swiftly annulled in 1985.
Her second trip down the aisle was Mexican-born dancer and music video director René Elizondo Jr.
He had directed her music videos for “That’s The Way Love Goes”, “Again”, and “Together Again”.
It’s also his hands that cover Jackson’s breasts on the famous Rolling Stone cover.
They were married from 1991 to 2000.
