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The Richest Arab Family in The World
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00:00Imagine a family so rich they could buy Apple, Microsoft and Google, then still have billions
00:05left for pocket change. While Musk and Bezos are busy chasing headlines, this family has
00:09been quietly building a fortune so massive the world can barely comprehend it. Let's
00:14get into it.
00:15Living like gods among mortals
00:16Imagine having so much money you could literally buy entire countries. That's the kind of wealth
00:21we're talking about when it comes to the House of Saud, the royal family of Saudi Arabia.
00:25With an estimated net worth of over $1.4 trillion, they're not just the richest Arab family,
00:31they might be the wealthiest dynasty in history. The House of Saud doesn't simply own expensive
00:35things. They possess assets so extraordinarily valuable and extravagant that they literally
00:39redefine our understanding of what wealth can accomplish in the physical world.
00:44Let's begin this journey through unimaginable luxury by examining their residences, though
00:48calling them houses would be like referring to the Pacific Ocean as a large swimming pool.
00:53The palaces owned and inhabited by the House of Saud aren't merely homes. They're architectural
00:58marvels that function as self-contained cities, complete with every conceivable amenity and
01:02luxury that human ingenuity can devise. Consider the magnificent Al-Yammar Palace in Riyadh,
01:08which serves as the official residence and administrative headquarters of the King of Saudi Arabia.
01:13This isn't just a large house or even an impressive mansion. Al-Yammar Palace spans approximately
01:184 million square feet, 370,000 square meters, and includes 1,000 rooms. To put this staggering
01:25scale into perspective, Al-Yammar Palace is larger than many small towns, encompassing more floor space
01:31than most people will encounter in their entire lifetimes. The palace features Italian marble
01:35interiors that gleam like mirrors, a private movie theater with seating and technology that would make
01:40commercial cinemas jealous, a full-size bowling alley for royal entertainment, multiple swimming pools that
01:46could accommodate small villages, and a mosque where the royal family can conduct their prayers in
01:50absolute privacy and splendor. But Al-Yammar represents just one jewel in a crown of properties
01:56that literally spans the globe. The family's wealth extends to real estate, luxury assets,
02:00and stakes in multinational corporations. Notable acquisitions include Leonardo da Vinci's
02:06Salvatore Mundi, $450 million, and a $500 million yacht. Let's pause here for a moment and truly digest
02:13the implications of these purchases. The House of Saud acquired a single painting,
02:17one piece of art for $450 million. To put this in perspective, that's more money than the annual
02:22gross domestic product of some entire countries. This particular painting, the Salvatore Mundi
02:27attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, became the most expensive artwork ever sold at public auction when
02:33Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acquired it in 2017. The mystery surrounding this painting adds
02:38another layer of intrigue to an already fascinating story. Nobody, not art experts, not investigative
02:44journalists, not even many members of the royal family knows exactly where this priceless masterpiece
02:49currently resides. Some reports suggest it hangs in one of the family's many palaces, while others
02:54speculate that it's housed aboard one of their luxury yachts, creating what might be the most expensive
02:59floating art gallery in the history of maritime luxury. Speaking of maritime luxury, let's explore the
03:04crown jewel of the House of Saud's naval assets, the super yacht Serene. This vessel redefines
03:10everything we thought we knew about luxury on the high seas. Serene, purchased by MBS in 2015 from
03:16Yuri Scheffler for 500 million euros, $560 million, isn't just a yacht. It's a floating palace that
03:22challenges our preconceptions about what's possible in maritime engineering and luxury design. The
03:27specifications of Serene read like something from a science fiction novel rather than a real-world
03:33vessel. This 439-foot yacht, built by Fincantieri, accommodates 24 guests across 15 cabins and 52
03:40crew members. Amenities include seven swimming pools, an underwater viewing room, a spa, a gym,
03:45a movie theater, an indoor climbing wall, a helicopter hanger, two helipads, a submarine garage,
03:50and a jet stream swimming pool. Each of these features represents a level of luxury and engineering
03:55sophistication that most people will never encounter, even in the world's most exclusive resorts.
