The richest royals in the world

By Stacker

Published May 23, 2022 7:44 pm

Max Mumby/Indigo // Getty Images

The richest royals in the world

King Charles III takes the salute outside Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour.

Many royals are known for their power, prestige, notoriety, and money. There are those who are part of centuries-old dynasties, others relatively new to the scene, and some who came to their riches through their royal titles.

In recent years, one royal has gained notoriety for eschewing his official role in favor of expatriate life in another country: Prince Harry. Though he is not on this list, other members of the House of Windsor are. Curious about who they might be? Stacker looked at the world’s richest royals and ranked the top 25 by net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth, as of July 2024. Their wealth ranges from a “low” of $72 million to a high of $30 billion.

How do these royals spend their money? One king has 30 poodles, one of which was named Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force. There’s an Italian prince with a food truck in Los Angeles and a British Lord who capitalized on their famous title with a gourmet sandwich fast-food chain. Two royals on the list have competed in the Olympics. Another king has had 15 wives and 36 children.

So who are these fascinating, wealthy royals? Read on to find out.

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Colin McPherson // Corbis via Getty Images

#25. Lord Egremont

Portrait of Max Egremont.

– Net worth: $72 million

John Max Henry Scawen Wyndham, 7th Baron Leconfield, 2nd Baron Egremont (aka Lord Egremont), is also known by his nom de plume, Max Egremont, under which he has written numerous novels, histories, and biographies.

At 24, Lord Egremont, who studied modern history at Oxford, was called to step into his royal role when his father, John Wyndham, died from cancer at age 52. This meant overseeing Petworth House, the family’s ancestral home on a 700-acre parkland estate built in 1688 and designed by renowned landscape architect Capability Brown. The National Trust currently manages Petworth House and its art and sculpture collection, which is open to the public.

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#18. Princess Stéphanie of Monaco (tie)

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco attends fashion event.

– Net worth: $100 million

Her Serene Highness, Princess Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth, is the youngest daughter of the late American actor Grace Kelly, aka Princess Grace, and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. Princess Stéphanie is 14th in the line of succession to the throne for the Principality of Monaco.

In 1982, Stéphanie suffered a concussion and fractured vertebrae in a car accident that claimed the life of her mother, who suffered a stroke and died. An interest in fashion led Princess Stéphanie to work with Christian Dior in the early 1980s. Philanthropy plays a significant role in Princess Stéphanie’s life. For her efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS—she created Fight AIDS Monaco—she was awarded Monaco’s insignia of the Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi.

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#18. Princess Caroline of Monaco (tie)

Princess Caroline at a formal event in Monaco.

– Net worth: $100 million

The older sister of Princess Stéphanie, Caroline has two royal titles: Her Serene Highness, Princess Caroline of Monaco, and Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Hanover. The latter title is due to her marriage to Prince Ernst August of Hanover in 1999.

Princess Caroline studied philosophy, psychology, and biology at Sorbonne University in Paris. After her mother died in 1982, she became the de facto first lady until her brother Albert’s 2011 marriage to Charlene Wittstock. Caroline was the president of the Monegasque Committee for the International Year of Children. She also founded Jeune J’écoute, a hotline for troubled youth. Such endeavors led the princess to be named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Jane Barlow – WPA Pool/Getty Images

#18. Prince William (tie)

Prince William smiling at event.

– Net worth: $100 million

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis is the eldest son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. Formerly the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William became Prince of Wales upon the ascension of his father, Charles, to the throne following Queen Elizabeth’s death.

Prince William served in the British Armed Forces for seven years, a portion of which as a pilot with the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Force. A fraction of William’s accumulated wealth—approximately $16 million—came from a trust he inherited from his late mother. When Charles became King of England, William also inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, a diverse real estate holdings portfolio that yields $20 million to $30 million per year in personal income. He’s now first in line to the British throne.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

#18. King Tupou VI (tie)

King Tupou VI speaks at COP28 in Dubai.

