A Qatari collector died in 2014 owing auction houses millions; his heirs split over his blue diamond, and a cousin's company sued to buy it

Sheikh Saud bin Mohammed Ali Al-Thani was Qatar's culture minister from 1997 to 2005 and a major collector. In 2012 the auctioneers Baldwin's sued him in London over unpaid coins, and their barrister called him a serial defaulter. He reportedly owed about £4.3 million to Bonhams and £26 million to Sotheby's, and his British assets were reportedly frozen on 9 October 2012. His lawyer blamed "timing issues." In December 2013 he set up the Al Thani Foundation in Liechtenstein to hold his assets. Its by-laws pass his rights at death to his heirs under the binding rules of Islamic law. A Guernsey company it owned held the Idol's Eye, a 70.21-carat light blue diamond. On 2 May 2014 the company lent the diamond for 20 years to Qipco, whose chief executive is his relative Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah, with a right of first refusal. Saud died in November 2014, aged 48, leaving a widow and three children. In February 2020 a Swiss lawyer wrote that the family wanted to sell. His son urged a sister to take $10 million; his mother and sisters refused. Qipco sued to force a sale. On 13 February 2025 the High Court in London dismissed the claim. Christie's had estimated the stone at up to $35 million.