In a surprising yet symbolic development, Forbes has reinstated 15 Saudi billionaires in its 2025 World’s Billionaires List after an eight-year exclusion that began in 2018. The move signals a thaw in the opacity that once surrounded the Kingdom’s financial elite following the sweeping 2017 anti-corruption purge. However, while the list now features a new wave of Saudi billionaires and familiar names like Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one notable figure is still missing: Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi.
Why Were Saudis Excluded for 8 Years?
In November 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a controversial anti-corruption crackdown that resulted in the arrest and detainment of hundreds of princes, businessmen, and officials. Many were held at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh and only released after handing over significant portions of their wealth.
In 2018, Forbes decided to remove Saudi billionaires from its annual ranking, citing the lack of transparency, the unclear status of assets, and the inability to accurately assess wealth amidst ongoing settlements and asset transfers. The freeze lasted for eight years.
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