A 100-year-old woman in Saudi Arabia, who spent decades begging on the streets, has died leaving behind a secret fortune of gold coins, jewelry and a real estate portfolio worth a whopping $10 million, Press Trust of India reported.
Before she suddenly died at her home, the blind woman had begged on the streets of Jeddah for 50 years. She has left behind a sizable fortune.
Known as Eisha, the beggar had amassed a fortune valued at Saudi Riyal 3 million ($799,935), including four buildings in the Al-Balad district of Jeddah, and an additional Saudi Riyal 1 million ($266,645) in jewels and gold coins.
Ahmed Al-Saeedi, who grew up with Eisha, said she did not have any relatives except her mother and sister, who were both beggars, Saudi Gazette reported.
"They used to get a lot of sympathy and assistance from philanthropists throughout the year, especially during Eid. Eisha continued to beg after the deaths of her mother and sister. She was just an old, blind woman who did not have any relatives in this world," said an emotional Saeedi who buried her in Ummana Hawwa (Our Mother Eve) Cemetery in the al-Ammariya neighborhood, according to Al Arabiya News.
Al-Saeedi claimed that Eisha had given him her will, which stipulates that all her money and property should be distributed among the poor.
Although he had informed the authorities, there has been no response, Al-Saeedi said. After her mother and sister died, Eisha's wealth increased since she inherited their property.
"Until now, neither the police nor the courts have done anything so I was compelled to hand over the fortune to one of the most respected and trusted residents of the district, who has promised to give it to the authorities. All of my neighbors witnessed me handing over the gold and money Eisha had kept with me for safekeeping," he said.
Al-Saeedi said that when he discovered Eisha was a millionaire he advised her to give up begging, but she refused to do so saying that she was preparing for hard times, PTI reported.
Several families that live in Eisha's properties claim the old woman never charged them rent. It is not known if they will now be evicted.
"The old woman hosted several families in her buildings before her death. They lived and grew up with her. After her death, none of the families have left the buildings. Even though I'm the umdah of the district, I have no right to evict them from the buildings. The whole case is before the pertinent authorities that will issue a final decision on it," Tal'at Ghaith, the district chief (umdah) of Al-Balad, said.
