When you consider the wealthiest families in the world, you might immediately think of the British royal family or tech billionaires — the Musks and Bezoses come to mind. But there is a royal dynasty so wealthy that most billionaires look middle-class in comparison — and you probably have never even heard of them. The House of Saud is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, and their asset portfolio, staggering net worth and influence on the global oil markets have given them an extent of wealth that dwarfs even the most notable elites.
Who Are the House of Saud?
The House of Saud is the governing royal family in Saudi Arabia with over 15,000 members. While a few hundred have actual political power, its control of Saudi Aramco, which is the most valuable company on the planet, puts them at the top of the global wealth ladder.
Saudi Aramco is the largest oil producer in the world, and the profit from the company goes directly to the royal family. The House of Saud is valued at over $1.4 trillion in wealth; that means the House of Saud is richer than any other royal family in history like the British royal family, etc.
Gold Toilets and Golden Lamborghinis: A Life of Extravagance
This royal family isn’t afraid to show off their wealth. From solid gold toilets to golden Lamborghinis, the House of Saud live a life of luxury that most people can only dream of.
Their taste for the lavish extends to real estate. One of their riches? A $300 million castle in France that is officially the world’s most expensive house. The chateau includes fountains, marble statues, and a private moat.
Art and Yachts: Billion-Dollar Hobbies
It was not only carriages and castles. The youngest prince of the House of Saud made headlines internationally, when he bought Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” for $450 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. Then you have the yacht—oh yes, the yacht. The family’s private superyacht is valued at $500 million, sporting its own helipad, cinema and submarine.
Richer Than the British Royals—By a Long Shot
The expected wealth of the British royal family stands at a whopping $28 billion—certainly a lot of money, but, of course, compared to the House of Saud’s discerned wealth of $1.4 trillion—an incredible amount. Don’t reduce this to numbers alone; this is a matter of control. The Saudi royals possess wealth, but they also produce wealth. They own the oil and, therefore, control the source of the wealth.
Does Immense Wealth Lead to Happiness?
With unimaginable wealth, it begs the question: does money create happiness? The House of Saud appears to live a life unlike any other, but money does not save us from the responsibilities of power, responsibility, and scope of publicity. It certainly raises a good discussion point, especially as we consider their ornate existence: is there a point where you can have too much wealth?
Final Thoughts: Power, Prestige, and Perspective
It’s one thing to be rich. The House of Saud is, historically, wealthy. It possesses not only extravagant assets, but power and influence the world over. And they are in the process of revamping energy markets, breaking the mold of luxury, and showing the world just how rich they really are. The global response is a mix of fascination and bewilderment.
But behind the sparkling veneer of bling, there is an existential question regarding the cost of unlimited wealth— one that goes beyond the Lamborghinis and yachts.
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