It did not help that the institute accepts contributions from wealthy Saudis and Qataris.
Some lower class Saudis were granted acceptance and attended the school with wealthier Saudis.
And at the same time, for decades it has been a rite of passage for wealthy Saudis to send their children to the United States for college.
Nevertheless, Mr. Mahfouz was named, along with other wealthy Saudis, as a target in a civil lawsuit filed by relatives of people killed in the 9/11 attack.
Sources claim the women are exploited by wealthy Saudis and Gulf Arabs.
There is no tally of money flowing through Syria to Iraq from wealthy Saudis or Islamic charities, but a Pentagon official said the figure is "significant."
Some worry the case may be another example of how wealthy Saudis are increasingly using British laws to intimidate critics.
Internally, the income gap is widening between the tiny slice of wealthy Saudis and the rest of the fast-growing population of 22 million.
And, knowingly or not, many wealthy Saudis - including, probably, members of the royal family - have contributed to Islamic charities that were fronts for terrorist organizations.
Egypt, whose economy is straining under a $44 billion foreign debt, is also hoping for economic support from the wealthy Saudis.