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World's Richest Politicians
No one goes into politics to get rich, but politicians happen to be some of the wealthiest figures around the globe.
German newspaper Die Welt's World's Luxury Guide section recently released a list of the world's richest politicians, and from local officials and members of Congress to foreign ministers and royal heirs, the list includes newcomers and regulars alike.
Though many of those who made the list come from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the third richest lawmaker on the list is New York City's own Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Leaders without any real involvement in matters of state, like Bhumibol Adulyad, King of Thailand were excluded from the list.
#23 John Kerry
Net Worth: $181-$281 million
Residence: United States
Position: Senator
Before running for office, Kerry graduated from Yale University in 1966, and enlisted in the Naval Reserve the same year. He attended Boston College Law School and then served as Liutenant Governor of Massachusetts in the 1980s. Kerry is an avid cyclist who biked to fight cancer in 2011.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#22 Jane Harman
Wikimedia Commons/United States Congress
Net Worth: $160-$326 million
Residence: United States
Position: Member, House of Representatives
Harman was born in New York City and grew up in California. She attended Smith College for undergrad before graduating from Harvard Law School in 1969. After resigning from Congress in early 2011, she became the head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk).
#21 Michael McCaul
Facebook
Net Worth: $258-$380 million
Residence: United States
Position: Member, House of Representatives
McCaul is a fourth generation Texan from Dallas. He attended Trinity University and earned his J.D. from St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 1987. He served as Deputy Attorney General until 2002 before running for Congress in 2005. In 2011, he was named wealthiest member of Congress. McCaul is married to Linda McCaul, the daughter of Clear Channel Communications Chairman Lowry Mays.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#20 Darrell Issa
Wikimedia Commons
Net Worth: $195-$700 million
Residence: United States
Position: Member, House of Representatives
Issa is a self-made millionaire who is a former CEO of Directed Electronics--the auto security and convenience products manufacturer, which he founded in the mid-1990s. In 1994, Inc. Magazine, Ernst & Young, and The San Diego Union Tribune named him Entrepreneur of the Year. He has served in Congress since 2001.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk).
#19 Asif Ali Zardari
Wikimedia Commons/Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
Net Worth: $1-$4 billion
Residence: Pakistan
Position: President
Zardari is the 11th President of Pakistan. He served as an investment minister in the 1990s while his wife, Benazir Bhutto, was prime minister. He is the son of a wealthy Sindhi tribal leader who has homes in France, Britain, Spain, and Florida, and multiple bank accounts in Switzerland according to The Telegraph.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk).
#18 Kostyantin Zhevago
slight clutter on flickr
Net Worth: $1.2 billion
Residence: Ukraine
Position: Member of Parliament
Zhevago is Ukraine's youngest billionaire having made his fortune in the mining industry with the iron ore producer Ferrexpo. A huge soccer fan, Zhevago owns FC Vorskla football.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#17 Andrei Molchanov
Net Worth: $1.8 billion
Residence: Russia
Position: Member, Federation Council (upper house of Duma/parliament)
Molchanov has a Ph.D. in economics from St. Petersburg State University. He is the major shareholder of LSR Group, one of the largest city-owned construction firms.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#16 Lu Guanqiu
China.org
Net Worth: $2.4 billion
Residence: China
Position: Member, National People's Council
Guanqiu is the chair of a large non-government controlled Chinese conglomerate, Wanxiang Group. He started his career repairing bikes.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#15 Sebastian Piñera
Wikimedia Commons/Comando de Sebastián Piñeda
Net Worth: $2.5 billion
Residence: Chile
Position: President
Piñera has been President of Chile since 2010, having served as a senator since the early 1990s. Prior to running for office, Piñera created Bancard S.A. so Chileans would have better access to payment by credit card. He also helped launch a handful of other companies including Las Américas Real Estate Company S.A.; served as the main representative in Chile for Apple; and became a key shareholder for Lan Chile and Chilevisión.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#14 Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Net Worth: $4.5 billion
Residence: United Arab Emirates
Position: Prime Minister/Vice President of United Arab Emirates; absolute monarch of Dubai
Sheikh Mohammed took on his first public position in 1968 as the Head of Dubai Public Police and Public Security. Then in 1971 he was appointed Minister of Defense. During this time, he played key roles in developing Dubai's aviation, tourism, and oil industry. He became the Crown Prince of Dubai in 1995 and in 2006 became the Ruler of Dubai. The official website of Sheikh Mohammed describes him as a leader, poet, and equestrian.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#13 Suleiman Kerimov
YouTube/Dawah Tolslam
Net Worth: $5.5 billion
Residence: Russia
Position: Member, Federation Council (upper house of Duma/parliament)
