Imagine having your barber visit you from London to give you a specialty haircut. And when you travel, it is nothing less than a gold-plated private jet. You can even choose from hundreds of Rolls-Royce cars waiting in the garage of your Guinness-recorded palace. What a life, isn’t it? While many of us can’t even dream of such a lifestyle, the Sultan of Brunei is living the legacy every day of his life.
Residing in the largest residential palace in the world, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is no less than a trillionaire, and here’s what his lifestyle looks like. From owning a private zoo to a lot more eliteness, the Sultan is the epitome of opulence. Check out the trillionaire lifestyle of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah which inspires business enthusiasts all around the world.
The Trillionaire Lifestyle of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah
First up, who is Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei? On July 15, 1946, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was born to Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin in Istana Darussalam, Brunei. He graduated in 1967 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK. Named Crown Prince in 1961 at the tender age of 15 years, he was later coronated as the 29th Sultan of Brunei on August 1, 1968. His complete title is “His Majesty the Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam”. Today, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is the longest-reigning monarch alive following the passing of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. He is also the longest-serving head of state currently in office.
He has been the Sultan of Brunei since 1968 and ruled the nation not only as a Sultan but also as a Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Defense Minister time and time again. Married to Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, he has five 5 and 7 daughters but the 78-year-old is world-renowned for his display of an extravagant lifestyle. So much so that his lifestyle has added various world records to his name. From owning a 2 million square palace to a garage full of over 7000 cars, Hassanal Bolkiah the 29th Sultan of Brunei, enjoys a luxurious lifestyle many of us can only dream of.
Hassanal Bolkiah’s Net Worth and Luxurious Life
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei has a net worth of $30 billion and this makes him one of the richest people in the world and names him among the wealthiest monarchs in the world. The super-rich monarch is known for his opulent lifestyle because of his love for showing off what he is fond of – money! His fortune largely comes from his extraordinarily vast oil and gas businesses. These oil and gas reserves are the biggest sources of his income with which the Sultan can afford such a fancy lifestyle like none other. And when we say fancy, we mean a gold mansion, a gold jet, a gold car, a private zoo, a fantastic art collection, and even his love for luxurious grooming.
World’s Largest Residential Palace – Istana Nurul Iman
The Sultan of Brunei owns the largest residential palace in the world called ‘Istana Nurul Iman Palace’. It holds the Guinness World Record as the largest palace in the world. It was built in 1984 at $1.5 billion.
Located in Bandar Seri Begawan, along the banks of the Brunei River, the Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the official residence of the Sultan and his family. The humongous structure is spread over approx. 2,200,000 sq. ft. area. It has over 1,780 lavish rooms and more than 250 bathrooms each featuring a gold wash basin. The mansion also includes 5 swimming pools and a banquet hall with an accommodation capacity of up to 5,000 guests.
The garage of the palace has a parking space for up to 110 cars and it even has a stable for accommodating the 200 polo ponies of the Sultan. These horse barns are air-conditioned for the comfort of the animals. The Istana Nurul Iman Palace also has a mosque with a capacity of around 1,500 people to offer prayers. The dome of the palace is embellished with 22-karat pure gold making it a mansion made out of gold for the Sultan.
Gold-Plated Private Jet and an Enviable Car Collection
Known for his opulence Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei is the owner of some of the world’s most extravagant possessions. One of these is his customized gold-plated private jet Boeing 747 which cost him around $400 million. At an additional cost of around $120 million, some lavish upgrades have been made to the jet. This includes a gold wash basin and some beautiful chandeliers adorned with Lalique crystals. In addition to the Boeing 747, popularly known as the “flying palace,” the Sultan’s private aircraft collection also includes a Boeing 767-200, an Airbus A340-200, and several other jets and helicopters.
When it comes to his collection of automobiles, his fleet of cars is equally extravagant including more than 7,000 vehicles with a combined value of somewhere around $5 billion or even more. This comprises around 600 from Rolls-Royce, 380 from Bentley, and 450 from Ferrari. He also owns Porsches, Maybachs, McLarens, Lamborghinis, Jaguars, BMWs, and whatnot.
The Sultan’s $14 million gold-plated Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II holds a Guinness World Record for being the most valuable gold-plated car in the world. The entire car is plated with 24-karat gold and the Sultan had ordered it for his daughter’s wedding day. This Rolls-Royce has a custom-made design with an open roof that extends from the grill to the tires.
Sultan also owns a Ferrari 456 GT Venice. This is a rare model by the brand with only 7 units made of which one belongs to the Sultan. Besides, his collection includes some more elite vehicles, the most notable ones being an $80 million custom-designed Bentley Dominator SUV and a Porsche 911. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Sultan’s fascination with luxury cars.
A Private Zoo and Art Collection
A private zoo of wonders owned by the Sultan of Brunei adds to his list of extravagances. The zoo features around 30 Bengal tigers along with several other exotic animals and birds. This includes flamingos, falcons, and cockatoos. This array of rare birds and animals is not just featured in the zoo but is also trained to perform various impressive tricks. Hassanal Bolkiah’s guests and visitors can be entertained as these exotics are a pleasure to the eye. These animals and birds can even ride bicycles, play basketball, and mimic human speech besides talking, singing, and impersonating.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is also interested in exquisite art and has a decent collection of some rare pieces. One of them is an oil painting titled Young Girls at the Piano by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The monarch purchased this 1892 Renoir painting for around $70 million.
Lavish Personal Care
Reportedly, Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, often spends over $24,000 on a single haircut! His luxurious grooming regimen reflects his idea of personal care to justify his opulent lifestyle. His go-to barber flies down from London to Brunei for his grooming sessions. The barber works at Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair and frequently flies on demand of the monarch. He is paid somewhere around $12,000 to fly first class once every 3-4 weeks to help the Sultan maintain his appearance as a commitment to his ultimate luxe lifestyle.
Personal Life and Controversies
The same royal family has ruled Brunei for around 600 years. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is married to Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha. They have 7 daughters and 5 sons. Other than Pengiran Anak Saleha, the Sultan had married two other women, a television presenter and a flight attendant, since polygamy is permitted in Brunei. However, he later got divorced from both women and his first wife, Saleha, also being his cousin, continues to serve as the Queen Consort.
Perhaps, the only renowned controversy in Sultan’s life is his feud with his brother, Prince Jefri. Tension persists between the two brothers due to the accusation of the latter’s overspending. The grapevine also says that Prince Jefri apparently maintains a paid coterie of nearly 40 women. Besides, there is a popular royal scandal involving the Prince’s misappropriation of around $40 billion from the state funds.
Wrapping Up the Trillionaire Lifestyle of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s life is a vivid tapestry of luxury, tradition, and unrestrained wealth. From the world’s largest palace to his fleet of gold-plated cars and private jets, the Sultan’s lifestyle redefines what it means to live extravagantly. The Sultan’s approach to wealth and power paints a rare picture of royalty in the 21st century, living a trillionaire lifestyle that is as intriguing as it is awe-inspiring. While the world watches in admiration (read: envy), it is impossible to ignore the sense of timelessness his reign exudes. His life serves as a masterclass in sustaining a dynasty while embracing the ever-changing tides of luxury and influence.
Truly, the Sultan of Brunei’s story isn’t just about riches—it’s about legacy.
