The British Royal family’s wealth is estimated at around £69 billion ($88 billion), as per Forbes, with their fortune stemming from tangible assets such as properties and the value of the family brand. Among the valuable assets are the highly profitable Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster estate, which includes land, property and other assets that belong directly to the Sovereign.
The esteemed Savoy Hotel and Somerset House are part of the Duchy of Lancaster estate, with net assets totalling approximately £652.8 million ($755.4m). King Charles’ personal wealth is estimated at about £559.6 million ($772 million), ranking him as the 258th richest person in the UK.
However, one Royal family significantly outstrips most others, boasting a net worth four times greater than Elon Musk and Bill Gates combined. The world’s wealthiest Royal family is the House of Saud, the ruling Royal family of Saudi Arabia, with a staggering net worth of £1.1 trillion ($1.4 trillion).
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For comparison, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has a net worth of £264.8 billion ($304 billion), while Microsoft tycoon turned philanthropist, Bill Gates, has a net worth of £81.5 billion ($105 billion). The House of Saud’s net worth is so vast that it is estimated to be roughly 16 times that of King Charles’s family.
The Saudi Arabian Royal family’s eye-watering wealth, largely due to vast oil reserves, affords them a luxurious lifestyle of grand palaces, private jets, extravagant yachts and a highly lucrative art collection. This immense wealth among the Middle Eastern Royal families has been a common feature in many regions, despite monarchies previously having limited authority under the Ottoman Empire, reports the Express.
Since its collapse after World War I, monarchies in the Middle East have seen their power and wealth increase exponentially. Almost all of their wealth is attributed to the exploitation of valuable resources found within this region, with Gulf monarchies in particular continuing to prosper.
Consequently, Royal families from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been living a life most can only dream of. The Saudi Arabian Royal family consists of around 15,000 members, with the majority of wealth being held by approximately 2000 relatives.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who has been the head of the family since his reign began in 2015, is the current leader. His most famous son and apparent heir, Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, is also the current Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia and is viewed by many as the de facto ruler of the country.
The Royal Saudis, with their immense wealth, have made a number of extravagant purchases over the years. These include properties scattered around the globe such as France’s Chateau Louis XIV, bought by MBS for a staggering £235 million, and a Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi painting purchased for £349.6 million.
Not to mention a £392 million yacht – all mere pocket change for such wealth.