Royal Family Brunei

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III, born on July 15, 1946, has been the Sultan of Brunei since 1967, following the abdication of his father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. As the 29th Sultan of Brunei, he became the country’s leader during a transformative period, steering the nation into independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. In addition to his role as Sultan, he also holds the title of prime minister, overseeing both the political and economic spheres of the nation.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is renowned not only for his leadership but also for his incredible wealth. With a reported net worth of $30 billion in 2023, he is consistently ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world. As one of the last absolute monarchs, he continues to hold supreme authority over the nation, marking his position as the longest-reigning monarch and head of state globally. In 2017, the Sultan celebrated his Golden Jubilee, commemorating 50 years on the throne, a significant milestone in both Brunei’s history and his own reign.

Under Sultan Hassanal’s leadership, the Royal Family of Brunei saw unprecedented wealth following the country’s independence. This wealth largely stemmed from Brunei’s vast oil reserves, with the Sultan’s government in partnership with Shell Petroleum. The family’s opulence became legendary, with the Bolkiah brothers—Sultan Hassanal and his younger brother Prince Jefri—becoming well-known for their extravagant spending on luxury items. The Sultan’s passion for fine automobiles was particularly notable, with the family amassing an extraordinary collection of exclusive vehicles, including Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and Koenig Specials. During the 1990s, the Royal Family’s spending on Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars alone reached an eye-watering £480 million.

By the 1990s, the family’s wealth and influence grew to the point where they began commissioning increasingly bespoke vehicles directly from luxury manufacturers across Europe, further cementing their status as one of the most exclusive families in the world. The Royal Family of Brunei continues to be a symbol of unparalleled wealth, sophistication, and influence on the global stage.