Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the Emir of the State of Qatar, a position he assumed in 2013 upon his father's abdication of the throne. The Sheikh of Qatar has a net worth of $5 billion. Upon his ascension, he became the world's youngest reigning monarch. Since becoming heir apparent to the throne, Tamim has led a number of efforts to raise Qatar's international profile, notably by hosting major sporting events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and by buying the football club Paris Saint-Germain. He heads the Qatar Investment Authority board of investors, which owns stakes in Harrods, Barclays Bank, and Sainsbury's.

Early Life and Education

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was born on June 3, 1980 in Doha, Qatar as the fourth son of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa and the second son of Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned. He was educated in England, first at Sherborne International and then at Harrow School. Subsequently, Tamim attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, from which he graduated in 1998.

Emir of Qatar

In 2003, Tamim became heir apparent to the throne of Qatar after his older brother Sheikh Jassim renounced his claim. A decade later, upon the abdication of the throne by the boys' father, Tamim took over as the new Emir of Qatar. Presiding over the country's authoritarian regime, he has continued the tradition of the Emir holding all executive and legislative power while forbidding citizens from most civil and political rights. Lending a particular focus to domestic affairs, Tamim has worked to streamline the country's bureaucracy and decrease the fiscal budgets of many of its institutions. Since he came to power, he has overseen the expansion of infrastructure including roads, a new metro system, and a new airport. On the international front, Tamim has promoted strong relationships with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, among other countries.

Professional Sports Involvement

Since becoming heir apparent to the throne in 2003, Tamim has made it a mission to boost Qatar's international profile through the promotion of professional sports. In 2005, he founded Oryx Qatar Sports Investments, a shareholding company that owned the football club Paris Saint-Germain. The next year, Tamim chaired the organizing committee of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. He soon became the chairman of the Qatar Olympic Committee, initiating a failed campaign for Doha to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. Tamim was more successful elsewhere, securing the rights for Qatar to host the 2014 FINA Swimming World Championships, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2030 Asian Games.

2022 FIFA World Cup

Tamim gained a new level of attention in late 2010 when he won his bid to have Qatar host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It was the first Arab nation to have won hosting duties. The selection was met with widespread controversy, however, mostly due to allegations that bribery and other forms of malfeasance had been involved in the selection process. Controversy continued to brew during the lead-up to the World Cup over a wide range of issues. Tamim and the Qatar government were criticized for their numerous human rights abuses, including their mistreatment of foreign laborers involved in preparing for the tournament, many of whom were killed on the job. Other controversies surrounded the country's ban on alcohol consumption and its staunchly anti-LGBT laws.

(Photo by Paolo Blocco/WireImage)

Other Endeavors

In his other business endeavors, Tamim heads the board of directors of the Qatar Investment Authority, which has invested billions of dollars in businesses around the world. The fund owns substantial stakes in Harrods, Barclays Bank, and Sainsbury's, as well as a share of London's Shard skyscraper.

Tamim has chaired a variety of organizations over the years. He has been the chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves; the Supreme Education Council; and the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology. Tamim has also chaired the board of directors of Public Works Authority and the Urban Planning and Development Authority. Meanwhile, he sits on the board of regents of Qatar University.

Personal Life

Tamim has several children with multiple wives. He married his first wife, his cousin Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani, in early 2005. Together, they have four children: Sheikhas Al Mayassa and Aisha and Sheikhs Hamad and Jassim. In 2009, Tamim wed his second wife, Sheikha Al-Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri. They have five children: Sheikhas Naylah, Rodha, and Moza and Sheikhs Abdullah and Alqaqaa. Tamim married his third wife, Sheikha Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari, in early 2014. Their four children are Sheikha Hind and Sheikhs Joaan, Mohammed, and Fahad.

An avid sports fan, Tamim plays badminton and bowls. He is also fluent in English and French in addition to his native Arabic.

Read more: Sheikh of Qatar Net Worth

Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the president of the United Arab Emirates, the supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, and the Emir of Abu Dhabi. At the time of his death, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a net worth of $18 billion dollars.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan died on May 13, 2022 at the age of 73.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan became the President of the UAE the day after his father's death, November 3, 2004. As the former Crown Prince, he had effectively been acting as president earlier (since the late '90s) as his father was in ill health. Khalifa is also chairman of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).