04:00The fact that Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest individuals in human history, chose to rent
04:04Serene for his vacation needs, speaks volumes about its extraordinary nature. When Gates paid
04:10$5 million for just one week aboard this vessel, he was essentially acknowledging that the House
04:15of Saud had created something so uniquely luxurious that even someone with his vast personal fortune
04:21preferred to rent rather than attempt to build something comparable. But the House of Saud's approach
04:26to transportation extends far beyond their maritime assets. Their aviation fleet represents a collection
04:31of flying palaces that transform our understanding of luxury air travel. They own multiple Boeing and
04:36Airbus aircraft, including Boeing 747-400S, Boeing 777S, and Airbus A340S, often retrofitted with
04:46luxurious interiors. These aren't merely expensive private jets. They're commercial-sized aircraft that have
04:51been completely transformed into airborne residences. A notable example is the $500 million Boeing 747,
04:58eight owned by Prince Al-Walid bin Talal, featuring a throne room, private suites, and a dining area for
05:0330 guests. Imagine boarding what appears to be a standard commercial airliner, only to find yourself in
05:09a space more luxurious and comfortable than most people's homes, complete with gold-plated fixtures,
05:14including sinks and seatbelt buckles, two luxurious bedrooms, a 14-seat dining area, and a cream-and-gold throne,
05:20dominating the main lounge. The royal family's automotive preferences reveal yet another dimension
05:26of their extraordinary lifestyle. Prince Turki bin Abdullah owns a $22 million collection,
05:31including a gold-plated Lamborghini Aventador SV, $1.2 million alone, and other hypercars like
05:38Bugatti Chirons and Pagani Huayras. But this isn't simply about owning expensive automobiles,
05:43it's about commissioning vehicles so customized, so extensively modified, and so lavishly decorated that
05:48they become rolling works of art that happen to have engines. Turki's fleet, often flown to London
05:53for display, caused a stir in 2016, with vehicles parked outside luxury hotels and accumulating
05:59parking tickets. Picture the scene, gold-plated supercars lining the streets of one of the world's
06:04most expensive cities, each worth more than most people's homes, accumulating parking tickets like
06:09confetti, because the cost of those finds represents pocket change to their owner.
06:13The House of Saud's art collection extends far beyond the famous Salvatore Mundi, encompassing
06:18works that represent some of the most valuable and culturally significant pieces in private hands
06:23anywhere in the world. Their collection includes works by Picasso, Murakami and Kunz, reflecting their
06:28immense purchasing power. Pablo Picasso's Les Femmes d'Alger was acquired for $160 million, while their
06:35contemporary collection features works by artists whose pieces typically hang in the world's most
06:40prestigious museums and private collections. But if there's one moment that truly captures their
06:44surreal approach to wealth, it's the now-famous Falcon flight, an incident that sounds fictional
06:49until you realize it's entirely real. The family once booked an entire commercial flight for 80
06:54falcons. Each bird assigned its own first-class seat. Picture walking through an international
06:59airport and seeing rows of majestic falcons calmly perched in leather seats, flying more comfortably
07:05than most humans ever will. It sounds like satire. But for the House of Saud, that's just another
07:10Tuesday. Beyond extravagant displays, the royal family has mastered the art of soft power and global
07:15influence. Their investments in sports, entertainment and culture aren't just about prestige. They're a
07:20calculated strategy to reshape global perception and build political capital worldwide. To grasp the
07:26true scale of their wealth, we need to compare it to other financial giants. The House of Saud's estimated
07:31net worth sits at $1.4 trillion. That dwarfs the Walton family, $432 billion, and even outpaces
07:38individuals like Elon Musk, $400 billion as of 2025. When we place these numbers side by side,
07:45the House of Saud's wealth becomes more than just impressive. It becomes almost incomprehensible.
07:49Imagine having enough liquid assets to buy Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google combined, then having
07:55enough left over to purchase several small countries and still wonder what to do with your remaining
07:59pocket change. This is the kind of financial firepower we're discussing when we talk about
08:03the House of Saud. But wealth of this magnitude doesn't appear overnight, nor does it emerge from
08:09a vacuum of fortune and circumstance. The story of how this incredible dynasty accumulated such
08:14unprecedented riches is a tale that spans centuries, continents and the very foundations of modern
08:19geopolitics. It begins in the harsh, unforgiving landscape of 18th century Arabia, the desert empire
08:25that dwarfs all others. The House of Saud traces its origins to Muhammad bin Saud, who founded the
08:31Emirate of Diriyah, first Saudi state, in 1744, in alliance with religious reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
08:38This wasn't merely a political partnership born of convenience or mutual benefit. It represented
08:43something far more profound and enduring. Yet the true transformation of this desert kingdom from a
08:48collection of warring tribes into a global economic superpower began with one extraordinary man,
08:53King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, whose vision, determination and political genius, laid the foundation for
08:58everything that would follow. The modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established by Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman
09:04al-Saud ibn Saud in 1932, after unifying much of the Arabian Peninsula. This unification wasn't achieved
09:11through diplomatic negotiations or peaceful mergers. It required decades of military campaigns, strategic
09:17alliances and political maneuvering that would have challenged the greatest empire builders in history.
