Richest Royal Families In The World: Queen Elizabeth's Monarchy Is Far From Top

When talking about royals, the first family that comes to mind is that of Queen Elizabeth II. But while she may be the longest-reigning monarch in the world today, she is not the wealthiest.

Here's a look at the richest royal families in the world today, courtesy of South China Morning Post (SCMP).

5. The U.K.

Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her 70th year on the throne this year, is the head of only the fifth richest royal family on the planet.

Forbes estimated in 2017 that the family as a whole was worth $88 billion, but a 2021 report from the magazine put the amount at $28 billion.

The 96-year-old monarch is worth $500 million due to her investments, art, jewels and real estate, including two castles: Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle.

The crown holds, but cannot sell, nearly $28 billion in assets through the Crown Estate ($19.5 billion), Buckingham Palace (estimated $4.9 billion), the Duchy of Cornwall ($1.3 billion), the Duchy of Lancaster ($748 million), Kensington Palace (estimated $630 million) and the Crown Estate Scotland ($592 million).

The royal family includes the Queen's eldest son and heir Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Charles' eldest son Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

All official expenses of the working members of the British royal family are paid for by the Sovereign Grant, while their private expenses are supported by an allowance through the Duchy of Lancaster called the Privy Purse, according to Forbes.

4. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Abu Dhabi royals, led by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 61, are said to be richer than the British royal family. Coming in at No. 4, they have a combined net worth of $150 billion, according to Forbes.

The Abu Dhabi royals descended from the same tribe as the royals of the neighboring emirate of Dubai. Their wealth came from the sale of oil in the 1970s, which allowed the late sheikh to become one of the wealthiest landlords in London.

By comparison, Dubai's leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's worth is estimated at $18 billion, according to Forbes.

3. Qatar

The royals of Qatar, led by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, placed third among the world's richest royal families.

Al Thani, 42, alone is said to have a net worth of $2 billion, while the whole family is said to be worth $335 billion, according to SCMP.

The ruling Thani family has investments in properties around the globe, including London's Shard skyscraper, Olympic Village, Harrods department store and New York's Empire State Building, the report said.

2. Kuwait

The second richest royal family in the world is that of Kuwait with a reported combined net worth of $360 billion, according to SCMP.

The country's royal family is believed to be made up of around 1,000 members and is currently headed by Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, 85.

The bulk of the fortune of the Sabah family, which has ruled Kuwait since 1752, reportedly can be attributed to their huge investments in major blue-chip companies in the U.S.

1. Saudi Arabia

Topping the list is the royal family of Saudi Arabia. Led by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the family, which is said to have over 15,000 members, reportedly has a combined net worth of $1.4 trillion.

King Salman, 85, has ruled since 2015. He is believed to have a fortune of $18 billion, making him the richest individual royal in the world today, according to SCMP.

Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud is reportedly the second richest member of the family, with a reported net worth of $16 billion. The prince reportedly funded $1.9 billion of Elon Musk's Twitter takeover.