Kerimov is an accute investor--he has stakes in banks, gold mining firms, and real estate. Most recently he purchased shares in Russia's largest potassium fertilizer company Uralkali. Forbes reported that he owns three planes and two yachts.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#12 Wu Yajun
Net Worth: $6.67 billion
Residence: China
Position: Member, National People's Council
Wu, a former journalist, is chairwoman of Longfor Properties in which her family holds 70 percent of the shares. The Hurun Rich List--the Chinese equivalent to the annual rich list put out by Forbes--named her the richest woman in China in 2011.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#11 Hans-Adam II
Wikimedia Commons/By Presse- und Informationsamt, Vaduz
Net Worth: $4-$7.6 billion
Residence: Liechtenstein
Position: Prince
Prince Hans-Adam II studied management and economics at the University of St. Gallen and received the Licentiate degree in 1969. He owns LGT banking group and an impressive art collection, which is up for display at the Liechtenstein Museum.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#10 Silvio Berlusconi
AP
Net Worth: $7.8 billion
Residence: Italy
Position: Member of Parliament
Berlusconi is Italy's longest serving prime minister resigning in November 2011. He began as a young entrepreneur selling vacuum cleaners then moved on to develop residential houses. In the early 1970s he launched Telemilano, which grew into Mediaset--Italy's largest media company.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#9 Serge Dassault
Wikimedia Commons/MEDEF
Net Worth: $8 billion
Residence: France
Position: Senator
Dassault is chairman of Groupe Dassault and owner of Le Figaro, a French daily paper. His father, Marcel Dassault, is the founder of Dassault Aviation. His philanthropy, Fondation Serge Dassault, sponsors programs for pediatric cancer and handicapped adults.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#8 Zong Qinghou
AP Images
Net Worth: $10.8 billion
Residence: China
Position: Member, National People's Council
Zong is the Chairman and CEO of the beverage empire Wahaha Group. CNN Money recently named him one of the 15 businessmen to have most influenced China, and Forbes reported that he is expanding into the department store and natural resource sectors.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#7 Savitri Jindal
Forbes.com
Net Worth: $13.2 billion
Residence: India
Position: Member of the Legislative Assembly in Haryana
Jindal became one of the richest women in India in 2011, reported Day & Night News. She serves as a non-executive board member of O.P. Jindal--the family's steel and power conglomerate, which her sons run today.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#6 Vladimir Putin
Flickr World Economic Forum
Net Worth: $180,000-$40 billion
Residence: Russia
Position: Prime Minister
Currently Prime Minister in Russia, Putin served as President from 1999 to 2008. It has been reported that he has investments in Gazprom, Surgutneftegaz, and Gunvor (an oil-trading company). In 2007, Putin was Time Magazine's person of the year.
*The Kremlin claims Putin has just $180,000 in savings but is rumored to be worth as much as $40 billion based on investments.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#5 Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru
Net Worth: $18 billion
Residence: United Arab Emirates
Position: President (And emir of Abu Dhabi)
Sheikh Khalifa runs the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority--the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund. And Forbes reported that he controls 97.8 billion proven oil reserves.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#4 Sonia Gandhi
Wikimedia Commons/Ricardo Stucker/PR
Net Worth: $2-19 billion
Residence: India
Position: President, Indian National Congress (political party)
Gandhi is originally from Italy. She is the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, the assassinated former prime minister. As leader of the Congress party, Gandhi played a key role in reviving the party's fortune and power.
There's some dispute about her actual net worth, while Forbes doesn't list it. And India's National Election Watch has it listed at about $200,000.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#3 Michael Bloomberg
Net Worth: $18.1 billion
Residence: United States
Position: Mayor of New York
Bloomberg is the founder and owner of Bloomberg LP, the financial news and information company that has over 300,000 subscribers. He has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and is serving his third term as New York City mayor.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#2 Hassanal Bolkiah
Wikimedia Commons
Net Worth: $20 billion
Residence: Brunei
Position: Sultan
Sultan Bolkiah has been head of state since 1967. His fortune lies in the oil and gas industry. He has an extensive auto collection (reportedly 7,000 cars and counting), and Istana Nurul Iman, his official residence, is one of the world's largest palaces at 2,152,782 square feet.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#1 Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz
Wikimedia Commons/Official White House Photo
Net Worth: $21 billion
Residence: Saudi Arabia
Position: King
King Abdullah reigns in a country that controls 20 percent of known oil reserves. He became King of Saudi Arabia in 2005. Since then he has focused on developing cities to foster economic improvement. He has also set up several welfare projects and two universities, one of which is for girls.
Source: World's Luxury Guide
Read more: World's Richest Politicians
Zardari is overrated, he is at number 19. Our madam is at number 4.
