Saudi Arabia’s business elite have made a striking return to the global stage. Fifteen billionaires featured on Forbes’ 2025 World’s Billionaires list, showcasing a combined wealth of $55.8 billion. This resurgence follows an eight-year absence, reflecting the Kingdom’s economic transformation and a boom in initial public offerings (IPOs) after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The list highlights both new entrants and familiar names, offering a glimpse into the diverse industries driving Saudi Arabia’s growth under Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia boasts the largest number of Arab billionaires, while the UAE and Egypt follow with five billionaires each, representing $24.3 billion and $20.6 billion, respectively. This resurgence highlights a significant shift in wealth accumulation within the region.
Prince Alwaleed Tops Arab List
Out of the 15 Saudi billionaires this year, 14 are newcomers, with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is the wealthiest Saudi and Arab, with a fortune of $16.5 billion. About 40% of his wealth comes from his ownership stake in Kingdom Holding. This company has investments in the Four Seasons hotel chain and the George V hotel in Paris, in addition to a stake in X (formerly Twitter).
The newly minted billionaires encompass a diverse spectrum of industries. They range from healthcare to retail to media. Sulaiman Al Habib stands out as the second wealthiest Saudi, boasting $10.9 billion. As the founder of Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group, he has significantly impacted the healthcare sector since going public in 2020.
The Al Muhaidib family also remains prominent on this list. Emad Al Muhaidib ranks third with $3.8 billion, followed closely by siblings Essam and Sulaiman Al Muhaidib, each with fortunes of $3.6 billion. They inherited and expanded their late father’s conglomerate into multiple sectors, including infrastructure and finance.
Key Figures Shaping the Market
An investor to watch, Mohammad Abunayyan, commands a wealth of $3.2 billion as a key player in energy and utilities. In banking and retail, Abdullah Al Rajhi and Abdullah Al Othaim share seventh place with $2.5 billion each. Additionally, Abdullah Amer Al Nahdi, founder of Al Nahdi Medical Group, ranks eighth with a fortune of $2.3 billion.
Other notable billionaires include Waleed Al-Ibrahim, founder of MBC Group (net worth: $1.4 billion), and Khaled Abdul Rahman Al-Rajhi, chairman of Abdulrahman Saleh Al-Rajhi & Partners (net worth: $1.2 billion). Yousuf Mohammad Jamjoom, from Jamjoom Pharmaceutical Industries, also boasts a similar fortune.
Musk Tops Global List
Elon Musk retained his position as the world’s richest person with a net worth of $342 billion, fueled by his ventures in electric vehicles, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Close behind is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at $216 billion, followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at $215 billion, as technology giants continue to dominate the upper echelons of wealth.
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison ranks fourth with $192 billion, while Bernard Arnault, the French luxury magnate behind LVMH, rounds out the top five with $178 billion. These five individuals represent a combined net worth of over $1.1 trillion, underscoring the influence of tech innovation and global consumer markets in shaping modern fortunes.
This year’s rankings underscore the Kingdom’s growing economic influence, with its billionaire count outpacing other Arab nations. The rise in regional wealth highlights the expanding opportunities in Gulf markets, particularly in real estate, healthcare, and finance.
