Wealth Of The Sultan Of Brunei: How Rich?

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is one of the world's wealthiest monarchs, with a net worth of around $30 billion. His lavish lifestyle includes a private jet, a vast car collection, and the world's largest palace.

The Sultan's wealth and power

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has been the Sultan of Brunei since 1967 and is also the nation's Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Finance Minister. As one of the few remaining absolute monarchs in the world, he wields considerable power and influence over the country's political and economic landscape. His vast fortune, once estimated at $30 billion, largely stems from Brunei's substantial oil and gas reserves. This has allowed him to indulge in a lavish lifestyle, with a car collection of around 7,000 luxury vehicles and a residence with over 1,700 rooms.

The Sultan's car collection is valued at an estimated $5 billion and includes classic Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, and custom-designed vehicles such as a gold-plated Rolls-Royce with an open roof and an umbrella. He also owns a private fleet of VIP aircraft, including a gold-plated Boeing 747-400, often referred to as the 'flying palace'.

The Sultan's residence, Istana Nurul Iman, is the largest residential palace in the world, covering over two million square feet. It boasts golden domes, a vaulted roof, 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, 110 garages, five swimming pools, and even a private zoo with 30 Bengal tigers and various bird species.

In addition to his extravagant possessions, the Sultan is known for his luxurious personal care. He reportedly spends $20,000 to fly his barber from London to Brunei for personal grooming sessions, showcasing his commitment to maintaining his appearance with the utmost opulence.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's immense wealth and power have secured his place as a significant figure in Brunei's history and on the global stage. His legacy is marked by his opulence, influence, and the impact he has had on the country's political and economic affairs during his long reign.

His car collection

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has a car collection that is frequently credited to his brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, and other royal family members. The collection is valued at around $5 billion and consists of approximately 7,000 cars, making it the largest private car collection in the world. The collection includes:

• Bentleys: The Sultan's collection includes Bentleys from the 1980s and 1990s, mostly Azure and Continental models, worth around $80 million. The Bentley Dominator SUV, a rare Bentley SUV, was commissioned by the Sultan and is said to have cost around $4.6 million. Other unique Bentleys in the collection include the Continental R Superfast, the Buccaneer GT coupe, and the Java with its powerful twin-turbo V8.
• Ferraris: The Sultan's collection includes several Ferrari F40s, two 250 GTOs, and a Testarossa F90 Speciale. He also owns a rare Ferrari F50, a Ferrari FX, and a Testarossa F90 Speciale. The Sultan also owns a Ferrari F50 Bolide, a unique model with the chassis and V12 from the Prancing Horse's F1 car and a redesigned body. The Sultan also owns several Ferrari 456s, including the 456 GT Venice Cabriolet, a gorgeous Forest Green wagon, and a 456 Venice station wagon.
• Porsches: The Sultan's collection includes 32 Porsche 928 S4s, part of a broader group of 55 928s. He also owns more than one Porsche 959, a Porsche 911 (964) featuring the X88 power package, and a Daur 962 Le Mans, a racer based on the Porsche 962.
• Rolls-Royces: The Sultan holds the Guinness World Record for the largest private Rolls-Royce collection, with more than 500 Rolls-Royce vehicles. The collection includes the Phantom VI, several Phantom Royales, a Statesman, and a Phantom II Continental, also known as the Star of India. The Sultan also owns a stretched Silver Spur II plated with 24-carat gold, valued at around $14 million.
• Other notable cars: The Sultan's collection also includes ten McLaren F1s, a few Bugatti EB 110s, a Mercedes-Benz S73 T AMG Wagon, a BMW Nazca M12 Concept, and an Aston Martin AM3, a grand tourer based on the Vantage.

His palace

The Istana Nurul Iman, the primary residence of the Sultan, is the largest residential palace in the world. It boasts a staggering two million square feet of floor space, with golden domes and a vaulted roof. The palace has almost 1,800 rooms, 257 bathrooms, 110 garages, and five swimming pools. It also features air-conditioned stables for 200 horses and a private zoo with 30 Bengal tigers and various bird species, including flamingos and cockatoos.

The palace was commissioned in 1984, a year after the Sultan assumed power, and is adorned with a dome covered in 22-carat gold, valued at over Rs 2,550 crore. Every room has a gold washbasin, reflecting the Sultan's opulent tastes.

The Sultan's palace hosted festivities for his Golden Jubilee in 2017, with the monarch and Queen Consort sitting on golden thrones for a royal audience, followed by a 21-gun salute.

His private jet

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is one of the world's wealthiest monarchs, with a net worth of $30 billion. He is known for his lavish lifestyle, which includes a private jet collection.

The Sultan's most expensive private jet is a customised Boeing 747-430, which cost him over $233 million. He purchased the plane for around $100 million and spent an additional $100 million on updating its interior, which features gold and crystal decor throughout, including washbasins made of solid gold.

The Sultan's other wide-body jets include two Airbus A340s and a 767, but the Boeing 747-430 is his largest aircraft. With Brunei's vast oil and gas reserves, the Sultan does not need to worry about fuel efficiency or the cost of operating such a fleet.

The Sultan's private jets reflect his immense wealth, power, and influence, making him a significant figure in Brunei's history and on the global stage.

His personal life and controversial laws

Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been married three times. He married his first cousin and first wife, Pengiran Anak Saleha, in 1965. In 1981, he married his second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz, a former flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines. In 2005, he married his third wife, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, a former Malaysian TV3 anchor, in a private wedding held in Kuala Lumpur. He has five sons and seven daughters with his three wives. He is a sports enthusiast and a certified pilot.

In 2014, Bolkiah faced international criticism for implementing Sharia law, which includes harsh punishments such as stoning and amputation. In 2019, a law permitting the death penalty for gay sex drew global outrage, leading to the Sultan later announcing that the death penalty would not be enforced.

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