– Net worth: $100 million

The monarch of Tonga, King Tupou VI, took the throne in 2015. He succeeded his older brother, George Tupou V, who died in 2012 at 63 years old after battling cancer. Because George Tupou V was not married when he had his daughter, Tupou VI was next in line.

Tupou VI is the fourth and youngest child of King Tāufa’āhau Tupou IV and Halaevalu Mata’aho ‘Ahome’e. He studied at the University of East Anglia from 1977 to 1980 before joining the naval arm of the Tonga Defense Services in 1982. He then attended the U.S. Naval War College and after graduating, he commanded a Pacific-class patrol boat, VOEA Pangai. He then earned master’s degrees in defense studies from the University of New South Wales and in international relations from Bond University in Australia.

He ended his military career in 1998 to join the Tongan government. He served as minister of defense, minister of foreign affairs, and prime minister of Tonga before earning his first royal role in 2006.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

#18. King Mswati III of Eswatini (tie)

King Mswati III of Eswatini addresses the UN General Assembly.

– Net worth: $100 million

The son of King Sobhuza II and Queen Mother Ntfombi Tfwala of Eswatini, King Mswati III was born Prince Makhosetive in 1968. King Sobhuza II died when the prince was 14. At age 18, the teen stepped into his father’s shoes, becoming King Mswati III of Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Mswati has the power to appoint the country’s prime minister, along with members of the governing cabinet and the judiciary. However, Mswati cannot choose his heir. Polygamy is legal in Eswatini, and the King has had 15 wives and 36 children.

David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

#18. John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich (tie)

John Montagu at Earl of Sandwich ribbon cutting ceremony.

– Net worth: $100 million

What is a royal to do when their famous name evokes hunger? They capitalize on it. Such is the case for John Montagu, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, a direct descendant of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich.

The story goes that the 4th Earl of Sandwich was fond of gambling and asked for roast beef between two slices of bread so that he could eat with his hands and continue playing cards without disruption. Whether or not that tale is true, the 11th Earl of Sandwich embraced the legend as a restaurateur. He launched Earl of Sandwich, a chain of 51 restaurants worldwide, with his son, Orlando, and Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl.

Montagu doesn’t spend his days taking sandwich orders, though. He served in the House of Lords until May 2024 and he currently provides public access to the family’s heritage property, Mapperton.

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#18. Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy (tie)

Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia attends event.

– Net worth: $100 million

Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, the Prince of Venice, is the grandson of King Umberto II, the last king of Italy, and Queen Marie José. Another title he vied for is King of the Dance Floor when he competed in Italy’s version of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2009. The dance competition was not Filiberto’s first foray into the entertainment industry, however. After myriad appearances in the media over the years, he created two production companies, Savoy & Gregory and Royal Me Up.

The prince has also created a clothing line and owns a pasta food truck in Los Angeles. In late 2022, he made headlines for attempting to buy the Savoia football club to “keep it away” from the mafia.

He has also been attempting to reclaim jewels belonging to the House of Savoy. Worth an estimated $335 million, the gems have been in the possession of the Italian government and the Bank of Italy since the abolition of the monarchy months after World War II. Since 2022, Filberto’s efforts to retrieve the jewels have failed.

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#17. Princess Charlene of Monaco

Princess Charlene of Monaco at event.

– Net worth: $150 million

Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and raised in South Africa, Charlene Lynette Wittstock became H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco when she married Prince Albert of Monaco in 2011. Wittstock competed for South Africa’s team in the Sydney Olympic Games as a competitive swimmer. Charlene and Albert initially met in 2000 at an international swim meet in Monaco.

In her role as princess, Charlene delved into philanthropy. Beyond creating the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, she has served as Special Olympics global ambassador; patron of the South African Red Cross Society; and co-patron of the Giving Organizations Trust, a group of South African charities focusing on a range of issues.

Patrick van Katwijk // Getty Images

#16. Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands

Princess Beatrix holding flowers at fundraiser.

