A dynasty consisting of 15,000 members holds a total value of 1.4 trillion US dollars, five times the combined wealth of Elon Reeve Musk and Bill Gates. No one else is the Saudi royal family, the richest dynasty in the world to date.
What do you know about the enormous wealth of this supreme dynasty, where the Saudi royal family has such a massive fortune? All will be revealed in the article below.
In the year 1744, after hundreds of years of the kingdom living nomadically in the arid deserts under the oppression of the Ottoman Empire, Ibn Saud, the first monarch of Saudi Arabia, finally gained independence, fulfilling the aspirations entrusted by his ancestors. However, not long after celebrating independence, another urgent issue arose: the entire kingdom fell into a state of depletion. At this time, Ibn Saud was determined to place his trust in oil, which helped them rise to become the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world.
Ibn Saud ruled his kingdom until his death in November 1953. He had 22 wives and fathered 45 sons, but only 36 survived to adulthood, along with countless daughters. The current king of Saudi Arabia is Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The House of Saud currently holds a fortune worth 1.4 trillion dollars, topping the list of the wealthiest royal families in the world. Surprisingly, although the House of Saud has up to 15,000 members in the royal family, most of this enormous wealth is in the hands of just 2,000 people.
Every month, all members of the House of Saud receive allowances from oil export revenues, with the entire distribution process managed by an office under the Saudi Ministry of Finance. The amount each member receives depends on their relationship with the king. A member of the royal family from the lower branch earns at least 800 dollars a month, while members of the upper branch can receive hundreds of thousands or even millions of USD per month.
Like many other corporations around the world, royal family members also receive additional bonuses based on the profits from oil for that year. On average, the Saudi Ministry of Finance allocates about 20 to 40 billion dollars in allowances and bonuses to the House of Saud each year. The 86-year-old king alone possesses up to 18 billion dollars and is the third richest royal family member in the world. The net worth of his son, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, also known as MBS, is around 17.7 billion dollars.
Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman is the eldest of King Salman’s six children with his third wife, Fahda Bint Fahda, who served as Minister of Defense for many years. This crown prince is regarded as young, talented, and charismatic. Mohammad Bin Salman has been granted control over Saudi Arabia, including the state oil company and the economic and development council. He is also the one who directly manages the family’s 2 trillion dollar fortune.
Rightfully so, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman is notorious for his extravagant spending that no billionaire can match. Like other members of the Saudi royal family, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman is also an avid art collector. In 2017, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman participated in a Christie’s auction via anonymous phone bidding, spending 450 million dollars just to acquire the painting Salvator Mundi by the renowned artist Leonardo Da Vinci.
Mohammad Bin Salman also spared no expense in purchasing the super yacht Serene for 400 million dollars. This yacht is among the top 10 largest yachts in the world, measuring 134 meters in length, and was built by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The luxurious amenities on board include a massive seawater swimming pool, two helipads, a nightclub, and an underwater viewing room.
This magnificent floating palace was so grand that Microsoft mogul Bill Gates once spent 5 million dollars a week to rent it in 2014. Mohammad Bin Salman is also the owner of the Chateau Louis XIV, located in the suburbs of Paris, France, which is one of the most expensive homes in the world. The Saudi prince purchased this luxurious property for over 300 million dollars in 2015, setting a world record for residential real estate. Situated on a plot of land over 23 hectares, the castle was built by Saudi real estate developer Emad Khashoggi, who bravely demolished the original 19th-century structure to renovate it with 21st-century amenities.
The renovation includes luxurious amenities and high-tech features such as fountains, sound and lighting systems, and air conditioning all controlled by phone. Additionally, the castle impresses with 10 bedrooms, a massive reception area, a private cinema, a tennis court, two ballrooms, and a nightclub, with an indoor pool and an outdoor pool that has everything one could desire.
In contrast to most wealthy billionaires, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman does not have a need to collect many supercars, but they must be gold-plated. Generally, the prince's taste is quite simple; he just likes things that are gold-plated. For example, his palace, yacht, or cars like the gold-plated Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport worth 12.5 million dollars or the Lamborghini Aventador SVG worth 8 million dollars. Bin Salman also owns a gold-plated Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, Range Rover, and Mercedes G63, with a total value of 36 million dollars, and of course, all these cars are gold-plated.
The wealth of the Saudi royal family always leaves people in awe, exemplified by the magnificent Al Yamamah palace, which is also the residence and official office of the king of Saudi Arabia. This luxurious palace was built in 1983 in Riyadh, covering 372,000 square meters, designed in a local style with gold-plated floors, Italian marble, and intricately carved ceilings and walls. Al Yamamah includes a total of 1,000 rooms and other amenities such as a cinema, a mosque, a bowling alley, and numerous swimming pools.
That is not enough; the king also uses another palace in the suburbs called Al-Awja. A structure rich in Arab culture worth millions of dollars, instead of decorating with the usual glittering items, the palace focuses on showcasing the finest handicrafts of Saudi Arabia. This is the king's retreat and also where he hosts many presidents and visiting kings.
In addition, the Saudi king has another magnificent palace named Erga in the center of the capital, Riyadh. The Erga palace is where the king frequently visits; it is a particularly ostentatious place with a majority of gold-plated items, rich silk carpets, and expensive Italian marble. Not everyone can admire this luxurious palace as it is where meetings with dignitaries are held, hosting important figures, or meeting with government agencies, organizing state banquets, and cultural festivals. Former US President Barack Obama and his entourage have also visited this magnificent palace, just like the Qatari royal family, the Saudi royal family also owns many artworks ranging from traditional Islamic art to famous contemporary works. The Saudi royal family loves art and spares no effort to acquire the most expensive paintings in the world and establish a gallery.
In addition to palatial real estate and super yachts, the Saudi royal family also owns a private fleet of aircraft with the most luxurious and modern planes to serve their travel needs. The most notable is the gold-plated Boeing 747 worth 300 million dollars. The largest commercial aircraft in the world has been transformed into a miniature castle in the sky with luxurious interiors, exquisite artworks, and intricate details in every corner.
From nomadic tribes in the desert to the richest and most powerful Saudi royal family in the world. This is the masterpiece of the Saudi royal family, crafted over hundreds of years, depicting a masterpiece of luxurious and noble life, leaving a significant difference between wealth and royalty.