Materi

About 18 months later, Mr. El Materi sold the Nestlé-Tunisie stake to Nestlé for 35 million Tunisian dinars, according to legal filings.

How 'The Family' Controlled Tunisia David Gauthier-Villars 2011

AFP/Getty Images Sakher El Materi bought and sold government businesses.

How 'The Family' Controlled Tunisia David Gauthier-Villars 2011

Mr. El Materi, who has left Tunisia, couldn't be reached for comment.

How 'The Family' Controlled Tunisia David Gauthier-Villars 2011

"One may envy his status as son-in-law of the president, but no-one can denigrate him by implying that he only owes his success to his stepfather," reads a biography of Mr. El Materi posted on his website.

How 'The Family' Controlled Tunisia David Gauthier-Villars 2011

The Ben Ali family widened again in 2004, when Nesrine Ben Ali, one of the presidential couple's daughters, married Sakher El Materi.

How 'The Family' Controlled Tunisia David Gauthier-Villars 2011

During dinner, Materi expressed interest in owning a McDonald's franchise in Tunisia.

In Tunisia, luxurious lifestyles of a corrupt government Sudarsan Raghavan 2011

In the compound, Materi kept a large tiger in a cage.

In Tunisia, luxurious lifestyles of a corrupt government Sudarsan Raghavan 2011

During dinner, Materi expressed interest in owning a McDonald's franchise in Tunisia.

In Tunisia, luxurious lifestyles of a corrupt government Sudarsan Raghavan 2011

In the compound, Materi kept a large tiger in a cage.

In Tunisia, luxurious lifestyles of a corrupt government Sudarsan Raghavan 2011

Since then, Mr. El Materi has founded a bank, bought a 25% stake in Tunisia's second-largest telecom operator, started construction of a port for cruise ships, gotten elected to parliament and acquired a media group.

How 'The Family' Controlled Tunisia David Gauthier-Villars 2011