– Net worth: $200 million

When she was born in 1938, Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard already had three titles: Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, and Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld. The daughter of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard, Her Royal Highness Beatrix attended Leiden University, where she earned degrees in law, sociology, and economics.

Beatrix stepped into the role of queen in 1980 when her mother, Juliana, abdicated the throne. After reigning as Queen of the Netherlands for over three decades, Beatrix abdicated the throne at 75 years old in April 2013, at which time her son, Willem-Alexander, became king. Having stepped away from the throne, Beatrix is, once again, Princess Beatrix.

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#15. Farah Pahlavi

Farah Pahlavi at event.

– Net worth: $200 million

The only child of Capt. Sohrab Diba and Farideh Ghotbi, Farah Diba was born in Tehran in 1938. In 1959, she married Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. By 1967, she was crowned Iran’s Shahbanou, or empress, placing her in a position to be regent in the event of her husband’s death. She was the first empress to be crowned in over 2,500 years of Persian history. She was also Iran’s last empress.

The empress had a mission of building a better life for Iranians. She did so by devoting time to social causes and cultural affairs. The Islamic Revolution led the empress and Shah to flee Iran and enter exile in January 1979. As of June 2024, a documentary and a scripted project about Pahlavi’s life are in the works.

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#14. Caroline Fleming

Caroline Fleming attends TV event.

– Net worth: $400 million

The daughter of Baron Niels Krabbe Luel-Brockdorff and Baroness Margaretha Luel-Brockdorff, Baroness Caroline was born and raised in Valdemar Castle on Tåsinge in Denmark. Built in the 1640s for Prince Valdemar, son of Christian IV and Kirsten Munk, the castle was under Caroline’s ownership from 2003 to 2011.

However, Caroline renounced her title in 2001 when she married a nonroyal, Rory Fleming, an attorney and the nephew of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. In 2008, the Flemings divorced, which is how Caroline acquired some of her wealth and the last name she still uses.

She has pursued many business endeavors, including a line of hosiery, modeling, writing cookbooks, creating perfume, and being a TV personality, with appearances as a judge on Denmark’s “Next Top Model” and on Bravo’s “Ladies of London.” (Fun fact: That series also featured Julie Montagu, daughter-in-law of the 11th Earl of Sandwich, also featured on this list.)

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#13. Martha Lane Fox

Martha Lane Fox speaks at Women’s Prize for Fiction event.

– Net worth: $500 million

Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho CBE was bequeathed those last three initials when she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. A technology entrepreneur, she founded the online travel and leisure website Lastminute.com, which Sabre Holdings purchased for £577 million in 2005, of which she earned a reported £13 million.

A strong proponent of digital technology and computer literacy, in 2010, the baroness became the U.K.’s Digital Champion, helping to create the Government Digital Service and establishing the Digital Public Services Unit within the Cabinet Office.

In 2013, at age 40, Lane-Fox entered the House of Lords as a crossbencher, becoming its youngest woman member. In 2014, she was appointed the sixth chancellor of The Open University.

Currently, Lane-Fox sits on the boards of WeTransfer and Chanel and is a trustee of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

Charles McQuillan // Getty Images

#11. Queen Rania Al Abdullah (tie)

Queen Rania Al Abdulla speaks at One Young World 2023 Belfast Summit.

– Net worth: $750 million

Born in 1970 in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, Queen Rania of Jordan’s path to royalty began when she met Prince Abdullah bin Al-Hussein of Jordan at a dinner party in January 1993. Six months later, the two were married. She assumed the title of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah in 1999 when her husband became King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein.

Since then, Rania has used her platform to better education, health, and the environment for Jordanians, as well as focusing on the country’s youth. She’s written four children’s books and works with many organizations around the world, including the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Foundation, and the International Rescue Committee.

Hannah McKay – WPA Pool/Getty Images

#11. King Abdullah II (tie)

King Abdullah II seated at Downing Street meeting.

– Net worth: $750 million

Born in Amman, Jordan, in 1962, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein is considered to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Abdullah II attended Oxford University, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He pursued a military career, rising up the ranks from first lieutenant to commander of Jordan’s special forces.