Sheikh Khalifa is known for his interest in sports traditional to UAE, chiefly horse and camel racing. He is generally regarded as a pro-Western modernizer. In 2011, Sheikh Khalifa sent in the UAE's Air Force and Navy to support the anti-Gaddafi forces against Muammar Gaddafi alongside NATO, Qatar, Sweden and Jordan. In January of 2014, Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke and was reported to have undergone an operation, but was said to be in stable condition. Further, on the philanthropic side of things, Sheikh Khalifa founded the Khalifa Award for Education, the UAE Pakistan Assistance Program and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Specialty Institute for Cancer Diagnosis and the Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Pancreatic Cancer Center, funded by the center's largest grant in the history of its existence.

Early Life 

Khalifa was born on September 7, 1948 in Abu Dhabi born to parents Hassa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the United Arab Emirates. Khalifa is the eldest son of Zayed. He attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Political and Leadership Career

Khalifa first become involved in politics and government when his father became the Emir of Abu Dhabi in 1966, at which point he was appointed the mayor of the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi at the age of 18. In 1969, Khalifa was appointed the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of Defense. Under his leadership, the Abu Dhabi Defense Force became the core of the UAE Armed Forces in 1971.

When the UAE was established in 1971, Khalifa took on more leadership roles in Abu Dhabi. He became the Prime Minister, head of the Cabinet, Minster of Defense, and the Minister of Finance. Following a reorganization of the Cabinet, Khalifa became the 2^nd Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, under his father.

By May of 1976, he became deputy commander of the UAE Armed Forces, only lower in rank to his father. He also became head of the Supreme Petroleum Council in the 1980s, a position which he continues to hold given the amount of power he wields in issues related to oil, natural gas, and energy.

When his father became ill in the 1990s, Khalifa began assuming the roles of the president though he did not officially become Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates until November 3, 2004 following the death of his father the day before.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images

Records show that Khalifa had been planning the construction of his palace since 1995, when he had begun buying up acres of land on the Seychelles' main island of Mahé. Since then, the UAE has provided large aid packages to the Seychelles' government to bolster their social services programs and military, which is needed to stop piracy off the coasts of the Seychelles. Construction of the palace was set to begin in 2005, after Khalifa had purchased another parcel of lad but there were some problems with the building plans. Authorities in the Seychelles had originally rejected the plans, but that decision was overturned by the cabinet of President James Michel. A month after workers broke ground, the country's national utility country reported that the proposed palace may pose a threat to the nation's water supply. Further problems came in 2010 when the under construction palace's sewage system overflowed and sent rivers of waste through the region, affecting the homes of 8000 residents. An investigation found that Ascon, the building company, had ignored an number of health and building codes. Officials from Khalifa's government arrived quickly to help resolve the matter and offered $15 million to replace the water piping system in the region as well as payments to the affected households.

Meanwhile, Khalifa sought reelection in 2009 and easily won, retaining the office of the presidency for a second five-year term. A couple years later, in 2011, Khalifa sent the United Arab Emirates Air Force to support NATO forces in the military intervention in Libya against Muammer Gaddafi. The same year, the UAE initiated a program to promote allegiance to Khalifa, as well as other Emirati leaders. The program is designed to encourage nationals and residents to register their appreciation and loyalty to the leaders of the Emirates. In August of 2015, Khalifa approved large amounts of food and aid supplies to be given to the people of Yemen through the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation. Almost 8,000 tons of supplies and medicine were sent.

Khalifa won reelection in 2014 as well as 2019. In February of 2022, Khalifa authorized a partnership agreement between the UAE and Israel on matters related to healthcare and tourism.

Personal Life

Khalifa only is wed to one woman – Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei. Together, they have had eight children – Sultan, Mohammed, Shamma, Salama, Osha, Sheikha, Lateefa, and Mouza.

It has been reported that Khalifa owns over $1.7 billion in luxury properties in London. While he doesn't directly own them, it was reported in the Panama Papers leak that the properties are owned via shell companies in the British Virgin Islands that were managed by the Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca.

