Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud Biography: Age, Net Worth, Kingdom Holding, Wives, Children, Family

Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, is a Saudi Arabian billionaire investor, businessman, is globally recognized as a billionaire investor, businessman, and philanthropist, is globally recognized for his astute financial acumen and leadership as the founder and Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), a diversified investment firm listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange.

A member of the Saudi royal family, he built his fortune through strategic stakes in major corporations such as Citigroup, Apple, Twitter (now X), and Four Seasons Hotels.

Known as the “the Arabian Warren Buffett,” Al Waleed’s investment portfolio spans technology, hospitality, media, and real estate across the Middle East, Europe, and the US.

Profile

• Full Name: Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud
• Stage Name: Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud
• Born: 7 March, 1955
• Age: 70 years old
• Birthplace: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Nationality: Saudi Arabian
• Occupation: Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Mona El-Solh
• Siblings: Khaled bin Talal, Reem bint Talal
• Spouse: Ameera Al-Taweel (m. 2008–2013), Dalal bint Saud Al Saud (m. 1976–1994)
• Children: Khaled bin Alwaleed Al Saud, Reem bint Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $22 billion

Early Life and Education

Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud was born on March 7, 1955, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a liberal Saudi royal, and Mona El-Solh, daughter of Lebanon’s first prime minister.

Raised alongside siblings Khaled and Reem, he grew up between Riyadh and Beirut, influenced by his parents’ progressive views. After his parents’ divorce, he lived with his mother in Lebanon, attending military school in Riyadh.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Menlo College, California, in 1979, and a master’s in social science from Syracuse University in 1985. He is of Saudi-Lebanese ethnicity and practices Islam as his religion.

Career

Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud began his career in 1979 with a $30,000 gift from his father, which he leveraged into a $15 million loan to invest in real estate and construction in Riyadh.

By the 1980s, he founded Kingdom Establishment, focusing on land deals and agency contracts, amassing wealth during Saudi Arabia’s oil boom. His pivotal move came in 1991, when he invested $590 million in Citibank (now Citigroup) during its financial crisis, a stake that grew to $10 billion by the 2000s.

In 1996, he established Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), consolidating his investments in hospitality, media, and technology. His early success stemmed from identifying undervalued assets and forging partnerships with global brands like Disney and News Corp.

Under Al Waleed’s leadership, KHC became a global investment powerhouse, holding stakes in companies like Apple, Twitter (X), and Lyft, as well as luxury hospitality brands such as Four Seasons, Fairmont, and Mövenpick.

His 2005 investment in the Four Seasons for $3.7 billion and the 2011 purchase of a 47.5% stake in Fairmont Raffles for $3.9 billion expanded KHC’s hospitality portfolio. By 2023, KHC’s market value reached $12 billion, with 2024 revenues of SAR 2.7 billion.

Al Waleed’s resilience was tested during his 2017 detention in Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption purge, from which he emerged in 2018, retaining control of KHC. His support for Saudi Vision 2030, including investments in NEOM, reflects his alignment with national goals.

Currently, Al Waleed remains Chairman and CEO of Kingdom Holding Company, steering its focus toward digital transformation and sustainable investments.

In 2024, KHC sold a $1.5 billion stake in Four Seasons to Cascade Investment but retains significant control. His recent ventures include backing Saudi Arabia’s gaming industry and expanding KHC’s real estate, with projects like Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh.

Al Waleed’s philanthropy, through Alwaleed Philanthropies, supports global education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment, notably funding Saudi Arabia’s first female pilots. His influence as a royal investor and advocate for modernization continues to shape Saudi Arabia’s economic and social landscape.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @alwaleed_bin_talal
• Facebook Handle: Alwaleed Bin Talal
• Twitter Handle: @Alwaleed_Talal

Personal Life

Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud has had a notable personal life marked by four marriages and two children from his first union.

In 1976, at age 19, he married his cousin Princess Dalal bint Saud, daughter of King Saud; they had two children—Prince Khaled (born April 21, 1978) and Princess Reem (born June 20, 1982)—before divorcing in December 1994.

His next marriage in 1996 was to Princess Iman Sudairi, which lasted about a year, followed by marriage to Kholood Al Anazi in 1999; that marriage ended in divorce in 2004.

His fourth marriage was to Ameera al-Taweel (also spelled Ameerah), a Saudi philanthropist, in 2008; the couple remained together for approximately six years before amicably divorcing in 2014, with Al Waleed emphasizing his ongoing respect for her.

Net Worth

Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud’s net worth is estimated to be around $22 billion USD.

His wealth primarily derives from his 95% ownership of Kingdom Holding Company, with significant stakes in Citigroup, Four Seasons, and Twitter (X). Additional income flows from real estate, including Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre Tower, and hospitality ventures like Fairmont and Mövenpick.