Royals who live insanely lavish lives

Royals live insanely lavish lives. At least, many of them do. It’s no secret that members of royal families just aren’t like the rest of us commoners. Aside from the fame that comes along with being born into royalty — not to mention the media scrutiny that royals face — royals tend to be pretty rich. While some members of royal families around the world live relatively ordinary lives and choose not to spend too much of their wealth, others take the opposite route and spend the family fortune like there’s no tomorrow.

We’re not talking about buying a nice car and living in a palace, either. These royals are taking things to a completely new level of opulence. The royals with the most extravagant lifestyles are living in the lap of luxury; wearing only the finest couture, throwing outrageously expensive parties, traveling the globe, and generally having the absolute best of everything. From playboy princes to fashion-setting queens, these royals are living insanely lavish lives.

The insanely lavish Prince Jefri Bolkiah spent millions on wristwatches

The life of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the brother of the Sultan of Brunei, has been hedonistic, to say the least. According to Vanity Fair, the prince has reportedly blown through billions of dollars in his lifetime. In 1998, a lawsuit was filed against him for allegedly reneging on $130 million in property deals. The plaintiff’s attorney claimed that among Bolkiah’s possessions were a rug woven with gold and jewels worth $7 million, jewel-laden wristwatches worth $8 million, and a $1.3 million collection of erotic fountain pens. Prince Jefri also allegedly spent millions procuring escorts, a claim that he denied.

In 2001, he was forced to auction off many of his possessions to pay off his creditors. The New York Times reported at the time that Prince Jefri had spent an average of $747,000 per day for an entire decade. Then, in 2008, The Telegraph reported that he was apparently “on the run” after an accusation of appropriating funds from Brunei led to a family rift.

The following year, the Daily Mail reported that the brothers had made up, but Prince Jefri lived a less lavish and far quieter life after that. 

Princess Maria-Olympia lives an insanely lavish jet-setting lifestyle

Technically, Greek Princess Maria-Olympia isn’t really a royal since Greece abolished its monarchy back in the 1970s, but the fact that there isn’t a throne to inherit hasn’t stopped the family from living lavish lives. According to Hello!, Princess Maria-Olympia is the oldest daughter of Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie-Chantal. In addition to being a socialite, the princess is a model. In 2016, she was the face of Michael Kors’ “The Walk” campaign.

The princess shows off her jet-setting lifestyle on her Instagram account where, as of this writing, she has 179,000 followers. According to Insider, Princess Maria-Olympia had quite the cosmopolitan upbringing, having been born in Greece and raised in London before enrolling in a Swiss boarding school and then heading off to college in New York.

Maria-Olympia told Vanity Fair that she considers Kate Middleton among her fashion influences, but says she’s “younger and much more experimental” in her own style. The fashionista’s wardrobe includes plenty of designer clothes, including looks from Valentino, Dior, Balmain, and Louis Vuitton. 

The lavish King Mswati III has a fleet of luxury cars

King Mswati III has been criticized for living lavishly while many people in his country of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) live in poverty. In 2018, the World Bank reported (via IOL) that an estimated 63 percent of the population was living below the poverty line with an estimated 29 percent lived below the extreme poverty line.

Dire economic circumstances didn’t stop the king from wearing a watch valued at $1.6 million and a diamond-encrusted suit on his 50th birthday that year, though. King Mswati also reportedly has a fleet of luxury vehicles. 

In 2014, The Guardian reported that the king had increased his annual household budget to $61 million. It’s a lot of money, especially when so much of the country lives in extreme poverty, but King Mswati has to pay for his lavish lifestyle somehow — not to mention the lavish lifestyles of his 15 wives and 23 children. In 2019, he ordered a fleet of 19 Rolls-Royce cars for the exclusive use of the royal family, reported South Africa’s Sunday Times.

King Juan Carlos was criticized for his insanely lavish life during his reign

Juan Carlos is no longer the king of Spain, having abdicated in favor of his son, Felipe, in 2014. While he claimed to be stepping down by choice, it’s likely the decision was at least partially due to a need to improve the monarchy’s image after a series of scandals plagued the latter years of his rule. According to Newsweek, there were many. 

In 2012, the king was criticized for a pricey hunting expedition in Botswana, during which he paid $15,000 to hunt an elephant — plus nearly $9 thousand per week just to be there. The hunt enraged animal rights activists and was also seen as an unnecessary extravagance while the country was facing an economic crisis. The Telegraph reported that the trip led to many people demanding his abdication, although it would be a couple more years before his son took the throne. 

