Basic Information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Born | March 7, 1955 |
| Birthplace | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Age | 70 (as of 2025) |
| Primary roles | Investor, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, philanthropist |
| Key company | Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) |
| Education | Menlo College; Syracuse University (business/social science studies) |
| Known for | Large global equity stakes in finance, media, hospitality, and tech |
| Public profile highlights | High-profile investments; philanthropy pledges; 2017–2018 detention episode |
One-line portrait and early life
Saudi prince and worldwide investor Prince Al Waleed bin Talal is known for making deals across continents. Born in Riyadh on March 7, 1955, he studied business and social sciences in the US after growing up in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.
Kingdom Holding Company and corporate footprint
Al Waleed formed and chaired Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), his Riyadh-based portfolio pillar. Four Seasons and Fairmont hotels, major bank positions (historically Citigroup), media interests, and technology and consumer shares are among KHC’s long-term and activist investments in publicly traded companies.
| Metric | Figure / example |
|---|---|
| Notable hotel stakes | Four Seasons, Fairmont (1990s–2000s) |
| Historic bank investment | Citicorp (notable 1990s stake) |
| Corporate vehicle | Kingdom Holding Company (headquartered in Riyadh) |
Major deals, net worth, and financial scale
Business press calls him a global long-term value investor. He converted early positions into multibillion-dollar gains over decades, and financial trackers name him among the world’s richest people, with net worth estimates fluctuating with markets and asset disposals. His portfolio combines sector-focused and diversified holdings.
| Year | Financial milestone |
|---|---|
| Early 1990s | Major Citicorp/ Citigroup stake acquired and monetized |
| 1994 | Stakes in hotel groups and Euro Disney dealings |
| 2010s–2020s | Continued KHC investments across media, hospitality, and tech |
Philanthropy, public pledges, and public image
Al Waleed Philanthropies was founded by him and vowed big donations to education, disaster relief, and intercultural efforts. He also expressed his plan to give away a large percentage of his fortune. His altruistic side has influenced his public image and contrasted with his deal-making side.
Political risk and the 2017–2018 detention episode
In November 2017, he was jailed during a massive anti-corruption operation affecting royals and businesses and released some weeks later after a settlement that changed his public and corporate standing. His public footprint was reduced throughout that time, yet observers nevertheless frame his career risks.
Family, relationships, and personal notes
| Family member | Role / note |
|---|---|
| Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (father) | Senior royal family connections; part of extended House of Saud |
| Mona Al-Solh (mother) | Lebanese lineage; family ties into Lebanese public life |
| Children | Sons and daughters who appear occasionally in public profiles |
| Spouses / former spouses | Multiple high-profile marriages, including Ameerah al-Taweel (married 2008, later divorced) |
| Public persona | A blend of royal privilege, international investor, and public philanthropist |
He attends international conferences, humanitarian launches, and corporate shareholder events while juggling business and charity.
Recent news, corporate shifts, and social mentions
He continued to sell, transfer stakes, and partner with sovereign-wealth actors in the 2020s. Recent headlines also detailed large public investment fund purchases of Kingdom Holding, reflecting a shift in Saudi institutional ownership. He is often mentioned in conversations regarding Saudi cash flows into global markets, where his altruism and political missteps are debated on social media. (The details above show the long history of these advances.)
Achievements, honors, and recognitions
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Business | Large, early investments that yielded multibillion dollar returns; long-running KHC leadership |
| Philanthropy | Founder of Alwaleed Philanthropies; high-value pledges to education and relief |
| Public profile | Referred to in international press as a major global investor with outsized influence |
FAQ
When and where was Al Waleed bin Talal born?
He was born on March 7, 1955, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What is Kingdom Holding Company?
Kingdom Holding Company is his Riyadh-based conglomerate and primary investment vehicle for hotels, media, finance and other global holdings.
How did he make his early fortune?
He made significant returns from early 1990s Citicorp investments and strategic hotel and media businesses.
Was he ever detained in Saudi Arabia?
Yes; he was detained in the widely reported anti-corruption sweep in late 2017 and released after a settlement in early 2018.
What is Alwaleed Philanthropies?
His charity, Alwaleed Philanthropies, promotes education, relief, and interfaith and intercultural dialogue and has received major public donations.
Is he active on social media or public platforms?
Though generally communicated through corporate and humanitarian channels, he is well-known on platforms and in business media.