After the 1999 death of his father, His Majesty King Hussein, Abdullah II ascended the throne of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Since he’s been in power, Abdullah II liberalized the economy and launched the Amman Message peace initiative in 2004. He’s received several awards for his efforts, including the Peace of Westphalia Prize and the United States Templeton Prize.

He also owns a collection of real estate properties estimated to be worth more than $100 million.

Max Mumby/Indigo // Getty Images

#9. Prince Karim al-Hussaini (tie)

Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini attends an event.

– Net worth: $800 million

Born in Geneva, Prince Shah Karim al-Hussaini is the current Imam of Nizari Ismailis, a denomination within Shia Islam. He’s also known as Aga Khan IV, a title designated for individuals considered to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. He chairs the Aga Khan Development Network, a network of developmental agencies aiding disadvantaged communities in Asia and Africa.

HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

#9. King Charles (tie)

King Charles III seated at official event.

– Net worth: $800 million

His Royal Highness Charles Philip Arthur George is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Charles attended Trinity College at Cambridge University, where he studied archaeology, anthropology, and history. After graduation in 1970, he took his seat in the House of Lords. Following in his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather’s footsteps, Charles entered a career in the Royal Navy.

Although King Charles had a net worth of $100 million before the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022, in addition to the crown, he inherited $500 million of her assets, which is now just a fraction of his wealth. His increased net worth also comes from the Sovereign Grant, which is provided by parliament, and from the Duchy of Lancaster, an estate worth over $830 million.

In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced that the king had been diagnosed with cancer. After taking a brief break from public appearances to undergo medical treatment, Charles resumed his royal duties in April 2024.

Julian Finney // Getty Images

#8. Prince Albert II

Prince Albert II attends sporting event.

– Net worth: $1 billion

His Serene Highness Prince Albert, Alexandre, Louis, Pierre, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, is the only son of the late American actor Grace Kelly, aka Princess Grace, and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. Upon the death of Prince Rainier III in 2005, Albert ascended Monaco’s throne.

Prince Albert’s duties have included leading the Monégasque delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Additionally, he chairs the Plenary Assembly of the Mediterranean Science Commission, an intergovernmental body that promotes the exchange of research and information between Mediterranean countries. One of the prince’s passions is fighting climate change.

Albert participated in five Olympic Games on Monaco’s bobsleigh team. He’s been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985 and is president of the Monegasque Olympic Committee.

Theo Wargo // Getty Images

#7. Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, Princess of Denmark

Marie-Chantal attends the 2022 Prince’s Trust Gala.

– Net worth: $2 billion

Marie-Chantal Claire Miller is the middle daughter of Duty-Free Shops co-founder Robert Warren Miller and Maria Clara Pesantes Becerra. In 1992, she finally met Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, on a blind date that was a year-and-a-half in the making and eventually led to the two tying the knot in 1995.

Prince Pavlos is a descendant of Christian IX of Denmark and son of the deposed King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. Though Greece hasn’t had an official monarchy since the early 1970s, Marie-Chantal and Prince Pavlos maintain the titles and some official duties of Their Royal Highnesses.

Marie-Chantal is also the creator of a self-named childrenswear brand and the author of the book “Manners Begin at Breakfast: Modern Etiquette for Families.”

Carlos R. Alvarez/WireImage // Getty Images

#6. King Mohammed VI

King Mohammed VI of Morocco attends the signing at Royal Palace.

– Net worth: $6 billion

In 1999, Mohammed VI was enthroned, taking on the official title of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Amir Al-Mouminine—or simply, King of Morocco. Son of the late King Hassan II, Mohammed VI is the 23rd king of the Alaouite Dynasty. The family’s reign dates back to the mid-17th century.

Mohammed VI inherited more than a title from his father; he was bequeathed a 35% stake in Societe Nationale d’Investissement, a holding company with stakes in several publicly traded companies, including Morocco’s largest bank, a mining company, a sugar producer, and a dairy firm.