In 2013, Juan Carlos gave up the use of his lavish yacht in light of the declining economy. The yacht was given to him as a gift for state use in 2000 and reportedly cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars just to refuel.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Taleel has three insanely lavish palaces

Many royals across the globe live in palaces, but Prince Al-Waleed bin Taleel of Saudi Arabia takes things a bit further. He has not just one but three lavish palaces in his home country. According to the South China Morning Post, most of his time is spent in the extravagant Kingdom Palace in Riyadh, which is worth an estimated $130 million. The palace’s 317 rooms feature Italian marble, silk, and gold-plated fixtures.

Prince Al-Waleed’s opulent lifestyle doesn’t stop there. He also has his own large private jet (a Boeing 747-400) with a gold-coated interior. In addition, he has an Airbus A380, which is worth an estimated $500 million.

The prince’s affection for luxury vehicles isn’t limited to aircrafts, though. He reportedly owns more than 200 luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom. That’s already an impressive royal collection, but this is a prince who likes to travel by air, land, and sea. The prince also has a New Kingdom 5KR yacht, which is worth roughly a half-billion dollars.

Princess Madeleine had an insanely lavish wedding

When Princess Madeleine of Sweden married New York banker Christopher O’Neill in 2013, it was one of the most over-the-top weddings ever. According to the New York Post, she wore a Valentino gown with a 13-foot train. Nearly 500 royals, socialites, and celebrities were at the impressive affair, which included performances by Marie Fredriksson of the pop duo Roxette and Peter Joback, who starred in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera.

It was a lavish wedding that most people can only dream of, but Princess Madeleine was no stranger to such opulence. Frequently criticized for her extravagant lifestyle, Princess Madeleine was known in Sweden as something of a wild child and was reportedly known as “Sweden’s party princess” in her early 20s as she was often spotted in high-end nightclubs. Even when clubbing, Princess Madeleine was always stylishly dressed.

Years after her wedding, Princess Madeleine is still living quite comfortably. In January 2020, Hola! reported that the princess and her family were renting a $3 million Miami property, although the outlet noted they would later be moving to another (undoubtedly lavish) home.

Charlotte Casiraghi had two lavish weddings

While she may not have a royal title, Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco is the daughter of Princess Caroline and, according to People, is 11th in line for the throne. While many brides pine for the perfect dress and save to buy the often expensive frocks, wealthy royals like Casiraghi get their choice of designer dresses. Actually, when you’re a wealthy royal like Casiraghi you don’t even have to limit yourself to just one lavish gown. 

The royal got married in 2019 — twice. While, according to the Observer, it’s the norm for Monaco’s royals to have a civil ceremony followed by a religious ceremony, not all of the royals do it up as big as Casiraghi did. Casiraghi’s first wedding, at the beginning of June, saw her wearing a gray brocade dress designed by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent, reported Town & Country. For the reception, she changed into a strapless Chanel gown. At her second wedding weeks later, she wore yet another designer gown, this one from Giambattista Valli. Nothing screams luxury like three designer wedding gowns for one marriage.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman's lavish lifestyle includes owning a nine-figure painting

Saudi Arabia has no shortage of wealthy royals, but one of the most extravagant is the crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Prince Mohammed has a particular love for lavish goods, and isn’t afraid to drop hundreds of millions on a painting. In 2017, he was identified as the previously unknown buyer of a painting by Leonardo da Vinci called “Salvator Mundi.” According to The Wall Street Journal, the painting was purchased by proxy for a record-setting $450.3 million. It may sound like a lot of money — and it is — but according to Celebrity Net Worth, Prince Mohammed is worth an estimated $5 billion, so he can clearly afford it.

“As far as my private expenses, I’m a rich person and not a poor person,” he once told 60 Minutes. “I’m a member of the ruling family that existed for hundreds of years before the founding of Saudi Arabia,” he continued. “We own very large lots of land … But what I do as a person is to spend part of my personal income on charity. I spend at least 51% on people and 49 on myself.”

Queen Letizia lives a lavish and glamorous royal life

While the British royals may dominate the headlines, Spain’s Queen Letizia is no less sophisticated than her U.K. counterparts. The gorgeous royal has frequently drawn comparisons to Kate Middleton for her refined fashion. Like the Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Letizia does not come from royalty. Before her life as a pampered royal, she was a journalist and news anchor, Business Insider reported.

Her introduction into royal life was quite lavish. Her eventual husband, Felipe, then the Prince of Asturias, proposed with a stunning 16 Baguette diamond ring. The couple married in an expensive wedding in 2004. According to Who What Wear, the future queen wore a couture gown with gold leaf-embroidered cuffs.

While Queen Letizia was doing quite well for herself before becoming a royal, there’s no match for a royal wardrobe. According to Harper’s Bazaar, she loves a good designer dress like the next queen, but she also mixes up her look with high street fashion finds.

