The Richest Royals

Forbes has recently released their annual list of the world’s 15 richest royals. Emphasised in the article was the impact of the credit crunch, real estate values plumeting and stock market difficulties with Forbes stating all in all the global recession has led to the royals listed loosing a total of $22 billion, 17% of the total wealth listed last year. More specifically, they state that whilst two of the 15 royals financial positions remain unchanged, 12 have lost money.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI gained US$1 billion over the past year. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is listed as the richest royal on the list with a fortune worth US$30 billion; this is down $5 billion from last year. Next on the list is Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, whose US$20 billion fortune is unchanged from last year. The 3rd richest royal is listed as Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan of the United Arab Emirates with $18 billion (also down $5 billion from 2008).

Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abul Aziz fell $4 billion to $17 billion, forth place on the list. Fifth was Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at $12 billion (a loss of $6 billion).

The rest of the list is as follows:

6. Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein
7. King Mohammed VI, Morocco
8. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar
9. Prince Albert II, Monaco
10. Prince Karim Al Husseini, Aga Khan
11. Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Oman
12. Queen Elizabeth II, U.K.
13. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, Kuwait
14. Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, Netherlands
15. King Mswati III, Swaziland

It should be noted that different countries list and accredit the wealth of their monarch in different ways. Forbes describe the impact of this in their article.

Filed under Brunei, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Other Royals, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Thailand, The United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates
Tagged Albert II of Monaco, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Emirate of Dubai, Finances, Forbes Listings, Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, Mohammed VI of Morocco, Mswati III of Swaziland, Prince Karim Aga Khan, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Sultan Qaboos of Oman, Wealth.