Mohammed bin Salman Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
On 31 August 1985, Mohammed bin Salman is born in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia.
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Family
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud was born on 31 August 1985 to
Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and his third spouse,
Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain.
Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and his third spouse,
Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain.
Fahda is a granddaughter of Rakan bin Hithlain, who was the
head of the Al Ajman tribe.
Childhood and youth
Bin Salman is the eldest among his mother's children and is the eighth
child and seventh son of his father; his full siblings include
Turki bin Salman, former chairman of the Saudi Research and
Marketing Group and Khalid bin Salman.
child and seventh son of his father; his full siblings include
Turki bin Salman, former chairman of the Saudi Research and
Marketing Group and Khalid bin Salman.
Prince Mohammed holds a bachelor's degree in law from
King Saud University.
King Saud University.
A job
After graduating from college, bin Salman spent several years in the private
sector before becoming a personal aide to his father. He worked as a consultant
for the Experts Commission, working for the Saudi Cabinet.
sector before becoming a personal aide to his father. He worked as a consultant
for the Experts Commission, working for the Saudi Cabinet.
On 15 December 2009, at the age of 24, he entered politics as a special advisor
to his father when the latter was the governor of Riyadh Province.
to his father when the latter was the governor of Riyadh Province.
At this time bin Salman began to rise from one position to another,
such as secretary-general of the Riyadh Competitive Council, special
advisor to the chairman of the board for the King Abdulaziz Foundation
for Research and Archives, and a member of the board of trustees
for Albir Society in the Riyadh region.
such as secretary-general of the Riyadh Competitive Council, special
advisor to the chairman of the board for the King Abdulaziz Foundation
for Research and Archives, and a member of the board of trustees
for Albir Society in the Riyadh region.
In October 2011, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz died.
Prince Salman began his ascent to power by becoming Second
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
He made his son Mohammed his private advisor
Prince Salman began his ascent to power by becoming Second
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
He made his son Mohammed his private advisor
A rise to power
In June 2012, Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz died and bin Salman
moved up into the number two position in the hierarchy, as his father became
the new crown prince and first deputy prime minister. He soon began remaking
the court in his own image.
moved up into the number two position in the hierarchy, as his father became
the new crown prince and first deputy prime minister. He soon began remaking
the court in his own image.
On 2 March 2013, the chief of the Crown Prince court, Prince Saud bin Nayef,
was appointed governor of the Eastern Province and bin Salman succeeded him
in the post. He was also given the rank of minister.
was appointed governor of the Eastern Province and bin Salman succeeded him
in the post. He was also given the rank of minister.
On 25 April 2014, bin Salman was appointed state minister.
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On 23 January 2015, King Abdullah died and Salman ascended the throne.
Bin Salman was appointed minister of defence and secretary general of
the Royal Court. In addition, he retained his post as the minister of state.
Bin Salman was appointed minister of defence and secretary general of
the Royal Court. In addition, he retained his post as the minister of state.
In Yemen, the political unrest (which began escalating in 2011) rapidly
became a major issue for the newly appointed minister of defence, with
Houthis taking control of northern Yemen in late 2014, followed by President
Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and his cabinet's resignation. Bin Salman's first move
as minister was to mobilise a pan-GCC coalition to intervene following a
series of suicide bombings in Sana'a via air strikes against Houthis, and
impose a naval blockade.
became a major issue for the newly appointed minister of defence, with
Houthis taking control of northern Yemen in late 2014, followed by President
Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and his cabinet's resignation. Bin Salman's first move
as minister was to mobilise a pan-GCC coalition to intervene following a
series of suicide bombings in Sana'a via air strikes against Houthis, and
impose a naval blockade.
In March 2015, Saudi Arabia began leading a coalition of countries
allied against the Houthi rebels.While there was agreement among
those Saudi princes heading security services regarding the necessity of a
response to the Houthis' seizure of Sana'a, which had forced the Yemeni
government into exile, bin Salman launched the intervention without full
coordination across security services. Saudi National Guard minister
Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, who was out of the country, was left out of the
loop of operations.
While bin Salman sold the war as a quick win on Houthi rebels in Yemen
and a way to put President Hadi back in power, however, it became a long
war of attrition.
allied against the Houthi rebels.While there was agreement among
those Saudi princes heading security services regarding the necessity of a
response to the Houthis' seizure of Sana'a, which had forced the Yemeni
government into exile, bin Salman launched the intervention without full
coordination across security services. Saudi National Guard minister
Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, who was out of the country, was left out of the
loop of operations.
While bin Salman sold the war as a quick win on Houthi rebels in Yemen
and a way to put President Hadi back in power, however, it became a long
war of attrition.
In April 2015, King Salman appointed his nephew
Muhammad bin Nayef as Crown Prince and his son
Mohammed bin Salman as Deputy Crown Prince.
Muhammad bin Nayef as Crown Prince and his son
Mohammed bin Salman as Deputy Crown Prince.
In late 2015, at a meeting between his father and U.S. President
Barack Obama, bin Salman broke protocol to deliver a monologue criticising
U.S. foreign policy. When he announced an anti-terrorist military
alliance of Islamic countries in December 2015, some of the countries
involved said they had not been consulted.
Barack Obama, bin Salman broke protocol to deliver a monologue criticising
U.S. foreign policy. When he announced an anti-terrorist military
alliance of Islamic countries in December 2015, some of the countries
involved said they had not been consulted.
