Quick Links
From the deserts of the Middle East to the palaces of Europe, the world's richest royals possess untold fortunes.
Some of the richest royals maintain control of oil-rich countries and economies, while others are notoriously in possession of valuable antiquities (with questionable chains of custody).
In February 2023, Harvard International Review published a piece on the complex legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, writing:
"There has been longstanding criticism worldwide over how the monarchy continues to reap the benefits of the British Empire’s colonization of African, Asian, and Caribbean countries and diasporas. The Empire violently exploited such nations, leading to decades of socioeconomic devastation and suffering.
"In the past few years, public scrutiny and accusations of racism perpetuated within the royal family have forced them to reckon with their colonial history. Most recently, though, the passing of the Queen reignited debates about reparations and the legacy of colonialism."
Qatar’s Thani clan and Kuwait’s Sabah family pale in comparison to the trillion-dollar riches of the House of Saud; to the west are the precious collections of Liechtenstein’s kings and queen and the British Windsors.
Using their land resources, the Chakri dynasty and Bolkiah house have prospered on their respective continents.
It is hard to estimate royal wealth for myriad reasons, but it is incalculable.
RelatedThe Most Expensive Divorces In Royal Families, Ranked
Divorce is a universally challenging aspect of married life, moreso when it involves royals.By the same token, "net worth" is typically a term associated with individuals; it is occasionally applied to monarchies by reputable sources of financial information.
Consequently, these richest royals' respective fortunes are based on currently available estimates.
Green fortunes run alongside royal blue blood in the veins of these exceptionally wealthy royal families, all of whom have fortunes estimated to be in excess of $5 billion.
10 House Of Liechtenstein (Liechtenstein)
Estimated Net Worth, House Of Liechtenstein: $7.6 Billion
The House of Liechtenstein governs the Principality of Liechtenstein, with a fortune of $7.6 billion.
The country’s royal family has earned a significant income from its financial holdings, mainly banking and investments.
The royal fortune of modest-sized Liechtenstein comes in part from excellent financial management and stability in its government, along with the ever-present factor of generational wealth.
Although the estimate is subject to changes, the family’s continuing economic importance in Central Europe attests to the relative prosperity of the principality in the heart of Europe.
9 House Of Alaoui (Alawi Dynasty, Morocco)
Estimated Net Worth, House Of Alawi: $8.2 Billion
The wealthy House of Alaoui (or Alawi), the ruling royal family in Morocco, has an estimated, cumulative net worth of $8.2 billion.
Their financial stance is humble compared to other royals, but includes diverse assets (such as land ownership and historical investments).
As Moroccans know, the monarchy is a vital institution within the nation’s cultural and political environment as it forms part of its history.
Their wealth adds much to their influence as they support different enterprises geared towards developing Morocco’s economy and society.
On the other hand, an exact estimate of the kingdom’s wealth is difficult to determine, as royal net worths are often kept confidential.
8 Al Maktoum Family (Dubai)
Estimated Net Worth, Al Maktoum Family: $18 Billion
Al Maktoum has successfully built Dubai’s famously bustling economy through real estate, tourism, trade, and commerce investments.
As is almost always the case with dynastic wealth, determining the ruling family's net worth is largely speculative, as they do not disclose the details of their fortune to outsiders.
The family is led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, and recent statistics suggest that the family is valued at approximately $18 billion.
7 House Of Windsor (The United Kingdom)
Estimated Net Worth, House Of Windsor: $28 Billion
The House of Windsor (the British monarchy) has a net worth estimated at $28 billion.
Britain's controversial royal riches are sourced from different places, including the Sovereign Grant, which caters for the official duties, maintenance of royal residences, and investments.
Tallying the House of Windsor's fortune is complicated on one level by standard royal secrecy, and the tendency of monarchies not to disclose the extent of their wealth.
It would be remiss, however, not to mention longstanding controversies over how antiquities in the purported possession of the House of Windsor were obtained, and whether such valuables ought to be returned.
A March 2021 editorial in British newspaper The Guardian was titled "If the Queen has nothing to hide, she should tell us what artefacts she owns," and it focused upon royal transparency and illicitly obtained artifacts.
A subheading prefaced the article with a blunt summary of its central argument:
The royal family has a history of acquiring looted objects, so its exemption from a law protecting cultural heritage raises questions.
The Guardian provided a litany of potentially questionable items in the royal family's collection, and once again summarized the issue at hand:
... like museums, the British royal family is also clearly at risk of receiving loans or gifts of illicit antiquities, of artworks stolen during the Holocaust, or of colonial loot.