No one goes into politics to get rich, but politicians happen to be some of the wealthiest figures around the globe.
German newspaper Die Welt's World's Luxury Guide section recently released a list of the world's richest politicians, and from local officials and members of Congress to foreign ministers and royal heirs, the list includes newcomers and regulars alike.
Though many of those who made the list come from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the third richest lawmaker on the list is New York City's own Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Leaders without any real involvement in matters of state, like Bhumibol Adulyad, King of Thailand were excluded from the list.
#23 John Kerry
Net Worth: $181-$281 million
Residence: United States
Position: Senator
Before running for office, Kerry graduated from Yale University in 1966, and enlisted in the Naval Reserve the same year. He attended Boston College Law School and then served as Liutenant Governor of Massachusetts in the 1980s. Kerry is an avid cyclist who biked to fight cancer in 2011.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#22 Jane Harman
Wikimedia Commons/United States Congress
Net Worth: $160-$326 million
Residence: United States
Position: Member, House of Representatives
Harman was born in New York City and grew up in California. She attended Smith College for undergrad before graduating from Harvard Law School in 1969. After resigning from Congress in early 2011, she became the head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk).
#21 Michael McCaul
Net Worth: $258-$380 million
Residence: United States
Position: Member, House of Representatives
McCaul is a fourth generation Texan from Dallas. He attended Trinity University and earned his J.D. from St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 1987. He served as Deputy Attorney General until 2002 before running for Congress in 2005. In 2011, he was named wealthiest member of Congress. McCaul is married to Linda McCaul, the daughter of Clear Channel Communications Chairman Lowry Mays.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#20 Darrell Issa
Wikimedia Commons
Net Worth: $195-$700 million
Residence: United States
Position: Member, House of Representatives
Issa is a self-made millionaire who is a former CEO of Directed Electronics--the auto security and convenience products manufacturer, which he founded in the mid-1990s. In 1994, Inc. Magazine, Ernst & Young, and The San Diego Union Tribune named him Entrepreneur of the Year. He has served in Congress since 2001.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk).
#19 Asif Ali Zardari
Wikimedia Commons/Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
Net Worth: $1-$4 billion
Residence: Pakistan
Position: President
Zardari is the 11th President of Pakistan. He served as an investment minister in the 1990s while his wife, Benazir Bhutto, was prime minister. He is the son of a wealthy Sindhi tribal leader who has homes in France, Britain, Spain, and Florida, and multiple bank accounts in Switzerland according to The Telegraph.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk).
#18 Kostyantin Zhevago
slight clutter on flickr
Net Worth: $1.2 billion
Residence: Ukraine
Position: Member of Parliament
Zhevago is Ukraine's youngest billionaire having made his fortune in the mining industry with the iron ore producer Ferrexpo. A huge soccer fan, Zhevago owns FC Vorskla football.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#17 Andrei Molchanov
Net Worth: $1.8 billion
Residence: Russia
Position: Member, Federation Council (upper house of Duma/parliament)
Molchanov has a Ph.D. in economics from St. Petersburg State University. He is the major shareholder of LSR Group, one of the largest city-owned construction firms.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#16 Lu Guanqiu
China.org
Net Worth: $2.4 billion
Residence: China
Position: Member, National People's Council
Guanqiu is the chair of a large non-government controlled Chinese conglomerate, Wanxiang Group. He started his career repairing bikes.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#15 Sebastian Piñera
Wikimedia Commons/Comando de Sebastián Piñeda
Net Worth: $2.5 billion
Residence: Chile
Position: President
Piñera has been President of Chile since 2010, having served as a senator since the early 1990s. Prior to running for office, Piñera created Bancard S.A. so Chileans would have better access to payment by credit card. He also helped launch a handful of other companies including Las Américas Real Estate Company S.A.; served as the main representative in Chile for Apple; and became a key shareholder for Lan Chile and Chilevisión.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#14 Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Net Worth: $4.5 billion
Residence: United Arab Emirates
Position: Prime Minister/Vice President of United Arab Emirates; absolute monarch of Dubai
Sheikh Mohammed took on his first public position in 1968 as the Head of Dubai Public Police and Public Security. Then in 1971 he was appointed Minister of Defense. During this time, he played key roles in developing Dubai's aviation, tourism, and oil industry. He became the Crown Prince of Dubai in 1995 and in 2006 became the Ruler of Dubai. The official website of Sheikh Mohammed describes him as a leader, poet, and equestrian.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#13 Suleiman Kerimov
YouTube/Dawah Tolslam
Net Worth: $5.5 billion
Residence: Russia
Position: Member, Federation Council (upper house of Duma/parliament)