File:President Obama and King Salman Deliver Statements to the Press.webm
President Barack Obama, CIA Director John O. Brennan,
King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the
GCC-US Summit in Riyadh on 21 April 2016.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the
GCC-US Summit in Riyadh on 21 April 2016.
President Donald Trump speaks with bin Salman,
Washington, D.C., 14 March 2017
Washington, D.C., 14 March 2017
Regarding his role in the military intervention, bin Salman gave his first
on-the-record interview on 4 January 2016 to The Economist, which had
called him the "architect of the war in Yemen". Denying the title, he explained
the mechanism of the decision-making institutions actually holding stakes in
the intervention, including the council of security and political affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Saudi side. He added that the
Houthis usurped power in the Yemeni capital Sana'a before he served as
minister of defence.
on-the-record interview on 4 January 2016 to The Economist, which had
called him the "architect of the war in Yemen". Denying the title, he explained
the mechanism of the decision-making institutions actually holding stakes in
the intervention, including the council of security and political affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Saudi side. He added that the
Houthis usurped power in the Yemeni capital Sana'a before he served as
minister of defence.
In response to the threat from ISIL, bin Salman established the Islamic
Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), a Saudi-led Islamic alliance
against terrorism, in December 2015.The IMCTC's first meeting took place in
Riyadh in November 2017 and involved defence ministers and officials from
41 countries.
Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), a Saudi-led Islamic alliance
against terrorism, in December 2015.The IMCTC's first meeting took place in
Riyadh in November 2017 and involved defence ministers and officials from
41 countries.
Bin Salman was appointed Crown Prince on 21 June 2017, following
his father's decision to depose bin Nayef, making him heir presumptive
to the throne.
his father's decision to depose bin Nayef, making him heir presumptive
to the throne.
The change of succession had been predicted in December 2015 by an
unusually blunt and public memo published by the German
Federal Intelligence Service, which was subsequently rebuked by the
German government.
unusually blunt and public memo published by the German
Federal Intelligence Service, which was subsequently rebuked by the
German government.
On the day bin Salman became Crown Prince, U.S. President
Donald Trump called him to "congratulate him on his recent elevation".
Trump and the new crown prince pledged "close cooperation" on security
and economic issues, according to the White House, and the two leaders
also discussed the need to cut off support for terrorism, the recent
diplomatic dispute with Qatar, and the push to secure peace between Israel
and the Palestinians. Bin Salman told the Washington Post in April 2017
that without America's cultural influence on Saudi Arabia,
"we would have ended up like North Korea."
Donald Trump called him to "congratulate him on his recent elevation".
Trump and the new crown prince pledged "close cooperation" on security
and economic issues, according to the White House, and the two leaders
also discussed the need to cut off support for terrorism, the recent
diplomatic dispute with Qatar, and the push to secure peace between Israel
and the Palestinians. Bin Salman told the Washington Post in April 2017
that without America's cultural influence on Saudi Arabia,
"we would have ended up like North Korea."
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Love and Marriage
On 6 April 2008 bin Salman married his first cousin Sara bint Mashour,
a daughter of his paternal uncle Mashour bin Abdulaziz. Prince Mohammed
and Princess Sara have five children; the first four were named after their
grandparents, and the fifth one is named after his great-grandfather
King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia.
a daughter of his paternal uncle Mashour bin Abdulaziz. Prince Mohammed
and Princess Sara have five children; the first four were named after their
grandparents, and the fifth one is named after his great-grandfather
King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia.
Wealth
In 2018 his personal net worth was estimated at US$3.0 billion.
In 2015, bin Salman purchased the Italian-built and Bermuda-registered
yacht Serene from Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for €500 million.
In 2015, he purchased the Chateau Louis XIV in France for over $300 million.
In 2015, bin Salman purchased the Italian-built and Bermuda-registered
yacht Serene from Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for €500 million.
In 2015, he purchased the Chateau Louis XIV in France for over $300 million.
In December 2017, a number of sources reported that bin Salman, using his
close associate Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Farhan as an
intermediary, had bought the Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci; the sale
in November at $450.3 million set a new record price for a work of art.
close associate Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Farhan as an
intermediary, had bought the Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci; the sale
in November at $450.3 million set a new record price for a work of art.
Newcastle
In October 2021, it was released that Mohammed bin Salman bought the
footballclub Newcastle for around 300 million pounds. He took over a
80 % stake. More on this link.
80 % stake. More on this link.
Traveling
Bin Salman has travelled extensively around the world, meeting with
politicians, business leaders and celebrities.
politicians, business leaders and celebrities.
In June 2016, he travelled to Silicon Valley and met key people in the
US high tech industry, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
US high tech industry, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
In early 2018, he visited the United States, where he met
many politicians, business people and Hollywood stars,
including then-President Trump, Bill and Hillary Clinton,
Henry Kissinger, Michael Bloomberg, George W. Bush,
George H. W. Bush, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey,
Rupert Murdoch, Richard Branson, Mayor Eric Garcetti
of Los Angeles, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman,
and Dwayne Johnson. Trump praised his relationship
with bin Salman.
many politicians, business people and Hollywood stars,
including then-President Trump, Bill and Hillary Clinton,
Henry Kissinger, Michael Bloomberg, George W. Bush,
George H. W. Bush, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey,
Rupert Murdoch, Richard Branson, Mayor Eric Garcetti
of Los Angeles, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman,
and Dwayne Johnson. Trump praised his relationship
with bin Salman.
The prince also visited the United Kingdom, where he met
with Prime Minister Theresa May,
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William.
with Prime Minister Theresa May,
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William.
Source pictures Wikipedia
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