09:22Ibn Saud's achievement becomes even more remarkable when we consider the context in which it occurred.
09:27The Arabian Peninsula in the early 20th century was a patchwork of competing tribes, rival claimants
09:32to authority and external powers seeking to establish their own spheres of influence. The Ottoman Empire
09:38was collapsing, European colonial powers were expanding their reach into the Middle East and local
09:43strongmen were carving out their own territories through force of arms. Into this chaos stepped Ibn Saud,
09:48who not only survived but thrived, ultimately creating a unified kingdom that would soon become one of
09:53the most important nations on earth. But even Ibn Saud, with all his military prowess, political acumen and
09:59visionary leadership, could never have imagined the treasure that lay hidden beneath the desert sands his
10:04armies had conquered. The discovery that would change everything came in 1938, a year that represents one of
10:10the most pivotal moments in modern economic history. The discovery of oil in the 1930s under King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud
10:17transformed this newly unified desert kingdom from a relatively poor nation dependent on pilgrimage revenues
10:23and modest trade into the center of the global energy economy. The scale of this transformation cannot be
10:28overstated. Imagine the excitement, the disbelief and ultimately the overwhelming realization that struck the royal family when they understood they hadn't just discovered oil.
10:37They had stumbled upon what would prove to be one of the largest and most accessible petroleum reserves in human history.
10:43Saudi Arabia holds approximately 17% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, providing a steady stream
10:49of income that has sustained and exponentially grown their wealth for nearly a century. This oil wealth didn't just
10:55provide the House of Saud with income, it gave them leverage, influence and power on a global scale that few entities in human history have ever possessed.
11:04The vehicle through which this incredible resource has been managed and monetized is Saudi Aramco,
11:09the world's most valuable company with a valuation exceeding $2 trillion. To put this astronomical valuation
11:15into perspective, Saudi Aramco is worth more than the entire gross domestic product of most countries,
11:21including economic powerhouses like Italy, Brazil and Canada. The House of Saud controls Aramco,
11:27which generates massive revenues from oil production, creating a financial pipeline that has funded not
11:32only their personal wealth, but also the transformation of Saudi Arabia from a desert kingdom into a modern
11:37nation with infrastructure, education systems, healthcare networks and military capabilities that rival any
11:43developed country. The profits from Aramco don't just flow into bank accounts, they flow into the very
11:48foundations of a modern state and the personal fortunes of one of history's most successful dynasties.
11:53But the House of Saud's financial genius extends far beyond simply extracting and selling oil. They have
11:59demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of wealth management, diversification and strategic
12:04investment that would impress the most seasoned portfolio managers on Wall Street. The Public
12:08Investment Fund , chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, manages over $700 billion in assets with
12:14investments in global companies like Uber, Blackstone and SoftBank's Vision Fund. This isn't just
12:19diversification for the sake of diversification. It's a carefully orchestrated strategy to ensure that the
12:25House of Saud's wealth and influence remain intact and continue growing even as the global economy
12:30evolves and potentially moves away from fossil fuels. The structure and scale of this remarkable
12:35family is as impressive as their accumulated wealth. The House of Saud comprises approximately 15,000 members
12:42with wealth and power concentrated among 2,000 core members. Think about this for a moment. We're talking
12:47about a family so large that it could populate a small city, yet so well organized and hierarchically
12:53structured that the most crucial decisions affecting the destiny of an entire kingdom rest with an inner
12:58circle of approximately 2,000 individuals. This represents a level of family governance and wealth
13:04management that is unprecedented in human history. At the apex of this vast familial empire sits King
13:10Salman bin Abdulaziz, the current monarch who has overseen the kingdom during one of its most
13:14transformative and challenging periods in modern history, but the real architect of Saudi. Arabia's future,
13:20the visionary driving the kingdom's most ambitious modernization efforts, and the individual who
13:24will likely shape the House of Saud's destiny for decades to come, is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,
13:30MBS, who has emerged as the driving force behind the kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 program. This is
13:36wealth and power operating on a scale that doesn't just affect individual lives or even single
13:41communities. It literally reshapes entire nations, influences global markets, and impacts international
13:47political relationships. The future of a trillion-dollar dynasty
13:51This isn't just about who has the most money today. It's about understanding how the House of
13:56Saud has positioned themselves in a completely different league from their regional competitors,
14:00while simultaneously engineering a future that could make their current $1.4 trillion fortune look
14:06modest by comparison. Let's begin by establishing the competitive landscape among Arab royal families,
14:11because the numbers tell a story of dominance so complete it's almost difficult to believe.