Kerimov is an accute investor--he has stakes in banks, gold mining firms, and real estate. Most recently he purchased shares in Russia's largest potassium fertilizer company Uralkali. Forbes reported that he owns three planes and two yachts.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#12 Wu Yajun
Net Worth: $6.67 billion
Residence: China
Position: Member, National People's Council
Wu, a former journalist, is chairwoman of Longfor Properties in which her family holds 70 percent of the shares. The Hurun Rich List--the Chinese equivalent to the annual rich list put out by Forbes--named her the richest woman in China in 2011.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#11 Hans-Adam II
Wikimedia Commons/By Presse- und Informationsamt, Vaduz
Net Worth: $4-$7.6 billion
Residence: Liechtenstein
Position: Prince
Prince Hans-Adam II studied management and economics at the University of St. Gallen and received the Licentiate degree in 1969. He owns LGT banking group and an impressive art collection, which is up for display at the Liechtenstein Museum.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#10 Silvio Berlusconi
AP
Net Worth: $7.8 billion
Residence: Italy
Position: Member of Parliament
Berlusconi is Italy's longest serving prime minister resigning in November 2011. He began as a young entrepreneur selling vacuum cleaners then moved on to develop residential houses. In the early 1970s he launched Telemilano, which grew into Mediaset--Italy's largest media company.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#9 Serge Dassault
Wikimedia Commons/MEDEF
Net Worth: $8 billion
Residence: France
Position: Senator
Dassault is chairman of Groupe Dassault and owner of Le Figaro, a French daily paper. His father, Marcel Dassault, is the founder of Dassault Aviation. His philanthropy, Fondation Serge Dassault, sponsors programs for pediatric cancer and handicapped adults.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#8 Zong Qinghou
AP Images
Net Worth: $10.8 billion
Residence: China
Position: Member, National People's Council
Zong is the Chairman and CEO of the beverage empire Wahaha Group. CNN Money recently named him one of the 15 businessmen to have most influenced China, and Forbes reported that he is expanding into the department store and natural resource sectors.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#7 Savitri Jindal
Forbes.com
Net Worth: $13.2 billion
Residence: India
Position: Member of the Legislative Assembly in Haryana
Jindal became one of the richest women in India in 2011, reported Day & Night News. She serves as a non-executive board member of O.P. Jindal--the family's steel and power conglomerate, which her sons run today.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#6 Vladimir Putin
Flickr World Economic Forum
Net Worth: $180,000-$40 billion
Residence: Russia
Position: Prime Minister
Currently Prime Minister in Russia, Putin served as President from 1999 to 2008. It has been reported that he has investments in Gazprom, Surgutneftegaz, and Gunvor (an oil-trading company). In 2007, Putin was Time Magazine's person of the year.
*The Kremlin claims Putin has just $180,000 in savings but is rumored to be worth as much as $40 billion based on investments.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#5 Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru
Net Worth: $18 billion
Residence: United Arab Emirates
Position: President (And emir of Abu Dhabi)
Sheikh Khalifa runs the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority--the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund. And Forbes reported that he controls 97.8 billion proven oil reserves.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#4 Sonia Gandhi
Wikimedia Commons/Ricardo Stucker/PR
Net Worth: $2-19 billion
Residence: India
Position: President, Indian National Congress (political party)
Gandhi is originally from Italy. She is the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, the assassinated former prime minister. As leader of the Congress party, Gandhi played a key role in reviving the party's fortune and power.
There's some dispute about her actual net worth, while Forbes doesn't list it. And India's National Election Watch has it listed at about $200,000.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#3 Michael Bloomberg
Net Worth: $18.1 billion
Residence: United States
Position: Mayor of New York
Bloomberg is the founder and owner of Bloomberg LP, the financial news and information company that has over 300,000 subscribers. He has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and is serving his third term as New York City mayor.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#2 Hassanal Bolkiah
Wikimedia Commons
Net Worth: $20 billion
Residence: Brunei
Position: Sultan
Sultan Bolkiah has been head of state since 1967. His fortune lies in the oil and gas industry. He has an extensive auto collection (reportedly 7,000 cars and counting), and Istana Nurul Iman, his official residence, is one of the world's largest palaces at 2,152,782 square feet.
Source: World's Luxury Guide (based on OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, Guardian.co.uk)
#1 Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz
Wikimedia Commons/Official White House Photo
Net Worth: $21 billion
Residence: Saudi Arabia
Position: King
King Abdullah reigns in a country that controls 20 percent of known oil reserves. He became King of Saudi Arabia in 2005. Since then he has focused on developing cities to foster economic improvement. He has also set up several welfare projects and two universities, one of which is for girls.
Source: World's Luxury Guide
Read more: World's Richest Politicians
Zardari is overrated, he is at number 19. Our madam is at number 4.
