Their megayacht boasts a $450 million work of art, they drive gold-plated supercars, and their palaces have thousands of pieces.
The House of Saud has ruled Saudi Arabia since its inception in 1932. The Saudi royal family has established itself as one of the richest and most powerful families in the world. Their lavish lifestyle testifies to their wealth and power. So, what is life like for these exceptionally rich?
The House of Saud has 15,000 members, but only 2,000 hold the majority of the wealth, estimated at around $1.4 trillion. To put things into perspective, the House of Saud is sixteen times richer than the British royal family, estimated at $88 billion. So much so that a member of the Saudi royal family once bought individual seats for each of his 80 falcons on a plane. Yes, that practically means booking an entire flight out of love for falconry, a popular sport among the Middle Eastern elite.
The richest member of the family is currently Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud (pictured), with an estimated fortune of nearly $20 billion. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are extremely wealthy, although their wealth is not disclosed. Many speculate that the de facto ruler MBS could be worth around $25 billion.
Palaces, castles and sumptuous residences around the world
The magnificent Al Yamamah Palace serves as the residence and official office of the King of Saudi Arabia. But the wealthy House of Saud owns several notable mansions around the world. Al Yamamah Palace, built in 1983 in Riyadh, spans 4 million square feet. It is designed in the local Najdi style and features Italian marble floors and intricately carved ceilings and wall panels.
The palace has an impressive thousand rooms and unparalleled facilities such as a cinema, a mosque, a bowling alley and several swimming pools.
Priceless works of art worthy of their Qatari counterparts
The Saudi royal family is passionate about art, just like the Qatari royal family. Among their acquisitions are the painting “Salvator Mundi” by Leonardo da Vinci, bought for $450 million, and “The Women of Algiers” by Pablo Picasso, bought for $160 million in 2015.
Luxury yachts for tropical getaways
Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s $400 million yacht, the Serene, was once one of the three largest yachts in the world. The Serene has a giant saltwater swimming pool, two helipads, a snow room, children’s playrooms and an underwater observation room. Mohammed bin Salman kept his precious $450 million Salvator Mundi painting aboard this luxurious yacht.
The 482-foot-long Prince Abdulaziz yacht was one of the largest yachts built in the 21st century. This $100 million yacht offers luxurious amenities such as a well-equipped gym, sauna, beauty salon, cinema and swimming pool. The ship is also equipped with surface-to-air missiles and underwater surveillance systems.
Princely private jets
The family owns a fleet of private jets, including the gigantic Boeing 747-400, transformed into a tiny flying house with luxurious amenities. The plane also has a spacious lounge, several bedrooms and bathrooms with gold-plated fittings.
Cars wrapped in gold and opulence
The Saudi royal family owns a fleet of cars worth $22 million, including gold-plated Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupes, Mercedes jeeps, Lamborghinis Aventador SuperVeloces and Bentleys.
Incredibly oversized vacation for wealthy Saudis
Crown Prince MBS relaxes in a sprawling $300 million French chateau. The Château Louis XIV in Louveciennes, outside of Paris, is one of the most expensive residences in the world. This magnificent castle extends over an area of 57 ares and includes ten bedrooms, an underwater meditation room, a private cinema, a squash court, two ballrooms and a nightclub, befitting its elephantine rank.
When he’s not relaxing in his $300 million castle in France or on his $400 million yacht, the 1985-born young leader likes to spend month-long vacations in exotic multimillion-dollar locales. . The crown prince has already spent $100 million on a four-week holiday in Morocco.
In 2015, MBS hosted an archipelago-wide party in the Maldives, bringing together over 100 dancers and performers from around the world. The 29-year-old Saudi Crown Prince has spent $50 million to take advantage of all the luxurious offerings on the private island of Velaa.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia also stayed for three weeks in the picturesque south of France with a suite of 1,000 people. He lived in the Castle of the Skyline, where a majestic throne had been set up on the balcony for the king to enjoy the breathtaking view.
In summary, the luxury life of the Saudi royal family is unimaginable even for the wealthiest billionaires. Between their lavish palaces, their collection of works of art, their luxurious yachts, their private jets and their gold-plated cars, the wealth and power of the Saudi royal family is truly breathtaking. And with colossal investments and ambitious projects led by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, it looks like their influence and wealth will only continue to grow in the years to come.
So the next time you hear about the extravagant lives of billionaires like Elon Musk and Bill Gates, remember that even they can’t match the glitz and grandeur of Saudi royal life. And if we trust the visionary projects of MBS, we haven’t seen anything yet!