In January of 2014, it was reported that Khalifa suffered a stroke. However his condition was stabilized and he recovered after undergoing an operation.

Khalifa is considered to be one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. In 2013, he commissioned the construction of a super yacht, called Azzam, which would become the longest motor yacht ever built at 590 feet. The cost of construction was between $400 and $600 million. He has also received a number of honors from foreign states. He was named an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath by the United Kingdom and was named a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion by the Netherlands.

Read more: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Net Worth

Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Mohammed bin Salman has a net worth of $5 billion. He is the seventh son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and is considered Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler. Also known as "MBS," he has served as deputy prime minister and minister of defense of Saudi Arabia.

His father, King Salman, became the King of Saudi Arabia and the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia in January 2015 upon the death of King Abdullah. At that same point, Mohammed bin Salman became the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. MBS became the First Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia in June 2017.

He served as Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Second Deputy Prime Minister from April 2015 to June 2017 and became Minister of Defense in January 2015. Mohammed bin Salman has also served as President of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs. He has led many reforms including the removal of the ban on female drivers and regulations that restrict the powers of the religious police. His fight for women's rights includes the first Saudi sports stadium admitting women, the first Saudi public concerts featuring a female singer, and an increase amount of women in the workforce.

Wealth

In 2015, Mohammed bin Salman spent $299 million to acquire a large mansion in France called Chateau Louis XIV. In 2017 he purchased a superyacht called "Serene" for $500 million. When asked about these purchases in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes", Mohammed replied:

"As far as my private expenses, I'm a rich person and not a poor person. I'm a member of the ruling family that existed for hundreds of years before the founding of Saudi Arabia."

Early Life

Mohammed bin Salman was born on August 31, 1985 to then Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain, who is Abdulaziz's third wife. Mohammed bin Salman is the eldest among his mother's children and is the eight child and seventh son of his father's. He attended King Saud University where he received a bachelor's degree in law.

Career

After finishing his university studies, bin Salman worked for several years in the private sector before then becoming a private aide for his father. He started as a consultant for the Experts Commission, which coordinated with the Saudi Cabinet. He then became a political advisor to his father at the age of 24 when his father was working as the governor of Riyadh Province. He continued rising through the ranks, moving from one position to another. When the Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz died, bin Salman's father became more powerful and made his son his private advisor. His father became the new crown prince following the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz in June of 2012.

By 2015, bin Salman became the minister of defense. One of the first crises he had to face in this position was the political unrest in Yemen. However, due to lack of a coordinated response across all of the Saudi Arabia departments, bin Salman was criticized by some, both within Saudi Arabia and the international community.

In 2017, bin Salman was appointed Crown Prince and was made heir presumptive to the throne. In May of 2017, bin Salman began a purge within the Saudi government and business world, warning that corruption would be detected and weeded out, even at the highest levels. Some of the individuals who were arrested included billionaire and Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, head of the Saudi Arabian National Guard Mutaib bin Abdullah, and the Minister of Economy and Planning Abdel Fakeih. Many of those arrested were subjected to what would be called the "night of beating" in which many were beaten and tied to walls as a torture tactic. Many international observers have criticized the harsh tactics, though some have described them as a reform tactic planned by bin Salman in an effort to bring the royal family and their connections under the rule of law in order to reduce corruption.

In general, bin Salman has been described as a nationalistic leader with a conservative attitude towards politics while maintaining a more liberal stance towards economic and social issues. He announced a strategic vision plan called Vision 2030 which aims to reform Saudi Arabia's economy towards one that is more diversified and privatized. Bin Salman wants to move away from complete reliance on oil as the major driver of the economy and wishes to attract investment in sectors like biotechnology, renewable energy, and robotics and advanced manufacturing. One of the primary ways he has done this is through the creation of Neom, a $500 billion economic zone that covers an area of 26,000 square kilometers along the coast of the Red Sea.

