Who is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Saudi royal who spends millions on superyachts and mansions – and is at the centre of human rights issues?
His family is worth US$1.4 trillion, he’s friends with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and lately, the young prince has been getting a lot of attention
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, known as MBS, is the future king of Saudi Arabia.
The 34-year-old heir will ascend to the throne after the death of his father, 83-year-old King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud.
Prince Mohammed is known for his lavish spending. He has bought a US$500 million yacht, a US$300 million French chateau, and a US$450 million Leonardo da Vinci painting. According to one estimate, the Saudi royal family – which has about 15,000 members – is worth up to US$1.4 trillion.
The royal family’s empire includes Saudi Aramco, the massive, state-owned oil company that just went public and is now valued at US$1.9 trillion, making it the most valuable company in the world.
Salman has become a controversial global political figure, particularly since the autumn of 2018, when he faced global outcry over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who the CIA later concluded was assassinated on the prince’s orders.
Here’s a look at the lavish – and controversial – lifestyle of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
He was born to King Salman and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah, in 1985.
He was named crown prince in June 2017 after his father, King Salman, decided to remove Mohammed bin Nayef from the position.
Rumours later emerged that Salman had secretly plotted to oust bin Nayef and take his place, The New York Times reported.
The prince has a bachelor’s degree in law from King Saud University, the oldest university in Saudi Arabia.