Alwaleed bin Talal
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Alwaleed bin Talal
| Category | Details |
|---|
| Full Name | Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud |
| Born | March 7, 1955, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Family Background | Wealthy family with strong political ties: Father: Prince Talal (progressive political figure) Mother: Mona Al Solh (daughter of Lebanon’s first Prime Minister) |
| Education | Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Menlo College, California (1979) Master’s in Social Science from Syracuse University, New York (1985) |
| Career Highlights | Founder of Kingdom Holding Company Key early investments in Citicorp, News Corporation, and Rotana Group Ownership stakes in major global entities including: Apple, AOL, Motorola, and Fox News Significant real estate holdings: Four Seasons, The Plaza (NYC), Savoy (London), Euro Disney, Monte Carlo Grand Hotel, and Kingdom Tower |
| Investment Philosophy | Known for bold, high-stakes investments in troubled companies, which often led to substantial returns |
| Philanthropy | Notable donations: £18.5 million to Palestinian families £16 million to Edinburgh University for Islamic Studies $17 million to victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami |
| Wealth & Rankings | Approximate net worth: $20 billion Ranked 26th richest globally by Forbes, and held the top spot on Saudi Arabia’s rich list for five consecutive years |
| Honors and Recognitions | Order of Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, First Class Order of the Cedars of Lebanon, National Order Star of Palestine Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Innovation (2010) Additional honors from Bahrain, Nepal, and Guinea-Bissau (2012) |
| Legacy | Visionary investor with substantial influence in media, technology, finance, and real estate. Known for his global philanthropic initiatives and commitment to uplifting Arab society. |
His name is a recognition of greatness in the world of business. If you do know him, then you surely must know that he does not stand as just any run-of-the-mill billionaire – he’s a visionary. Princely acumen and instincts in finance and investments, Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud, is a household name for the Saudi and the international investor who has made effective ownership of his Kingdom Holding Company a reality. According to Forbes, Al-Waleed’s net worth is approximately $20 billion. It makes him rank among the richest people in the world. But how did that happen?
Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Waleed was born on March 7, 1955, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He belongs to a wealthy family with a powerful political background. His father, Prince Talal, had forward-thinking ideas in Saudi politics. His mother, Mona Al Solh, was the daughter of Lebanon’s first Prime Minister, Riad Al Solh. When he was seven years old, his parents divorced, and he spent most of his childhood with his mother. He was instilled with much discipline early in life, mainly during his days in military school. There, he developed a good understanding of hard work and leadership qualities.
Higher education was not Al-Waleed’s priority and so left Saudi Arabia. He moved to the U.S. and completed his Bachelor’s in Business Administration at Menlo College in California in 1979 and subsequently a Master’s in Social Science at Syracuse University in 1985. These periods of study abroad gave him a Western approach to business, which later helped him establish such a prosperous career.
Finally, investments. Short of finance, Al-Waleed ventured into this sector soon after finishing school. The boldest probably was buying a stake in Citicorp when everyone thought the whole financial house was about to crumble. That gamble paid off big-time: his share of Citigroup is now worth more than $1 billion. And that’s just the beginning. He invests wisely in News Corporation and owns nearly 7% of the media giant by 2010, holding worth $3 billion. His media ventures do not end there. He also owns the Rotana Group, one of the leading Arab entertainment companies, and even attracted a $70 million investment from News Corp for the business.
But Al-Waleed did not just stick to media and banking. He has diversified his wealth across different sectors, investing in the newest startups in emerging technologies like Apple, AOL, Motorola, and even Fox News. He does not lag behind in real estate either: he has a piece of every high-class hotel around, including the Four Seasons, the Plaza Hotel in New York, and Britain’s celebrated Savoy Hotel. He has also acquired Euro Disney and Monte Carlo Grand Hotel as part of his treasure basket of property possessions. And then of course there is the Kingdom Tower: an ambitious construction project which, when it was completed, would be the world’s second tallest building, $10 billion-dollar worth.
But it’s more than just his investments that set Prince Al-Waleed apart. It’s his philanthropy. He has consistently shown himself as a champion for global causes in the Arab world. He gave £18.5 million to Palestinian families because of the Israeli operation in Jenin and continued to give for a wide range of causes around the world, from £16 million to Edinburgh University for its Islamic Studies program to $17 million for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. His philanthropy would become his legacy as great as his business success.
Ranked as the 26th richest man in the world by Forbes and the first Saudi to top his country’s rich list for five consecutive years, Al-Waleed’s private life is as enormous as his business empire. He owns three of the world’s most luxurious palaces: the Kingdom Resort, Promotion Palace, and the Kingdom Oasis soon to be built. His achievements haven’t gone unnoticed either. He has received several honors throughout the years, such as the Order of Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, First Class, the Order of the Cedars of Lebanon, National Order, Star of Palestine and, in 2010, the Dwight D Eisenhower Award for Innovation, with honors from Bahrain, Nepal, and Guinea-Bissau in 2012.
That is the story of Prince Al-Waleed: ambition, smart investment, and an unconditional commitment to giving back. His journey, from Saudi Arabia to the world at large, is a proof of his vision and drive for success-not only for himself but the world around him.
