Waleed bin Talal

Prince Waleed bin Talal Al Saud (born 1955) is a prominent Saudi Arabian businessman and philanthropist who has become one of the world's most influential investors and richest individuals. As founder and chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, established in 1980, Waleed has built a diversified global investment portfolio spanning media, telecommunications, hospitality, and real estate. He has made landmark investments in major Western corporations including Citigroup, News Corporation, and the Four Seasons Hotels, strategically positioning himself at the intersection of Middle Eastern capital and Western business. Known for his distinctive personal style, including his fleet of luxury vehicles and palatial estates, Waleed has become a recognizable figure in international business and high society. Beyond business, he is a significant philanthropist, having pledged billions to charitable causes through the Waleed bin Talal Foundation, particularly supporting education, healthcare, and humanitarian initiatives. He has also played diplomatic roles, leveraging his business influence and family connections to facilitate dialogue between the Middle East and the West. Waleed's career exemplifies how Middle Eastern wealth has become integral to global financial systems, and his prominence illustrates the evolving nature of international business leadership in the contemporary world.