There is no single answer to prince of saudi arabia networth, because the royal family is large and “the prince” could mean several very different people. The most commonly asked about are Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. One of them has a published billionaire estimate. The other does not, and the reasons are worth understanding.
Which prince?
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal
He is the founder of Kingdom Holding Company, a listed investment firm in Riyadh with stakes in hotels, media, technology and finance. Forbes has listed him as a billionaire for years, with estimates in the range of the mid-teens of billions of dollars in recent lists. His holdings have included stakes in companies such as Four Seasons and, historically, Citigroup and Twitter. The figure shifts with the share prices of his holdings.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
He is the de facto leader of the country and chairman of the Public Investment Fund, which has managed hundreds of billions of dollars. That money belongs to the state. He does not appear on Forbes billionaire rankings. Media and researchers have suggested he has access to very large resources, but no verified personal net worth exists, and I would not repeat guesses.
Other princes
The Al Saud family has thousands of members, and some run businesses, own property or receive allowances. Individual figures are almost never public.
Why royal wealth is hard to measure
In a monarchy the line between personal property and state property is blurry. Oil revenue flows through the state, and the royal family receives stipends and holds land and companies. Without audited disclosure, any single figure for the “family” is conjecture. That is why Forbes, which publishes ranked lists, includes only those whose assets it can verify through listed holdings or documented companies.
What is known about Alwaleed
- He built wealth largely through investing, starting from a base of family resources and bank loans in the 1980s, according to widely published profiles.
- Kingdom Holding is publicly traded, so its share price is public.
- In 2017 he was among several royals and businessmen held at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh in an anti-corruption campaign and was released in early 2018 after a reported settlement. The terms were not disclosed in full.
- He has pledged to give away much of his fortune to charity through his foundation, according to his public statements.
How an outsider estimates it
1. List the publicly traded stakes and multiply by market price.
2. Add reported values for private firms and property.
3. Subtract debts.
4. Apply a discount for unquoted assets.
It is an approximation, and the result is only as good as the information available.
Things to keep in mind
Net worth versus sovereign funds
The Public Investment Fund, Aramco and the central bank are state entities. Their sizes are measured in the hundreds of billions to trillions, but they are not personal fortunes.
Aramco
Saudi Aramco is a listed oil company majority-owned by the state. Its stock market value is enormous, but the royal family does not personally own the whole company in the way a founder owns a stake.
Names and spellings
Because of transliteration, you will see “Alwaleed” written as “Al-Waleed” or “Alwalid.” If you are searching, try each version.
Common questions
Is a Saudi prince the richest person in the world?
Not on lists such as Forbes or Bloomberg. Rankings with verified assets are generally headed by technology and luxury business founders. Claims that the royal family tops everyone rest on estimates that count state resources.
Do princes receive a salary?
Historically, family members have received stipends, but details are private.
Can I see Kingdom Holding’s accounts?
Yes. It is listed on the Saudi exchange, and financial reports are published.
Where to read more
The Wikipedia page on Alwaleed bin Talal summarises his career and the way Forbes has tracked his wealth. For current rankings, check Forbes’ billionaire list, which updates regularly.
Summing up
If you are after a number for prince of saudi arabia networth, the best-supported one is for Alwaleed bin Talal, reported by Forbes as a mid-teens billions figure in recent lists, while there is no credible personal figure for the crown prince or the rest of the family. Anything more precise should make you suspicious. This is general information, not financial advice.
Related reading: How to Check My Networth Using Your Own Accounts and Tools.