14:16When we examine the wealth of other prominent Arab dynasties, the House of Saud's supremacy becomes
14:21not just impressive, but absolutely staggering in its scope and scale. The al-Nahyan family of the UAE
14:26represents the second richest Arab family, with wealth estimated between $305, $323.9 billion.
14:34While this represents an enormous fortune by any standard, it constitutes less than one quarter
14:39of the House of Saud's estimated wealth. The al-Nahyans control 6% of the world's oil reserves through
14:45Adnok and manage the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority with $696, $829 billion in assets, yet their wealth
14:53is distributed across the federated structure of the UAE, where power and resources are shared among
14:58seven emirates, rather than concentrated in a single ruling family. The al-Thani family of Qatar,
15:03with estimated wealth ranging from $172.9 billion to $335 billion, depending on the source,
15:11has built an impressive portfolio through natural gas exports and strategic investments. The Qatar
15:17Investment Authority manages $450 billion in assets, with stakes in Volkswagen, British Airways,
15:23and iconic properties like the Shard and Harrods in London. Their art collection valued in the billions
15:28includes pieces acquired for hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet even their most generous wealth
15:33estimates place them at roughly one-fourth of the House of Saud's financial power. The al-Sabah family of
15:38Kuwait estimated, at $360 billion, benefits from Kuwait's 10% share of global oil reserves,
15:45and manages wealth through the Kuwait Investment Authority. The Kuwait Investment Authority, one of
15:50the world's oldest sovereign wealth funds, manages $700 billion with significant investments in U.S.
15:56stocks and shares. While substantial, their fortune still represents only about a quarter of the Saudi
16:02royal family's wealth. When we examine non-royal Arab families, the wealth gap becomes even more
16:07pronounced, revealing just how exceptional the House of Saud's position truly is. The Sawiris family of
16:12Egypt, the richest non-royal Arab family, has a combined net worth of $11.6 billion, led by brothers
16:18Nassif Sawiris, $7.8 billion, Naguib Sawiris, $3.3 billion, and others, they've built their fortune
16:26through construction, telecommunications, and diversified investments. Nassif's wealth stems from
16:31a 6% stake in Adidas, and his role as executive chair of OCI Global, a major nitrogen fertilizer
16:37producer, while Naguib sold Oroscom Telecom to Vimplecom for billions, and holds stakes in gold
16:42mining and media. Yet their entire family wealth represents less than 1% of the House of Saud's
16:47fortune. Think about this remarkable disparity. The House of Saud's single-art purchase of the
16:52Salvatore Mundi for $450 million represents nearly 4% of the entire Sawiris family fortune. The Saudi
16:59royal family could purchase the Sawiris' business empire more than 100 times over with their current
17:04wealth. The Mansoor family of Egypt, with a net worth of $6.7 billion, built their fortune through
17:10the Mansoor Group, which distributes General Motors and Caterpillar products, and owns McDonald's
17:14franchises in Egypt. The Makati family of Lebanon, worth $5.6 billion, co-founded M1 Group with
17:21significant telecom and real estate investments. The Hariri family of Lebanon, with $4.8 billion,
17:27focuses on real estate through Horizon Group and tech startups, while the Al Ghorea family of UAE,
17:32worth $4.2 billion, founded Mashrek Bank with assets of $69.3 billion. These are impressive fortunes
17:39by any global standard, representing successful multi-generational business empires and sophisticated
17:44investment strategies. Yet when placed alongside the House of Saud's wealth, they appear almost modest.
17:49The Saudi royal family's single yacht, the Serene, cost more than these entire family fortunes.
17:55Their annual spending on luxury goods and lifestyle maintenance likely exceeds the total net worth of
18:00most other wealthy Arab families. But what truly sets the House of Saud apart isn't just their current
18:05wealth. It's their vision for the future and their unprecedented commitment to ensuring their
18:10dynasty's relevance and prosperity for generations to come. At the heart of this strategy lies Vision 2030,
18:16the most ambitious economic transformation program ever conceived by any nation,
18:21led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the full backing of the royal family's financial resources.
18:27The Public Investment Fund, Central to Vision 2030, aims to grow from its current $925 billion to $1.1
18:34trillion by 2025 and $2 trillion by 2030, potentially becoming the world's largest sovereign wealth fund.
18:41To put this ambition in perspective, they're planning to create a single investment fund larger than the
18:45entire GDP of most countries, including economic powerhouses like Italy, Brazil and Canada.
