Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud - Strategic Investor of the Wealthiest Arab Empire

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud is not an ordinary billionaire. In 2025, he re-entered the Forbes billionaire list with a net worth of $16.5 billion, achieving the status of the richest person in Saudi Arabia. But what truly sets him apart from others on this ranking? The answer lies in his unprecedented diversification of his investment portfolio, spanning over 18 sectors of the global economy.

The Road Back to the Top: Dynasty and Business

Born in 1955, the prince is the grandson of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the grandson of Lebanon’s first prime minister. The story of his wealth, however, is not just about inheritance — it is the result of strategic business decisions made over decades.

He first appeared on the Forbes list in 2017 with a fortune of $18.7 billion. In subsequent years, he disappeared from rankings (from 2018, Forbes stopped including Saudi billionaires), but in 2025 he again took the lead among the 15 Saudi billionaires on the list, while also ranking 128th globally.

Kingdom Holding Company: The Brain of the Investment Empire

The foundation of the prince’s wealth is Kingdom Holding Company — a group founded 45 years ago, one of the largest investment conglomerates in Saudi Arabia. The prince owns 78.13% of this entity, which amounts to about $6.4 billion. By the end of 2024, the total value of the group’s investment portfolio reached $19 billion.

Kingdom Holding’s strategy is based on three pillars: financial investments and stocks, luxury real estate, and the hospitality and leisure sector. However, the real strength lies in deep engagement across each business branch — from financial services and technology to education, energy, and artificial intelligence.

Technological Empire: From X to xAI

In the tech sector, Kingdom Holding ranks as the second-largest shareholder in the social network X (formerly Twitter). But the truly spectacular move is its investment in Elon Musk’s xAI.

Prince Alwaleed was an early supporter of Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022. When the merger of X with xAI was announced in March this year, valuing the new entity at $125 billion, Kingdom Holding decided to significantly increase its involvement. In Series B and C funding rounds, the group invested $800 million. The outlook is impressive — Alwaleed estimates that his stake in this joint venture could reach a value of $4 to $5 billion in the near future.

Beyond xAI, Kingdom Holding has significant stakes in Meta, Uber, Didi, Lyft, and other digital giants, confirming a diversified approach to innovative sectors.

Hospitality Stronghold: 31% of the Portfolio

The hospitality sector accounts for nearly a third of the group’s investment portfolio, with flagship assets. Kingdom Holding owns 23.7% of Four Seasons — the result of long-term cooperation with billionaire Bill Gates’ investment fund. The prince executed a clever financial move in 2021, selling half of his shares to Gates for $2.21 billion (previously held 47.5%).

Additionally, the group controls 6.8% of shares in Accor — a French hotel group with a portfolio of over 40 renowned brands, including Fairmont, Raffles, and Sofitel. This strategy positions Kingdom Holding as one of the influential players in the global hospitality industry.

Financial Sector: Legacy of Citigroup and New Opportunities

Alwaleed’s investment history in Citigroup is a legendary story of business vision. In 1991, he invested $800 million — by 2005, this position was worth $10 billion. Currently, Kingdom Holding owns 1.06% of Citigroup shares.

Equally significant are its engagements in the local banking sector. The group is the largest shareholder of Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) with 16.2% of shares, equivalent to about $1.8 billion. This position underscores the group’s deep roots in Saudi Arabia’s finance sector.

Real Estate and Architecture: Building the Future

Real estate accounts for 25.9% of the portfolio and includes projects of extraordinary scale. Kingdom Centre in Riyadh and Jeddah Tower — a skyscraper expected to surpass 1,000 meters and potentially become the tallest structure in the world — are not just buildings but symbols of ambition. Contracts related to these projects are valued at $1.9 billion, excluding the 35.74% stake in Jeddah Economic Company.

Aviation: Flynas and IPO Prospects

Kingdom Holding controls 37.2% of the low-cost airline Flynas, which currently operates a fleet of 61 aircraft. Alwaleed announced on X that Flynas plans an IPO this year on the Tadawul stock exchange in Saudi Arabia, aiming to raise at least $2 billion. This reflects the group’s ambitions in the aviation sector.

Education and Healthcare: Sectors of the Future

In healthcare, Kingdom Holding owns 4.9% of Dallah Health and operates Kingdom Hospital and private clinics. Education is another area of involvement — the group, holding 89.8% of the Kingdom Schools System, saw a 14% increase in student numbers last year, signaling high potential in this segment.

Summary: The Prince’s Strategic Vision

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, grandson of the King of Saudi Arabia, embodies a modern billionaire model — not holding wealth in a single asset, but wisely allocating assets across various sectors. Kingdom Holding Company is his tool for building wealth through smart investments, from artificial intelligence to traditional hotels. This diversification and strategic thinking are reasons why he returned to the top of the Saudi Arabia Forbes list of billionaires in 2025.