Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is a member of the Saudi royal family and a prominent businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, a diversified investment company that has interests in a wide range of industries, including real estate, banking, media, and entertainment.
Born in 1955 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Prince Alwaleed is the grandson of the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Al Saud. He received his education in the United States, earning a degree in business administration from Menlo College in California and a master’s degree in social science from Syracuse University in New York.
Prince Alwaleed began his business career in the early 1980s, working for his family’s business, Saudi Arabia’s largest construction company. In 1982, he founded Kingdom Establishment, which would later become Kingdom Holding Company. Under his leadership, Kingdom Holding Company has grown into one of the largest investment companies in the world, with a portfolio that includes major stakes in companies such as Citigroup, Twitter, and Disneyland Paris.
Prince Alwaleed is also known for his philanthropic work. He has donated billions of dollars to charitable causes around the world, including disaster relief efforts, education initiatives, and medical research. In 2015, he pledged to donate his entire fortune, estimated at the time to be worth $32 billion, to charity.
Prince Alwaleed’s estimated net worth has fluctuated over the years, depending on the performance of his investments and the value of his holdings. As of 2021, Forbes estimates his net worth to be around $18.8 billion.
In addition to his business and philanthropic work, Prince Alwaleed has also been involved in various political and social initiatives. He has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia and has called for greater political and economic reforms in the country.
Despite his wealth and influence, Prince Alwaleed has also faced controversy over the years. In 2017, he was detained by the Saudi government as part of a sweeping corruption crackdown, which was widely seen as a move by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to consolidate his power. Prince Alwaleed was later released after reaching a settlement with the government.
Overall, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is a significant figure in the worlds of business, philanthropy, and politics, with a legacy that is sure to endure for years to come.
Here is a timeline of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s life and career:
1955 – Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
1979 – Prince Alwaleed receives his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Menlo College in California.
1980 – He joins the family business, Saudi Arabia’s largest construction company.
1982 – Prince Alwaleed founds Kingdom Establishment, which later becomes Kingdom Holding Company.
1987 – Kingdom Holding Company acquires a 24.9% stake in Citicorp, now known as Citigroup.
1991 – Prince Alwaleed invests $590 million in Euro Disney, now known as Disneyland Paris.
1997 – Kingdom Holding Company acquires a 5% stake in Apple Inc.
2001 – Prince Alwaleed donates $27 million to victims of the September 11 attacks.
2005 – Kingdom Holding Company acquires a stake in News Corporation, the parent company of Fox News.
2013 – Prince Alwaleed invests $300 million in Twitter.
2015 – He announces plans to donate his entire fortune, estimated at the time to be worth $32 billion, to charitable causes.
2017 – Prince Alwaleed is detained by the Saudi government as part of a corruption crackdown.
2018 – He is released after reaching a settlement with the government.
2021 – Forbes estimates Prince Alwaleed’s net worth to be around $18.8 billion.
5 interesting facts about Prince Alwaleed bin Talal:
- He is the grandson of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia.
- In addition to his philanthropic work, he is also known for his luxury lifestyle, owning properties and yachts around the world.
- He is the first person from the Middle East to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
- Prince Alwaleed is a major shareholder in Rotana, the largest entertainment company in the Middle East.
- He is a graduate of Menlo College in California and Syracuse University in New York.
5 quotes from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal:
- “I have no interest whatsoever in being a businessman for the sake of money. I have no interest in money for the sake of money.”
- “I invest in people, not companies.”
- “I believe that women’s role will be increased in Saudi Arabia. We are a country that cannot live without women.”
- “Philanthropy is not about giving money, it’s about solving problems.”
- “Success is not about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”