Prince Andrew's lavish lifestyle has been scrutinized for years

Prince Andrew, one of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s four children, has long been labeled the problem child of the British royal family. According to Vanity Fair, he was nicknamed “Air-Miles Andy” by the press after taking a $5,000 helicopter ride to travel just 50 miles — to lunch. Prince Andrew also allegedly complained of money woes. He was appointed as the U.K.’s trade envoy in 2001, but reportedly said his $408,000 annual stipend, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund business trips, was simply not enough.

In 2011, Prince Andrew was forced to step down from his position as trade envoy after news broke of his friendship with sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein, but continued to live large. In 2019, Page Six reported that Prince Andrew seemed to have a mysterious source of cash, as his lifestyle, which includes luxury vacations and a £13 million (about $17.2 million) ski chalet, which is well beyond the means of the income of £249,000 (about $326,000) his mother paid him.

In late 2019, his scandalous life led to him stepping down from official royal duties, although he remained living in the lap of luxury in the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.

Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini's lavish lifestyle includes his own yacht club and a private island

In addition to being royal, Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini (who goes by various combinations and spellings of his names and titles) is also known as Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims. According to ABC News, the prince is believed to be a direct descendant of Prophet Mohammad. 

He also happens to be an exceedingly wealthy man, with an estimated net worth of $800 million as of 2014, although there has been some discrepancy regarding his fortune. Forbes revealed that his net worth is about $1 billion. Either way, his lavish lifestyle reportedly includes a multi-million dollar yacht, several estates all over the globe, a private island in the Bahamas, his own yacht club on Sardinia, and two Bombardier jets.

While the royal spends a lot on himself, he’s also committed to philanthropy. The Aga Khan says he is working to eliminate global poverty, according to The Rake. He is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, which, among other things, builds schools and hospitals around the world, although it should be noted that the Network largely relies on donations from his followers. 

Queen Rania's lavish wardrobe has drawn comparisons to Marie Antoinette

Jordan’s Queen Rania has a designer wardrobe that has been admired by some fans and criticized by others — mainly those who don’t think the royal should be spending quite so much money on clothes. In 2011, Slate likened her to a modern-day Marie Antoinette. “Rather than speaking to the very people she seeks to represent, Rania speaks beyond them,” Sana Saeed of Muslimah Media Watch told the outlet. Queen Rania may be well-dressed, but in a country where an estimated 25 percent live in poverty, this is viewed as an unnecessary extravagance.

Queen Rania was also criticized for her lavish 40th birthday party, which, according to the Spectator (via Slate), had 600 guests from across the globe. In spite of a water shortage, water was used to dampen the sand to make it easier for guests to walk.

In 2018, fashion blog UFO No More calculated the cost of Queen Rania’s 2017 wardrobe, citing the average price of clothing per piece at around €1,700 (roughly $1,900). The palace later issued a statement (via Hello!) stating that she receives many of her designer clothes as gifts. 

Beatrice Borromeo is known for her insanely lavish fashion sense

While she may go by the seemingly low-profile name of Beatrice Borromeo, make no mistake that Borromeo is as royal as they come. Born to an ancient and aristocratic Italian family, according to Forbes, Borromeo is married to Pierre Casiraghi, the son of Princess Caroline of Monaco and the grandson of film icon/one of the most beautiful princesses in history, Grace Kelly. Aristocratic pedigree aside, Borromeo also has the lavish lifestyle of a royal down pat.

Known for her extravagant fashion sense, Borromeo is something of a style icon — although most people could only dream of matching her expensive style. For her wedding in 2015 alone, Borromeo had a whopping four couture ensembles. She rocked two Valentino gowns for a civil ceremony in Monaco, and two Giorgio Armani Privé dresses for her religious ceremony in Lake Maggiore.

In 2019, Tatler declared Borromeo the most stylish European royal, citing her penchant for Valentino, Chanel, and other high-end labels.

Prince Abdul Mateen keeps his fans updated on his insanely lavish life on Instagram

Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei flaunts his insanely lavish life on Instagram, where he has become something of an influencer. The privileged royal has more than a million followers, as of this writing, and those followers can’t seem to get enough of living vicariously through his extravagant exploits.

Considering his father, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is worth an estimated $20 billion, the prince’s life is far from ordinary. However, he tries to stay more grounded than his dad whose extravagances, according to The New York Times, include a gold-plated Rolls-Royce. “The important thing is how to use that attention in a positive way,” Prince Abdul Mateen told GQ Thailand. “When you have such an audience or attention, it’s also a great opportunity to do something good, to spread, or create awareness for an important issue etc. Another thing is to be grounded and humble at the same time.”

Being grounded doesn’t hinder the prince’s jet-setting lifestyle, though, nor does it prevent him from living in a palace or posting pictures on Instagram of his luxury watches, and high-priced cars.

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