Per Morocco’s constitution, Mohammed VI’s official duties include appointing the prime minister, cabinet, and judges and presiding over the high council of magistrates. He is also the supreme commander of the armed forces. He reportedly spends $1 million per day operating his 12 personal palaces, according to Forbes.

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#5. Prince Hans-Adam II

Hans-Adam II watches celebration.

– Net worth: $7 billion

His Serene Highness Prince Hans-Adam II is the eldest son of Prince Franz Josef II, Prince of Liechtenstein, and Countess Georgina von Wilczek, also known as Princess Gina. The 15th reigning Prince of the House of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam II studied business administration and economics at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Upon the death of his father in 1989, Hans-Adam II took over the regency. Hans-Adam II can veto laws, appoint ministers and judges, and dismiss cabinet members. In 2004, he appointed Hereditary Prince Alois as his deputy and the future successor to the throne.

The family also owns LGT Group (originally the Liechtenstein Global Trust), one of the world’s largest private banking companies and one of the world’s largest private collections of art.

Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency // Getty Images

#4. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud

Al-Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud arrives at Elysee Paris.

– Net worth: $17 billion

The son of Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz and Mona El Solh, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud is also the grandson of the first king of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Lebanon’s first prime minister, Riad El Solh. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California’s Menlo College and a master’s in social science from Syracuse University in New York.

In 2017, Forbes reported that, as founder and CEO of Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Alwaleed owned holdings in such companies as Lyft and Citigroup, and hotels spanning the Four Seasons, Paris’ Hotel George V, and London’s Savoy Hotel. This is in addition to Saudi Arabian real estate and Rotana, an Arabic-language entertainment firm. He’s also the chairman of Alwaleed Philanthropies, which reports to have contributed $4 billion globally.

Prince Alwaleed was arrested by the Saudi government in 2017 on charges of bribery, money laundering, and extorting officials. After reaching a financial settlement, he was released from detention in 2018.

Dan Kitwood // Getty Images

#3. Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia during Arab-European Summit.

– Net worth: $20 billion

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is one of the “Sudairi Seven,” the sons born to King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman al Saud and Hassa bint Ahmed al-Sudairi. His father was the first monarch and founder of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

In 1954, Salman’s role as a royal began when he was appointed deputy governor of Riyadh Province. A year later, he became governor, a role he held for nearly 50 years. In 2011, he was appointed minister of defense, and less than a year later, he became Saudi Arabia’s crown prince. In 2015, upon the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah, Salman became the King of Saudi Arabia.

Leon Neal // Getty Images

#1. Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III (tie)

Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah arrives in Downing Street.

– Net worth: $30 billion

Hassanal Bolkiah—whose full title is His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam—is the 29th sultan of Brunei. He is the country’s absolute monarch, acting as prime minister, finance minister, defense minister, and head of the religion of Brunei Darussalam.

The eldest son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Raja Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit, he ascended to the throne as the Sultan of Brunei when his father abdicated in 1967. The biggest contribution to his net worth is earnings from oil reserves and natural gas.

JACK TAYLOR/AFP via Getty Images

#1. Maha Vajiralongkorn (tie)

King Maha Vajiralongkorn attends a groundbreaking ceremony.

– Net worth: $30 billion

Born in 1952, Maha Vajiralongkorn is the oldest son of Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol Adulyadej. At 20 years old, Vajiralongkorn’s father pronounced him crown prince. Though Bhumibol passed away in 2016, it wasn’t until 2019 that Vajiralongkorn officially stepped into the role of Thailand’s king, with Thailand’s Crown Property Bureau (valued at $53 billion) coming under his rule.

The public long had questions about Vajiralongkorn’s fitness to take the throne, so it’s perhaps not entirely surprising that he named Fufu, one of his 30 poodles, Air Chief Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, but the authoritarian king’s reign has been met with protests and backlash since he took the throne.

Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Additional writing and story editing by Jaimie Etkin. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.

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