Due diligence and transparency is of course an ethical responsibility in both cases. And then there’s the question of the Royal Collections.
Nevertheless, historical properties like Buckingham Palace help to strengthen the family’s financial standing with income from the Duchy of Lancaster.
Modern streams of income, plundering, and tradition combine to explain how the House of Windsor is still affording a monarchy in the UK.
6 House Of Bolkiah (Brunei)
Estimated Net Worth, House Of Bolkiah: $30 Billion
Bolkiah House reportedly wields about $30 billion while managing affairs in Brunei, affluence mainly due to its oil and natural gas riches.
The Sultan of Brunei, one of the world’s wealthiest men, leads the House of Bolkiah.
RelatedThe Most Expensive Tiaras Of The British Royal Family, Ranked
The members of the British Royal family are infamous for donning tiaras that cost a few million dollars.Despite its use by the royal family for luxury and wealth creation, the nation’s reserves are a crucial factor in the economic development of Brunei.
The economic power enjoyed by both Brunei and the House of Bolkiah is demonstrated through this financial standpoint, highlighting the role of natural resources in shaping today’s world.
5 Chakri Dynasty (Thailand)
Chakri Dynasty Thailand's Royal FamilyEstimated Net Worth, Chakri Dynasty: $70 Billion
The Thai monarchy – the Chakri dynasty, which assumed power in 1782 – is estimated to be worth approximately $70 billion.
The financial position of this dynasty was predominantly based on personal and crown assets that have long since become part of Thailand’s history and culture.
Though the monarchy performs a ceremonial function, dynastic wealth cannot be decoupled from the dynasty’s influence.
This estimate includes various items of property depicting how pivotal the Chakri clan is in developing Thailand as a geopolitical entity.
4 House Of Nahyan (Abu Dhabi)
Estimated Net Worth, House Of Nahyan: $150 Billion
The legendary House of Nahyan in Abu Dhabi is estimated to be worth a staggering $150 billion.
The family’s financial stability stems from the oil-based prosperity of the Gulf states, with a particular focus on Abu Dhabi, where many oil resources are available to them.
Members of the House of Nahyan play an essential role in Abu Dhabi’s government and development.
Their wealth represents a broad spectrum of regional opportunities, particularly in real estate and infrastructure, and this financial estimate reflects the House of Nahyan’s economic authority in the UAE.
3 House of Thani (Qatar)
Estimated Net Worth, House of Thani: $335 Billion
Qatar’s royal House of Thani has a projected cumulative net worth of an incredible $335 billion (more than double that of the House of Nahyan dynasty), with its primary source of fortune being its vast natural gas deposits.
The royal family of Qatar has meticulously taken advantage of its position as one of the leading natural gas suppliers globally, which accounts for much of the dynasty's current wealth.
Qatar’s economic success is also manifest in the tremendous wealth of the House of Thani.
Influential in terms of money, their decisions at home and abroad through investments and diplomatic efforts mold both the local and international landscape.
2 House Of Sabah (Kuwait)
House of Sabah Kuwait Royal FamilyEstimated Net Worth, House Of Sabah: $360 Billion
Kuwait’s rulers, the House of Sabah, have an estimated net worth of $360 billion.
The country’s royal family is anchored on the nation’s vast oil prosperity, which it plays a significant part in governing.
RelatedA Peek Inside The Gigantic Empire Of Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei
Hassanal Bolkiah has a gigantic $28 billion empire and he spends his riches on luxury cars and parties, among other things.This is so because the family's financial wellness reflects the immense contribution Kuwait’s oil reserves make to the economy on a global scale.
As the Sabah has been entrusted with guarding Kuwait’s wealth, it has used those resources to boost economic growth – and to provide a welfare system covering the entire Kuwaiti population.
1 House Of Saud (Saudi Arabia)
Estimated Net Worth, House Of Saud: $1.4 Trillion
The House of Saud, the royal family that rules over Saudi Arabia, is estimated to be worth $1.4 trillion dollars, mainly from the country’s extensive oil supply.
The family controls one of the world’s largest proved oil deposits, thus making their wealth primarily associated with the world’s energy industry.
With their wealth, they finance ambitious development schemes, venture into various investment areas, and play a significant regional position in maintaining stability.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEq6CcoJWowW%2BvzqZmq6GTnbK0wIyrprKZnKh6qrqMrZ%2BeZaekv62wjg%3D%3D