18:51The technological investments flowing from this strategy position the House of Saud at the forefront
18:56of industries that will define the next century of human development. Recent partnerships with NVIDIA to
19:01supply 18,000 chips for AI projects, and collaborations with Amazon Web Services to create an AI zone,
19:07represents strategic positioning in artificial intelligence. These aren't merely financial
19:12investments. They're systematic efforts to ensure Saudi Arabia becomes a global leader in the
19:16technologies that will shape human civilization. The scale of their infrastructure projects dwarfs
19:21anything attempted by other wealthy families or even most nations. NEOM, the $500 billion futuristic city
19:28project, represents an investment larger than the entire current net worth of all other Arab royal families
19:34combined. NEOM includes The Line, a 170km linear city designed to house millions of people in a
19:40completely reimagined urban environment. This isn't just urban planning, it's an attempt to literally
19:45build the future from scratch, creating new models for human habitation, energy consumption, and
19:51technological integration. The Red Sea project, another Vision 2030 initiative, aims to create a luxury
19:57tourism destination that will redefine hospitality and environmental sustainability. These projects
20:03represent long-term thinking that extends far beyond the current generation, ensuring that the House
20:08of Saud's wealth and influence will continue growing even as global economic paradigms shift away from
20:13oil dependency. Their approach to global investment diversification reveals sophisticated wealth,
20:18management strategies that other Arab families simply cannot match in scale or scope. The PIF's
20:24international investments include stakes in Uber, $3.5 billion, SoftBank Vision Fund, $45 billion
20:31commitment, and Lucid Motors, majority stake worth $8.9 billion. Additional investments span gaming
20:37companies like Activision Blizzard, $3.3 billion, Electronic Arts, $2.98 billion, and Take-Two Interactive,
20:45$1.36 billion. These individual investments often exceed the entire net worth of other wealthy Arab
20:51families, demonstrating the House of Saud's ability to participate in global markets at a scale that
20:56ensures their continued influence regardless of how the world economy evolves. The family's succession
21:02planning and governance structure provide additional advantages that other dynasties lack. The House of
21:07Saud comprises approximately 15,000 members, with wealth and power concentrated among 2,000 core members,
21:13creating a structure that can sustain and grow wealth across generations while maintaining family unity
21:19and shared strategic vision. Unlike other wealthy families that might see wealth dilution across
21:23generations or family disputes that weaken their position, the House of Saud's systematic approach
21:28to wealth management and family governance suggests their dominance will continue indefinitely.
21:33Their cultural and soft power investments represent another dimension, where they operate beyond
21:37the reach of other families. Ownership of Newcastle United, creation of Live Golf, and partnerships
21:43with major sports organizations represent strategic investments in global influence that extend
21:48far beyond financial returns. When the House of Saud can literally reshape entire sports industries and
21:54cultural institutions, they demonstrate power that transcends mere wealth accumulation. The educational and
22:00institutional investments being made to prepare future generations of the royal family for leadership
22:06roles ensure continuity of vision and capability. Unlike other wealthy families that might struggle with
22:11succession planning or intergenerational wealth transfer, the House of Saud has created systems and
22:17institutions that will perpetuate their advantages across decades. Their approach to economic diversification
22:23through Vision 2030 also provides protection against the risks that threaten other oil-dependent wealthy families.
22:30While families like the Al-Thanis, Al-Nahians and Al-Sabahs remain heavily dependent on hydrocarbon revenues,
22:35the House of Saud is systematically building alternative revenue streams through technology, tourism, renewable energy,
22:42and financial services. The entertainment and media investments flowing through the PF position them to
22:48influence global culture and information flows in ways that other wealthy families cannot match.
22:53Stakes in companies like Live Nation, $880 million, and entertainment firms provide influence over
22:59cultural content and global media narratives. When we examine the House of Saud's position relative to other
23:04Arab families, the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that they operate in a category entirely their own.
23:10Their current wealth advantage is so substantial that other families would need to increase their
23:15fortunes by 300 to 400 percent, just to reach competitive levels. But more importantly,
23:21their strategic investments and long-term planning suggest that this gap will continue widening rather
23:26than narrowing in the coming decades. The House of Saud isn't just the richest Arab family today,
23:31they're systematically ensuring they'll remain the richest Arab family for generations to come,
23:36while simultaneously positioning themselves as one of the most influential forces shaping the future of
23:41human civilization itself.
23:43Thanks for watching. If you had a good time, keep the adventure alive by clicking on one of the
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