You know how sometimes you’re scrolling through Instagram, and a friend posts a photo of their new car? And you think, “Nice, buddy.” But then Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal posts a photo of his private Boeing 747, which is basically a flying palace—with a throne room? That’s the difference between “doing okay” and “so rich your garage has a separate zip code.”
Prince Al Waleed is like that one uncle who never shows up to a family barbecue without a gift. Except his gifts are countries. He once bought a 3% stake in Apple—for a cool billion—and then casually tweeted about it like it was a new pair of sneakers. “Just dropped a billion on some new tech. #NBD.”
The Guy Who Lost a Bet to a Bed
Here’s the thing: Al Waleed is famously frugal in his own weird way. He reportedly once slept on a floor mattress for weeks after losing a bet with his nephew over a video game. No, really. The man who owns a $300 million yacht called Kingdom 5KR chose a hard floor over a Sealy Posturepedic just to prove a point. Relatable? Maybe not. But it does make you wonder if he’s just a regular guy who happens to have a spare 747 in the driveway.
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His office in Riyadh is a sight. It’s all glass and gold, with a massive screen showing live stock tickers. But my favorite detail? He keeps a fake $1 bill framed on his desk. Why? Because he once told a reporter it reminds him that “money is just paper.” Yeah, it’s definitely just paper, Prince. Cut to me nervously counting my grocery-store coupons.
The “Robin Hood” of Riyadh (But Make It Luxury)
He’s known for dropping serious cash on charity, too. After the 2004 tsunami, he gave $20 million to relief efforts. And during COVID, he personally donated $20 million to help fight the virus. But he does it with drama. Once, he gave $100,000 to a homeless man in New York—on live TV. The man cried. Al Waleed just smiled and said, “Now, go buy a burger.” It’s like if Batman were a Saudi billionaire who wears a Rolex.
Saudi prince al walid bin talal Banque de photographies et d’images à
His car collection? Insane. He owns a Lamborghini Veneno (only four exist) and a Ferrari Enzo. But here’s the twist: he once drove a beat-up Toyota Corolla around Riyadh just to see if anyone would recognize him. Spoiler: they didn’t. So for one week, the 11th-richest man in the world was just another guy stuck in traffic, listening to the radio. Iconic.
The Hotel King Who Couldn’t Get a Room
He owns the George V in Paris, the Savoy in London, and the Plaza in New York. But the story I love most is when he tried to book a suite at the Plaza—his own hotel—and was told it was “fully booked.” He reportedly called the manager and said, “I own the hotel. Let me in.” That’s like your landlord telling you the apartment is full, and you’re like, “Actually, I own the building. And the street.”
2019 GCC Inspiring leaders - Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud
He’s also seriously into Twitter. He tweets about stocks, politics, and the occasional cat meme. Once, he responded to a random user who complained about their lost luggage by sending them a first-class ticket to Dubai. That’s the digital equivalent of showing up to a complaint with a golden parachute.
The Man, The Myth, The Meme
Let’s be honest: Al Waleed is the kind of guy who makes you question your entire life. You’re proud of your new air fryer; he has a solid gold iPad. You stress over a $5 coffee; he bought a $300 million stake in Twitter. But what makes him endearing is his complete lack of pretense. He’ll talk philosophy with you for hours, then casually mention that his watch costs more than most people’s houses. And he means well.
CNN TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO HH PRINCE ALWALEED BIN TALAL ABDULAZIZ ALSAUD
He once said, “The best thing about money is not what it buys, but what it allows you to do for others.” It’s cheesy, sure. But when you see him donate millions to cure blindness or build schools in remote villages, you realize he actually lives by that. He’s like a billionaire with a therapist’s heart and a comedian’s timing.
So next time you’re stuck in traffic or your WiFi goes out, think of Prince Al Waleed. He’s probably sitting on his 747, drinking tea from a Diamond-studded Thermos, tweeting about how “life is but a dream.” And you’ll nod, smile, and think: “Yeah, but my dream has a 9-to-5.”
And that’s okay. We can’t all own a £100 million art collection. But we can all appreciate a guy who sleeps on the floor just to win a bet with his nephew. Relatable, right? Right?
