The Sultan who spends ₹16 lakh on a haircut: All about Hassanal Bolkiah who will meet PM Modi

Produced by: BT Desk Designed by: Manoj Kumar

PM Modi in Brunei

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Brunei, where he will be meeting Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

US$28 billion fortune

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei has an estimated net worth of US$28 billion, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.

7,000 luxury cars

The Sultan owns over 7,000 cars, including 600 Rolls-Royces, 450 Ferraris, and 380 Bentleys, with his collection valued at over US$5 billion.

A gold-coated Rolls-Royce

Among his car collection, the Sultan’s gold-coated Rolls-Royce, with its opulent design and umbrella platform, is a standout piece.

The ‘flying palace’

The Sultan owns a Boeing 747-400, known as the “flying palace,” which is adorned with gold and Lalique crystal chandeliers, costing US$400 million.

1,700-room palace

His residence, Istana Nurul Iman, is the world’s largest palace with 1,700 rooms, 257 bathrooms, five swimming pools, and 110 garages.

Guinness World Record holder

The Istana Nurul Iman Palace holds the Guinness World Record for the largest residential palace, covering 200,000 square meters.

US$20,000 per trim

The Sultan spends US$20,000 on haircuts, flying his barber first-class from London’s Dorchester Hotel to Brunei.

Renoir’s masterpiece

The Sultan purchased Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “Young Girls at the Piano” for US$70 million, showcasing his passion for art.

Trained with royalty

The Sultan graduated from the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, the same academy attended by Princes William and Harry.