Ahmed al-Ahmed, celebrated as a hero after the Bondi massacre, has wisely invested his newfound fortune in gold bullion. This decision came shortly after receiving professional financial guidance in Sydney’s bustling financial district.
As he made his way through the Central Business District with his arm in a black sling, lunchtime crowds greeted him with the enthusiasm reserved for celebrities. His distinctive appearance made him easy to spot, prompting strangers to wave and cheer as he passed by.
At 44, Mr. al-Ahmed continues to receive medical care for his arm and shoulder injuries, sustained while bravely disarming Islamic extremist Sajid Akram, 50. He was allegedly shot by Akram’s son, Naveed, 24, during the December 14 incident.
Following the viral spread of footage showcasing his courage, a GoFundMe campaign in his honor quickly amassed over $2.65 million through the generosity of supporters worldwide.
On Thursday, al-Ahmed visited Sydney’s city center to seek expert financial advice on managing his wealth, as he navigates life post-fame.
He arrived at a 12:30 PM appointment, ascending to the high-rise offices at 25 Martin Place, where legal and financial experts awaited to guide him in securing his financial future.
The tobacco shop owner, who has met world leaders, visited the US and been interviewed by international media in the wake of his heroism, spent more than two hours inside.
He emerged around 2.40pm and immediately made a beeline for the nearby ABC Bullion gold dealer, which recently had queues down the street as gold prices soared.
Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed was given the VIP treatment at ABC Bullion where he was able to skip the usual queue and was ushered upstairs to private rooms where he bought gold bars
Ahmed al-Ahmed, escorted by an ABC Bullion security man, left the global gold trading premises after about 30 minutes in its upstairs rooms holding a bag of gold bars
Ahmed emerged from ABC Bullion clutching a bag of cast gold bars, which appeared to be three 1kg bars, valued up to $750,000, although he declined to confirm the amount
Mr al-Ahmed was given the VIP treatment by bullion bosses, skipping the line of prospective gold buyers, and ushered upstairs to the gold trader’s private rooms.
He exited just over half an hour later at 3.21pm with a white-shirted security guard holding up an umbrella in the teeming afternoon rain to accompany Ahmed.
He appeared to have three 1kg gold bars inside a white gift bag, gripped in his hand. He confirmed it was gold to the Daily Mail, but declined to reveal the exact amount.
ABC Bullion sells 1kg gold bars – 11.5cm long by 5.1cm wide, about the size of an old Nokia mobile phone – for $246,119.20 each. Three would be valued around $750,000.
Dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, he seemed relaxed while holding his bag of treasure and paused to chat with strangers before heading into the ANZ Bank HQ.
Mr al-Ahmed was again escorted upstairs into the private executive area where he met with a female bank employee while resting his bag of gold on a desk.
After signing paperwork, Mr al-Ahmed left the bank where he was again greeted on the street by well-wishers who recognised him.
He told the Daily Mail that he was spending his GoFundMe millions on his family and on therapy and possible future surgery on his left shoulder.
Ahmed al-Ahmed descends the rainbow stairs after visiting 25 Martin Place for a two-hour appointment in the building’s upper floors occupied by lawyers and financial advisers
Mr al-Ahmed was greeted like a rock star wherever he went on Thursday in Sydney’s Martin Place in his now-familiar black arm sling, with well-wishers stopping him to chat
The Bondi hero took his gold bars to the ANZ Bank in Martin Place where he met with a female employee and signed paperwork while the gold rested on a desk
He told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s my money – I can’t work at the moment.’
Although recent international media reports said he had sold his Sutherland tobacco shop, the business is currently still registered in his name with ASIC.
He said that doctors had inserted metal plates in his shoulder joint, but he was still having problems with his left hand.
As part of his physiotherapy treatment, he is using a foam ball to improve the mobility and gripping power of his fingers, he told the Daily Mail.
But almost three months after being shot, he still has to take painkillers and suffers from interrupted sleep.
Mr al-Ahmed revealed surgeons have suggested they may have to graft a nerve from his leg to his shoulder in coming months, if his arm recovery stalls.
The father of two daughters, aged three and six, lives in Western Sydney with his parents, who were visiting from Syria when the massacre occurred.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police during the Islamic State-inspired attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.
The iconic images of Ahmed al-Ahmed’s bear-hug crash-tackle takedown of December 14 massacre shooter Sajid Akram (above) flashed around the world making him the ‘Bondi hero’ while he was still recovering from surgery
Ahmed al-Ahmed told the Daily Mail that since being shot after his takedown of shooter Sajid Akram he is facing possible future nerve graft surgery
Ahmed al-Ahmed in post-surgery recovery at St George Hospital after being shot in the shoulder was personally delivered a huge GoFundMe cheque
Naveed Akram was also shot by police but survived, and now faces 59 charges, including 15 of murder for the deaths of 11 men, four women and a child.
The victims ranged in age from 10-year-old Matilda to 87-year-old Alex Kleytman, and most had connections to the Chabad Russian Jewish synagogue.
Mr al-Ahmed was shot five times in the shoulder and was taken to St George Hospital, where he was still recovering from surgery when video footage of his bear-hug crash- tackle takedown of the gunman flashed around the world.
Several appeals in the name of Mr al-Ahmed or just ‘Bondi hero’ have subsequently popped up on the GoFundMe site but have only raised between $0 and $210.
The genuine GoFundMe, which to date has raised $2,657,744, states: ‘In a moment of chaos and danger, Ahmed al-Ahmed stepped forward without hesitation.
‘His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety … (and) prevented the loss of countless more lives.’
Jewish leaders in Australia and New York have since personally thanked Mr al-Ahmed, who is Muslim.
