Saudi Arabia's Wealthiest Billionaire Diversifies Across Sectors — Is Crypto Next in Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud's Portfolio?

Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud has secured his position on Forbes’ 2025 billionaire rankings with a staggering net worth of 16.5 billion USD, claiming the title of the Arab world’s wealthiest individual. Yet his prominence extends beyond mere financial figures—it’s his calculated, cross-sector investment approach that commands industry attention.

The Ascent of Saudi Arabia’s Investment Maverick

Born in 1955, Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud carries dual royal lineage as the grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founding monarch, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Lebanon’s inaugural Prime Minister. His previous Forbes appearance came in 2017 when his wealth peaked at 18.7 billion USD, only to vanish from the list in 2018 following Forbes’ suspension of Saudi billionaire tracking. His 2025 reappearance marks a singular achievement—he’s the sole Saudi billionaire from the 2017 roster to resurface, now ranking 128th globally and commanding the top position among 15 Saudi billionaires this year.

The foundation of Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud’s empire rests primarily on Kingdom Holding Company, an investment vehicle he established four and a half decades ago and currently commands with a 78.13% stake worth approximately 6.4 billion USD.

Kingdom Holding: A Sprawling Investment Ecosystem

Kingdom Holding operates as one of the Middle East’s most substantial investment conglomerates, managing a portfolio valued at 19 billion USD as of late 2024. The company’s asset deployment spans three principal categories—equity and securities investments, hospitality infrastructure, and property development—distributed across 18 distinct subsectors encompassing finance, entertainment, aviation, energy, AI advancement, education, and healthcare.

Beyond his Kingdom Holding equity, Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud maintains stakes in Rotana (a regional media entity), 1.5% ownership of Snap Inc. (Snapchat’s parent), and substantial real estate holdings throughout the kingdom. A pivotal 2022 transaction saw Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund acquire 16.9% of Kingdom Holding for 1.6 billion USD.

The Technology Gambit: From Social Media to AI Ventures

Technology represents Kingdom Holding’s most aggressive expansion zone. The group secured the second-largest shareholder position in X (formerly Twitter) and Elon Musk’s xAI enterprise. Additional commitments span Meta, Uber, Didi, Lyft, and comparable digital platforms. During 2024, Kingdom Holding injected an additional 800 million USD into xAI across Series B and C funding stages.

Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud emerged as an early backer of Musk’s 2022 Twitter acquisition and doubled down on his conviction when Musk orchestrated the X-xAI consolidation announced in March, with the merged entity commanding a 125 billion USD valuation. The prince anticipates this consolidated venture could represent 4 to 5 billion USD in combined investment value in the near term.

Hospitality: A Historical Core

Hospitality comprises 31% of the total investment allocation. This includes a 23.7% stake in Four Seasons—originating from an enduring partnership with Bill Gates’ investment apparatus—reduced from a previous 47.5% when the prince divested half to Gates for 2.21 billion USD in 2021. Kingdom Holding additionally owns 6.8% of French multinational Accor, which operates 40+ renowned hospitality chains including Fairmont, Raffles, and Sofitel.

Finance, Real Estate, and Emerging Sectors

Citigroup represents a historic anchor dating back to 1991 when Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud deployed 800 million USD—a position that appreciated to 10 billion USD by 2005. Current holdings stand at 1.06% of Citigroup shares, though Kingdom Holding’s commanding 16.2% stake in Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), valued around 1.8 billion USD, demonstrates continued financial sector confidence.

Real estate allocations constitute 25.9% of portfolio value, anchored by flagship developments like Kingdom Centre in Riyadh and Jeddah Tower—an architectural ambition targeting 1,000+ meters to claim the world’s tallest building designation. Contracted investment values approach 1.9 billion USD, excluding his 35.74% interest in Jeddah Economic Company.

Aviation constitutes another strategic focal point, with Kingdom Holding maintaining 37.2% ownership of Flynas, a budget carrier operating 61 aircraft. According to Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud’s social media announcements, Flynas will debut on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul exchange this year with IPO targets exceeding 2 billion USD in capital mobilization.

Healthcare operations, accounting for 2.2% of portfolio weight, include a 4.9% stake in Dallah Health alongside Kingdom Hospital operations and medical consultancy services. The education sector showcases even more concentrated focus—89.8% ownership of Kingdom School System witnessed 14% student enrollment growth last year, signaling substantial long-term expansion potential.

The Broader Strategy: Positioning for Tomorrow’s Economy

Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud’s investment philosophy reflects a deliberate hedging strategy across mature industries and emerging technologies. His calculated entries into AI through xAI, sustained positions in digital platforms like X and Meta, and strategic hospitality-finance balance suggest a forward-looking investor comfortable with calculated risk-taking. Whether this diversification eventually extends into digital assets or cryptocurrency remains speculative, but his track record suggests emerging sectors rarely escape his analytical scope for long.