Alwaleed

Businessman, Billionaire, Prince

When you talk about a rich Saudi Prince, the natural assumption would be that he got his loot in the form of Petrodollars. It is refreshing to finally come across one rich Arab who earned his money like a real man.

Alwaleed is a 432-page hardcover that tells a tale of how a Prince, who hails from a broken family, rises up to become one of the most prominent icons in the middle east today. It’s written by former CNN journalist, Riz Khan.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal is the fourth richest man in the world with an estimated wealth of a little over US$24 billion. While he may be a descendant of royal connections, the young billionaire got rich through his own sheer determination, grit and a whole lot of cunning.

Several of his exploits have been documented pretty well in this particular biography. A particularly intriguing chapter in this book tells of how he messed around with a bunch of aviation professionals in order to get the best deal for his aircraft fitting works.

With names like Disney, Apple and Citibank under his belt, it sure makes for one very impressive investment portfolio. But the Prince is not a man who rests easily. He is constantly on the lookout for good deals and will spare no effort in manipulating everything and everyone in his path to make sure he gets the best deal. Overall, an entertaining read with plenty of insights and investment advice.

P/s: Be sure to read about his antics in military college and how he punched a teacher in class and was subsequently expelled from school. Interesting stuff indeed.