Sultan Of Brunei's Business Empire: What He Owns

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is known for his extravagant lifestyle and immense wealth, which is estimated to be around \$20 billion. He has a penchant for luxury and opulence, with a taste for expensive cars, private jets, and lavish properties. The Sultan's business ventures include the Dorchester Collection, a conglomerate of luxury hotels in the UK, US, France, and Italy. He also owns prestigious hotels such as The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hotel Bel-Air. Additionally, the Sultan has investments in various industries, including real estate, aviation, and jewelry. His spending habits and lifestyle have often been the subject of media attention and criticism.

The Dorchester Collection

• The Dorchester in London, UK: One of the world's most luxurious hotels, this property in Mayfair features 250 rooms and 49 suites. It opened in 1931.
• 45 Park Lane in London, UK: Another Mayfair hotel, known for its striking architecture and younger, hipper feel compared to The Dorchester.
• Coworth Park in Berkshire, UK: This late 18th-century country house was turned into a Dorchester Collection hotel-spa.
• Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris, France: A five-star hotel close to the Louvre. It opened in the late 18th century.
• Le Richemond in Geneva, Switzerland: Located on the banks of Lake Geneva, it boasts one of the most expensive suites in the world and first opened in 1875.
• Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, Italy: A cosmopolitan gathering place since the 1920s, this property is considered a Milanese landmark.
• The Dorchester's second Italian property in Rome, Italy: Located in Rome's Old City, it features 121 rooms and over-the-top food like foie gras and smoked lobster.
• The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA: Known as the "Pink Palace," it played an instrumental role in the establishment of Beverly Hills and continues to be a hub for Hollywood wheeling and dealing.
• Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, California, USA: One of L.A.'s most prestigious hotels, it features a presidential suite with its own pool.

The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Sultan of Brunei's implementation of Sharia law in his country has led to boycotts of his businesses, including The Beverly Hills Hotel. Under Sharia law, absence from Friday prayer services, pregnancy out of wedlock, wearing indecent clothing, refusal to wear the hijab, employing a non-Muslim babysitter, using the word "Allah" as a non-Muslim, publicly eating or drinking during Ramadan, theft, homosexuality, and adultery are all punishable by fines, jail, amputation of limbs, public flogging, or death by stoning.

The Brunei Investment Agency

The BIA's primary objective, as defined by the Act, is to hold and manage the General Reserve Fund of the Government and all its external assets. The agency controls and manages Brunei's general reserve funds and the growth of external holdings, including the country's income from oil exports in the form of foreign reserves. It functions as one of the investment arms of the Brunei government and has a strong financial base, with funds generated from the country's gas and oil resources, and other revenues.

The BIA's investment portfolio includes diverse investments in bonds, equity, currency, gold, and real estate, with substantial investments in the US. Some of its major foreign assets include the Dorchester Collection, a portfolio of luxury hotels established in 1996; a 10% holding in the Paterson Securities of Australia; and the Bahagia Investment Corporation in Malaysia, dealing with real estate.

The BIA has made notable acquisitions over the years, including The Dorchester on Park Lane in London, which it purchased for US$50 million in 1985, and the formation of the Dorchester Collection in 1996, which includes luxury hotels in the UK, US, France, and Italy. The BIA also owns The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, purchased for US$185 million in 1987, and the Grand Hyatt Singapore Hotel. Additionally, the BIA has holdings in various companies, such as Paterson Securities of Australia and the Bahagia Investment Corporation of Malaysia.

In October 2023, the BIA had a total of US$73 billion in assets under management, showcasing the significant financial power of the agency and its contribution to the economy of Brunei.

The Sultan's car collection

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is known for his extravagant lifestyle and his love for luxury cars. His car collection is said to be worth more than $5 billion and includes some of the world's most expensive, beautiful, rare, and unique cars. Here is an overview of the Sultan's impressive car collection:

The Numbers

The Luxury and Exotic Cars

The Sultan is said to own around 600 Rolls-Royces, many of which are bullet-proof. He also has an extensive collection of Ferraris, with over 300 Ferraris in his possession. Other luxury and exotic cars in his collection include over 100 Jaguars, 134 Koenigseggs, 11 McLaren F1s, 6 Dauer Porsche 962 LMs, and several customised cars such as a right-hand-drive Mercedes CLK-GTR, the only one in the world.

The Supercars

The Sultan's collection also includes a range of supercars, such as 8 McLaren F1s, 27 Ferraris, and 27 Lamborghinis. He is also reported to have owned several concept cars that were turned into running machines exclusively for him, such as the Bentley Java and the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari Mythos.

The Classics

In addition to modern cars, the Sultan also has a collection of classic cars. He owns several models of Mercedes-Benz from the 1990s, including the 500 SEL and the 500 SL, as well as the iconic Porsche 959. He also has a soft spot for BMWs, with a collection of around 100 BMWs in his garage.

The Race Cars

The Sultan's passion for cars extends to the world of racing, and he has a private museum displaying all the Formula One championship-winning race cars since 1980. He has also been known to race his Ferraris through the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan with his brother, Prince Jefri.

The Customisations

Many of the Sultan's cars are customised to his unique specifications. For example, he is said to have a 542 hp, twin-turbo Rolls-Royce and a Bentley Dominator with a Range Rover's 4x4 system. He also had a special S-class Touring model designed just for him by Mercedes.

The Sultan of Brunei's car collection is a testament to his wealth and passion for automobiles. With its variety, rarity, and customisations, it is one of the most impressive car collections in the world.

The Sultan's jet collection

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is known for his extravagant lifestyle and his collection of luxury hotels, cars, and jets. His jet collection is no exception. The Sultan owns a private Boeing 747-400, a Boeing 767-200, and an Airbus A340-200. These jets are reportedly outfitted with luxurious details like gold accents, a separate remote-control desk, and a bedroom.

The Sultan's love for aviation is also reflected in his extensive car collection, which includes high-performance vehicles from brands like McLaren, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, and Lamborghini. It is said that his passion for expensive, beautiful, rare, and fast cars knows no boundaries.

The Sultan's jets are not just for show, as he has used them for practical purposes such as transporting himself and his polo ponies between Britain and Brunei. Additionally, the Sultan's jets have played a role in his infamous parties, with planeloads of women and polo ponies being flown in for his lavish celebrations.

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