While focusing on diversification, bin Salman has also announced he does plan to restore and retain Saudi Arabia's dominance in the global oil markets. He has also spearheaded the high-speed railway line that connects Mecca and Medina, which began its commercial operations in October of 2018. Bin Salman also announced a plan to build Saudi Arabia's first nuclear reactor in November of 2018 with the goal of building 16 nuclear facilities in the next 20 years.

Domestically, bin Salman has focused on liberalizing parts of Saudi Arabian society. He announced plans in April of 2017 to construct the world's largest cultural, sports, and entertainment cities in Al Qiddiya. He also opened the first public cinema in the country in 2018 after a ban of 35 years. He has introduced various economic reforms and has announced a move away from the ultra-conservative Saudi Arabian state to one that is more moderate and tolerant of all religions of the world. At the same time, many human rights abuses, particularly regarding the treatment of women, have been reported in Saudi Arabia.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images

Controversies

In November 2017 Mohammed rounded up hundreds of extremely wealthy and powerful men at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh. Many of the detainees were princes and/or direct relatives of Mohammed. One of the detainees was bin Salman's cousin, famed billionaire investor Prince Al-Waleed. The detainees, who were reportedly abused over their three month captivity, were not released until they reportedly handed over large portions of their personal wealth. They relinquished land, cash and business stakes. Prince Al-Waleed allegedly handed over $6 billion worth of assets to his cousin. Saudi authorities would later claim that they had recovered $107 billion in assets.

In October 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey by a 15-man hit squad flown in by private jet from Riyadh. Both incidents are generally believed to have been ordered by Mohammed bin Salman personally.

Personal Life

In April of 2008, bin Salman married his first cousin, Sara bint Mashour, the daughter of his uncle, Mashour bin Abdulaziz. The couple has had five children together.

Bin Salman enjoys purchasing expensive homes, yachts, and pieces of art. He purchased the Italian-built yacht, "Serene," from the Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler in 2015. The same year, he also purchased the Chateau Louis XIV in France. In December of 2017, he purchased "Salvator Mundi" by Leonardo da Vinci for over $450 million, setting a new record in art sales. However, the sale has been disputed by multiple sources, though the current location of the painting is unknown.

Bin Salman travels extensively and has represented Saudi Arabian interests to many key political figures, celebrities, and business leaders. He has had meetings with Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook, Michael Bloomberg, Morgan Freeman, Queen Elizabeth II, and multiple American presidents and first ladies.

Read more: Mohammed bin Salman Net Worth

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is an Emirati politician and businessman who has a net worth of $14 billion. He serves as the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed is the owner of 99.67% of Dubai Holding and the guy responsible for those really cool man-made palm islands in the Persian Gulf.

Early Life and Family

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum was born on July 15, 1949, in Dubai. At the time of his birth, the United Arab Emirates had not been formed yet. He is a member of the Al Maktoum family, Dubai's rulers, who are also descendants of the House of Al-Falasi. His maternal grandfather is the former ruler of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohammed is the third son of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (out of a total of four sons) and Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Mohammed was educated in Dubai until 1966, when he and his cousin moved to the United Kingdom to attend the Bell Educational Trust's English Language School. He then studied and received military training at the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot (now a part of Sandhurst).

Political Career

After returning to Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed's father, who was the ruler of Dubai at the time, appointed him as the head of the Dubai Police Force and the Dubai Defence Force (which is now part of the Union Defence Force). Sheikh Mohammed was present at the momentous occasion in January 1968, when Sheikh Rashid of Dubai and Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi first met to agree to the formation of a union between the emirates. Subsequently, the new nation the United Arab Emirates was founded on December 2, 1971, and Sheikh Mohammed became the nation's first Minister of Defence. In January 1995, Sheikh Mohammed was appointed the Crown Prince of Dubai by his older brother, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who served as Dubai's ruler at the time.

Upon his brother's death, Sheikh Mohammed became the Ruler of Dubai on January 4, 2006. The following day, he was named as the new Vice President of the United Arab Emirates by the nation's governing body, the Federal National Council. Then, on February 11, 2006, the Council approved him as the nation's Prime Minister (he had been nominated by President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan).

Business Career

In addition to his career in politics, Sheikh Mohammed is an astute businessman responsible for the creation and growth of numerous economic assets in Dubai. Many of these businesses and assets are held under his two companies, Dubai World and Dubai Holding.

