Sultan Of Brunei – Hassanal Bolkiah
One Of The Richest Royals In The World
Sultanate of Brunei / sultanat de Brunei Dar Essalam / سلطنة بروناي
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu?izzaddin Waddaulah, (full name: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien; born 15 July 1946 Brunei Town [now Bandar Seri Begawan], Brunei)), 29th sultan of Brunei.
Hassanal Bolkiah was the eldest son of Sultan Sir Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin. He was educated privately and later attended the Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, England. In 1961 Sir Omar named him crown prince, and when Sir Omar abdicated six years later, Hassanal Bolkiah became sultan on October 5, 1967, his coronation taking place on August 1, 1968. For the next decade, however, his father remained the power behind the throne. After the death of his mother in 1979, his father withdrew from public affairs, and the sultan quickly took the dominant role in the administration of Brunei. He made frequent trips throughout the country to listen to his subjects as well as to promote himself as ruler. In anticipation of independence from Britain, he began to create a native bureaucracy, replacing British expatriates in the civil service with Bruneians, and he cracked down on corruption.
After having held Brunei as a protectorate for 95 years, the British formally withdrew on January 1, 1984. Although there were minor disagreements over matters such as the management of Brunei’s huge investment portfolio, relations between the two countries continued to be friendly. Sir Omar died in 1986, and on October 5, 1992, the sultan, who also acted as prime minister and as the minister of defense and of finance, celebrated the 25th year of his reign. He continued to rule under a state of emergency declared by his father in 1962. In the 1980s and 1990s the sultan regularly appeared at or near the top of lists of the world’s richest individuals, his fortune deriving from Brunei’s oil and gas. The Sultan of Brunei, (also known as Hassanai Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah) has an estimated net worth of $20 billion, and rightly so.
Apart from essentially running Brunei, Bolkiah makes time to focus on his collection of automobiles. Sultan of Brunei has one of the largest car collections in world- about 7000. Bolkiah also has a Boeing 747 for his own use, as well as a theme park called Jerudong Park.
The Sultan is known for some familial conflicts, particularly with his brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, who is known as the “Playboy Prince.” The two were involved in a legal argument which was eventually settled in 2006. With his honorary titles, net worth, and astonishing power and control, Bolkiah has made his mark on history, as well as made us all jealous with his lavish and unique lifestyle.
Hassanal Bolkiah’s impressive collection (stored in five garages the size of airplane hangars) includes:
* 531 Mercedes-Benzes
* 367 Ferraris
* 362 Bentleys
* 185 BMWs
* 177 Jaguars
* 160 Porsches
* 130 Rolls-Royces
* 20 Lamborghinis
The cars are driven by the Sultan, members of his family, and also by the ministers of state, government officials and other members of the royal household.
His auto empire includes 350 Rolls-Royce cars, eight McLaren’s F1, six Dauer 962 LMs, the only right-handed Mercedes CLK-GTR in the world, a Lamborghini Diablo Jota, two Jaguar XJR-15, numerous Ferraris, Mercedes, Jaguars, Porsches, Bentleys. In the past 15 years, Sultan has been a regular client for prestige car companies. For example, only Rolls-Royce provided 40-50 cars a year for his majesty and Aston Martin has sold over 300 cars during these years. His special interest are unique cars, such as Bentley Java and Bentley Dominator 4×4. His Aston Martin collection includes: Aston Martin AM3, Aston Martin DB7 by Pininfarina, Aston Martin V8 AM2 by Pininfarina. Six bullet-proof Rolls-Royce Phantoms are also in his possession.
We’ve picked out six of the best cars from the Sultan’s parking lot.
McLaren F1s
The Sultan’s has eight F1s, including GT and LM editions. In 1995 McLaren made history by winning the 24-hour Le Mans race at their first attempt. To celebrate, they built five LM’s, one for every F1 which finished the event. The Sultan has three of them.
Dauer 962 LMs
The Dauer racing team’s prototype Porsche 962 (see image at the top of this page) is the world’s fastest road car. The 2,994cc water-cooled Porsche flat-six engine will take you from 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds. Six of the cars rest in the Sultan’s garages.
Mercedes CLK-GTR
Built to enter the 1997 FIA GT Championship, the 200mph CLK-GTR won all World Championship titles it entered in 1997 and 1998. With a V12 engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, The Sultan owns the only right-hand drive Mercedes CLK-GTR in the world.
Lamborghini Diablo SE Jota
Only 50 XJR-15s were ever made, selling for almost $1 million each. Based on another Le Mans-winning motor, the rear-wheel drive supercar packs a 450bhp, 5,993cc V12 engine and a top speed of 185mph. In 1991, sixteen XJR-15s in a Jaguar only race in Monaco – the race had a prize of $1 million.
Even his Range Rover, a custom-built stretch Classic has an opulent edge to put most hotels to shame. Made for the Sultan by British coachbuilders Townley, the enlongated Rangie has a full blood red leather interior, Champagne buckets, two TVs, power seats, tinted windows and an electronically operated division glass between the driver and passenger compartments.
The garage of the Sultan of Brunei
Sultan Of Brunei Private Airplane
Sultan bought this Airbus 340 for roughly USD 220 Million RM99.90, the plane comes fully equipped with a Gold Plated Sink.Just look at the huge amount of luxury from that plane, if a fully equiped flying house.
Al-Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Almarhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, GCMG (born July 15, 1946) is the 29th Sultan of Brunei, the eldest son of Omar Ali Saifuddin Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the previous sultan.
Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah is the sultan’s heir, born by Queen Saleha. By 2005 he had four sons and six daughters with Queen Saleha and his former second wife, Queen Mariam. In accordance with Islam, Bruneian men are allowed four wives, but the sultan only has two, with Queen Anak Saleha being designated his first wife. His first second wife, Queen Mariam, was a former air hostess whom he divorced in 2003, stripping her of all her royal titles. In August 2005 her place was taken by a former Malaysian TV3 presenter, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, who is 32 years younger than the sultan.
Al-Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Almarhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, GCMG (born July 15, 1946) is the 29th Sultan of Brunei, the eldest son of Omar Ali Saifuddin Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the previous sultan.
Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah is the sultan’s heir, born by Queen Saleha. By 2005 he had four sons and six daughters with Queen Saleha and his former second wife, Queen Mariam. In accordance with Islam, Bruneian men are allowed four wives, but the sultan only has two, with Queen Anak Saleha being designated his first wife. His first second wife, Queen Mariam, was a former air hostess whom he divorced in 2003, stripping her of all her royal titles. In August 2005 her place was taken by a former Malaysian TV3 presenter, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, who is 32 years younger than the sultan.
Palace of Sultan Of Brunei
Sultan Of Brunei Pictures
