Sultan of Brunei Tops World's Richest Royals List

While we have tracked the fortunes of a few high-profile royals like the Queen of England (No.11) and Sultan of Brunei (No.1) for years, this is the first time we scoured the globe in search of a truly definitive list. Monarchs of such countries as Spain and Japan failed to make the cut.

No. 1

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Sultan/Brunei

$22 billion

Age: 61

Became 29th Sultan of Brunei 40 years ago, inheriting riches of an unbroken 600-year-old Muslim dynasty. Rules concurrently as the oil-rich land's prime minister, defense minister, finance minister and head of religion. Collector of fine jewels is also an avid polo player.

No. 2

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

President/United Arab Emirates

$21 billion

Age: 59

Hereditary ruler of tiny emirate Abu Dhabi, home to one-tenth of world's oil reserves. Trying to reinvent emirate as "cultural hub" of the Middle East; Frank Gehry-designed branch of the Guggenheim museum is set to open in 2011.

No. 3
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz

King/Saudi Arabia

$19 billion

Age: 83

King since August 2005; soon after, began construction on a $26 billion city named in his honor. More fiscally conservative than his big spending half-brother, the late King Fahd. Breeds Arabian horses. Established two libraries in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

No. 4

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Ruler/Dubai

$16 billion

Age: 57

"CEO of Dubai Inc." shares fortune with two brothers; government holding companies bought big stakes in HSBC and Deutsche Bank in the past year; bid for U.S retailer Barneys New York. Announced plans to donate $10 billion for Middle East educational foundation.

No. 5

King Bhumibol Adulyadej

King/Thailand

$5 billion

Age: 79

World’s longest-reigning monarch is U.S.-born, Swiss-educated and revered as a deity in Thailand. Family fortune includes investments, real estate mostly held through Crown Property Bureau. Environmentalist has royal car that runs on palm oil.

No. 6

Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein

Prince/Liechtenstein

$4.5 billion

Age: 62

Heads self-named country. Family, whose fortune goes back 900 years, has been collecting art for four centuries; own 33 Rubens, largest number in private hands. Also own private LGT bank, real estate and Rice Tec, a U.S. producer of genetically engineered rice.

No. 7

King Mohammed IV

King/Morocco

$2 billion

Age: 44

Nicknamed "king of the poor" for efforts to alleviate poverty and improve human rights. Palace's reported operating budget exceeds $960,000 a day; much of it spent on clothes and car repairs.

No. 8

Prince Albert II

Prince/Monaco

$1.2 billion

Age: 49

Eligible bachelor inherited tiny principality after his father’s death in 2005 as well as a fortune in real estate, art and stake in Monte Carlo’s casinos. This year, hosted tributes to honor his mother, U.S. actress Grace Kelly, who died 25 years ago.

No. 9

Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani

Emir/Qatar

$1 billion

Age: 55

Overthrew father in a bloodless coup in 1995. Sports enthusiast bringing events like Asian Games to tiny state. Funded Al Jazeera and its English sister station.

No. 10

Prince Karim Al Husseini

Aga Khan

$1 billion

Age: 70

Celebrated 50th anniversary as leader of world’s 15 million Ismaili Muslims this year. Suave businessman runs business conglomerate from France and Switzerland; also has extensive horse farms. Currently divorcing second wife; first ex-wife received a reported $20 million.

No. 11

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen/U.K.

$600 million

Age: 81

Long-reigning queen keeps an active travel schedule, including a state visit to the U.S. this year, her fourth since 1957. Real estate holdings in England and Scotland are appreciating; owns valuable stamp collection. Amateur photographer passionate about Welsh corgis and horses.

No. 12

Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah

Emir/Kuwait

$500 million

Age: 78

Took over as emir in 2006 after crown prince was deemed too ill to ascend to throne after death of former emir Sheikh Jaber. Soon after, voted for a significant raise in the royal family stipend.

No. 13

Sultan Qaboos Bin Said

Sultan/Oman

$500 million

Age: 66

After six years under house arrest, overthrew his father in 1970. Began modernization to open country to outside world; his fortune today is tied up in oil. Funded restoration of over a dozen mosques.

No. 14

Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard

Queen/Netherlands

$300 million

Age: 69

Wields more power than most of Europe's reigning monarchs: appoints the prime minister and deputies, also signs bills into law. Family fortune includes real estate, equity investments and antiques, which the queen reportedly actively manages.

No. 15

King Mswati II

King/Swaziland

$200 million

Age: 39

Africa’s last absolute monarch assumed the throne at age 18. Wealth derived from investments, real estate. Lavish spender is building palaces for each of his 13 wives. Recently held a reported million dollar-plus birthday bash for himself; critics denounced the spending given the country’s poverty and high AIDS rate.

Source: Forbes