Dubai World launched in July 2006 as a holding company. It consolidated assets such as logistics company DP World and property developer Nakheel Properties. It has since expanded, and has investments around the world in places like the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Dubai Holding is the Sheikh's other company, and is has four main operating units: Jumeirah Group, TECOM Investments, Dubai Properties Group, and Emirates International Telecommunications. It mainly focuses on developing and managing hospitality ventures, business parks, real estate, and telecommunications.

Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed has also proven his business acumen in the realm of travel and airlines. He is the figure behind the launch of Emirates Airline, which is based in Garhoud, Dubai. The airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is owned by the Government of Dubai. It is the world's fourth largest airline, and the largest airline in the Middle East. Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed also pushed for the establishment of the low-cost carrier FlyDubai, which is also government-owned.

Getty Images

Other notable developments spearheaded by Sheikh Mohammed include the iconic Dubai hotel the Burj Al Arab. It is managed by Jumeirah, Sheikh Mohammed's hotel management company that he launched in 1997, which is now part of Dubai Holding. Another iconic property development project the Sheikh is responsible for is the Palm Islands project, a series of manmade archipelagos extending into the Persian Gulf. He also is behind the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, which opened in January 2010. Part of the same development as the Burj Khalifa is The Dubai Mall, which is the world's largest shopping mall by total area.

Philanthropic Work and Other Activities

The Sheikh established the organization, Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives, a charitable foundation that consolidates 33 other charitable foundations and entities together. He also established the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (previously known as the Dubai School of Government) in 2005.

Personal Life

Sheikh Mohammed likes to go all-out in his personal life. He has fathered 19 children. His 1979 wedding to his first wife hold the Guinness World Record for "Most Expensive Wedding"— $100 million (in today's dollars) was spent on a month-long celebration in Dubai that culminated in a wedding for 20,000 guests in a stadium built specifically for the occasion. His second official wife was Princess Haya bint Hussein of Jordan; they married in 2004 and got divorced in 2019). Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed has had several "unofficial" wives. Princess Haya departed Dubai along with her two children in June 2019, and filed for protection and sold custody of the children in court.

Sheikh Mohammed is the owner of a 531-foot, $350 million vessel named Dubai, featuring seven decks and enough luxury accommodations for 24 guests and 80 crew members.

Read more: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Net Worth

Osama bin Laden was a Saudi Arabian terrorist leader who had a peak personal net worth of $100 million. Osama bin Laden was the founder of al-Qaeda, the infamous Islamic terror group which orchestrated the 1998 Embassy Bombings and the September 11th Attacks. Bin Laden was born into an extremely wealthy construction family. Today to collective Bin Laden family is worth perhaps as much as $10 billion cumulatively. Osama initially became involved in terrorism and the resistance movement in Afghanistan against the Soviet occupying forces.

Osama's father Mohammed bin Laden was born to a dirt poor family but eventually launched a construction business that received hundreds of billions of dollars in contracts, primarily from the Saudi Royal family. At the time of his death in 1967, Mohammed was the only Saudi Arabian billionaire who was not a member of the royal family. Upon his death, each of his children inherited $20-30 million. That's the same as around $160 million in today's dollars.

Early Life

Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was born on March 10th of 1957 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Osama bin Laden's mother, Hamid al-Attas, was Mohammed's 11th wife out of 23 eventual wives. Osama's parents divorced shortly after he was born. Mohammed had 52 children from various wives.

Raised as a devout Sunni Muslim, Osama studied economics and business administration at King Abdulaziz University. There are conflicting reports about which degrees he earned, but some sources state that he earned a degree in either civil engineering or public administration. Osama then studied English in Oxford during the early 70s. While living in England, he became a fan of the soccer team Arsenal FC.

Militant/Terrorist Activities

After leaving college in 1979, Osama bin Laden became embroiled in the militant resistance against the occupying Soviet forces in Afghanistan. He funded the militants and helped smuggle weapons into the country, and was funded by the US government in his attempts to oust the Soviets.

