Current Richest Person in Saudi Arabia
Alwaleed bin Talal remains the richest person in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated net worth of $19.8 billion as of mid-2025. He controls a diversified portfolio through Kingdom Holding Company, which holds major stakes in global companies across finance, technology, hospitality, and entertainment. His wealth has remained resilient despite market volatility, supported by long-term strategic investments and a conservative debt profile. Forbes ranks him among the top billionaires globally, reflecting the stability of his investment strategy.
Kingdom Holding Company is the primary vehicle for his wealth, with publicly disclosed stakes in leading global firms. The company has a history of investing early in high-growth companies, including a significant position in Citigroup and a notable stake in Tesla. These investments have generated substantial capital gains over the past decade, reinforcing his position as the wealthiest individual in the kingdom. SEC filings confirm the size and composition of these holdings.
Major Investments Driving His Wealth
Key Global Holdings
Alwaleed bin Talal built his fortune through a concentrated portfolio of blue-chip and growth equities. His most significant holdings include a roughly 5 percent stake in Citigroup, a roughly 5 percent stake in Twitter (now X), and a roughly 4 percent stake in Tesla. These positions have appreciated substantially, particularly Tesla, where early investment predates the company's market capitalization surge. Tesla remains a core part of his investment thesis, linking his wealth directly to the electric vehicle and clean energy sector.
Beyond U.S. equities, Kingdom Holding Company has invested in luxury hospitality and real estate, including stakes in Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the Savoy Hotel in London. The company also holds a significant stake in the logistics firm Aramex and has diversified into media and entertainment through investments in Snapchat and Lyft. These holdings provide a balanced mix of stable cash flow and high-growth potential, underpinning his sustained ranking as the richest person in Saudi Arabia.
Ranking Among Global Billionaires
Position in the Forbes Billionaires List
Alwaleed bin Talal consistently ranks in the top tier of the Forbes Billionaires List, often placing in the top 20 globally. His net worth has fluctuated with equity markets but has remained above $19 billion, reflecting the scale of his diversified portfolio. Forbes notes that his wealth is primarily self-made, originating from early business ventures and a strategic approach to acquiring large stakes in publicly traded companies.
Within the Middle East, he is the second-richest individual, behind only Mukesh Ambani of India in some rankings, and ahead of other regional billionaires from the UAE and Qatar. His position is reinforced by the public listing of Kingdom Holding Company on the Tadawul, the Saudi stock exchange, which provides transparency and liquidity for his holdings. Tadawul data confirms the market valuation of these stakes, which form the core of his fortune.