Europe’s richest royal family hails from a tiny nation that has traditionally not played a role on the world stage but is worth more than 100-fold King Charles III.
Liechtenstein, one of the smallest countries in Europe, is a principality located between Switzerland and Austria.
The nation’s German-speaking population of 39,327 is roughly equal to that of a mid-sized UK town but densely packed, with 243.99 people living in each square kilometre.
Not among those packed into the country’s city streets are the members of The Princely House of Liechtenstein.
They live on the lap of luxury within the walls of Vaduz Castle, in the national capital, where they have a vast fortune collated from several global investments.
The Liechtenstein royals are currently headed by Prince Hans-Adam II, under whom the family has a $300 billion (£242 billion) financial empire.
While the 1,000-year-old dynasty has had the best part of a millennium to mature its personal wealth, most of its money comes from managing other people’s cash.
The royal family has established a private banking and asset management firm that, according to records from 2023, was worth nearly 306 billion Swiss francs, or $334 billion (£270 billion) last year.
The firm, also based in Vaduz, has invested in multiple businesses, including some that operate out of the UK, where Charles III has amassed a much smaller fortune.
Estimates vary on the King’s total fortune, which is composed of hereditary estates and owned property in the UK, money earned from public work, the Sovereign Grant and more.
On the lower end of estimations, the King is worth around £606 million, and more generous appraisals place his fortune at around £1.8 billion.
The Royal Family as a whole is worth several times this, approximately £21.3 billion when considering the other core members like Prince William, the Princess of Wales and others.
Alone, the King’s personal wealth pales in comparison to the Liechtenstein royals.
The continental counterparts have between 300 and 500 times the wealth of the British royals.
Considering the entire Firm as a whole, the House of Liechtenstein still has up to 15 times more, and that fortune is only growing.