By 1988, bin Laden had founded the terror group al-Qaeda. This led to his friction with the United States for the first time. In 1991, Osama was kicked out of Saudi Arabia. He then set up base in Sudan but was eventually pressured by the United States to leave. He boarded a plane to Afghanistan, leaving behind an extensive business empire in Sudan that was allegedly worth between $30 million and $300 million.

In 1996, bin Laden and al-Qaeda formally declared war on the United States and started planning serious, fatal attacks. In 1997, he allegedly funded the Luxor massacre which killed 62 civilians in Egypt. Next year, he organized a series of simultaneous attacks on US embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi. The truck bomb attacks killed hundreds of people. After becoming involved in the Yugoslav Wars, he claimed responsibility for the September 11th Attacks of 2001.

Osama spent the next period of his life being pursued by various government agencies, including the FBI and the CIA. Very little is known about his activities following the September 11th Attacks.

Inheritance

Osama bin Laden inherited a fortune worth between $25 million and $30 million from his late father, Mohammed bin Laden. Although Mohammed came from a poor family, he eventually started his own construction business and became connected with the royal family of Saudi Arabia. Through shrewd business practices, unwavering loyalty to the Saudi monarchs, and the willingness to place the lowest bid on development contracts, Mohammed became "the royal builder" of Saudi Arabia.

Eventually, Mohammed became incredibly wealthy. At one point, he was the richest non-royal individual in the country. After Prince Faisal issued a royal decree that all future construction projects be handled by bin Laden's construction company, Mohammed's wealth skyrocketed to $5 billion.

Getty Images

Ties to the Bush Family

Questions have been raised about the connections between the bin Ladens and the Bushes. In 1977, George W. Bush started a Texas-based oil and gas exploration firm called Arbusto Energy. In 1978, Salem bin Laden (Osama's brother and the eldest son of Mohammed) invested in the company through a representative called James R. Bath. Many other members of the bin Laden family invested six-figure sums into the Carlyle Group, a private global equity firm. George Bush Senior acted as the senior adviser for this equity firm. Bush Senior later stepped down from this role when the bin Laden connection was revealed.

On the day of the September 11th Attacks, Bush Senior and former secretary of state James Baker joined other representatives of the Carlyle Group in a meeting with Shafiq bin Laden, another one of Osama's brothers. When news of the attacks spread, all flights within the United States were halted. But one exception was made: the White House mobilized a number of planes to pick up members of the bin Laden family and get them out of the United States – without ever detaining them or interrogating them.

Bounty

After the 1998 US embassy bombings, Osama bin Laden was placed on the FBI's lists of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives and Most Wanted Terrorists. Eventually, he became a major target of the War on Terror, and the FBI placed a bounty worth $25 million on him.

Death

In 2011, members of the Obama administration announced that a special forces team had successfully located and killed Osama bin Laden in a raid at a compound in Pakistan.

Conspiracy Theories

The nature of Osama's death led many to voice numerous doubts about the validity of the "official story." Many were skeptical about the US military's decision to bury Osama at sea and their failure to release any photographic or DNA evidence to the public that would support Osama's death. In addition, the official narrative about how the raid happened seemed to change depending on which person was telling it. Finally, there was a 25-minute blackout during the raid that wiped out the live feed from helmet-mounted cameras worn by US special forces operatives.

Two days after his alleged death, the Obama administration announced that no images of bin Laden's dead body would ever be released to the public. Subsequent attempts by various organizations to analyze proof of Osama's death through the Freedom of Information Act have all been denied. In 2012, a US federal judge ruled that the Department of Defense did not need to reveal any of this evidence to the public ever.

Senior Pakistani officials have long argued that no raid ever took place. Some of these officials have argued that bin Laden died long before the 2011 raid and that the US government knew of Osama's prior death all along. As early as 2002, top FBI official Dale Watson stated "I personally think Osama bin Laden is probably not with us anymore."

Read more: Osama Bin Laden Net Worth

(Photo by Nigel French – PA Images via Getty Images)

Read more: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Net Worth

Read more: Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Net Worth

Read more: Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair Net Worth

Read more: Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer Net Worth

Read more: Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Net Worth